• Sam Smith Turns 23, Gets "Authentic" Harry Potter Wand as a Present

    If you want to feel really under-accomplished for your age, know that today (May 19), Grammy winner and hitmaker Sam Smith turns 23 today. If that's not enough to trigger your jealousy, the "Like I Can" singer revealed one super cool birthday present from his siblings: "authentic" wands from Harry Potter.
  • 'Pitch Perfect 2' Soundtrack Revealed: Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and More

    'Pitch Perfect 2' has finally revealed the soundtrack for the forthcoming sequel, due in theaters on May 30, and boy is there a lot of music crammed into it. Although the iTunes playlist doesn't reflect too many familiar-sounding tracks, Pop Sugar has broken down the soundtrack and dug out more than 35 tracks buried within the film's many mashups. Expect contributions from Pitbull, Miley Cyrus and of course, Cisqo, to appear within.
  • Mumford & Sons Drops, Tech N9ne Sets Personal Record on Albums Chart

    This week Warner Music became the first major label to report higher earnings from streaming than digital downloads, but album sales seem to be doing alright for Mumford & Sons, which tops the sales chart by selling 249,000 copies of 'Wilder Mind' this week. That's a sizable number but more than a 50 percent drop off from the band's previous album, 'Babel,' which debuted with 600,000 copies sold (the biggest rock debut of the decade thus far, in the band's defense).
  • Mumford & Sons Top Billboard 200, 'Fifty Shades' Gets Mother's Day Boost

    Mumford & Sons remains a rock band to beat on the Billboard 200, gathering its second no. 1 record with Wilder Mind. Although the band's original alternative fan base has raised an eyebrow at the use of electric guitars on the new set, sales still came out to 249,000-trailing only Drake and Kendrick Lamar for biggest debut of 2015 thus far. Although nothing to frown at, it's still a relatively low sales figure for Mumford, which sold 600,000 copies of Babel when that album dropped during 2012.
  • Sam Smith Cancels Hangout Fest, BBMAs Performance & Tour For Vocal Cord Surgery

    If you were hoping to see Sam Smith this spring, we have some bad news for you: the "Lay Me Down" singer has cancelled all of his live obligations through the end of June. Today (May 7), the Grammy-winner announced that his ongoing vocal cord issues have made him have to schedule for a surgery next week, and the eight-week recovery will mean he's out of commission until summer.
  • Zac Brown Band Tops Billboard 200 Third Time with 'Jekyll + Hyde'; Josh Groban, Tyler Farr Debut as Well

    The Zac Brown Band found itself on top of the Billboard 200 for the third time with its new album 'Jekyll + Hyde.' Although it wasn't the group's biggest sales week (that goes to its last record, 'Uncaged') but it still managed to move 228,000 equivalent albums. The band has also been busy away from album sales, topping both the Country Airplay Chart and the Mainstream Rock Songs charts with different songs from the album. The only other act in Nielsen history to hit that mark was Bon Jovi.
  • Sam Smith, One Direction, Ed Sheeran and More Boost British Album Sales Share in 2014

    The British are coming...slowly but surely enough as the nation's music industry increased its hold on the American album sales market during 2014 thanks to new releases from One Direction, Coldplay, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and more. Last year's sales were a significant increase in market share compared to 2013, according to the British Phonographic Institute.
  • Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' Becomes First Independent Release Atop Billboard 200 during 2015

    Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' brought an air of independence to the Billboard 200 this week, as the album became the first independent label (ATO) release to top the charts during 2015. It was easily the band's bestselling week ever, moving 96,000 equivalent copies during its first week. Yet it seemed almost inevitable: The band got to no. 6 with its previous release, 'Boys & Girls', but nearly a year after it debuted. Listeners caught on to the band just a hair too late, and made up for it this time around.
  • Sam Smith Cancels Australia Tour Due To Vocal Cord Hemorrhage, Tells Fans "This Kills Me" After 'In The Lonely Hour' Goes No. 1 In Country

    After recently finally reaching No. 1 in Australia following nearly a year on the national albums chart with his debut album In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith has been forced to cancel his Australian tour and scheduled appearances. The "Stay With Me" singer has been diagnosed with a hemorrhage to his vocal chords, a common ailment in singers, and his doctor has ordered him to stop performing until he's healthy in order to prevent permanent damage.
  • 'Handwritten' and Shawn Mendes Youngest Performer Since Justin Bieber to Top Billboard 200

    We may be witnessing the emergence of the next big young superstar as Shawn Mendes topped the Billboard 200 this week with his debut LP Handwritten. He becomes the youngest performer to top the chart since 2010, when Justin Bieber also did it at the age of 16 (albeit six months younger than Mendes). What makes Mendes' accomplishment more impressive is that he did so without a single on the Billboard charts, drawing almost entirely from hype built as a Vine star (and as an opener for Taylor Swift on tour). He moved 119,000 copies of his debut.
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