Anitta, Cardi B, Sam Smith, BlocBoy JB and More Top Songs of the Week

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe U.S.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSpotify has announced the debut of its Weekly Music Charts, which includes an albums chart, a new move for the streaming giant. According to the announcement, the new charts include:All of Spotify’s charts will live exclusively on @spotifycharts Twitter and new charts will be added in the coming months.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJared Smith is stepping down as global chairman of Ticketmaster at the end of the year.Smith, 42, has been with the company for more than 17 years, although he was just promoted to chairman in August.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn a week when nearly everything you read makes you wince, duck or want to run, here’s a bunch of songs that both reflect and offer refuge from the trainwreck of 2020.Two songs that reflect this reality have already been covered in Variety’s virtual pages this week: Maren Morris’ brave and conscience-tugging “Better Than We Found It,” a clear call from a new mom to take this moment to reflect on the decisions we’re making today and what they’ll mean for future

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe fictional rock band Spinal Tap, immortalized in the 1984 “mockumentary” bearing their name, will reunite with costar Rob Reiner for a virtual fundraiser on Oct. 14.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMariah Carey has always been about control: over her career, sure, but also over her extraordinary voice, which is her greatest asset as a performer. And that voice is in full bloom on “The Rarities,” her new compilation of previously unreleased and low-profile B-sides.Although releasing an album of rarities and outtakes can be like sharing baby pictures with the world, based on the evidence presented here, Mariah never really had much of an awkward stage.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLast week, Universal Music Group and its Task Force for Meaningful Change (in partnership with UMG’s °1824 and Diversity & Inclusion teams, Def Jam Forward, Interscope/Geffen/A&M and Republic Record’s Action Committee), launched a series of special programs and discussions in celebration of this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference.The events are free and open to the public.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn a week like this, with a crushing onslaught of strong contenders for the coveted Fri 5, your faithful reviewer feels like an “American Idol” judge, with a whole load of self-imposed rules about what constitutes a great single (as opposed to a great song), trying to disregard considerations like how popular an artist is or isn’t, which record label it’s on, etc. Like…“The new Lil Wayne song ‘Life of Mr.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorUTA announced that Samantha Kirby Yoh has been named co-head of UTA Music, joining David Zedeck in overseeing the company’s worldwide music operations.“Sam and David see eye-to-eye on how to build a great music business and will be strong partners in leading UTA Music,” said UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer. “We have long admired Sam’s success working with unique and powerful artists, and we’re thrilled she has chosen to join us.

Justin Bieber and Chance the Rapper teamed up for a righteous collab, Pink joined Keith Urban on his anthem to brokenhearted overindulgence and Anitta recruited Cardi B and Myke Towers to drop some scorching verses on her new song, «Me Gusta.»Plus, Alicia Keys dropped her seventh studio album, featuring a groovy minimalist track with Tierra Whack, and Sam Smith announced their upcoming album, with a shimmering new single, «Diamonds.» Read on for some of our favorite recommendations for new songs

Sam Smith has announced the release of their third studio album Love Goes.

Sam Smith is here with no shortage of new music.

Sam Smith has returned today (September 18) with the announcement of their third forthcoming album, ‘love goes’.In addition, Smith has also released the album’s lead single ‘Diamonds’ after teasing it throughout the week on social media.The video, directed by Black Dog Films, sees Smith dance alone around a dimly lit house and on grass in the pouring rain.Watch the video below:In a statement shared to social media, Smith said that ‘love goes’, which is due out Friday, October 30, was written

Sam Smith is opening up in an emotional new song called “Diamonds,” which was released on Friday (September 18).

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSting, Norah Jones, Trey Anastasio of Phish and many more will perform tonight (Thursday, Sept. 17) at SummerStage Jubilee, a free benefit concert supporting City Parks Foundation’s programs in parks, taking place via livestream at 8 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSiriusXM today announced that Chief Executive Officer Jim Meyer intends to retire on December 31, 2020.Upon his retirement, Jennifer C. Witz, President of Sales, Marketing and Operations, will become the Company’s new CEO.Gregory B.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAfter a comparatively slow week leading into the long weekend — which means we only scanned around 100 songs last week instead of the usual 130! — the avalanche of songs is back with a bang.