Miel San Marcos to Release Special Holiday-Themed ‘Spotify Singles’ Track “Emmanuel”

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Miel San Marcos is getting into the holiday spirit.

The Guatemalan Christian music group, comprised of three brothers Josh, Luis and Samy Morales, is among the artists releasing holiday songs this Christmas season on Spotify.

Miel San Marcos perform the single “Emmanuel” as part of the music streamer’s five Spotify Singles, which will be released at the stroke of midnight local time on Tuesday, October 15.

This year’s annual singles collection — which arrives a little earlier than usual this time — will feature four other artists and their covers of holiday tunes, including Kesha, Max Richter and Dasha.

The featured musicians and their yuletide songs are:

“Emmanuel” by Miel San Marcos
“Holiday Road” by Kesha
“Driving Home for Christmas” by Dasha
“River” by Max Richter
“Run Rudolph Run” by Mark Ambor

“As you’ll hopefully hear, each single really showcases the personality and style of each artist — often reinventing holiday classics in an entirely new way,” Talia Kraines, Spotify’s senior editor of pop, tells Billboard.

“With ‘Holiday Road,’ Kesha has taken this really fun ’80s song – which wasn’t originally a holiday song – and brought it to the modern day. We just knew she would sound amazing singing it, and she does. Her vocals make me think of The Go-Gos or The Bangles here. It feels like a monumental year for Kesha, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it – she’s reclaiming her joy and owning her own voice,” she adds of the Grammy nominated artist. “It also seemed fitting to have Kesha make a holiday song with us because her music actually hits a high each year on Spotify during the holiday season.

Tracks like ‘Tik Tok’ and ‘Timber’ have come to be known as New Year’s and celebration anthems.”

Mariah Carey Launching 20-City “Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time” Tour This Fall

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is celebrating Christmas in November.

The 55-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas will celebrate the 30th anniversary of her Merry Christmas album — and the classic single that came wrapped up inside it, All I Want for Christmas Is You — with a 20-city Christmas tour this fall, under the banner of Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time.

The Live Nation-produced tour will kick off in early November with three shows in southern California and wrap up with a trio of concerts in the New York/New Jersey area in mid-December.

In the Los Angeles region and environs, she’ll be doing a tour premiere November 6 at Highland’s Yaamava Theater, an intimate teaser for a much bigger show she’ll be doing November 8 at the Hollywood Bowl, to be followed by a November 13 gig at the Acrisure Arena in the Palm Springs area.

Bringing the tour to a close, closer to home for Carey, will be concerts on December 13 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, December 15 at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY, and finally, December 17 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

In-between, she’ll be visiting Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Nashville, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Boston and other cities.

Tickets for Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time will be made available via the usual staggered presale dates, beginning with a Verizon presale that starts on August 6, and other early offerings that lead up to a general on-sale August 9 at 10:00 am local time at LiveNation.com. Information on VIP packages can be found at Vipnation.com.

Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time follows the success of a shorter, 13-city holiday tour Carey did in 2023, Merry Christmas One and All!, and will follow a similar template of mixing Christmas fare with the singer’s non-seasonal hits.

On last year’s tour, the bulk of the setlist consisted of holiday songs but had a run of other material that included “Hero,” “We Belong Together” and a massive hits medley in the last stretch of the show.

Although it’s now been three decades since the release of her first and biggest Christmas album, Carey did not begin commemorating that material with special live concerts until 2014, when she did a themed residency at the Beacon Theater in New York. That turned into a series of short tours in subsequent years, including a four-date mini-tour in 2019 that was filmed for a CBS special, Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!

The focus on Christmas tours has coincided with the gradual, belated rise of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” as a perennial No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 each December.

The song did not make it to the top position on that chart until 2019, 20 years after its release, but it has peaked at No. 1 every year thereafter.

For anyone who wants to see Carey but not deal quite so much with Christmas, there have been and will be plenty of opportunities this year, as the singer has been doing an intermittent Celebration of Mimi residency in Las Vegas, at Dolby Live at Park MGM.

That run of shows began April 12 and has five further gigs booked in the first half of August before taking a pause and returning in January and February 2025.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Holds Atop TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is the TikTok queen of the holiday season…

The 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s inescapable holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds atop the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart dated January 6.

The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement.

The latest chart reflects activity December 25-31. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

The beginning of the latest TikTok Billboard Top 50’s tracking week was on Christmas Day, so it’s only natural that Christmas-related tunes dot the chart, led by Carey and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” at Nos. 1 and 2.

It’s the second week at No. 1 for “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” while “Last Christmas” reaches a new peak after previously rising to No. 4 the preceding week (Dec. 30, 2023).

Concurrently, Carey’s holiday standard appears at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (down from No. 1 after being passed by Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Earns Record-Extending 18th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Global 200

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey’s holiday-themed chart domination has continued into the New Year.

The 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” adds a record-extending 18th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart (dated Jan. 6, 2024).

The Yuletide classic, released in 1994, also tops the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a record-tying 13th week.

The track leads the Global 200 for a fifth consecutive week, with 159 million streams (up 38%) – the song’s biggest global streaming week since the chart began – and 13,000 sold (up 9%) worldwide in the December 22-28 tracking week (thus, encompassing four days leading up to and including Christmas Day).

The song spends a record-extending 18th week at No. 1 on the Global 200, following four frames in both the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons and five frames over last year’s holidays.

Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” concurrently tops the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a fifth week in a row, with 109.5 million streams (up 52%) and 6,000 sold (up 23%) outside the U.S. December 22-28.

The song tallies a record-tying 13th total week at No. 1, following one in the 2020 holiday season, three weeks the next year and four last season. It matches the 13-week reigns of Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” in 2023 and Harry Styles’ “As It Was” in 2022.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

“The Color Purple,” Starring Colman Domingo, Tops Box Office on Christmas Day

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Purple reign for Colman Domingo this Christmas…

The Color Purple, a vibrant adaptation of the book-turned-beloved-film-turned-hit-Broadway-musical and starring the 54-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and social justice activist, dominated at the box office on Christmas Day.

The film has outperformed expectations with $18 million from 3,152 North American theaters. It’s the largest Christmas Day opening for a film since 2009, and the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time.

Those ticket sales were enough to lead the way on Monday ahead of two other newcomers, Neon’s racing drama Ferrari and director George Clooney’s inspirational sports story The Boys in the Boat.

Boosted by positive reviews and a glowing “A” CinemaScore, The Color Purple marks the first musical in some time that’s resonated at the box office. The film, backed by Warner Bros. and directed by Blitz Bazawule, collected more in a single day than recent stage-to-screen stories — including West Side Story ($10.5 million), In the Heights ($11 million), Dear Evan Hansen ($7.5 million) and Cats ($6.6 million) — earned in their opening weekends.

The Color Purple benefitted by premiering on Christmas Day, one of the most popular days of the year for moviegoing. But this is a promising start for the $100 million-budgeted musical, which should benefit from word of mouth in the coming days.

“The Color Purple” looks to remain the de facto choice for families over the remainder of what has otherwise been a lackluster holiday season. American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino brings to life the trials, tribulations and triumphs of Celie, a Black woman living in Georgia in the early 1900s. Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Domingo as Albert “Mister” Johnson, and Halle Bailey round out the cast.

Mariah Carey Makes Billboard Hot 100 History with “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey has made history yet again on the Billboard Hot 100…

The 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress has become the first artist to score three No. 1 singles of at least 14 weeks each on the Billboard Hot 100 as her holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” tops the chart for a second consecutive week.

It now logs a 14th total week at No. 1 dating back to its first coronation in December 2019.

Notably, the modern Yuletide standard is Carey’s third Hot 100 leader of at least 14 weeks – as she becomes the first artist in the chart’s history with three such No. 1s.

She previously reigned for 16 weeks with “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, in 1995-96 and for 14 weeks with “We Belong Together” in 2005.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” has ruled the Hot 100 over five holiday seasons. It was originally released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in November 1994 and, as streaming has growna nd holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it hit the top 10 for the first time in December 2017 and has now led during the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three), 2022 (four) and 2023 (two to date).

The track, released via Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, drew 48.4 million streams (up 15%) and 31.7 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 21%) and sold 7,000 downloads (down 7%) in the U.S. December 15-21, according to Luminate.

The single holds at No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart, following 18 weeks at No. 1; dips 3-4 on Digital Song Sales, following four frames at No. 1; and rises 22-17 on Radio Songs, where it hit a No. 11 high last season.

Carey is the first artist with three songs that have dominated the Hot 100 for 14 or more weeks each. She one-ups Boyz II Men, who have notched three leaders of 13 or more frames apiece, with Carey and the group having teamed for the 16-week No. 1 smash “One Sweet Day.”

Here’s a recap of Carey’s three such Hot 100 No. 1s:

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96
14 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-23
14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005

Carey also adds her record-extending 93rd week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s August 4, 1958, inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:

93, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
56, Drake
50, Boyz II Men
47, Usher
43, Beyoncé
37, Michael Jackson
34, Adele
34, Elton John
34, Bruno Mars
34, Taylor Swift

“All I Want for Christmas is You” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top in August 1990 with her debut hit, “Vision of Love.”

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations.

Ally Brooke Teams Up with Dinah Jane to Release “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” Cover

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ally Brooke is hoping you get you into the holiday spirit…

The 30-year-old Mexican American singer has joined voices with her former Fifth Harmony group mate Dinah Jane to release their rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Ally Brooke’s single with Dinah Jane follows on the heels of her recently-released four-track holiday EP Under The Tree, which includes the title track, an original song.

Ally and Dinah made the collaboration announcement by way of their socials earlier in the week.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be back together with my former Fifth Harmony mate Dinah,” Ally enthuses in a statement. “There are no words to explain how it feels to be reunited with our collaboration. We hope to bring lots of happiness to our fans and the world with our reunion.”

Christmas is, of course, a time for family. And this holiday cut represents the first time any of the former 5H bandmates have collaborated since the pop group went on hiatus in 2018.

Formed on The X Factor in 2012 with the lineup of Brooke, Jane, Normani, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello, the group went on to land four top 10 titles on the Billboard 200 chart, and earned a top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Work From Home” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, peaking at No. 4 in 2016.

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” comes years after Fifth Harmony disbanded, at the time reduced to a four-piece when Cabello left.

Jane presents the new song as a special gift to long-suffering Harmonizers.

“There’s a special type of joyous spirit that Christmas brings us all,” she comments. “This holiday season, I’m grateful for this healing union that has brought my good ole sister Ally Brooke and I together through music”.

“May this song encourage you to embrace love, forgiveness, and bring comfort to all,” concludes Dinah. “I pray that this song may connect souls to our dear Savior as His love is the reason for all seasons.”

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is now bundled into Brooke’s Under the Tree collection.

New Trailer Released for Demi Lovato’s “A Very Demi Holiday Special” Featuring Trixie Mattel, Paris Hilton & More

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be an eclectic holiday season for Demi Lovato.

The latest trailer has been released for the 31-year-old half-Mexican American singer and actress’ upcoming Roku special titled A Very Demi Holiday Special.

As seen in the clip, Lovato is bringing together some of her celebrity friends for a jolly ol’ time.

The one-minute clip shows Lovato baking with Paris Hilton, learning The Nutcracker ballet with Trixie Mattel, making ugly sweaters with Tiffany Haddish and singing with JoJo.

The special will air on the Roku Channel on Dec. 8.

During the OBB Pictures-produced special, you can expect to hear songs such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and a surprise duet, as well as a some of Lovato’s original hits.

Later in the month, Lovato is welcoming 2024 with a New Year’s Eve concert at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Sunday (Dec. 31) at 10:30 pm PT. She is fresh off the release of her Revamped album, which featured rock reimaginings of some of her greatest hits including “Skyscraper,” “Give Your Heart a Break,” “La La Land,” “Sorry Not Sorry” and more.

Cardi B’s Whipshots Re-Launches Festive Peppermint Flavor for Holiday Season

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is whipping up a special holiday treat… with a kick!

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning singer’s alcoholic whipped cream company, Whipshots, re-launched its festive peppermint flavor for the holiday season.

Cardi B stuns in the campaign photos to announce the flavor relaunch.

She’s seen sitting amid a winter wonderland full of trees and presents in a flowing red gown.

“The holidays are all about coming together and getting lit – and we’re not just talking about the Christmas tree, Fam,” the caption reads. “Elevate your celebrations with Whipshots Peppermint vodka whipped cream – the perfect stocking stuffer to bring the bougie to your holiday bash. (Besides, bringing a bottle of wine for your friends and family is so been there, drank that!).”

Back in March, Whipshots celebrated selling two million cans of its boozy treat. “We just went double platinum! We’re not playing around when we say Whipshots is the best,” Cardi said in a statement. “Boozy and beautiful since day one, and two million cans later, there is no slowing us down. I love the fans supporting our brand – let’s keep this party going!”

Cardi B with Starco Brands to release the alcohol infused, non-dairy whipped cream, which sold its first million cans in just 10 months and went on to sell another million cans four months later.

Cardi B’s Whipshots can be found where most alcohol is sold, including Total Wine, DoorDash, GoPuff, Drizly, Albertsons and Vons.

Manuel Turizo to Perform During 91st Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Manuel Turizo is helping celebrate another holiday in the United States…

Following his debut appearance at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 23-year-old Colombian singer will helping light the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City.

The popular Manhattan landmark will be hosting its 91st annual lighting ceremony on Wednesday, November 29 at 8:00 pm ET. The 2023 Christmas tree lighting ceremony is bound to get you in the holiday spirit with the help of a slew of guests and musical performances.

This year, Kelly Clarkson will be hosting the tree lighting ceremony and performing on the show that will feature appearances from Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin.

In addition to Turizo, you can also expect musical performances from Chloe Bailey, Adam Blackstone, Cher, David Foster, Liz Gillies, Darlene Love, Seth MacFarlane, Barry Manilow, Katharine McPhee, Keke Palmer, Carly Pearce, Radio City Rockettes and more.

The ceremony will air on NBC and Peacock.

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