Tag Archives: RCA Records

Prince Royce’s Debut English Album “Double Vision” Due July 24

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Prince Royce will be a (double) vision this summer…

The 26-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter’s highly anticipated English-language album debut will be called Double Vision, and will be released July 24 on RCA Records, riding on the momentum of his new single “Back It Up” with Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull.

Prince Royce

The chart-climbing track follows the Bronx-born bachatero’s first single in English, “Stuck on a Feeling.”

The list of collaborators on Royce’s English project reads like a who’s who of pop hitmakers, with names including Illya Salmanzadeh (Ariana Grande); Jason Evigan (Jason Derulo); Toby Gad (Beyoncé); Roccstar (Chris Brown); and more.

“What I put out in English, that’s who most people are going to think I am — that’s why I’m being so careful,” Royce told Billboard for a cover story earlier this year. “I love hip-hop, R&B, techno and Latin. The album’s a combination of everything I grew up listening to.”

It’s shaping up to be a busy summer for Royce, who kicks off his tour with Ariana Grande on July 16 in Tampa, Florida.

Mars’ “Uptown Funk” Ties for the Second-Longest-Leading Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Ever

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Bruno Mars continues to funk his way closer to history…

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” is now tied for the second-longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 song ever, ruling the chart for a 14th week.

Uptown Funk

The song is also tied for the chart’s longest command this century.

“Uptown Funk,” released on RCA Records, ties six other singles for the second-best run at No. 1 dating to the Hot 100’s August 4, 1958, launch, with only one song having led longer—Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day.”

Here’s an updated ranking of the longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1s all-time:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995
14 (to date), “Uptown Funk!,” Ronson feat. Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
14, “I Gotta Feeling,” the Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009
14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005
14, “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997
14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996
14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994
14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992

“Uptown Funk” also ties for the longest stay at No. 1 on the Hot 100 this century. With 14 weeks on top, it matches the Black Eyed Peas‘ command with “I Gotta Feeling,” the last song to lead for at least that long, in 2009. Mariah Carey also logged 14 weeks at No. 1 with “We Belong Together” in 2005.

“Uptown Funk” is now just two weeks from potentially tying “One Sweet Day” for the all-time record, and three weeks from possibly claiming it all to itself.

Mars’ “Uptown Funk” Makes History as It Logs 13 Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

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It’s Lucky No. 13 for Bruno Mars…

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s funktastic collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” is now the longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 single of the 2010s, ruling the chart for a 13th week.

Uptown Funk

It’s also just the 10th single in the Hot 100’s entire history to spend at least 13 weeks at No. 1.

“Uptown Funk,” released on RCA Records, passes Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams to take sole possession of the Hot 100’s longest command this decade.

Here’s an updated look at the hits to lead for the most weeks since the beginning of 2010:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1

13 (to date), “Uptown Funk!,” Ronson feat. Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
12, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, June 22, 2013
10, “Happy,” Pharrell Williams, March 8, 2014
10, “We Found Love,” Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, Nov. 12, 2011

“Funk” also becomes one of an elite 10 singles ever to top the Hot 100 for at least 13 weeks, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 launch:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1

16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995
14, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009
14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005
14, “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997
14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996
14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994
14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992
13 (to date), “Uptown Funk!,” Ronson feat. Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
13, “The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy & Monica, June 6, 1998
13, “End of the Road,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 15, 1992

“Uptown Funk” is now just three weeks away from potentially tying Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” for the record, and four weeks from possibly claiming it all to itself.

Mars’ “Uptown Funk” Notches a 12th Week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

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Bruno Mars’ chart-topping run continues…

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” rules the roost on the Billboard Hot 100 for a twelfth week.

Bruno Mars

Released on RCA Records, “Uptown Funk” becomes only the fifteenth No. 1 in the chart’s five-and-a-half-decade history to rule for at least 12 weeks. It also ties for the longest reign of the 2010s: Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams, also logged a 12-week command beginning in June 2013.

“Uptown Funk” inks a 12th week atop the Digital Songs chart with 187,000 downloads sold (down 1 percent) in the week ending March 22, according to Nielsen Music.  It’s now within one week of tying the record for the most time spent atop Digital Songs: the T-Pain-assisted “Low” by Flo Rida led for a record 13 weeks in 2007-08.

“Uptown Funk” leads the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart (4.6 million U.S. streams, down 6 percent) for an 11th week and Streaming Songs (19.1 million, up 13 percent) for a 10th, adding top Streaming Gainer honors on the Hot 100. Helping fuel its burst in streams: a clip that YouTuber Carson Dean created (featuring the song’s audio), in which he dances, and gets in a good cardio workout, on a treadmill. It drew 2.2 million U.S. clicks in the chart’s tracking week.

On Radio Songs, “Uptown Funk” reigns for a ninth week with 173 million in all-format audience (down 3 percent).

Ronson and Mars’ smash, therefore, leads the Hot 100 and its three main component charts (Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs) simultaneously for a record-extending eighth week (non-consecutively).

Twelve weeks into its Hot 100 reign, “Uptown Funk” manages to widen its lead at No. 1, as it’s up by 3 percent in overall activity, while Maroon 5‘s “Sugar,” at its No. 2 peak for a second week, dips by 4 percent. “Sugar” holds at No. 2 on Digital Songs (156,000, down 13 percent) and No. 4 on both Radio Songs (129 million, up 5 percent) and Streaming Songs (9.8 million, down 1 percent).

Mars & Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!” Leads the Billboard Hot 100 for an 11th Week

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Bruno Mars continues to etch his name in the annals of Billboard chart history…

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, the world’s highest-paid Latino musician, rules the Billboard Hot 100 for an 11th week with his hit collaboration with Mark Ronson‘s “Uptown Funk!”

Bruno Mars

“Uptown Funk!,” released on RCA Records, becomes only the 19th No. 1 in Hot 100 history to lead for at least 11 weeks. It’s just the second to reach that level this decade: Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. and Pharrell, began a 12-week command in June 2013.

“Uptown Funk!” logs an 11th week atop the Digital Songs chart with 189,000 downloads sold (down 10 percent) in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music.

It’s now one of just three songs to lead Digital Songs for at least 11 weeks: Flo Rida‘s “Low,” featuring T-Pain, racked a record 13 weeks on top in 2007-08, while Pharrell Williams‘ “Happy” dominated for 11 weeks last year.

“Uptown Funk!” leads the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart (4.9 million U.S. streams, down 4 percent) for a 10th week and Streaming Songs (16.9 million, down 3 percent) for a ninth. On Radio Songs, the track reigns for an eighth week with 178 million in all-format audience (down 2 percent).

Ronson and Mars’ collaboration, thus, leads the Hot 100 and its three main component charts (Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs) simultaneously for a record-extending seventh week (nonconsecutively).

Blacc to Serve as a Judge for the 2015 CLIO Music Awards

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It looks like Aloe Blacc is ready to be the judge and jury…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter will form part of the voting panel of this year’s CLIO Music Awards, a prestigious international awards competition for marketing and advertising in the music industry. Now in its second year, the competition is accepting entries through April 3.

Aloe Blacc

Blacc is quite familiar with the CLIOs; his single “The Man” earned a Clio Award last year, and he performed at the ceremony last year. He joins 22 other music insiders in the voting panel, including Tom Corson, president and COO of RCA Records; Sylvia Rhone, president of Epic Records; and Daniel Glass, founder and President of Glassnote Entertainment Group.

“CLIO Music is about honoring the incredible work of the people who propel the music business through creative efforts, from artist promotion to the expert ways in which music is integrated in advertising,” CLIO president Nicole Purcell said in a statement. “It’s the talent of these creative leaders that connects people to brands, motivates them to join causes and inspires them to expand their horizons through music.”

The new CLIO roles add onto an already-busy spring for Blacc; he’s set to perform at the Playboy Jazz Festival in early June.

Mars’ “Uptown Funk!” Rules the Billboard Hot 100 for an Eighth Week

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Make that eight weeks at the helm for Bruno Mars…

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s smash hit collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk!,” rules the Billboard Hot 100 for an eighth week.

Bruno Mars

“Uptown Funk!,” released on RCA Records, leads Billboard’s Streaming Songs (19.8 million U.S. streams, up 9 percent, according to Nielsen Music) and the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs (5.4 million, down 1 percent) for a sixth week each.

On Radio Songs, “Uptown Funk!” reigns for a fifth week with a 3 percent lift to 187 million in all-format audience. In the airplay chart’s 24-year history, only eight songs have posted higher audience totals, led by Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams, which peaked with 228.9 million on the Aug. 31, 2013, tally.

“Uptown Funk!” returns to the top of the Digital Songs chart (2-1) for an eighth cumulative week on top with 257,000 downloads sold (down 14 percent) in the week ending Feb. 22.

Ronson and Mars’ collab crowns the Hot 100 and its three main component charts (Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs) simultaneously for a record fourth week (non-consecutively). The only other song to quadruple up at No. 1 for even two weeks: Meghan Trainor‘s “All About That Bass” last year.

“Funk” widens its lead over runner-up Ed Sheeran‘s “Thinking Out Loud,” which ranks at its No. 2 peak on the Hot 100 for a sixth week. “Funk” is up by 2 percent in overall activity, while “Loud” loses 16 percent of its points.

Mars Earns Sixth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Uptown Funk!”

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It’s a chart-topping start of the New Year for Bruno Mars…

The 29-year-old’s collaboration with Mark Ronson‘s, “Uptown Funk!,” has reached the summit on the Billboard 100 chart, rising 2-1 on the first chart released in 2015.

Bruno Mars

The song replaces Taylor Swift‘s “Blank Space” after seven weeks at the helm.

“Uptown Funk!,” released via RCA Records, earns Mars his sixth Hot 100 No. 1 and second as a featured artist: he previously reigned as a guest in his first appearance, on B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You” in 2010. In between, he led with his own tracks “Just the Way You Are” (four weeks, 2010), “Grenade” (four, 2011), “Locked Out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man” (one, 2013).

Among male soloists in the Hot 100’s 56-year history, only nine boast more No. 1s than Mars. Michael Jackson leads with 13, followed by Stevie Wonder (10), Elton John, Paul McCartney, Usher (nine each), George Michael (eight), Phil Collins, Frankie Valli and Elvis Presley (seven each; note that Presley’s career predated the Hot 100’s 1958 launch by two years).

“Uptown Funk!,” the 1,041st Hot 100 No. 1 of all-time, reaches the summit with the majority (65 percent) of its chart activity from sales, as it rebounds 2-1 for a second week atop the Digital Songs chart with 382,000 downloads sold (down 12 percent) in the week ending Jan. 4, according to Nielsen Music.

“Uptown Funk!” pushes 4-2 on the Streaming Songs charts with a 14 percent surge to 10 million U.S. streams. On Radio Songs, it rises 10-9 with an 11 percent increase to 76 million in all-format audience.

“Funk!” previews Ronson’s album Uptown Special, due Tuesday (January 13).

“It’s definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Ronson says of his new Hot 100 leader. “And, I know that it’s one of Bruno’s favorite things that he’s ever done, as well.”

Maldonado’s Pentatonix’s Holiday Album Registers 1 Million in Total Sales

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Kirstie Maldonado has one million to celebrate…

The 22-year-old half-Mexican/part-Spanish singer and her Pentatonix band mates’ holiday album That’s Christmas To Me has surpassed 1 million in total sales in the week ending December 21.

Pentatonix

With another 203,000 sold, its cumulative total now stands at 1.02 million, landing Pentatonix in special company.

That’s Christmas To Me, released through RCA Records, is only the fourth album to sell a million copies in the U.S. in 2014, following the Frozen soundtrack (3.46 million), Taylor Swift’s 1989 (3.34 million) and Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour (1.13 million).

That’s Christmas To Me continues to be the a cappella group’s best selling studio effort, well ahead of PTXmas, which has moved 356,000.

Additionally, That’s Christmas To Me is the first holiday album to sell a million copies in a calendar year since 2011, when both Michael Buble’s Christmas and Justin Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe managed the feat (with 2.45 million and 1.25 million, respectively).

Prince Royce Releases Brand New English-Language Song “Stuck on a Feeling”

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Don’t get stuck on Prince Royce’s new sound; just enjoy the music…

The 25-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter has released a brand new English-language song, “Stuck on a Feeling,” that doesn’t sound anything like his previous work.

Prince Royce

“My friends say it doesn’t sound like me,” Royce tells Billboard. “It’s a whole new vibe, a whole new swag, a whole new animal. But when I hear myself, I think it sounds like me; it’s just not a me that they’ve heard before.”

The “new” Royce sings rhythmic, urban pop in English, with a brand-new album due out next year on RCA Records and on this first track from that album, featuring Snoop Dogg, available for sale on November 24.

The sexy track, produced by Jason Evigan, takes Royce to places he’d never been before. While Royce has long been romantic, he’s never been as forwardly sexy as he is here. And while his urban bachata has been decidedly acoustic, in “Stuck,” he goes more for production and layered tracks.

“It’s a side of me that’s always been here, only people never got to hear it,” says Royce. “I think people never really got to hear my R&B vibe.”

Born and raised in the Bronx, Royce has both Latin and urban roots.

And while he started his career singing his contemporary take on bachata — the traditional music of the Dominican Republic — in his crossover bid to English, he’s taking a very different path.

“As soon as I heard the track, it took me back to New York and the Bronx and the urban vibe,” he says. “And from the beginning, I could hear Snoop doing it. So we reached out and it was amazing how fast he jumped on the track, and when I heard the verse it was exactly how I pictured it. We shot the music video in Los Angeles with director Colin Tilley [of ‘Anaconda‘ fame], and it was insane. It’s so much fun.”

The video shows Royce riding on an elevator that gets stuck. The lights flicker, and suddenly “it’s a whole new world. We don’t know if I’m dreaming or not,” says Royce. “In the last floor I meet up with Snoop Dogg. There’s choreography, there’s dancing. It’s a beautiful video. It’s definitely a big-budget video. It’s exciting.”

More exciting is the prospect of successfully crossing over from Spanish to English, something that hasn’t happened in a while. Royce, who was initially signed to indie Top Stop Music, signed a recording contract in 2013 with Sony Music Entertainment for the release of Spanish-language albums through Sony Music Latin and English-language albums via RCA Records.

The first of those English albums will be released sometime next year. Although Royce wouldn’t give more detail, he says there are collaborations aplenty with both Latin and mainstream acts.

More immediately, Royce is up for four Latin Grammys this week, more than he’s ever competed in, including record and song of the year for his hit single “Darte un Beso.”

“I’m excited for those nominations and for hopefully winning my first Latin Grammy. The fact that it’s bachata music makes it special. It’s a genre that just keeps growing and just being nominated is not so common.”