Pop Sweep: April 23, 2016...

I'm ready to roll out the first of this week's "music sweeps", sampling the choice songs making their debut on the charts in Billboard magazine. As usual, I'll start out on the pop side of things, then later on check out the newest in rock, R&B, country, and dance music. And away we go......

On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which combines tallies from sales (like iTunes and Amazon MP3), internet streaming (like Spotify and YouTube), and radio airplay from all formats, Rihanna spends an eighth week on top with "Work" featuring Drake....

As Drake sits at the top, two of his new tracks make their debut high up in the top quarter of the chart. First at #16 is "Pop Style" featuring Kanye West and Jay-Z (credited as "The Throne"). D

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The other single released this past week from Drake from his upcoming View From The 6 album (due April 29th), is "One Dance", which enters at #21. The single leaps to #1 on the British singles chart, his first as a lead artist in that country. C-

Even though Kanye West's new album The Life Of Pablo isn't available for sale except for his own website and at the Tidal streaming service, the set debuts at #1 on the Top 200 Albums chart in Billboard, and eight of the tracks on the set make the Hot 100 individually, with two in the top-40, solely from "streaming" (now that Spotify carries it). One of those is the Taylor-dissing current radio single "Famous" (with an uncredited Rihanna) at #34. F

Kanye West - Famous from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.


While Rihanna rules the Hot 100, her new single "Kiss It Better" arrives at #80. C

Australian remixer/musician Flume claims his first pop hit in America at #98 with "Never Be Like You" featuring vocals from Kai. It also takes my "Pop Pick of the Week" as well. B+

Country rocker Eric Church slips in at #100 with the second single from his Mr. Misunderstood album, "Record Year". B-

And now on to the pop radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel, G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha jump three spots to #1 with "Me, Myself, & I"...

Songwriting queen Sia returns at #35 with the second single from her This Is Acting album, "Cheap Thrills" featuring reggaeton artist Sean Paul. B+

Singer/songwriter Daya drops in at #40 with "Sit Still Look Pretty", the follow-up to "Hide Away", which went to #7 on this format. B-

Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, Justin Bieber is on top for a fifth week with "Love Yourself"...

Rachel Platten enters the list for a third time at #38 with "Better Place". She went all the way to #1 the first two tries with "Fight Song" and "Stand By You". C+

Ariana Grande moves in at #39 with "Dangerous Woman". C

Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary, or "easy listening" radio chart, Adele reigns for an incredible 21st week with "Hello"...

Country veteran Tim McGraw enters at #30 with "Humble and Kind". The song sits at #11 on the Country Airplay chart. B

That's all for the start of today's journey. I'll be back with the latest on rock radio.