WALK THE MOON
Led by the bright, nimble voice of group founder Nicholas Petricca, spirited and quirky indie rockers Walk the Moon emerged from Cincinnati, Ohio with their first alternative hit, “Anna Sun,” in 2012. They went from popular to ubiquitous courtesy of their international hit “Shut Up and Dance.” It was taken from the group’s third full-length, the platinum-selling 2014 release Talking Is Hard, which reached a high of 14 on the Billboard 200. They again cracked the Top 40 with 2017’s What If Nothing, scoring a number one Alternative Songs chart single with “One Foot.” Following the 2019 single “Timebomb,” the band delivered their fifth album, HEIGHTS, in 2021.
With roots at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio in the late 2000s, Walk the Moon’s 2010 debut album, I Want! I Want!, was recorded with Petricca, guitarist Nick Lerangis, bassist Adam Reifsnyder, and drummer Adrian Galvin. After releasing it independently, the band partnered with Brooklyn-based boutique management company Mick Management and eventually signed with RCA Records. For their follow-up, a reworked lineup of Petricca, guitarist Eli Maiman, bass player Kevin Ray, and percussionist Sean Waugaman headed to Atlanta, Georgia’s Doppler Studios with producer/mixer/songwriter Ben Allen. The resulting sophomore outing, Walk the Moon, arrived on RCA in 2012. Led by the single “Anna Sun,” it charted inside the Top 40. The following year saw the release of the Tightrope EP, which peaked at number 54.
In December 2014, the band issued their third long-player, Talking Is Hard, via RCA. The anthemic single “Shut Up and Dance” charted on no less than five continents and reached the U.S., U.K., Canadian, and Australian Top Five. The song also garnered a Teen Choice Award nomination and an MTV Video Music nomination. Buoyed by that success, Walk the Moon headlined their own tour in 2015 and capped off the year by performing live during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in New York City. The band’s first live album, You Are Not Alone: Live at the Greek, appeared in 2016 and also landed on the Billboard 200.
In 2017, the group returned with their fourth proper album and third for RCA, What If Nothing, featuring production by Mike Crossey, Mike Elizondo, and Captain Cuts. Buoyed by the Hot 100 single “One Foot,” the set reached number 40 on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Alternative Albums chart. They embarked on the Press Restart Tour that November, wrapping it up in the U.K. the following April. Walk the Moon were featured on the Morgxn track “Home” later in the year, returning with another effervescent single of their own, “Timebomb,” in early 2019. Soon after, they parted ways with bassist Kevin Ray. Working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band completed work on their fifth full-length, 2021’s HEIGHTS. Included on the album was the Mike Crossey and Tommy English-produced single “Can You Handle My Love?,” a collaboration with singer K. Flay.
Adele
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, professionally known as Adele, is a renowned English singer-songwriter celebrated for her mesmerizing mezzo-soprano vocals and exceptional songwriting skills. Graduating from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele embarked on her musical journey by signing a record deal with XL Recordings. Her debut album, ’19,’ introduced the world to her artistry in 2008, delivering hit singles like ‘Chasing Pavements’ and ‘Make You Feel My Love.’ This critically acclaimed album not only sold over 2.5 million copies in the UK but also secured a position among the top 20 best-selling debut albums of all time in her home country. Adele’s talent was quickly recognized, leading to her being honored with the prestigious Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Continuing her meteoric rise, Adele released her second studio album, ’21,’ in 2011, which swiftly became the best-selling album of the 21st century with a staggering 31 million copies sold worldwide. ’21’ broke records by dominating the US charts for 24 consecutive weeks, thanks to iconic tracks like ‘Rolling in the Deep,’ ‘Someone like You,’ and ‘Set Fire to the Rain,’ which became synonymous with her name. The album’s immense success culminated in six Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year. Demonstrating her versatility, Adele ventured into the realm of film music with ‘Skyfall’ in 2012, a soundtrack single for the James Bond movie of the same name that won her an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
In 2015, Adele unveiled her third studio album, ’25,’ shattering sales records in both the UK and the US. Notably, ’25’ achieved the remarkable feat of selling over three million copies within a week in the US alone, setting an unprecedented milestone in the music industry. The album’s exceptional quality earned Adele five Grammy Awards, further solidifying her position as a musical powerhouse. With the release of her fourth studio album, ’30,’ in 2021, Adele continued her legacy of success, as demonstrated by the chart-topping and Grammy-winning single ‘Easy on Me.’ Both ’25’ and ’30’ ascended to become the best-selling albums globally in their respective years of release, reaffirming Adele’s unquestionable dominance in the industry and her ability to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Dan + Shay
3x GRAMMY-winning duo Dan + Shay continue to etch a permanent mark on country music – and beyond – with the release of the duo’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, Bigger Houses, co-produced by the band’s Dan Smyers and Scott Hendricks.
Their single “Save Me The Trouble,” which Rolling Stone Country succinctly describes as “anthemic,” landed at Country radio having the most adds for the week, marking the duo’s largest career add day ever, in addition to being the highest Country Aircheck debut since June 2022. The first offering from Bigger Houses features an ascending melody that builds into an explosive chorus, ‘Save Me The Trouble’ showcases a sound indicative of the new record’s direction that emphasizes a more live, organic feel.
The long-awaited new music follows the duo’s record-shattering, critically acclaimed, and multi-award-winning album, Good Things. Also co-produced by Smyers, the highly imaginative LP featured their most recent country radio No. 1’s – the Platinum-certified hits ‘I Should Probably Go To Bed’ and 2x Platinum ‘Glad You Exist,’ which marked the duo’s sixth consecutive No.1 and ninth career No.1, as well as the 5x Multi-Platinum global smash ‘10,000 Hours’ with Justin Bieber. In addition, the Platinum-certified album Good Things was the first country album in the streaming era to achieve RIAA Gold certification at release and is one of only 12 albums all-genre to be released and go Gold in 2021.
Rod Wave
Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, is a rising star in the music industry. Known for his emotional and introspective lyrics, Rod Wave has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his unique sound and storytelling abilities. His music delves deep into personal struggles, relationships, and the realities of life, resonating with listeners on a profound level. Rod Wave’s authenticity and raw talent shine through in each of his tracks, creating a powerful connection with his audience.
With multiple successful albums and chart-topping singles, Rod Wave has solidified his position as a prominent figure in modern hip-hop and rap music. His distinctive voice and ability to convey raw emotions through his music set him apart from other artists in the industry. Rod Wave’s dedication to his craft and commitment to staying true to himself have garnered him a loyal fan base that continues to grow with each new release. As he continues to evolve as an artist, Rod Wave remains unapologetically himself, staying true to his roots and using his music as a platform to share his journey and connect with his supporters on a deeper level.
Swae Lee
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Read MoreKane Brown
Named to the 2021 Time100 list of the most influential people in the world, 5X American Music Award (AMA) winner. Noted as the “future of Country” (Billboard) and one of “31 People Changing the South” (Time), the chart-topping entertainer earned an ACM Album of the Year nomination for Mixtape Vol. 1 , (2020) and won an ACM Video of the Year Award for his anthem “Worldwide Beautiful.” Brown first broke through with his No. 1 self-titled debut album, which spent 13 weeks at the top of the chart and helped him become the first artist in Billboard history to top all 5 Billboard Country charts simultaneously. Brown’s “Heaven” and “What Ifs” are the 3rd and 7th most streamed country songs of all time. Brown’s sophomore album Experiment debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and solidified Brown as the only male country artist in more than 24 years to achieve this all-genre chart feat. Experiment produced three back-to-back Double Platinum No. 1 hits and was ranked by The New York Times as one of the Top 10 Best Albums of the Year. Brown’s current top 10 and climbing hit, “One Mississippi” released on the heels of his three-time CMA nominated multi-week No. 1 single with Chris Young, “Famous Friends.” Brown recently released his latest collaboration, “Blessed & Free" with Grammy and Oscar Award winning artist, H.E.R. to critical acclaim from The New York Times, Billboard, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and UPROXX.
Read MoreWizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known as Wizkid, is a renowned Nigerian singer and songwriter who has solidified his position as a key figure in the contemporary Afrobeats music genre. From a young age of 11, Wizkid ventured into music, culminating in the release of a joint album with the group Glorious Five that he co-founded with friends from his church. His career took a significant turn in 2009 when he signed a record deal with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). Wizkid garnered widespread attention with the release of his debut studio album ‘Superstar’ in 2011, particularly with the tracks ‘Holla at Your Boy’, ‘Tease Me/Bad Guys’, and ‘Don’t Dull’.
In 2014, Wizkid unveiled his self-titled second studio album ‘Ayo’, featuring hit singles like ‘Jaiye Jaiye’. His international breakthrough came in 2016 through the collaboration with Drake on the chart-topping track ‘One Dance’, setting records globally and earning a spot in the Guinness World Records. Transitioning to RCA Records in 2017, he dropped his third studio album ‘Sounds from the Other Side’, accompanied by hits such as ‘Come Closer’ with Drake. Wizkid’s musical prowess continued to shine as he contributed to successful tracks like ‘Checklist’ with Normani and Calvin Harris in 2018 and ‘Brown Skin Girl’ on Beyoncé’s ‘The Lion King: The Gift’, winning a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
With the release of his fourth album ‘Made in Lagos’ in 2020, Wizkid further solidified his place as a global music icon. The album received critical acclaim and commercial success, topping the Billboard World Album Chart. ‘Made in Lagos’ features the standout track ‘Essence’ with Tems, marking a significant achievement as the first Nigerian song to grace the Billboard Hot 100 and later achieving top-ten status with a remix featuring Justin Bieber. Building on his success, Wizkid dropped his fifth album ‘More Love, Less Ego’ on 11th November 2022, continuing to shape the landscape of contemporary music with his innovative sound and unparalleled artistry.
Kodak Black
Kodak Black, originally named Dieuson Octave, rose to fame as an MC from Pompano Beach, Florida at the young age of 18, drawing audiences in with his nostalgic Dirty South ’90s sound. Despite facing controversies and legal issues throughout his journey to success, his raw, aggressive style of rapping propelled his albums like ‘Bill Israel’ (2020), ‘Back for Everything’ (2022), and ‘Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1’ to the top of the music charts.
Kodak Black first shared his music with the public in 2013, starting at just 16 years old. His beginnings involved recording demos in unconventional places like the back of a drug house, providing authenticity to his gritty lyrics reflecting inner-city life. His mixtapes, like ‘Project Baby’ in 2014 and ‘Heart of the Projects’ in 2015, gained attention, especially with hits like ‘SKRT’ which caught the ear of music icons such as Drake. Over the years, Kodak Black’s musical journey included collaborations with industry heavyweights like French Montana, Future, and Young Thug, establishing his presence in the R&B/Hip-Hop scene.
Don Toliver
Caleb Zackery “Don” Toliver, an American rapper, and singer-songwriter, emerged onto the music scene with his debut mixtape, Donny Womack, in 2018, strategically released just before Travis Scott’s album Astroworld. Toliver’s collaboration on the track ‘Can’t Say’ from Astroworld paved the way for his signing with Cactus Jack Records, Scott’s label, in partnership with Atlantic Records. His solo career took off with hits like ‘No Idea’ in 2019 and ‘After Party’ in 2020, both achieving triple platinum status and charting on the Billboard Hot 100. These tracks initially gained traction on TikTok and set the stage for his debut album, Heaven or Hell, which garnered critical acclaim and chart success. Subsequent albums like ‘Life of a Don’ and ‘Love Sick’ continued to showcase Toliver’s talent, securing placements in the top ten of the Billboard 200. He further showcased his versatility by collaborating on the hit song ‘Lemonade’ with Nav and Gunna, reaching the top ten on the Hot 100. Toliver’s fourth studio album, ‘Hardstone Psycho,’ highlighted his trap influences and reached number three on the Billboard 200, featuring the popular single ‘Bandit’.
Read MoreBrent Faiyaz
International style icon & enigmatic R&B sensation, Brent Faiyaz solidifies himself as an artist for any era. Nearly two years since his Lost EP, Faiyaz re-emerges from his hiatus with a fine-tuned grasp on his craft. The unapologetic 10-track Fuck The World seamlessly weaves from rude sex and champagne-soaked nights, to sensitive ideas about legacy, world issues, and the price of fame.
Read MoreElla Mai
Ella Mai, the contemporary R&B singer/songwriter, shot to international stardom after signing with Mustard’s 10 Summers label. Her hit track “Boo’d Up” in 2018, not only reached Top Ten U.S. pop charts but also won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. The success of the song propelled her self-titled debut album into the upper ranks of both U.S. and U.K. charts, followed by multiple gold, silver, and platinum singles. By the time she released her second full-length album, ‘Heart on My Sleeve’ in 2022, Mai already had seven RIAA-certified hits as a headliner.
Originally from southwest London, Ella Mai Howell’s musical journey took her from New York at age 12 back to England after high school. After a setback on The X Factor with a trio named Arize, Mai embarked on a solo career. Discovered by producer Mustard, Mai signed with Interscope-distributed 10 Summers label. Her debut EP ‘Time’ showcased her contemporary R&B style, with hits like ‘She Don’t’ featuring Ty Dolla $ign, establishing her as a talented artist with a unique vocal style. Mai continued her success with subsequent EPs, including the chart-topping ‘Boo’d Up,’ leading to her self-titled debut album. Recognized with Grammy Awards and nominations, Mai’s collaboration with various artists expanded her influence, culminating in her second album ‘Heart on My Sleeve’ in 2022, showcasing a more candid and musically diverse approach to her artistry.
Jonathan McReynolds
Jonathan McReynolds is a contemporary gospel vocalist celebrated for his emotive and uplifting pop- and R&B-infused sound. He made a significant breakthrough with his debut album, ‘Life Music,’ in 2012, which reached number three on the Billboard Gospel chart. Since then, McReynolds has been a consistent chart-topper, achieving number one spots with albums like ‘Life Music: Stage Two’ in 2015 and the Grammy-nominated ‘Make Room’ in 2018. His musical prowess was acknowledged in 2021 when he won a Grammy Award for his single ‘Moving On.’ The talented artist from Chicago’s South Side, Jonathan McReynolds, originally started as a drummer and keyboard player before pursuing his passion for singing during high school. Prior to his solo career, he was part of the group Mind Over Matter, which released an EP. However, his solo music journey began with a set of songs that he initially shared only with family. Surprisingly, the material reached local pastor and DJ John Hannah, who played it on Chicago’s WGRB radio station. This led to the eventual release of ‘The Very Unofficial EP,’ which beautifully showcased McReynolds’ unique blend of modern R&B, jazz, and contemporary singer/songwriter rock. Jonathan McReynolds’ music has resonated with audiences, evident from his songs like ‘I Love You’ making it to Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. His debut album, ‘Life Music,’ released in 2012 under Light Records, not only climbed the Billboard 200 chart but also set the stage for continued success with his subsequent albums like ‘Life Music: Stage Two’ that topped the gospel chart in 2015. McReynolds’ dedication to his craft earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album. The talented artist continued to make waves in the music industry with his live-recorded third album, ‘Make Room,’ in 2018, featuring collaborations with artists like Tonya Baker and Dee-1. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and garnered another Grammy nomination, this time for Best Gospel Performance/Song for the track ‘Cycles.’ McReynolds’ musical journey continued with the release of the EP ‘People’ in 2020, which won him another Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song for the song ‘Moving On.’ Additionally, his single ‘The Greatest Adventure’ from the soundtrack of the film ‘Adventures in Christmasing’ further showcased his versatility as an artist. After captivating audiences with the standalone single ‘Yours to Use’ in 2022, Jonathan McReynolds made a powerful comeback in February 2023 with his fifth full-length album, ‘My Truth,’ centered around his reflections on finding peace in God’s sovereignty.
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