Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we delve deeply into the songs, artists, intriguing curiosities, and evolving trends that have captivated the attention of the music industry. Some artists have emerged seemingly out of nowhere, while others have taken months to gain traction, yet all of them have the potential to become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip, reshaping the landscape of popular music.
This week, the streaming numbers for Sly & the Family Stone have surged dramatically following the passing of the group’s iconic bandleader. Coldplay’s emotional deep cut has gone viral, fueled by the frontman’s rumored real-life heartbreak, and Beyoncé is experiencing a resurgence for a song she’s not even performing on her current tour, among other exciting developments in the music world.
Sly & The Family Stone’s Streaming Surge of 563% After Sly Stone’s Passing
The legendary Sly Stone passed away earlier this week (June 9) at the age of 82, leaving behind a profound legacy that has greatly influenced the genres of funk, rock, and soul. Though his time as a prominent recording artist was relatively short-lived, with the original lineup of his iconic group Sly & the Family Stone disbanding within a decade, the impact he made on future generations of musicians remains significant. He is well-known for producing a couple of timeless classic albums, namely 1969’s Stand! and 1971’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On, along with numerous unforgettable singles that continue to resonate with audiences today.
It comes as no surprise that following his death, fans flocked to various streaming services to revisit Sly & the Family Stone’s most cherished works. His catalog amassed an impressive total of 2.5 million U.S. on-demand audio streams over the two days following his passing (Tuesday and Wednesday), marking a staggering 563% increase from the 385,000 streams recorded during the same period the week prior, according to data from Luminate. Among the classics that saw a significant uptick in streams during this time frame were: “Everyday People” (up 168% to 326,000 streams, buoyed by a recent collaboration with Cher and Future), “Dance to the Music” (up 408% to 174,000), and “Thank You Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin” (up 378% to 169,000). – ANDREW UNTERBERGER
Coldplay’s ‘Sparks’ Experiences a Streaming Surge Amid Breakup Rumors
Last week, it was reported that Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson have reportedly ended their relationship after eight years of an on-and-off romance. While the couple has yet to publicly address these rumors, Coldplay has been actively performing at stadiums as part of their ongoing Music of the Spheres tour. During this time, Martin’s heartfelt rendition of the deeply emotional song “Sparks” has ignited a wave of curiosity and speculation, resulting in a notable increase in streaming figures for the track.
In the poignant lyrics, Martin expresses regret: “And I know I was wrong/ But I won’t let you down/ Oh yeah I will, yeah I will, yes I will,” from the track featured on Coldplay’s 2000 debut album Parachutes. During their stadium performances, he has delivered a stripped-down acoustic version of the song, which adds to the emotional weight of the moment. Following the band’s performances at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on June 10, TikTok videos began to circulate, showcasing Martin’s visibly emotional expression during the song’s chorus, with one particularly popular clip humorously captioned, “Homie is heartbroken.”
Whether these feelings are genuine or merely imaginative projections, the viral moment has translated into impressive streaming gains. “Sparks” garnered 1.5 million U.S. on-demand audio streams on June 9-10, reflecting a 64% rise compared to its streaming numbers from the previous Monday and Tuesday, according to Luminate. It will be interesting to see if this 25-year-old track can maintain its upward trajectory, especially with Coldplay set to perform two stadium shows in El Paso this weekend, where many audience members will undoubtedly focus their attention on Martin during the more emotional segments of the concert. – JASON LIPSHUTZ
YG Aims for a Comeback with Shoreline Mafia’s Collaborative Hit “Hollywood”
The rapidly rising single “Hollywood” from California rap stars YG and Shoreline Mafia (currently featuring OhGeesy and Fenix Flexin) is set to continue the momentum of the West Coast sound, particularly in light of Kendrick Lamar’s influence, as they aim to dominate the charts for the remainder of the year.
Dropped on May 23, this new single represents a more upbeat and danceable flavor of the forthcoming project YG teased with his earlier release in March titled “2004.” Featuring contributions from Shoreline Mafia, the track includes lyrics that directly reference Joey Bada$$: “All the pretty hoes gon’ play this/ Joey Bada$$ gon’ hate this,” setting the stage for a potential summer anthem. “Hollywood” has quickly made waves across social media platforms. On TikTok, the official sound has inspired over 10,000 posts, thanks to the viral choreography created by Storm DeBarge in the accompanying music video.
According to data from Luminate, “Hollywood” achieved an impressive 3.28 million official on-demand U.S. streams within its first full week of release (May 23-29). The subsequent week (May 30-June 5) saw this figure soar by 53.5%, surpassing five million official streams. As of the June 14-dated Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, “Hollywood” made its debut at No. 3, indicating promising prospects for its continued chart performance. If this growth trajectory persists, “Hollywood” could mark YG’s first entry on the Hot 100 as a lead artist in nearly three years. – KYLE DENIS
Beyoncé’s ‘All Night’ from ‘Lemonade’ Receives a Revival Nearly a Decade Later
“All Night,” the sweeping and emotional ballad that concludes Beyoncé’s forgiveness narrative on her blockbuster 2016 album Lemonade, has remained a fan-favorite for nearly ten years. Recently, a viral mash-up featuring Cowboy Carter has propelled it into the spotlight, transforming it into a streaming sensation.
On April 14, TikTok user @cowboydanny shared a captivating mashup of “All Night” with Cowboy Carter’s “Tyrant,” skillfully overlaying the latter’s lead vocals on the former’s instrumental track. This mashup highlights the songs’ shared themes of redemption and healing. The viral mash-up quickly gained traction on TikTok, capturing the attention of the Beyhive and spreading widely following the launch of the Cowboy Carter Tour on April 28. The original post by @cowboydanny has accumulated over one million views, while the sound has been featured in approximately 35,000 posts. On YouTube, the official upload of the mashup boasts nearly 640,000 views. Over the past eight weeks, “All Night” has experienced a steady resurgence on streaming platforms as a new generation of listeners discovers the Lemonade visual album for the very first time.
During the week of April 11-17, “All Night” garnered just under 940,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, as reported by Luminate. Fast forward six weeks later (May 30-June 5), and that figure increased by an astounding 76% to over 1.65 million official streams. Even though Beyoncé does not perform “All Night” on the Cowboy Carter Tour (she does, however, include “Tyrant” in her set), the song continues to resonate with listeners and attract new fans nearly a decade after its release. – KD
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