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K-pop expanded its perimeters and scope this year while simultaneously infusing itself into today’s trends and sounds in creative ways. While many acts raised their international profiles with releases that found bigger audiences than ever, the songs that truly soared pushed the limits to represent more than just the stars singing them.
While it’d be impossible to capture the brilliance of the K-pop industry in one year-end list, these songs give a snapshot of some of the best that the scene had to offer in a year that was challenging for many but offered inspiration in other ways—including from these 25 songs.
Bruce Springsteen’s blockbuster catalog sale to Sony Music Group this week also established a new player in rights acquisitions.
Investment firm Eldridge Industries, which partnered with Sony to finance the purchase of Springsteen’s publishing, now holds a stake one of the industry’s most coveted catalogs — around which it can build an attractive portfolio.
Eldridge Industries is a private investment firm with holdings in tech, media, retail, entertainment and other sectors. Co-founded in 2015 by Todd Boehly, a former president at Guggenheim Partners, Eldridge investments include the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, sports gambling company DraftKings, private jet provider Flexjet and personal finance app Truebill, among others. Eldridge owns a stake in P-MRC, a joint venture of MRC and Penske Media Corporation that operates Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rolling Stone and other media brands.
The Springsteen deal marks the company’s second major music deal, following its acquisition of The Killers’ pre-2020 publishing catalog — both publisher’s and writers’ share — that includes mega-hits “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside” and covers the group’s first five albums.
With both deals, Eldridge has opted to partner with major publishers to work the catalogs and The Killers’ songs continue to be administered by Universal Music Publishing Group.
For the Springsteen deal, Eldridge teamed with Sony Music Publishing to acquire the artist’s career-spanning songwriting catalog of countless classics such as “Dancing in the Dark” and “Born to Run.” It did not participate in Sony’s acquisition of Springsteen’s recordings. In total, Sony paid upwards of $500 million for the two catalogs. Billboard estimates Springsteen’s publishing catalog alone generates $7.5 million per year and is worth upwards of $225 million at a premium 30-times multiple commanded by elite catalogs.
As music catalog prices continue to soar, the partnership makes sense for both companies. Sony, which spent $1.4 billion on music assets in the first half of 2021 — including Paul Simon’s publishing catalog — can afford more top-shelf catalogs with a partner like Eldridge helping carry the financial burden. Working with Sony, the largest music publisher, gives an outsider such as Eldridge a seat at an exclusive table. Such pairings can be crucial when competitors have combined resources to pursue the most desirable catalogs.
Already in 2021, three major private equity firms have pledged significant funding for fmusic rights: Blackstone and Hipgnosis Songs Management announced a $1 billion partnership in October and KKR is again working with BMG “to invest in transactions of all sizes,” the companies said in March. Also in October, Apollo Global Management committed up to $1 billion to fund HarbourView Equity Partners to buy entertainment assets such as publishing and recording rights. Blackstone, KKR and Apollo have a combined $1.57 trillion under management.
David Reich has been named president at UnitedMasters, the company announced Friday (Dec. 17). He succeeds Lauren Wirtzer-Seawood, who departed the role in May to join SoundCloud as chief content and marketing officer.
Reich arrives at UnitedMasters following five years at Uber, where he led product and growth in 60 countries before founding and leading Uber Transit as general manager and head of product. Prior to that, he was a founder and CEO at Assured Labor, a digital recruitment platform in Latin America.
“David has played a key role in building some of the most impactful digital marketplaces in the world,” said UnitedMasters founder and CEO Steve Stoute in a statement. “We are excited that he has joined the UnitedMasters team at such an important inflection point in the music industry and as UnitedMasters continues to scale.”
UnitedMasters claims more than 1.3 million artists on the platform, which provides digital distribution as well as brand partnership opportunities for artists with companies and organizations including the NBA, ESPN, TikTok and Twitch. Over the past year, the company has raised $170 million and is valued at $550 million, with backers including Andreesesen Horowitz, Apple, Alphabet and Disney. Following its most recent funding round in October, the company noted it would use the investment to develop technology that will allow artists “to work and create deals directly with platforms and brand partners, frictionlessly, at scale.”
“With UnitedMasters going beyond distribution and developing a full suite of services to support artists at every step of their journey, I’m thrilled to help our artist base pursue their dreams, grow their fan base, and get paid to do what they love,” said Reich in a statement.
Four out of the top 10-selling albums of the week were holiday efforts, as the march to Christmas nears ever closer.
On Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart dated Dec. 18 (reflecting the sales week ending Dec. 9), Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas TV soundtrack climbs 7-6, Carrie Underwood’s My Gift rises 12-7, Kelly Clarkson’s When Christmas Comes Around… flies 25-9 and Michael Bublé’s chart-topping Christmas holds steady at No. 10.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now MRC Data. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Adele’s 30 is No. 1 on Top Album Sales for a third week in a row, selling 149,000 copies (down 34%). It debuted with 692,000 copies sold, then sold 225,000 copies in its second week. Thus, 30 has sold over 100,000 copies in each of its first three weeks of release – the first album to do so since Taylor Swift’s 2017 release Reputation also sold in excess of 100,000 in its first three weeks.
30 has sold 1.07 million copies in the U.S. through Dec. 9. It is the only album released in 2021 to sell a million copies.
Taylor Swift’s chart-topping Red (Taylor’s Version) is a non-mover at No. 2 on Top Album Sales with 39,000 sold (down 16%). The album’s cumulative sales have now surpassed 500,000 (rising to 520,000 through Dec. 9), marking Swift’s 11th album to sell at least a half-million copies.
Rapper Berner debuts at No. 3 with Gotti. It’s Berner’s first top 10 and best sales week (22,000). The album also debuts at No. 4 on Top Rap Albums and No. 2 on the Independent Albums chart.
Olivia Rodrigo’s former No. 1 Sour falls 3-4 (17,000 sold; down 18%), The Beatles’ chart-topping Let It Be rises 6-5 (16,000; down 10%), Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas climbs 7-6 (16,000; down 3%), Carrie Underwood’s My Gift ascends 12-7 (15,000; up 10%), NCT 127’s Sticker: The 3rd Album bounces 27-8 (15,000; up 43%), Kelly Clarkson’s When Christmas Comes Around vaults 25-9 (14,000; up 10%), Michael Bublé’s former No. 1 Christmas is steady at No. 10 (13,000; down 6%).
First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Junior H, “Nací Para Amarte” (Warner Music Latina)
Once a sad boy, always a sad boy. Junior H digs deep for an ultra personal heartbreak anthem that stays true to his sad sierreño style. The 21-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter delivers “Naci Para Amarte,” powered by melancholic melodies via an acoustic guitar that pairs perfectly with his nostalgic lyrics. “If only you knew how often I keep checking my phone. What will we do? If there’s something that should never die, baby, that should be our love,” Junior H sings in his distinguished hoarse voice. — GRISELDA FLORES
Casper Magico & Bryant Myers, “Karma” (Flow La Movie/GLAD Empire)
Produced by the late Flow La Movie, Casper Mágico and Bryant Myers join forces once again for their new single “Esclava.”
This mid-tempo urban collaboration follows a handful of collaborations between the Puerto Rican rapper who often link up for new songs and remixes. “Tell me, how do you expect me to forgive you? You failed thinking that I was not going to find out … Karma exists, baby. And one day you will be next,” Casper declares in the song. Flow, who often worked with Casper Mágico as his producer and was his manager, passed away at 38 on Wednesday (Dec. 15) in a plane crash. — INGRID FAJARDO
Carin Leon, “Como Que Me Enamoro” (Tamarindo Rekordsz)
A mix of covers (including his must-listen version of Selena’s “Si Una Vez”) and original songs, Sonora-born Carin Leon released his new album Pistiembre Todo El Año. A standout on the 22-track set, which was recorded live, is the banda track “Como Que Me Enamoro” penned by Leon and Gilbran Rosas. “This one is for all of those that are in love,” the 32-year-old chart-topping artist says at the top of the song, and there’s nothing quite like Leon’s golden-voiced delivery of a love ballad, his emotions are palpable. “I’m feeling so hopeful, they say I’m in love, and it’s true, I’m hooked, there’s no denying that.” — G.F.
Kim Loaiza & Ovy on the Drums “Ya No Somos” (Space Music)
Influencer and singer Kimberly Loaiza’s teams up with artist-producer Ovy on The Drums for a heartbreaking new single, “Ya No Somos.” The pop-urban track with thumping beats, penned by Loaiza, Ovy on The Drums, and Keytin, JD Pantoja, and Gotex, doesn’t fail to bring that nostalgic sentiment of a romance that once was while also exploring the complex emotions and overwhelming feeling that follow a breakup. “Today I drink in your honor. For what we were, and what we are no
longer, baby,” Loaiza sings in the chorus. — I.F.
Camilo, “Pesadilla” (Sony Music Latin/Hecho A Mano Music)
The ever-so chameleonic Colombian artist Camilo goes punk-pop for his new single titled “Pesadilla,” which dropped alongside a quirky music video directed by singer-songwriter Evaluna (Camilo’s wife). The Café Tacvba-esque track — which at first listen becomes one of those songs that gets stuck in your head thanks to its earworm hook (“Bye bye bye bye”) — takes inspiration from Camilo’s love for Mexican-music influences, which have always played an integral role in his sonority. In “Pesadilla,” Camilo sings about the nightmare of losing one’s partner to a rival. “But not even in my dreams you’ll take her away from me,” he declares in song. — G.F.
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