Phoebe Bridgers & Maggie Rogers’ ‘Iris’ Cover Sells 28,000 in Paid Downloads in One Day of Availability

It started with a Twitter guarantee — acclaimed indie singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers promising to cover the Goo Goo Dolls’ minivan rock classic “Iris” if Donald Trump lost the presidential election. It was taken to the next level with a response by fellow alternative star and critics’ darling Maggie Rogers, who responded by asking if Bridgers could use some backup harmonies on her rendition. And now, it’s set to be one of the week’s best-selling songs.

Bridgers and Rogers’ “Iris” cover — credited to “Phoebe & Maggie,” and sold as a pay-what-you-want one-day exclusive on Bandcamp — sold 28,000 copies this Friday (Nov. 13) in the U.S., according to initial reports to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. (Bandcamp only reports sales that meets Billboard’s minimum price threshold to be included in chart calculations.)

Though the song is no longer available for purchase (or to stream), that one-day number would likely place Phoebe & Maggie’s “Iris” in contention to become one of the week’s best-selling songs (tracking mix of Nov. 13-19). For reference, 28,000 in sales would have been enough in sales to top Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart many weeks so far this year — though for this tracking week, it will face some heavy competition in Billie Eilish’s new song “Therefore I Am,” as well as several country songs whose sales have been boosted following performances at Wednesday’s CMA Awards.

The one-day sales total may also be enough for the duo’s “Iris” cover to contend for the multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 chart. It would be a particularly notable Hot 100 entry for both artists, as neither Bridgers nor Rogers has yet made an appearance on the chart. (Both have notched multiple entries on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, with Bridgers reaching a peak of No. 25 in 2018 for her guest appearance on Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met,” and Rogers making it to No. 18 in 2016 with her breakout hit “Alaska.”)

The Goo Goo Dolls’ original “Iris,” first released on the City of Angels soundtrack in 1998, made it to No. 9 on the Hot 100. That peak likely would have been even higher if not for Hot 100 rules deeming songs not released as commercial singles as ineligible for the chart — which were eliminated in late 1998, just in time for the song to make a belated top 10 debut, but after its tremendous popularity had already crested. It stayed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart for a then-unprecedented 18 weeks, a record that held until just this year, when The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” held on top for a staggering 26 frames.

Proceeds for the Phoebe & Maggie “Iris” cover will benefit Georgia politician Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight organization, which promotes fair elections in Abrams’ home state and around the nation, while also encouraging voter participation, and educating voters about their rights. The full Nov. 13-19 sales tracking week will impact the Nov. 28-dated Billboard charts, which will update on Billboard.com Nov. 24.

/by

‘Prayers for Jeremih’: Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent & More Respond to COVID-19 Reports

Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent and Big Sean are praying for Jeremih amid thus far unconfirmed reports that the singer is battling COVID-19.

Jeremih is allegedly hospitalized in an ICU in Chicago. Billboard has reached out to a representative of the R&B hitmaker for comment.

“Please if you can take a second to pray for my friend Jeremih, he is like a brother to me and he’s ill right now,” Chance wrote on Twitter Saturday afternoon (Nov. 14). “I believe in the healing power of Jesus so if you can for me please please say a prayer over him,”

“pray for my boy Jeremih he’s not doing good this covid shit is real,” 50 cent said. On Instagram, the rapper also wrote, “he’s in ICU in Chicago.”

“Prayers up,” Big Sean tweeted, “praying for your strength @Jeremih.”

“Prayers up to jerimah and his family,” Meek Mill wrote.

Hitmaka pleaded for prayers on Instagram as well, indicating that he had spoken to Jeremih’s mother. “I need everyone to pray for my brother @jeremih this message is posted with his mothers blessings,” he wrote.

/by

Ariana Grande Hits the Laboratory in ’34+35′ Video Teaser

Ariana Grande is getting scientific for her next music video.

The 27-year-old pop star took to social media on Saturday (Nov. 14) to tease a snippet from the upcoming music video for her sensual jam “34+35.”

Set in a high-tech laboratory, Grande wears a long white lab coat with matching stiletto boots while nervously walking and taking notes on a clipboard. She then approaches a large piece of machinery and slams her hand onto a round button.

“Ariana Grande ’34+35,’” reads a message at the closing. “Coming to a screen near you.”

“34+35″ is the second single from Grande’s latest album, Positions, which recently topped the Billboard 200, giving the singer her firth No. 1 album.

The song debuted at No. 8 on the Hot 100 earlier in the week with 21.7 million streams, 5.7 million airplay audience impressions and 3,000 sold. “34+35″ is Grande’s 18th total top 10 hit on the Hot 100 to date, the most of any woman in the chart’s history.

Check out the “34+35″ video teaser here.

/by

Erykah Badu Shares Unusual COVID-19 Test Results: ‘Left Nostril Positive, Right Nostril Negative’

Erykah Badu is a little confused by her results from a recent COVID-19 test.

On Friday (Nov. 13), the Grammy-winning songstress shared on social media that she was ultimately given a clean bill of health after multiple tests over 24 hours, but that previous results strangely showed she had tested both positive and negative.

“No symptoms. Was tested for COVID. Same machine. Left nostril positive. Right nostril negative,” Badu tweeted. “Maybe they need to call Swiss Beats so they can do a versus between them. Funny thing is, Dr. ONLY reported the positive result. What the fack is goin on here. Rapid Test. $$$$ smh.”

The “Afro Blue” singer shared a screenshot of the contradictory test results and noted that she and her band regularly take coronavirus tests prior to livestream broadcasts.

“What an inconvenience to be tested positive then negative 3x after within 24 hours. Same test. We understand that they aren’t 100% accurate but this is strange,” she tweeted.

Badu isn’t the only celebrity experiencing unusual COVID test results. Earlier in the day, Elon Musk tweeted that he went through the same ordeal.

“Something extremely bogus is going on,” the Tesla and SpaceX founder wrote. “Was tested for covid four times today. Two tests came back negative, two came back positive. Same machine, same test, same nurse. Rapid antigen test from BD.”

Check out Badu’s tweets below.

/by

Walter C. Miller, Longtime Producer for the CMA Awards, Dies at 94

Walter C. Miller, a former executive producer for the Country Music Association Awards, died on Nov. 13, the organization revealed on Saturday (Nov. 14). He was 94.

Miller worked for the CMAs for four decades in various producing capacities. “Walter was an absolute television legend,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer. “When you worked with him, you instantly knew you were in the presence of greatness. He brought so much innovation and brilliance to the CMA Awards over the 40 years he worked with the organization.”

He was born in 1926 and began his television career in the ’40s as a lighting director for variety series The Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour on NBC. Among his other early credits, Miller worked on Startime, The Bell Telephone Hour and Sing Along With Mitch.

Later in his career, Miller directed television events including New Orleans Jazz Festival 1969, Johnny Cash and Friends, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and the Barbra Streisand special The Belle of 14th Street. Miller worked with numerous musicians throughout his career, among them Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra.

“Walter Miller was my friend and mentor,” says Robert Deaton, CMA Awards executive producer. “Everything I know about producing great television I learned from Walter Miller. Walter had a long list of accomplishments and credits and working with the biggest names in entertainment. However, I know that working in Nashville and with the CMA Awards was closest to his heart. He loved our artists, and in return we counted Walter as one of our own. Today we say thank you, you will be missed and rest in peace dear friend.”

He was nominated for 19 Emmy Awards, winning five trophies in the years between 1972 and 1999. In 2007, Miller received the CMA Presidents Award, followed later by the Irving Waugh award for his lifelong service to the organization.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

/by