If you’re just popping in to hear about everything Lady Gaga did this week, we won’t be mad. The TL;DR of it: Chromatica is here and it’s everything we dreamed of.
Okay, yes, some other things happened, too: two incredible women topped the Hot 100, BTS announced what they have in store for this year’s Festa celebration, America’s Got Talent returned, and much more.
Take a look at some of the week’s biggest music happenings below.
Future landed his seventh No. 1 album
Future’s High Off Life entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 1, earning 153,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending May 21, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It was Future’s biggest week ever (in terms of units) for a solo album — congrats, Hendrix! See the full rundown here.
Billboard scored the latest Verzuz showdown
Powerhouses 112 and Jagged Edge faced off in a two-hour battle for the latest edition of Verzuz on Monday (May 25), and despite some technical difficulties, both parties brought it. From Jagged Edge’s “He Can’t Love U” vs. 112’s “It’s Over Now” to “Walked Outta Heaven” vs. “Cupid,” see the recap and final score here.
Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce’s ‘Savage’ surged to No. 1
Women are on top again, as Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s “Savage” is the second Hot 100 No. 1 credited to two or more women in three weeks, after Doja Cat’s “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj. Actually, 2020 is the first year with two such leaders — let’s hope the trend continues. Plus, Beyoncé becomes the second artist to have topped the Hot 100 in the 2000s, ’10s and ’20s! Here’s what you need to know about this week’s top 10, and here are five burning questions about the No. 1 feat, answered.
America’s Got Talent returned
America’s Got Talent‘s Season 15 premiere on Tuesday night (May 26) saw some impressive auditions. (The episode was filmed before production on the show shut down due to the pandemic.) For your convenience, here are some of the highlights: a rocking duo called Broken Roots, rising comedian Vincent Marcus and singer Archie Williams.
BTS teased their upcoming Festa 2020
Get ready, ARMY: BTS has announced the 2020 edition of their yearly band anniversary. The jam-packed schedule includes special “family portraits,” choreography videos, photo collections and possibly even some new songs. Watch the teaser here, and see the schedule of events here!
The SpaceX launch that wasn’t still provided some musical entertainment
Though Wednesday’s (May 27) mission has been postponed, Kelly Clarkson still slayed a performance of the National Anthem ahead of the scrubbed launch. Plus, space superfan Katy Perry had plenty of thoughts about the launch.
Nicky Jam nailed his Billboard Live At-Home performance
Puerto Rican reggaeton star Nicky Jam was the latest to perform in Billboard’s virtual series, and he absolutely brought it. Nicky offered acoustic takes on “El Amante,” “Travesuras” and “Voy a Beber,” all while raising money for MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund. In case you missed it, watch the performance here.
Anuel revealed all ahead of his new album Emmanuel
Billboard’s Leila Cobo caught up with Puerto Rican rapper Anuel about his new sophomore album, collaborating with Juice WRLD, his friendship with Bad Bunny, his relationship with Karol G and much more. Watch the video interview here.
Billie Eilish shared which artists inspire her
For her Apple Music series “me & dad radio,” Billie Eilish talked about the artists who have inspired her and her music over the years. The 1975, Tyler, the Creator, Marina (and the Diamonds) and Lana Del Rey are all on the list — check out what Eilish had to say here.
Billboard put Beyoncé fans’ chart knowledge to the test
Experts Trevor Anderson and Andrew Unterberger have created a challenging quiz about Queen Bey in celebration of her illustrious career on the Billboard charts. From her early radio days as part of Destiny’s Child to her current hits, test your knowledge here!
Dropkick Murphys and Bruce Springsteen announced they’re teaming up for a major virtual moment
The Celtic punk band and New Jersey legend are uniting for a virtual concert dubbed Streaming Outta Fenway, beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST tonight (May 29). You won’t want to miss this one — here’s everything you need to know about where and when to tune in.
This week was all about Gaga, Gaga, Gaga
Mother Monster’s Chromatica release week was necessarily packed, as she delivered a weather update with “Rain on Me” collaborator Ariana Grande, drove an album delivery truck around town, and — to the surprise of fans — dropped her collab with Blackpink, “Sour Candy,” one day early. Whew! The album is finally here, and we’ve got some initial thoughts.
But there was plenty of other good stuff, too
This week saw a ton of exciting new releases, from Kygo’s star-studded Golden Hour album to Travis Scott and Rosalia’s new collab “TKN” and singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin’s introspective debut LP. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about here!