Billboard Hot 100: 03/27/2021

[Mayman]

I think they just pushed the wrong song tbh. Wants and Needs is the hit out of the three imo. I feel like it would be doing better than WN if it had a music video and better playlisting.

[thegreatdivine]

Mar 15, 2021 7:27:17 GMT -5 violentdreams said:

Mar 15, 2021 7:22:14 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

Has nothing to do with Drake. Has everything to do with the current state of streaming.

I don't think there's any way to paint losing 2.6m streams in a week as anything except an L for Drake. The songs clearly didn't resonate (which is fair for LPF but not for the other two), which is quite bad considering that people are clearly desperate for new music to stream. You'd think Drake could just drop a song with a decently catchy hook and get an easy smash hit. The bar is extremely low and he fell below it.

Bruno Mars dropped the best song of 2021 (so far) and is down to 800K streams in the US in less than 2 weeks (that's with built up hype and anticipation for his return, which he more than delivered on with a quality single). Same with Bieber and Hold On. The only outlier this year has been Drivers License and even that lost most of it's streams in it's first few weeks despite it's huge peak.

Most songs in the top 10 will need radio to remain steady in that region because they WILL bleed streams. That's inevitable.

You trying to somehow paint this as an L for Drake makes absolutely no sense. He dropped rap songs, which don't usually smash on Spotify Global. That's left to more melodic songs. He's debuting 3 songs in the top 5, possibly top 3 today and 2 of those songs will likely remain in the top 10 for a second week. How anyone can paint that as an L is beyond me, especially when the EP he dropped isn't even a part of his official album era rollout - just 3 songs he dropped just because.


This is something I've been hammering on for months now because I knew some of you would say this when Drake or any other huge streaming artist dropped new music and it didn't smash upon release and remain that way. I hope people like Post Malone and Ed Sheeran can release new music soon so you'll get more of a sample size to see that people simply don't want to stream new music as much as they used to. It has nothing to do with the quality of songs being put out or how huge of a mainstream act releases new music.

[thegreatdivine]

Many of you keep waiting for some huge mainstream act to release new music and steadily pull 3-5M daily streams on Spotify US and that's just not realistic. It won't happen and if it does, it won't last nearly long enough, just like we saw with Drivers License.

There isn't some magical savior coming to save streaming in the US with their new music. Until more of the US opens back up and people can experience music in groups again, I don't see streaming starting to rebound. The biggest acts will score huge debuts, sure, but they'll lose those streams eventually and it'll happen quickly.

[gikem]

Beautiful Mistakes and Follow You have both disappeared from the US Spotify Top 200 today. Not sure whether they'll come back at all.

[Xander]

Mar 15, 2021 6:53:48 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

Enigma. oops, that's true. Just noticed. It's down to #6 now. Leave the Door Open, on the other hand, is still stuck at #5. Perhaps enough people just haven't woken up yet.

I think you mean #15. And up is at #5

[thegreatdivine]

Mar 15, 2021 8:24:16 GMT -5 Xander said:

Mar 15, 2021 6:53:48 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

Enigma. oops, that's true. Just noticed. It's down to #6 now. Leave the Door Open, on the other hand, is still stuck at #5. Perhaps enough people just haven't woken up yet.

I think you mean #15. And up is at #5

Yeah, I meant #15 for Leave the Door Open and if Up is #5 now, it just rose. It was #6 at the time I made that post.

[violentdreams]

Mar 15, 2021 7:54:31 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

Mar 15, 2021 7:27:17 GMT -5 violentdreams said:

I don't think there's any way to paint losing 2.6m streams in a week as anything except an L for Drake. The songs clearly didn't resonate (which is fair for LPF but not for the other two), which is quite bad considering that people are clearly desperate for new music to stream. You'd think Drake could just drop a song with a decently catchy hook and get an easy smash hit. The bar is extremely low and he fell below it.

Bruno Mars dropped the best song of 2021 (so far) and is down to 800K streams in the US in less than 2 weeks (that's with built up hype and anticipation for his return, which he more than delivered on with a quality single). Same with Bieber and Hold On. The only outlier this year has been Drivers License and even that lost most of it's streams in it's first few weeks despite it's huge peak.

Most songs in the top 10 will need radio to remain steady in that region because they WILL bleed streams. That's inevitable.

You trying to somehow paint this as an L for Drake makes absolutely no sense. He dropped rap songs, which don't usually smash on Spotify Global. That's left to more melodic songs. He's debuting 3 songs in the top 5, possibly top 3 today and 2 of those songs will likely remain in the top 10 for a second week. How anyone can paint that as an L is beyond me, especially when the EP he dropped isn't even a part of his official album era rollout - just 3 songs he dropped just because.


This is something I've been hammering on for months now because I knew some of you would say this when Drake or any other huge streaming artist dropped new music and it didn't smash upon release and remain that way. I hope people like Post Malone and Ed Sheeran can release new music soon so you'll get more of a sample size to see that people simply don't want to stream new music as much as they used to. It has nothing to do with the quality of songs being put out or how huge of a mainstream act releases new music.

If your theory is right though and it has nothing to do with quality, then it will probably take a year minimum for the music industry to recover completely. Things are getting better in the US and vaccination rates are high, plus things are opening back up pretty rapidly. By that metric streams should be rising, not stagnating at pathetically low levels. What you're suggesting implicates that people are so worn down by the past year that even in spite of improving conditions, they're less enthusiastic about engaging in new culture than they were in the early months of the pandemic. That's a sad thought, but it's a very likely one. It also spells a longer and more difficult road to normal given that it won't only be an economic recovery, but a mental recovery America needs in order for our culture to become vibrant again.

I have my own reasons to be skeptical though, even if I agree with you to a point. If people were totally disinterested in streaming new music and barely touching 1m streams is the new standard for our current hits for the time being, I just don't think Drake would have come anywhere near to reaching 2.5m+ streams on his first day (let alone 3.6m). The issue is that the best that's out there right now is extremely dodgy and mediocre. Songs like 34+35 and Up would be lucky to scratch the top 15 in a more healthy music climate, but they're the best the music industry has to offer right now. That is probably partially why streams are so dismal right now. If Drake didn't phone it in I'm pretty comfortable saying that he would be performing overwhelmingly better than those songs and not on the same level as them. Definitely not God's Plan levels, but at least around 1.5m-2m daily. Because they're not very good songs and it wouldn't take a lot to outperform them.

[Gary]

It is possible streaming just reached a natural peak. It has been the latest big thing for a few years now with skyrocketing numbers. To everything though there is a limit and what goes up eventually starts to come back down.

[jenglisbe]

Mar 14, 2021 20:47:07 GMT -5 Groovy said:

Another head scratcher I have to point out is Watermelon Sugar winning Pop Solo Performance, it's a good song but it shouldn't have won over cardigan, Don't Start Now or everything i wanted but at least Yummy didn't win.

It's especially puzzling since Dua won Pop Album (over Harry) and Billie won Song of the Year. As in, it's random that many voters somehow all decided on their won to vote Harry there and others elsewhere.

[jenglisbe]

Streaming for the top songs may be down, but Drake also isn't holding on well. Both things can be true.

[chartfreak]

Dua seems to have had one of the best effects from the show, at least on Itunes with 2 songs in the top 10.

[thegreatdivine]

violentdreams the songs he released are definitely not his best, which is why they're loosies. He didn't tag them as anything special or anything off his forthcoming album. They're just new songs to pacify fans while he finishes his album.

As for why he scored so a huge debut, that's purely based off interest and curiosity. Artists like Taylor Swift/Drake will always score huge debuts on streaming. Fans and the GP will check out anything they drop - the trick seems to keep people streaming their new music at high levels and that seems to be difficult right now.

Maintaining some consistency in streaming right now isn't impossible, the only thing is that those numbers will be low. It's not a coincidence that there's at least a handful of songs that aren't even 5 months old and are already down to 900-700K daily streams.

Vaccinations in the US are happening quickly but a lot more people are still yet to be vaccinated and it's not like festivals, parties and concerts are back in full force. That's yet to happen around the US. It'll take some time but I think we can expect streams to start picking back up around the summertime (hopefully).

I refuse the believe the biggest mainstream acts have magically lost their commercial powers. People unfortunately just aren't as enthusiastic about streaming new songs at high levels consistently like they were before the pandemic hit.

[thegreatdivine]

Mar 15, 2021 8:58:34 GMT -5 Gary said:

It is possible streaming just reached a natural peak. It has been the latest big thing for a few years now with skyrocketing numbers. To everything though there is a limit and what goes up eventually starts to come back down.

This is certainly a possibility but the #1 song on Spotify US being just a few thousand streams above 1M is uncommonly low for the hundreds of millions of people in the US with paid subscriptions on audio streaming services. It's more like they just don't want to stream new music as much as they used to.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

I think it’s a combination of many factors. The pandemic being one, the fact that for a lot of people, music is a social activity and that’s not happening much for now. But I still believe there’s some longer-term factor at stake that involves the trajectory of musical stars and their impacts not being as big as stars of past decades because there’s not as much development or investment in them.

[Gary]

Another possibility is the mix of people streaming has changed. More genre fans have adapted to streaming and thus streaming may not be quite so rap-centric anymore, so the streaming numbers at the top are falling because those streams are going to other songs?

(Disclaimer: Don't know the exact answer, just putting up reasonable possibilities)

[thegreatdivine]

Mar 15, 2021 9:12:10 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

Streaming for the top songs may be down, but Drake also isn't holding on well. Both things can be true.

This would be believable if every song right now on Spotify US wasn't below 1M daily streams save for a Drake song released less than 2 weeks ago. Leave the Door Open debuted with 1.7M streams and is already down to 800K streams. It's currently #1 on Spotify's Today's Top Hits playlist, along with Hold On at #2, yet neither of them have gained any considerable streams.

It's held better than the Drake songs but it's one song against 3 Drake songs and it debuted with way less streams to begin with. If it was already down to let's say 400K streams, that would be truly tragic, but it also not gaining much since it's debut proves that people have been streaming less and less since it debuted (like they've been doing with every new song) despite more playlist exposure and a rapid rise on radio.

[thegreatdivine]

All of you bring up great points, though. I believe the real answer might lie somewhere in the middle all our responses.

[chartfreak]

Mar 15, 2021 9:32:28 GMT -5 Gary said:

Another possibility is the mix of people streaming has changed. More genre fans have adapted to streaming and thus streaming may not be quite so rap-centric anymore, so the streaming numbers at the top are falling because those streams are going to other songs?

(Disclaimer: Don't know the exact answer, just putting up reasonable possibilities)

I agree, I think more people are streaming but just not listening to TTH's.

[jthentic]

Mar 15, 2021 10:11:25 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

Mar 15, 2021 9:32:28 GMT -5 Gary said:

Another possibility is the mix of people streaming has changed. More genre fans have adapted to streaming and thus streaming may not be quite so rap-centric anymore, so the streaming numbers at the top are falling because those streams are going to other songs?

(Disclaimer: Don't know the exact answer, just putting up reasonable possibilities)

I agree, I think more people are streaming but just not listening to TTH's.

Evident with Dua's tanking track which's been around top5 on TTH since release.
Same goes for 2 disastrous selena tracks on TTH
won't even touch abt lifestyle & beautiful mistakes

Just being on TTH isn't equal to great streaming nos anymore audience are diversifying
Example (since i follow this track 😅) my ex's best friend has been out of TTH & was placed on mega Hits playlist it's drawing considerably better streams than 70% of those on TTH

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Good thing BTS didn't win a Grammy.

[Groovy]

The more and more I see Dynamite doing well in sales the more I'm convinced it'll get 60 weeks.

[staycool]

Drivers Liscense is finally starting to drop on radio.

[jenglisbe]

Mar 15, 2021 11:08:55 GMT -5 staycool said:

Drivers Liscense is finally starting to drop on radio.

Finally? The song has only been out for 3 months yet and it literally just hit #1 at radio.

Mar 15, 2021 9:33:51 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

Mar 15, 2021 9:12:10 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

Streaming for the top songs may be down, but Drake also isn't holding on well. Both things can be true.

This would be believable if every song right now on Spotify US wasn't below 1M daily streams save for a Drake song released less than 2 weeks ago. Leave the Door Open debuted with 1.7M streams and is already down to 800K streams. It's currently #1 on Spotify's Today's Top Hits playlist, along with Hold On at #2, yet neither of them have gained any considerable streams.

It's held better than the Drake songs but it's one song against 3 Drake songs and it debuted with way less streams to begin with. If it was already down to let's say 400K streams, that would be truly tragic, but it also not gaining much since it's debut proves that people have been streaming less and less since it debuted (like they've been doing with every new song) despite more playlist exposure and a rapid rise on radio.

"driver's license" fell, but it still held up better than Drake is holding up. It's also hard to compare singles with real promotion to this EP, as I don't know if these Drake songs are actual singles in any real sense.

[Enigma.]

My thoughts exactly, I mean BL is still top ten lol

[singingrulebritannia]

Mar 15, 2021 5:56:55 GMT -5 Xander said:

The people liking the posts concerning my comment on the bigger pircture being an alm anthem are weird. Take a look at the lyrics and you’ll see.

I know the song thoroughly, thank you. Your interpretation is a massively uncharitable stretch of one or two lines that are trivially insignificant to the broader message of the song anyway.

Like, do you really think the kind of asshole making their Facebook cover photo the 'thin blue line' will listen to TBP and believe Lil Baby is agreeing with them?

[dremolus - solarpunk]

US Spotify - 03/14/21

1(=) Drake - What's Next 1,040,906 (-221,013)
2(=) Drake - Wants and Needs 938,287 (-207,756)
3(+1) Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license 928,279 (-102,013)
4(+1) Kali Uchis - telepatía 918,949 (-100,216)
5(+1) Lil Tjay, 6LACK - Calling My Phone 913,637 (-99,173)
6(-3) Cardi B - Up 905,865 (-156,087)
7(+1) Doja Cat - Streets 826,347 (-90,518)
8(-1) Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open 815,507 (-132,055)
9(=) SZA - Good Days 773,658 (-86,648)
10(=) The Weeknd - Save Your Tears 732,859 (-94,948)

Others:
11(=) Masked Wolf - Astronaut In The Ocean 671,756 (-98,996)
12(=) Giveon - Heartbreak Anniversary 662,910 (-51,604)
13(=) Pooh Shiesty - Back in Blood 632,659 (-80,659)
14(=) The Weeknd - Blinding Lights 601,466 (-80,709)
15(+2) Dua Lipa - Levitating 575,054 (-84,520)
16(=) Saweetie - Best Friend 574,976 (-86,546)
17(+1) 24kGoldn - Mood 565,272 (-69,989)
18(+1) Glass Animals - Heat Waves 546,345 (-66,229)
19(-4) Drake - Lemon Pepper Freestyle 544,356 (-125,489)
20(=) Bad Bunny, Jhay Cortez - DÁKITI 529,545 (-72,557)
21(+2) The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU 511,127 (-55,389)
23(-2) Justin Bieber - Hold On 494,845 (-89,708)
25(=) Pop Smoke - What You Know Bout Love 452,613 (-45,435)
29(-1) Ariana Grande - 34+35 427,217 (-57,628)
32(=) Lil Baby - On Me 403,122 (-54,410)
36(-3) SpotemGottem - Beat Box 3 393,583 (-57,223)
37(-1) Machine Gun Kelly - my ex's best friend 389,154 (-51,565)
39(-1) Rod Wave - Street Runner 373,430 (-58,551)
41(+2) Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am 370,778 (-36,365)
43(-3) Travis Scott, HVME - Goosebumps 363,334 (-59,509)
44(+4) Tate McRae - you broke me first 363,330 (-24,769)
45(+9) ElyOtto - SugarCrash! 356,164 (-18,210)
47(-3) Dua Lipa - We're Good 354,038 (-52,909)
50(-1) Morgan Wallen - Wasted On You 348,197 (-37,202)
52(-2) Pop Smoke - Hello 339,646 (-44,904)
53(=) Justin Bieber - Anyone 338,077 (-42,207)
59(-25) Machine Gun Kelly - DAYWALKER! 321,062 (-126,011)
60(=) Megan Thee Stallion - Cry Baby 317,850 (-44,619)
61(+4) YBN Nahmir - Opp Stoppa 315,005 (-42,451)
62(+5) Kevin Gates - Big Gangsta 314,077 (-28,796)
64(-1) Bad Bunny, ROSALÍA - LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE 312,784 (-48,631)
66(-25) NF, Hopsin - LOST 311,051 (-98,875)
68(-9) Lil Baby - Real As It Gets 309,594 (-55,016)
72(-8) Tiësto - The Business 304,817 (-52,927)
73(-5) DUSTY LOCANE - ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE 301,338 (-41,495)
75(-3) Morgan Wallen - Sand In My Boots 295,100 (-36,460)
76(+4) Duncan Laurence - Arcade 294,298 (-18,361)
82(-16) Selena Gomez - Baila Conmigo 280,878 (-66,158)
89(+12) Yung Bleu - You’re Mines Still 270,718 (-13,778)
93(+7) Brent Faiyaz - Dead Man Walking 265,635 (-21,277)
100(+5) Taylor Swift - willow 257,652 (-22,771)

105(-9) MoneyBagg Yo - Time Today 253,731 (-37,680)
109(-6) Ritt Momney - Put Your Records On 247,514 (-34,316)
110(-26) ROSÉ - On the Ground 247,411 (-60,662)
118(+45) Beach Bunny - Cloud 9 242,193 (+10,799)
120(-10) DDG - Moonwalking in Calabasas Remix 241,004 (-31,188)
128(-12) Chris Brown, Young Thug - Go Crazy 230,760 (-34,841)
131(-11) DaBaby - Masterpiece 229,043 (-34,244)
145(-19) Erica Banks - Buss It 220,353 (-38,310)
147(-16) Pop Smoke - AP 219,961 (-34,685)
152(-3) LPB Poody - Batman 218,157 (-23,181)
159(-9) Giveon - Like I Want You 215,314 (-25,941)
168(-10) Brent Faiyaz, DJ Dahi - Gravity 210,091 (-24,129)
182(-29) Myke Towers, Juhn - Bandido 203,391 (-35,790)
193(-20) Ava Max - My Head & My Heart 198,234 (-28,513)

drivers license dips below 1M streams for the first time

[Groovy]

Tomorrow we can see some better streams, I hope.

[jthentic]

👨‍🎤👨‍🎤

[atg]

Mar 15, 2021 7:41:48 GMT -5 Mayman said:

I think they just pushed the wrong song tbh. Wants and Needs is the hit out of the three imo. I feel like it would be doing better than WN if it had a music video and better playlisting.

I feel the same too. I think What’s Next is the “I’m Upset” of CLB if it makes it onto the album, except its nowhere near as drained and controversial as Upset was. But i can see some people drawing similarities due to their similar song structures with their repetitive pre, main, and post hooks.

[jayhawk1117]

Your faves could never