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Tag: Billboard

  • Taylor Swift named No.1 top artist of 21st century

    Taylor Swift named No.1 top artist of 21st century

    American music superstar, Taylor Swift has emerged first on the list of Billboad’s Top Artistes of the 21st Century.

    The acclaimed American music and entertainment magazine, named Taylor Swift a number one in the list released  on its website.

    Billboard provides music charts, news, video,opinion,reviews, events and styles to the music industry, and Its music charts include the Hot 100, the 200, and the Global 200, tracking the most popular albums and songs in various music genres.

    In the list that combines the chart performances of all artists in the 21st century, Taylor Swift emerged as the biggest act in a list that includes the foremost and best-selling acts of the century.

    Billboard wrote: “Taylor Swift reigns as the No. 1 artist on Billboard’s recap of the first 25 years of the 21st century, leading Billboard’s Top Artist of the 21st Century.

    “Based on performance on the 200 albums chart and the BillboardHot 100 songs chart from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.”

    Standing at number two  is Canadian artiste  Drake who was ranked the top rapper of the 21st century, thanks to his serial release of hit singles that include 13 number one songs.

    Despite seemingly retiring from music, Rihanna has a long list of accomplishments which placed her in the  third position on the list of top artists of the 21st century.

    Multi-talented star Post Malone is number four and Hip Hop royalty Eminem is number five on the list thanks to his longevity which has helped him to become one of the best-selling artists of the century.

    Other artists in the top 10 include Beyonce at at number 6, the Weeknd at number seven, Justin Bieber at number. eight, Bruno Mars at number nine, and Usher at number. 10.

    Swift, 35, who released her debut album in 2006, is  Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic reinventions, and cultural impact.

    She is acclaimed to have won 324 awards since the beginning of her career, out of over 500 nominations.

    Her notable awards include 14 Grammys, including four Album of the Year awards, making the first and only artist to win the award four times, and the first female artist to win it three times.

    She is the most decorated artist in Billboard Music Awards history, wining 49 Billboard Music Awards, including the top artist award in 2024.

    Her other accolades include won 40 American Music Awards, 30 MTV Video Music Awards, including five Video of the Year awards, 25 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

    Taylor Swift has won the Global Recording Artist of the Year award from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry four times, among other feats.

  • ‘Die With A Smile’ by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars tops Billboard Chart

    ‘Die With A Smile’ by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars tops Billboard Chart

    ‘Die with a Smile’ by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ by Shaboozey coming in at second.

    Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather”, ‘Lose Control’ by Teddy Swins, and “APT.” by Rose and Bruno Mars are third, fourth and fifth respectively on the chart.

    “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams, “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, as well as “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, are the other songs that occupied the sixth, seventh and eighth positions.

    “Expresso” and “Taste”, songs by Sabrina Carpenter hold ninth and tenth positions.

    Billboard Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs published weekly by Billboard Magazine.

    Chart rankings are rated every Tuesday of the week and are based on sales, both physical and digital, radio play, as well as online streaming in the United States.

  • Igue Festival’s billboard Debuts in Port-Harcourt

    Igue Festival’s billboard Debuts in Port-Harcourt

    By Godfrey Okpugie-Okunbor

    The resolute quest by the Indigenous People of the United Kingdom of Great Benin Empire for the restoration, unification and industrialisation of the British truncated United Kingdom of Great Benin Empire (UKGBE), has received a remarkable boost by the errection of a colossal, conspicuous billboard at a strategic position in Port-Harcourt City, the capital of Rivers State.

    The gigantic billboard bearing the colour photograph of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin and a message on Igue festival, is the first of its kind to be mounted outside Benin City in the history of Igue festival, which started centuries ago.

    Giving reasons for the novel development, the U.K. based Prince Evangelist Jessy Ọsęmwegiẹ Isibọr, the leader and Co-ordinator general,
    Indigenous People of the Great Benin Empire said:
    “This billboard is to commemorate the Igue Festival, which is one of the significant festivals in the ancient United Kingdom of Great Benin Empire. It is an annual festival. After Igue celebrations comes Aguẹ – a time of fasting and prayer. It was this festival the Indigenous People of Benin Kingdom were celebrating in January, 1897, when the British soldiers invaded our kingdom, killed thousands of our people and thousands of our Artifacts kept in our library and in our altar were stolen. Some of the artefacts are now being returned after 125 years.

    “The United Kingdom of Great Benin Empire stretches through the length and breadth of southern Nigeria, up to Republic of Benin, Ghana and Sierra lone. This is not just a make up story, it is a fact verifiable in historical records.”

    According to Isibor, this billboard is to remind us that some parts of River State traced their origin to acient Benin Empire.
    It is not only in Port-Harcourt or Benin City, Edo State that we intend to mount the billboard. We intend to include other places that formed parts of the ancient Benin empire, but for now, this year, it is only Port-Harcourt and Benin City that the billboards will be mounted.

    “We are, through this approach, reaching out to everybody who traced their origin to the great Benin Empire to embrace our ongoing movement to restore, unite and Industrialise the truncated Great Benin Empire, whose Oba (King) was once unjustly deposed and banished to Calabar, but later in 1914, his son, Oba Eweka 11, was re-instated but the sovereignty of the Kingdom is yet to be restored.

    “It is now time for us to come together and rebuild the Empire and restore our past glory, not only for the Indigenous people of the empire, but Africa, Black race and humanity at large,” Isibor said.

  • 2023: Lagos Speaker unveils billboard, vehicles donated for Tinubu’s presidential campaign

    2023: Lagos Speaker unveils billboard, vehicles donated for Tinubu’s presidential campaign

    The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa has unveiled a billboard and vehicles, donated by the Olu of Iwaya, Oba Babatunde Ajaga in support of Sen. Bola Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the billboard and vehicles donated by Ajaga, the Oba-elect of Iwaya community, was unveiled by the speaker at the Third Mainland Interchange, Adekunle area of Lagos on Friday

    Ajaga said the donation was an endorsement of Tinubu as the most suitable to lead the nation come 2023.

    “As a private businessman for 35 years in real estate, I have checked round, no one is better qualified to lead Nigeria in 2023 than Tinubu.”

    The Oba said that his royal family and council of chiefs were behind Tinubu’s aspirations to run for the office of president in the 2023 general elections.

    “Tinubu is a great man that no one can forget in West Africa. He has done a lot across the country and beyond, for the masses.

    “The gentleman is a good man and I can assure you that Nigerians won’t regret if he emerges as president.

    “I feel so good and happy to contribute to the success of his upcoming campaign because of what he has done all over the nation.

    “I am not a politician, I am a business man to the core, but looking round, Tinubu is the solution.

    “Based on his performance, he is 100 per cent fit to lead. We believe in him and nobody can change our mind,” Ajaga said.

    According to him, Tinubu’s record as a former governor of Lagos state, shows that he is a compassionate father with high ingenuity to make things work in all areas.

    Ajaga advised all stakeholders and corporate organisations to support Tinubu’s presidential bid.

    “I advise all to work for Tinubu and no one will regret, considering his antecedents,” the Oba-elect said.

    Ajaga, urged the Yoruba race to support Tinubu’s aspirations to move forward, and expressed hope that the former Lagos governor would take the country to higher heights.

    Earlier, Obasa, while unveiling the billboard and vehicles, urged Nigerians to support Tinubu and ensure that his ambition came to fruition.

    The speaker said that Tinubu had done a lot for the nation, raised so many leaders and had helped so many achieve their political ambitions.

     

    The Olu of Iwaya, Oba-elect Babatunde Ajaga and other traditional leaders and stakeholders at the unveiling of Sen. Bola Tinubu’s campaign billboard and vehicles on Friday in Lagos.

    Also speaking, Oba Abdulfatai Aromire, the Ojora of Ijoraland, expressed confidence that all the royal fathers in Lagos and Nigeria would support Tinubu’s ambition to move the nation forward.

    Aromire expressed hope that Tinubu would emerge as candidate and ultimately be successful at the polls.

    NAN reports that the event had in attendance, traditional rulers, members of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA) among other notable politicians.

  • #EndSARS: Company reveals who gave orders to turn off billboard at Lekki Toll Gate

    #EndSARS: Company reveals who gave orders to turn off billboard at Lekki Toll Gate

    Loatsad Promo-media Ltd, the company that manages the billboard advertising at the Lekki Toll gate concluded its testimony on Saturday before the Lagos State Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters.

    Last week, the Company Secretary, Abimbola Eniola appeared before the panel in response to summons issued on it to come and assist with the investigations into the incident of Oct 20, 2020.

    Under cross-examination on Saturday by Adesina Ogunlana, counsel to some of the #EndSars Protesters, Mr Eniola said the billboard at the Lekki toll gate does not serve the purpose of illuminating the toll-grounds.

    The witness was answering questions as to who gave the order for the billboard to be turned off.

    The advert company had come under criticism on social media for turning off the billboard and throwing the Lekki toll gate into darkness which allegedly provided cover for Soldiers to open fire on the #EndSars protesters on the night of Oct 20, 2020.

    Counsel to some of the protesters, Mr Ogunlana specifically asked the witness, “Who gave the order to switch off the billboard?”

    In his response, Mr Eniola said, it was the head of Human Resources, Chisa Olabode via the workers’ Whatsapp group chat who gave the directive to turn off the billboard following the state wide curfew announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    He said that after the HR circulated, on the WhatsApp group, the notice of curfew imposed by the state government, the billboards were shut off as members of staff vacated the office by 3pm in order to get home before the initial 4pm announced for the curfew.

    A second witness, Serah Ibrahim, who had testified that at least 12 people were killed at the Lekki tollgate failed to appear before the panel on Saturday on account of ill-health.

    A third witness, Dr Ayobami Aranmolate of Grandville Medical Centre, told the panel that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria was not happy that he had divulged certain confidential records of patients at his last testimony.

    He pleaded with the panel to order the television cameras to be turned off before he could give his testimony. The panel obliged his request and ordered that his testimony not be recorded.

  • Burna Boy’s mom makes Billboard’s 2021 International Power Players list

    Burna Boy’s mom makes Billboard’s 2021 International Power Players list

    Burna Boy’s mother and manager, Bose Ogulu, has been listed amongst one of the 2021 International Power Players by Billboard.

    Billboard’s International Power Players list recognizes leaders in the music industry on a global level. Honourees are nominated by companies and peers in the business and then selected by the editors — with primary responsibility outside the United States.

    Honourees in the list include label executives, music publishers, independent entrepreneurs, artist managers and concert promoters.

    Also known as Mama Burna, Billboard in the article published on Monday recognised Ogulu for her work “..amid the 2020 pandemic, when she co-executive-produced, released and promoted the Twice As Tall album..” for her Grammy award-winning son, Burna Boy.

    Signed to Bad Habit/Atlantic in the United States, and Warner Music International for territories outside of Africa, Burna Boy’s album, Twice As Tall, won in the Best Global Music Album category at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

    In the list, Ogulu stands with the likes of Simon Robson, President, International Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group; and Monica Cornia, Senior VP International Marketing, RCA Records and Arista Records, Sony Music Entertainment.

    Asides from management, Mama Burna is the CEO of Spaceship Collective, the holding company to Spaceship Records and Spaceship Publishing. Both outfits are aimed at enabling Africans to own their catalogues.

     

  • Police arrest A‘Ibom commissioner for allegedly rejecting Buhari’s campaign billboards

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have allegedly arrested the Commissioner for Environment in Akwa Ibom, Iniobong Essien for preventing President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign billboard to be hoisted at a location within the state capital.
    The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ini Ememobong, said in a press statement that the commissioner was detained for hours at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, on Tuesday, before he was later released at night.
    The billboard, Ememobong said, was for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Nsima Ekere, and not that of Mr Buhari.
    He that the commissioner returned to the police headquarters on Wednesday on the police’s request.
    “He is still in the police station as we speak,” the PDP spokesperson said at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
    Ubong Asanga, the media aide to the commissioner confirmed the arrest.
    Ememobong explained in the press statement the controversy surrounding the billboard.
    “According to the facts of the matter, a local vendor had sought and got an approval to erect a billboard. The Ministry approved the erection of the billboard at a particular location free from encumbrances and in accordance with the extant regulations. The vendor many months ago commenced the erection of the board, but at a different location, which for all intent and purposes is not fit for the undertaking he sought.
    “This fact was brought to the attention of the vendor many months back and he halted the erection of some components of the board.
    “Surprisingly, yesterday the ministry learnt that APC agents went to hoist a banner on the billboard and were prevented by security agents.
    “The approved location of the billboard was several meters away from the main thoroughfare of the market. Instead of restricting themselves to the point approved for them, they erected the billboard at a place most unfit for such and in flagrant contravention of environmental regulations,” Mr Ememobong said.
    Continuing, he said, “The Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien in full execution of the regulatory powers vested in his ministry advised the company to relocate the pole to the approved location. Instead of adhering to the advice, the thugs employed by the APC engaged in unrestrained violence injuring bystanders and chasing away staff of the ministry.”
    The PDP spokesperson said the arrest of the commissioner was “deeply offensive”.
    “If this is the beginning of the Federal might that the APC has been promising to use in capturing Akwa Ibom, we can assure the world that the people of Akwa Ibom State who are solidly behind Governor Udom Emmanuel will resist this type of Federal might with every fibre of our being,” he said.
    The chairman of APC in the state, Ini Okopido, however, said the confrontation near the market occurred when people working for the state government and the PDP tried to put up a billboard for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on the exact spot paid for by the APC.
    Okopido, who was away in Abuja when the incident occurred, said, “Later in the evening, someone told us that they came to mount Atiku’s billboard in the spot that they prevented us from putting up President Buhari’s own”.
    “So the information was relayed to the commissioner of police who said nobody should put up any billboard in that particular space. They invited everyone to the station the following day,” he said.
    The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko McDon, said it was not true that the commissioner was arrested.
    “The command invited those who had issues with what happened at Akpan Andem market in order to chart a way forward for peace. He was not the only one, we had people from the APC, and we had people from PDP.
    “It is just like fact-finding and then looking for a solution to make sure nothing like that happens again in the future. Nobody was detained,” Mr McDon said on Wednesday afternoon.

  • Mr Eazi returns to Billboard’s World Album chart

    Banku music progenitor, Mr Eazi has made it to Billboard’s World Album chart. By virtue of this achievement, his songs were featured on Apple’s playlists and iTunes, making him well positioned to a global audience.

     

    The month-long spotlight on the singer highlighted a documentary about his rapid rise, an interview with Beats 1’s Julie Adenuga, and a live performance session entitled ‘Up Next Session: Mr Eazi’.

     

    The Nigerian singer also appeared on the Late Late Show with British comic James Corden.

     

    Following its release in February, his mixtape had made it onto the chart a month later, peaking at number four.

    Eazi was the fourth ‘Up Next’ artiste on Apple Music, a special feature series which was launched in April 2017.

     

    The versatile singer who calls himself a ‘travelling nomad’ will be hosting a culture festival at London’s Roundhouse in September.