What is wrong in the music business when collaborators can’t even given their vocalists proper credit? I’m not talking about vocalists whose upfront arrangement with their collaborators declines credit, that’s a personal decision. I’m talking about situations like the following:
- Vocalist is paid a lump sum NOT to be credited, which is harsh if the vocalist isn’t a songwriter
- Vocalist is “new” and because s/he has no “identity”, is deemed not to be credit-worthy
- When promoting the song on social media, collaborators don’t even mention or thank the vocalist if otherwise credited
- Collaborators don’t decide splits until long after the start of a song was created, and give the vocalist either a puny portion or none at all
- Collaborators decide to proceed with recording a song even if the vocalist is not in agreement, which usually results in the vocalist not being credited
I’ve seen all of these scenarios play out. The sooner some artists stop focusing on being “the star” or upholding their “image” and develop a friendlier part of the recording process, the less animosity between artists will occur. Right now many vocalists are simply getting shafted and that wouldn’t have happened before 15-20 years ago, when the majority of the time they were deemed the stars of their recordings.
Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are increasingly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded.
Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30
Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: Chart Playlist
Getting a third appearance at #1 is Troye Sivan with “Rush” (above). His new 3rd album Something To Give Each Other impressively reached #1 in Australia! And then there’s also the enjoyably titillating video for “One of The Girls” which also stars Ross Lynch, which you can check out below.
It looks like “Rush” will be replaced at the top in two weeks by Steve Angello and WH0, whose super-infectious retro 90’s house track “What You Need” climbs 6-2. I learned recently that the song includes a brief sample of Carrie Lucas’ disco classic “Gotta Keep Dancing”. What I’d like to know is what powerhouse vocalist lent her voice to the track because she is awesome!
MAX’s “Strings”, with JVKE and Bazzi, rises 4-3 to match the #3 peak of the song to which it is a sequel of sorts, “Lights Down Low”. Only MAX’s 2015 release “Wrong” (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) has gone higher, reaching #1.
Some of the long-lasting favourites in the Top 10 clear out this week, allowing Denver electronic dance producer Voyajer’s fantastic indie release “Come Around” to move up 7-4.
Michael Medrano’s fun party track “Disco Sleaze” (above) climbs 9-6, and you can check out his latest dance release “Karma” below.
“Need Your Love” (above) by Felix Cartal and Karen Harding soars 17-8, becoming Felix’s 4th Top 10 entry (which includes a #5 “Heartbeat” by his side project Glass Petals) and Karen’s 8th consecutive Top 10 entry, while the lead track from her album Take Me Somewhere, “Wrong Places” (below) rises 30-23.
UK’s Sam Dickinson obtains his 6th Top 10 entry and first since 2020 with the house track “Falling”, which advances 11-9.
Moving 13-10 is “What Do I Got To Do” featuring the slick R&B/pop sounds of Toronto-based singer/songwriter JRDN.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is the increasingly infectious “Down To One” by Bright Light Bright Light, which vaults 24-12. If you haven’t checked out the fun, horror movie-themed video for the song, I’ve put the direct link to the video above. BLx2 is a horror movie connoisseur so you know some of the scenes he borrows are sublime.
“Top Of The World” (above) by Sweden’s John Dahlback and Nashville-based singer Davis Mallory rises 21-13, and it’s another independently released house track deserving of your attention. Davis recently also teamed up with producers D’Amico & Valax, Matisso and Fenox for “Artificial Love”, below.
James Bay’s “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad” (above) continues to move up 20-16, and you can check out the video to his affecting new follow up release “All My Broken Pieces” below.
Miami electronic dance producer Gt_ofice gets two entries on the chart this week! His first, with JAYEM and Alix Robson, “Can’t Deny” (above), moves up 27-21, while his second collaboration with Maryland masked producer ALWZ SNNY, “Feels Like Us” (below) featuring vocalist Robbie Rosen, arrives on the chart at #29. It’s also Robbie’s 11th chart entry since 2020.
The Highest Debut at #26 belongs to BTS’ Jung Kook with hip hop artist Jack Harlow called “3D”. It comes from Jung Kook’s forthcoming album, Golden. He’s the second BTS member to reach the chart as a solo act. The first was JIMIN, whose “Like Crazy” (English version) held court atop the BILLCS Top 30 earlier this year for 4 appearances (8 weeks). Check out the live performance video above.
Then at #27 is another familiar name on the chart, Dutch electronic dance producer Martin Garrix, whose direction in 2023 has seemed to be for more radio friendly hits rather than for clubs. His collaboration with South African vocalist Lloyiso, “Real Love”, recalls Aloe Blacc’s work with Avicii. It’s Martin’s 13th chart entry, following his #1 from earlier this year with JVKE, “Hero”.
Rounding out the debuts at #30 is “Breathe” by Toronto-area producers DVBBS and L.A. vocalist Jesse Jo Stark. It’s quite an unconventional song for both, with eerie trance-inspired production and a sultry vocal outside of Jesse Jo’s usual rock songs. It’s DVBBS’ 5th chart entry, following last year’s “Summer Nights” (#7, with Brandyn Burnette).
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. EST and Sunday mornings at 2:00 AM EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link.
On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
At Midnight EST on Saturdays, you can also hear my new “Retro Pick of the Week” on Russ Horton’s amazing “Top 40 Timeline” oldies show.
“Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight EST! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free.
“The Big 20” also airs on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays, and my “Retro Pick of the Week” plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” at 4pm EST.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada
I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA. My pick of the week airs more than 30 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at this link.
Addictive Energy
This is a weekly show hosted by Hunter Wilbur that airs on several online stations but is anchored at Mix88.ca on Saturdays beginning at 8pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.
You can also listen to my “Retro Pick of the Week” on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.
For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side! The schedules are up-to-date.
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