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The Road to Success: What qualities can we learn from Kpop Idols?

January 28, 2023

What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the ...

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Songwriter's Block: Inspiration Tuning in From Around the World

January 26, 2023

Writer’s block is real, and it’s not just authors, but also songwriters and composers. Thinking of top hit songs can be difficult, so how do the pros do it? Where do they get their inspiration from?

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Arcane: How A Video Game Adaptation Ended Up With A Banger Soundtrack

January 26, 2023

What does a TV show based on a video game and the music industry have in common? Near the end of 2021, Arcane took the world by storm after debuting on Netflix. Not only did it dazzle us with its...

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How Black Pink Should Negotiate Their New Contract with YG Entertainment

January 23, 2023

As the contract between Blackpink and YG Entertainment nears its end, fans of the popular South Korean girl group are wondering if the group will renew their contract with the agency...

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Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

January 19, 2023

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube...

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Hania Rani: A Virtuoso in the World of Classical and Electronic Music

January 19, 2023

Hania Rani is a Polish pianist and composer whose music has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and "evocative." She is known for her unique blend of classical and electronic music, which she...

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Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

January 16, 2023

Ryan Tedder is a highly accomplished and sought-after music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with a wide range of artists including: Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and OneRepublic...

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Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

January 6, 2022

Drake's ghostwriter controversy has been a topic of conversation since the rapper's feud with Meek Mill in 2015. Quentin Miller, a lesser-known rapper from Atlanta, was named as the ghostwriter....

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Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

December 28, 2022

Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...

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Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

December 7, 2022

Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...

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YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

October 4, 2022

In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...

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Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

October 5, 2022

Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...

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Frank Ocean's Timeless Appeal: Climbing the Charts Again with Hit Album Blonde

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Photo: Charles Holmes, Rolling Stone

In the ever-evolving world of music, where new stars emerge and fade with astonishing rapidity, the longevity of an artist in the charts is a testament to their enduring appeal. Frank Ocean, a revered figure in the R&B genre, exemplifies this phenomenon. Despite the conspicuous absence of new releases from Ocean in recent years, his previous albums continue to resonate deeply with listeners, climbing higher on various Billboard charts.

A Surprise Rise

This week, Frank Ocean's album Blonde achieved a new milestone, reaching its peak at No. 33 on the Billboard Top Streaming Albums chart. This is a significant leap from its previous position at No. 39. Remarkably, Blonde has been a part of this chart for 14 weeks, showing a resurgence in popularity despite its release years ago. The album’s ability to climb the charts so long after its initial release highlights a sustained interest in Ocean's work that few contemporary artists enjoy.

Beyond its achievements on the Top Streaming Albums chart, Blonde is also performing well across other Billboard rankings. It has impressively jumped from No. 51 to No. 43 on the Billboard 200, which is an all-genre list of America's most-consumed albums. According to data from Luminate, Blonde moved 17,863 equivalent units recently, marking a growth of more than 4% from the previous period. Furthermore, the album is climbing the genre-specific charts as well, sitting at No. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 4 on the Top R&B Albums lists.

The Silent Influence

What makes Frank Ocean’s chart resurgence particularly noteworthy is his silence in terms of new music releases. His last major releases were the dual unveiling of Blonde and the visual album Endless. Since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting new material, clinging to every hint and rumor of Ocean's possible return to the studio.

The lasting popularity of Frank Ocean's earlier albums in the fast paced music industry highlights the enduring appeal of his music. His skill in drawing out deep emotions, along with his innovative musical techniques and rich lyrics, keeps attracting listeners and inspiring new artists. Even without new releases, Ocean's influence in the music world is significant, showing that true artistic talent remains relevant over time.

As Blonde climbs the charts again, it confirms Frank Ocean's role as a leading figure in modern music, with works that continue to be influential and uplifting, going beyond the typical trends and phases of music.