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Koji Kondo: Nintendo’s Melody Maestro

February 14, 2023

What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...

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Taylor Swift on Industry Sexism and Music Rights

February 8, 2023

Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.

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What’s the Ideal Length for a Single— Are Songs Getting Shorter?

February 8, 2023

“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are

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SG Lewis: Who Is He - and What’s Next For This Rising Star?

February 6, 2023

SG Lewis (Samuel George Lewis) is a rising star in the dance/electronic music realm. He is a DJ/producer turned singer-songwriter, and is known for his disco-inspired, transcendent sound. He routinely

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Lessons to Learn From the Launch Of Sam Smith’s “Unholy”

February 4, 2023

Sam Smith just released their new album “Gloria” on the 27th of January. As described by Pitchfork, “Gloria flips between hyperpop, country, dancehall, disco, 2-step, and intimate, Kehlani-esque R&B”.

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Are Virtual Idols the Future of Music?

February 5, 2023

Virtual reality and the metaverse have become popular topics in the music industry where more and more technology and music have been combined, creating something that could revolutionize the entire

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Grammy Awards Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: The Category Songwriters Deserve

February 5, 2023

The 65th annual GRAMMY Awards are here, and there's a long-awaited addition to the awards. This year marks the introduction of a new category: the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Award. For all

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How Zach Bryan’s Authenticity Makes His Music So Appealing, Even to Non-Country Fans

January 31, 2023

Zach Bryan released his first album in 2019, and in the short time since he has become one of the biggest names in country. His biggest album, “American Heartbreak”, broke single-day album streaming

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Miley Cyrus is Going to Take Over Pop in 2023

January 31, 2023

Miley Cyrus was born into the music industry, and has spent her career channelling her Nashville and Hollywood roots into a diverse discography stacked with hits. Add to that countless covers that are

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Why This Pop-Rock Band Got Hate For Starting On YouTube

January 31, 2023

Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because

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Will Google End Work for Music Creators with their New Music AI?

February 1, 2023

Google has done it. They have created an AI that can generate music from text descriptions. The announcement of this is timely because recently Chat GPT, (a language learning model created by OpenAI

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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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Sabrina Carpenter's Meteoric Rise: 'Please Please Please' and the Surge of a Pop Phenomenon

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In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, Sabrina Carpenter is a name that’s resonating louder with each passing day. This week, Billboard's Trending Up newsletter highlights Carpenter's extraordinary ascent, driven by the phenomenal success of her latest single, "Please Please Please." As the streams keep soaring, it's not just this track that's benefiting—her entire catalog is experiencing a significant lift.

Carpenter's new single "Please Please Please" is not just another release; it's a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career. The song, a breezy, country-inflected tune, has captivated listeners and collected over 25.6 million streams in its first four days, along with more than 4,000 digital downloads. This impressive performance underscores the track's instant appeal and the growing anticipation for her forthcoming album, Short n’ Sweet, set to drop on August 23.

"Please Please Please" builds on the momentum of her previous hit, "Espresso," which continues to enjoy a strong presence in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten. But the Jack Antonoff-produced single isn't merely riding the coattails of "Espresso." It stands on its own with its cinematic music video, starring Carpenter's boyfriend, Oscar-nominated actor Barry Keoghan. Directed by Bardia Zeinali, the video serves as a sequel to "Espresso," featuring a Bonnie and Clyde-esque storyline that has garnered over 19 million views in less than a week.

The song's success is also fueled by its viral appeal. The lyric, "Heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another/ I beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherf–ker," has resonated widely on social media. Users have creatively adopted this line as captions for iconic film characters, amplifying its reach. On TikTok, the official "Please Please Please" sound has been used in over 32,600 posts, with an unofficial sound contributing to an additional 32,200 clips. This viral traction was further boosted by Carpenter's live debut of the song during her set at New York’s Gov Ball festival, an event that generated considerable buzz.

The ripple effect of "Please Please Please" extends to Carpenter’s entire catalog. During the weekend of June 7-10, her other songs also saw a significant spike, pulling in an additional 38.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams—a 35% increase from the previous week. This surge is a testament to her growing influence and the anticipation surrounding her new music.

With her new LP due at the end of the summer, Sabrina Carpenter's pop supremacy seems to be just getting started. Her ability to create catchy, emotionally resonant music paired with a strong visual and viral component is setting her apart in the competitive pop landscape. As "Please Please Please" continues to dominate, it’s clear that Carpenter is not just having a moment; she's cementing her place as a significant force in music.