Stephen Thompson
Stories
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Encore: Coldplay tops album chart, thanks to old-fashioned sales and modern tricks
The British band Coldplay tops the Billboard 200 this week with its latest album.
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Future has dropped three chart-topping albums in just six months
This week, the rapper Future hit #1 on Billboard's albums chart for a third time in the last six months. Meanwhile, on the songs, chart, stasis is becoming the coin of the realm.
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Travis Scott finally soars to No. 1 on the strength of vinyl
Since its re-release earlier this month, Travis Scott's album Days Before Rodeo has been bouncing up and down the charts, finally landing at number one.
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Shaboozey's hit 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' just logged its 10th week at No. 1
A 10th week at the top of the Billboard pop chart is quite an accomplishment. Before the 2000s, that was the rarest of feats. In the days of streaming though, it's become more common.
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Summers may come and go, but the songs of the summer last forever
All summer, a wide range of hits were in the running for the biggest songs of the season — country singalongs, rap diss tracks, pop kiss-offs and rock epics. But two took the race down to the wire.
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Sabrina Carpenter's album fended off a challenge from Travis Scott to debut at No. 1
After scoring two huge hits this summer with "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," Sabrina Carpenter's new album just debuted at number one -- against an interesting challenger.
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NPR Music's favorite new releases
NPR's Music team brings their favorite songs released this week.
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So, about that special musical guest ... Where was Beyoncé for the DNC's final night?
Instead, the special, previously unannounced guest was … nobody. The night’s headliner, Vice President Harris, had the spotlight to herself — which may have been the point all along.
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Taylor Swift uses some slick marketing strategies to keep her album No. 1
The album --- “The Tortured Poets Department" -- has now spent 15 weeks at No. 1. Swift’s hold on the top spot is as much about marketing magic as it is music.
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Taylor Swift stays at No. 1, and foils Ye in the process
In terms of chart success, The Tortured Poets Department is the most charmed album of the pop star's career. This week it spends its 14th week at No. 1, holding off a new album by one-time nemesis Ye.
