Showing posts with label Press Release 2024. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press Release 2024. Show all posts

Friday, 10 January 2025

2024 Billboard Music Awards Winners Announced


















TAYLOR SWIFT DOMINATES THE NIGHT WITH 10 WINS INCLUDING TOP ARTIST AWARD AND MAKES HISTORY WITH MOST CAREER WINS

MORGAN WALLEN WAS NAMED TOP COUNTRY ARTIST

ZACH BRYAN RECEIVED THE MOST AWARDS AMONG COUNTRY ARTISTS

Exclusive Performances Included Coldplay, Fuerza Regida, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, SEVENTEEN, Shaboozey, Stray Kids, Teddy Swims and Tyla 

Plus Special Appearances by Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Dua Lipa, Morgan Wallen, Noah Kahan, Tommy Richman and more

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 12, 2024) – The Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) honored music’s biggest achievements with original performances created by the world’s biggest chart-topping musicians, featuring exclusive artist interviews and award celebrations taking place around the world. Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the 2024 Billboard Music Awards Presented by Marriott Bonvoy aired on Thursday, December 12 on FOX and Amazon’s Fire TV Channelsas well as on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com and via BBMAs and Billboard social channels. The special will be available to stream on-demand on Fire TV Channels and next day on Hulu.

The BBMAs honors the year’s biggest artists, albums, songs, producers and songwriters across multiple genres, as determined by year-end performance metrics on Billboard’s Year-End Charts, the music industry’s ultimate authority and data-driven measure of success, which measures music consumption from the Billboard charts dated October 28, 2023 through October 19, 2024.

Winner highlights included: 

  • Taylor Swift took home the most trophies of the night with 10 wins including the coveted “Top Artist,” “Top Female Artist,” “Top Billboard 200 Artist,” “Top Hot 100 Artist,” “Hot 100 Songwriter,” “Top Streaming Songs Artist” and “Top Billboard 200 Album.” She is now the most decorated BBMAs winner of all time with 49 wins. In Swift’s acceptance speech she said, “It means the world to me that you guys have embraced the things I have made…this is the nicest early birthday present you could have given me…it’s exactly what I wanted.”
  • It was also a big night for Zach Bryan with five wins including “Top Country Album;” Morgan Wallen with four wins including “Top Country Artist;” and first-time finalist Shaboozey shared the three-win spotlight with Bad Bunny, who extended his historic reign as the all-time leader for “Top Latin Artist.” 
  • Additional first-time winners included Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Tommy Richman and Tyla with two awards each, plus Chappell Roan and Falling In Reverse earning one award each. 
  • Beyoncé won her first cross-genre BBMA for “Top Country Female Artist.”

Show performance highlights included:
·         Three-time 2024 BBMAs winner Shaboozey kicked off the night from W Hollywood, part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, with a show-opening performance of “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which won two BBMAs for “Top Country Song” and “Top Selling Song.” Later in the show, he  performed a moody rendition of “Highway,” enhanced by intricate custom projection mapping that captivated the audience, which included Marriott Bonvoy members.
·         Following a celebration of Billboard 200 first-timers that included Megan Moroney, the country superstar performed “Man On The Moon” against the Nashville, TN skyline, surrounded by her band and biggest fans in a Carnival Cruise Line sponsored performance.
·         “Top Hard Rock Song” winner Jelly Roll performed hits “I Am Not Okay” and “Liar” from his “Beautifully Broken Tour” sold-out concert in Detroit, MI.

 PERFORMANCES 2024 Billboard Music Awards

ACCEPTANCE SPEECHS 2024 Billboard Music Awards

Follow the BBMAs on FacebookXInstagramTikTok, Threads and YouTube, join the conversation with #BBMAs and get the latest news and updates at BillboardMusicAwards.com.  Check out the BBMAs x Spotify official 2024 Billboard Music Awards playlist featuring some of the biggest songs of the year from BBMAs Finalists. 

About Billboard
Billboard
 is the ultimate barometer of success in music. Through its iconic charts, breaking news, thought leadership, multi-platform storytelling and world class events, Billboard tracks the world’s top musicians and the business that powers them. Since its origin in 1894, music leaders and fans across the world look to Billboard as the most trusted source for music information, spanning 15 countries and published in 10 languages. The prestigious Billboard Music Awards are the only premium awards ceremony that recognize musicians for their undeniable achievements on the Billboard charts, using pure data to determine the winners, rather than relying on opaque committees or undisclosed voters to select the honorees giving fans maximum impact at each year’s ceremony, as Billboard’s chart data measures fans’ engagement with their favorite music. Billboard’s other premium experiences range from the Billboard Power 100 to Billboard Women in Music, Billboard Latin Music Week, and Billboard Live, which connects the most impactful artists and industry leaders with fans from all cultures and corners of the globe.

THE 2024 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS (COUNTRY INTEREST LIST):

ARTIST AWARDS

Top Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
Top Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Songwriter: Taylor Swift
Top Streaming Songs Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Radio Songs Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Song Sales Artist: Shaboozey
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Artist: Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist: Beyoncé
Top Country Duo/Group: The Red Clay Strays
Top Country Touring Artist: Zach Bryan
Top Rock Artist: Zach Bryan

ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album: Taylor Swift “The Tortured Poets Department”
Top Country Album: Zach Bryan “Zach Bryan”

SONG AWARDS

Top Streaming Song: Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”
Top Selling Song: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Top Collaboration: Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”
Top Country Song: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Top Rock Song: Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”
Top Hard Rock Song: Falling In Reverse ft. Jelly Roll “All My Life”

WINNERS IN NUMERICAL ORDER:

Taylor Swift (10): Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album

Zach Bryan (5): Top Country Touring Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Country Album, Top Streaming Song, Top Rock Song

Morgan Wallen (4): Top Male Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Collaboration

Shaboozey (3): Top Song Sales Artist, Top Selling Song, Top Country Song

Kacey Musgraves (2): Top Streaming Song, Top Rock Song

Beyoncé (1): Top Country Female Artist

Jelly Roll (1): Top Hard Rock Song

Post Malone (1): Top Collaboration

The Red Clay Strays (1): Top Country Duo/Group

For a complete list of winners and nominees visit: https://www.billboardmusicawards.com/2024-winners/


Showcase Highlights And Venues For UK Americana Music Week, JAN 20-23
































UK AMERICANA MUSIC WEEK, POWERED BY SWEET HOME ALABAMA,
JANUARY 20 – 23 2025 IN HACKNEY, LONDON

Celebrating the Best in Americana Music with Performances, Awards, and Industry Insights

SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS AND VENUES
TUESDAY 21 & WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY

TICKETS NOW ON SALE: HERE

More details have been announced for the much-anticipated programme of showcases which take place on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 January in Hackney, London, as part of UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama.

Close to 50 UK and international showcasing artists have been revealed so far, with more to come. They will perform in Hackney venues Night Tales, Oslo, Paper Dress Vintage and Moth Club; all within a 5-minute walk of each other. Showcase tickets give access to all showcase events Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 January, providing an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy both established stars and up and coming artists performing original Americana music. Live music doesn't get any better than this!

Purchase showcase tickets – incredible value at just £55 for multiple performances across two nights – HERE

Highlights in a sensational line-up include Danni Nicholls, returning for her first showcase performance since the very first UK Americana Week in Hackney, about whom broadcaster Bob Harris said, “I absolutely love the elegance and beauty of her music.”

The Dreaming Spires play their debut showcase, following their multiple award nominations in previous years. They will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the recording of the alt country classic ‘Everything All The Time’. A must-see for fans of The Byrds and The Band.

Multi-award winner Robert Vincent, with his band, will make his first official showcase appearance since 2022. Robert recently completed a tour with Robert Plant’s ‘Saving Grace’.

The UK Americana Music Week showcases also give the opportunity to premiere some outstanding emerging artists such as Savannah Gardner, who is nominated for ‘Best Live Act’ at the annual UK Americana Music Awards on January 23 at Hackney Church. Savannah has played major festivals including Glastonbury, Black Deer, The Long Road, Maverick, C2C London and more. Catch her live and you will understand why.

Amongst many acts representing the USA are the sublime Viv & Riley, whose artistic rebirth came about in Durham (North Carolina), home to ground-breaking roots artists like Watchhouse, Sylvan Esso, and The Mountain Goats.

Also from the USA, Willie Watson (formally of Old Crow Medicine Show), who will be playing tracks from his International Album Of The Year nominated album ‘Willie Watson’, in an extended showcase spot. Watson is a skilled songwriter and performer with a unique ability to use his expansive understanding of an old lexicon to add his own new entries to it.

2025 sees the return of the hugely popular Canada House at Moth Club. Highlights on the CIMA stage include Prince Edward Island’s contemporary folk group The East Pointers, Newfoundland trio The Once and International Song Of The year nominee Julian Taylor, from Toronto.

SHOWCASE LINE-UP ANNOUNCED SO FAR:
Altameda ● Annie Dressner ● Annie Keating ● Beth Bombara ● Celeigh Cardinal ● Chloe Foy ● Chris Acker ● Daniel Kimbro ● Danni Nicholls ● Digging Roots ● Dom Glynn & His Sunday Best ● Ella Spencer ● Ferris & Sylvester ● Georgia van Etten ● Grayling ● Jade Turner ● James Hodder ● Jill Jackson ● Joe Harvey-Whyte & Bobby Lee ● Jonny Morgan ● Julian Taylor ● Liam Cromby ● Logan Richard ● Logan Staats ● Louis Brennan ● Madeleine Roger ● Malin Pettersen ● Our Man in the Field ● Peter Bruntnell ● Robbie Cavanagh ● Robert Vincent ● Rube & Rake ● Run Remedy ● Ryland Moranz ● Sarah Jane Scouten ● Savannah Gardner ● Simeon Hammond Dallas ● Steady Habits ● Tapes For Diane ● The Dreaming Spires ● The East Pointers ● The Once ● The Lucky Ones ● The Roseline ● Toria Wooff ● Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou ● Viv & Riley ● Willie Watson  

Stay tuned as AMA-UK will be announcing a special showcase collaboration with ‘Swedish Americana’ very soon, with more names to be revealed.

Snap up showcase tickets now at: https://americanafestuk.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options. UK Americana Music Awards tickets and Delegate passes are also available.

Here is the Showcase schedule for the 21st and 22nd January at ‘UK Americana Music Week: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | VENUES 

Alongside the two nights of showcases, UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama will feature for 2025: a specially commissioned documentary film, “I’ll Take You There”, a co-production between the Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK), The Romano Sidoli Consultancy and Northern Cowboy Films, which will premiere at Hackney Picturehouse on Monday 20 January.

The annual AMA-UK conference, the cornerstone of the week’s programming, which will be held at Night Tales in Hackney during the daytime on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22. Next year’s theme is “Can Songs Change the World? Americana in 2025,” covering a diverse range of topics tailored for Americana enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

The week’s events will then culminate in the prestigious UK Americana Music Awards, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, hosted at Hackney Church on Thursday 23 January, where standout achievements in Americana music from the past year will be celebrated. Special Awards include an International Lifetime Achievement Award for iconic, multi-platinum singer and songwriter Candi Staton, and Trailblazer Awards for four times Grammy Award-winning singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett (International) and ground-breaking Irish singer, songwriter and musician CMAT (UK/Ireland).

Details on the nominations and Special Awards for 2025 follow below.

The event is proudly supported by Sweet Home Alabama, who are headline sponsors again for the fourth year, CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) , PPL, PRS for Music, Concord, Thirty Tigers, Uncut, Musicians’ Union, Americana Music Sweden, and the US Americana Music Association.

Award Nominations:
UK ARTIST OF THE YEAR
·         Elles Bailey 
·         Ferris & Sylvester
·         Hannah White
·         Katherine Priddy
·         Robert Vincent
·         The Heavy Heavy

UK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
·         Elles Bailey - Beneath The Neon Glow
·         Hannah White - Sweet Revolution
·         Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand - Willson Williams
·         Nina Nesbitt - Mountain Music 
·         The Hanging Stars - On A Golden Shore
·         The Heavy Heavy - One of a Kind

UK SONG OF THE YEAR
·         Blue Rose Code – “Sadie”
·         Brown Horse – “Stealing Horses”
·         Jack Francis – “Failure”
·         Nina Nesbitt – “Pages”
·         Our Man In The Field – “L'Etranger”
·         Robert Vincent – “Follow What You Love and Love Will Follow”

UK INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
·         Ashley Campbell
·         Henry Senior Jr
·         Joe Coombs
·         Joe Harvey White
·         Joe Wilkins
·         Keiron Marshall

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
·         Bonny Light Horseman
·         Charley Crockett
·         Jason Isbell
·         Larkin Poe
·         Sierra Ferrell
·         Waxahatchee

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
·         American Aquarium - The Fear Of Standing Still
·         Bonny Light Horseman - Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
·         Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland
·         Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well
·         Kyshona - Legacy 
·         Willie Watson - Willie Watson 

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
·         Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – “Empty Trainload of Sky”
·         Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Buffalo” 
·         Julian Taylor & Allison Russell – “Pathways”
·         Kyshona – “The Echo”
·         Lizzie No – “The Heartbreak Store”
·         Sierra Ferrell – “American Dreaming”

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR
·         Ben Ottewell & Ian Ball (of Gomez)
·         Campbell Jensen
·         Danny & The Champions of the World 
·         Kezia Gill 
·         Lola Kirke
·         Morganway
·         Savannah Gardner
·         Skinny Lister
·         The Heavy Heavy
·         Wunderhorse

AMA-UK Special Awards

International Lifetime Achievement Award

Selected by the board members, their highest honour is awarded to an international artist, duo or group in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music. The 2025 recipient will be Candi Staton

International Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates an international artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2025 recipient will be Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett: photo credit: Michael Wilson




















UK/Ireland Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates an artist, duo or group from the UK or Ireland that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2025 recipient will be CMAT

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets for UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama are available now: https://americanafestuk.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the magic of Americana music in the heart of London.

























Bob Harris (OBE) had this message for Americana UK readers: “I am absolutely thrilled that The Country Show has been voted No.1 radio programme again. Thank you to Mark Hagen and Paul Mann for all their brilliant work behind the scenes, to BBC Radio 2 for the support they give us and to the musicians who create the music we love. But above all, thanks go to the listeners and to everyone who voted for us again this year. It means the world to know you’re enjoying what we do. I love the Americana UK community. Thank you for everything” 

About the AMA-UK
The Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) is a professional trade association representing and advocating for the voice of Americana music in the UK. It’s membership comprises musicians, both from the UK and overseas, plus individuals and organisations from all sectors of the music industry, including; agents, promoters, venues, festivals, labels, distributors, retailers, management, touring crew, journalists, broadcasters and publicists. 

The AMA-UK is committed to treating all artists and associated parties equally regardless of their gender status, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, age or disability.  It is always listening and learning from its membership and strives to ensure it provides a safe environment that allows all to feel welcome, safe and able to contribute.  

Previous recipients of the AMA-UK Board’s Special Awards include: Robert Plant, Mumford & Sons, Billy Bragg, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, Albert Lee, Graham Nash, Joan Armatrading, Lucinda Williams and many more. Awards have been presented by Sir Patrick Stewart, Jools Holland, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Difford, Ricky Ross, Harry Shearer, Timothy B. Schmidt, Jim Lauderdale and Kiki Dee, amongst many others.

UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama is delivered under the leadership of the Americana Music Association UK's newly appointed Board, comprising Ian Thomas, Kristen Nielsen (Creative Consultant), Brendan McCarthy (Why & How), Paul Fenn (Asgard), Luke Hill (Grey Seal Media), and Anton Lockwood (DHP). UK Americana Music Week Festival Producer is Jim Walker (Brighthelmstone). The UK Americana Music Awards are produced by Adrian Basketfield. Commercial partnerships are handled by The Romano Sidoli Consultancy.

What is Americana music?
We find it best described as the genre that incorporates elements of various roots music styles resulting in a distinctive sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. 

CONNECT with Americana Music UK:
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Thursday, 26 December 2024

Beyoncé Delivers Epic Gift Of A Halftime Performance During Nfl Christmas Gameday Live On Netflix

BEYONCÉ DELIVERS EPIC GIFT OF A HALFTIME PERFORMANCE DURING NFL CHRISTMAS GAMEDAY LIVE ON NETFLIX

Post Malone, Blue Ivy Carter and Shaboozey among the guest performers in her hometown of Houston, Texas
Enjoy “Beyoncé Bowl” again as a standalone special coming soon to Netflix
Photo by Julian Dakdouk





















Houston, December 25, 2024 — Beyoncé performed a show-stopping halftime performance during Netflix's first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday as the Houston Texans hosted the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium live on Netflix.

This special performance took place in Beyoncé’s hometown of Houston, Texas, produced by her company, Parkwood Entertainment and Jesse Collins Entertainment.

The expansive performance of music, fashion and history featured a slew of guest performers in a roof-raising twelve-plus minutes showcasing the first live performance of songs from her genre-bending and record-breaking COWBOY CARTER album. The 11-time Grammy-nominated, juggernaut album recently became the most nominated album by a female artist.

The set included, among others, “16 CARRIAGES,” “BLACKBIIRD,” “AMERIICAN REQUIEM,” “YA YA,” “SPAGHETTII/RIIVERDANCE,” “LEVII’S JEANS,” “JOLENE,” and the ubiquitous smash, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” that ended the set with Beyoncé literally lifting to the rafters.

The guests who brought their sizzle to the show included performers Post Malone, C2C 2025 bound Shaboozey, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Tiera Kennedy.

Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé’s eldest daughter, joined in as a featured dancer. The Texans Cheerleaders also joined in, representing the home team. And in a beautiful tribute to Western and Rodeo culture, Beyoncé included as special guests, Mexican Cowgirl, Melanie Rivera, Bull-riding legend, Myrtis Dightman, Jr., known as the “Jackie Robinson of Rodeo,” Miss Rodeo Texas Princess 2004 and Miss Rodeo Texas 2015, Nikki Woodward, and the first Black Rodeo Queen in Arkansas, Ja’Dayia Kursh. Joining them in the rousing caravan were Houston Texans owner, Cal McNair and his wife, Hannah.

The energy turned all the way up with the addition of close to 200 members of Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band. The HBCU, world-class band delivered on all its known for, powerful sound, precision and choreography,

Photo by Julian Dakdouk














Beyoncé is no stranger to electrifying NFL halftime appearances having performed at two Super Bowl games. She headlined Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was joined onstage by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, her bandmates in Destiny’s Child. The performance became the second most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history at the time. For Super Bowl XV, on February 7, 2016, she joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars in Santa Clara, California for one of the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows with 115.5 million tuned in to get in “Formation.”

Netflix members can re-live the full halftime performance of “Beyoncé Bowl,” as a standalone special, when it comes to the service later this week. For additional details on “Beyoncé Bowl” please visit www.netflix.com/BeyonceBowl.

Back on Dec 11th In a fun video she shared on social media and YouTube, the "Texas Hold 'Em" singer was seen dressed in an all-white look with a matching snow-covered cowboy hat as she magically turned on the lights on her cactus Christmas tree. She flashed a smile before the words, "HALFTIME SHOW THIS CHRISTMAS HOUSTON, TX," appeared onscreen.

In November it was announced that Beyoncé would be performing live during halftime of the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Christmas Day as part of Netflix's first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday.
She announced the news with an epic video of her standing on a red rose-covered car, catching a football with one hand.

RELATED POST:
LOS ANGELES, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Beyoncé's eighth studio album act ii COWBOY CARTER arrived following the successful release of two lead singles, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" and "16 CARRIAGES" on February 11, Superbowl Sunday.

"TEXAS HOLD 'EM" landed across nine different genres on US music charts including Pop, Hot AC, Country, Rhythmic, Urban, and R&B, and making history with Beyoncé becoming the first Black female artist to reach No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 1 on the Hot 100 Chart with a Country song. It also spent four weeks at the top of the UK music charts.

COWBOY CARTER, executive produced by Beyoncé, is about genres, all of them, while deeply rooted in Country. This is the work of an artist who thrives in her freedom to grow, expand, and create limitlessly. It makes no apologies, and seeks no permission in elevating, amplifying, and redefining the sounds of music, while dismantling accepted false norms about Americana culture. It pays homage to the past, honoring musical pioneers in Country, Rock, Classical, and Opera.

Beyoncé appears in a promo photo for the singer's halftime performance at 

the Ravens v. Texans NFL game on Christmas Day. Parkwood Entertainment






































The album is a cornucopia of sounds that Beyoncé loves, and grew up listening to, between visits and eventually performances at the Houston Rodeo – Country, original Rhythm & Blues, Blues, Zydeco, and Black Folk. The album wraps itself in pure instrumentation in a celebratory authentic gumbo of sounds using among others, the accordion, harmonica, washboard, acoustic guitar, bass ukulele, pedal steel guitar, a Vibra-Slap, the mandolin, fiddle, Hammond B3 organ, tack piano, and the banjo. There's also plenty of handclaps, horseshoe steps, boot stomps on hardwood floors and yes, those are Beyoncé's nails as percussion.

"The joy of creating music is that there are no rules," says Beyoncé. "The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones. I didn't want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature."

And the inspiration further takes into account Southern and Western culture beyond music, the Rodeo, Western films, and the stories of the original cowboys of the West. It was at the Rodeo where she first saw diversity and camaraderie among people who love Country music and an Americana lifestyle, steeped in community, culinary offerings, grills, and Western gear. And it was for everyone. Among the crowds were Black, Hispanic and Native American Cowboys, who made their valuable, authentic allowances to the culture. Their stories are synonymous with American history….SOURCE PRNewswire

Beyoncé Achieves Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With ‘Cowboy Carter’
The set also started at No. 1 on Top Country Albums, making Beyoncé the first Black woman ever to have led the list.

Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER galloped in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated April 13), debuting with 407,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 4, according to Luminate. It’s the superstar’s eighth No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

With 407,000 units earned, Cowboy Carter claimed the biggest week of 2024 and the largest since Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bowed with 1.653 million units on the Nov. 11, 2023-dated list. Cowboy Carter’s launch is also Beyoncé’s biggest week, by units, since her Lemonade album debuted at No. 1 with 653,000 units (mostly from traditional album sales) on the May 14, 2016, chart. The new effort also lands Beyoncé her biggest streaming week ever.

COWBOY CARTER also launched at No.1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. She’s the first Black woman ever to have led the Top Country Albums list, dating to its January 1964 inception. Cowboy Carter also claimed the biggest week for a country album, by units earned, since last July, when Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), opened at No. 1 on the July 22, 2023 chart with 716,000 units.