Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities, and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. This week, we explore the impact of Quincy Jones’ catalog after his passing, Andrew Gold’s rise in Halloween streaming, Joé Dwèt Filé’s potential crossover hit, and the resurgence of a 2003 Hilary Duff classic.
Quincy Jones Catalog Explodes on Streaming Following Legend’s Passing
Late Sunday night (Nov. 3), Quincy Jones, a 28-time Grammy-winning giant who played a key role in some of the world’s most impactful works of art across the music, film, television, and the stage, passed away surrounded by family in his Bel Air home. In commemoration of Jones’ near-unquantifiable legacy, fans have found solace in some of his biggest musical contributions.
According to Luminate, Jones’ entire catalog is up 1,229% in streaming activity, earning nearly 1.25 million official on-demand streams on the first full day following his passing (Nov. 4). On the Monday prior (Oct. 28), Jones’ catalog collected just under 94,000 streams.
“Just Once,” a Grammy-nominated single from Jones’ The Dude LP that introduced the world to James Ingram is up 632%, earning 77,000 official on-demand streams on Nov. 4 versus 10,500 streams on Oct. 28. “One Hundred Ways” — another Jones-Ingram team-up from The Dude — saw a similar bump, jumping 626% in streaming activity. About two decades before The Dude, Jones composed the massively influential “Soul Bossa Nova” instrumental, which has been used as the theme song for various films and events. Streaming activity for “Soulful” leapt 755%.
“We Are the World,” the Billboard Hot 100-topping charity single that won record and song of the year at the 1986 Grammys, is up 146% in streams. Jones’ hits also included Lesley Gore’s timeless 1963 Hot 100 chart-topper “It’s My Party.”
As a producer, Jones’ catalog includes three seminal albums in pop history: Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Off the Wall is up 10%. Jones’ oeuvre also includes the classic soundtracks for The Color Purple and The Wiz.
Jones passing is a particularly painful one for global pop culture, but he’s left behind an incredibly rich catalog for us to continue to revisit and learn from.
Andrew Gold: The New King of Halloween?
Scan the Hot 100 this week and you’ll see some of the most familiar names long associated with Halloween music. But finishing just below their ranks and outside the Hot 100 is ’70s singer-songwriter and pop-rock hitmaker Andrew Gold.
For most of his career, Gold was primarily associated with two singles: “Lonely Boy” and “Thank You for Being a Friend.” But thanks to TikTok trending, Gold is now best known for “Spooky, Scary Skeletons.”
“Skeletons” racked up 11.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams for the week ending Nov. 2, a bump of 1,146% from six weeks earlier. Gold totaled 14.7 million streams for the week, proving his rise in Halloween streaming performance.
Joé Dwèt Filé Eyes Stateside Konpa Hit With “4 Kampé”
Joé Dwèt Filé, a singer, songwriter, and engineer of Haitian descent, is eyeing a hit single with notable crossover potential with “4 Kampé.” The track earned over 393,000 official on-demand U.S. streams from Oct. 25-28.
Filé started teasing the song a week before its release, garnering over 1.6 million views and over 195,000 likes. The official “4 Kampé” TikTok sound boasts nearly 190,000 posts, with users performing the kare dance that accompanies konpa music.
These gains for “4 Kampé” look promising, with the official music video crossing two million views in under a week.
So Yesteryear: Time Cut Offers Big Bump to ‘00s Hilary Duff Classic
Netflix’s time-traveling slasher flick Time Cut features Hilary Duff’s 2003 pop-rock hit “So Yesterday,” evoking the cultural moment effectively. The clip sent viewers to streaming services to play the period classic, with a 49% gain in streams.
FAQs
Q: What is Quincy Jones’ impact on the music industry?
A: Quincy Jones is a Grammy-winning giant known for his contributions to music, film, television, and stage.
Q: How did Andrew Gold rise in Halloween streaming?
A: Andrew Gold’s song “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” saw a significant increase in streaming activity, making him a prominent figure in Halloween music.
Q: Who is Joé Dwèt Filé?
A: Joé Dwèt Filé is a singer, songwriter, and engineer of Haitian descent eyeing a hit single with crossover potential.
Q: What classic song did Hilary Duff bring back with “So Yesterday”?
A: Hilary Duff’s 2003 hit “So Yesterday” experienced a resurgence in streaming after being featured in Netflix’s Time Cut.
Credit: www.billboard.com
