Category Archives: Features

Here’s The Winners Of The 2018 Billboard Music Awards

billboard music awards logo

In keeping up with the presentation of assorted award shows, I’m sharing the winners of last nights Billboard Music Awards that aired last night and were hosted by the first American Idol Kelly Clarkson. I’ve listed the nominees as well so you can see who didn’t quite make the cut according to the voting powers that be. Let’s go.

Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran — WINNER
Taylor Swift

Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid — WINNER
Kodak Black

Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
Camila Cabello — WINNER
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran

Top Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Female Artist:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift — WINNER

Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons — WINNER
Migos
U2

Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran

Top Song Sales Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Radio Songs Artist:
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Bruno Mars
Charlie Puth
Ed Sheeran — WINNER

Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber
BTS — WINNER
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

Top Touring Artist:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
U2 — WINNER

Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars — WINNER
SZA
The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
Bruno Mars — WINNER
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist:
Beyonce
Rihanna
SZA — WINNER

Top R&B Tour:
Bruno Mars — WINNER
Lionel Richie
The Weeknd

Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone

Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Post Malone

Top Rap Female Artist:
Bhad Bhabie
Cardi B — WINNER
Nicki Minaj

Top Rap Tour:
J. Cole
JAY-Z — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar

Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Top Country Male Artist:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Top Country Female Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris — WINNER

Top Country Duo/Group Artist:
Florida Georgia Line — WINNER
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Top Rock Artist:
Imagine Dragons — WINNER
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
twenty one pilots

Top Rock Tour:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
U2 — WINNER

Top Latin Artist:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna — WINNER
Romeo Santos

Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers — WINNER
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA

Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe — WINNER
Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
Tasha Cobbs Leonard — WINNER
Tamela Mann

Top Billboard 200 Album:
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. — WINNER
Post Malone, Stoney
Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide)
Taylor Swift, reputation

Top Selling Album:
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
P!nk, Beautiful Trauma
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Taylor Swift, reputation — WINNER

Top Soundtrack:
Black Panther
The Fate of the Furious: The Album
The Greatest Showman
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Moana — WINNER

Top R&B Album:
Khalid, American Teen
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic — WINNER
SZA, CTRL
The Weeknd, Starboy
XXXTentacion, 17

Top Rap Album:
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert, Luv Is Rage 2
Migos, Culture
Post Malone, Stoney

Top Country Album:
Kane Brown, Kane Brown
Luke Combs, This One’s For You
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1 — WINNER
Brett Young, Brett Young

Top Rock Album:
Imagine Dragons, Evolve — WINNER
Linkin Park, One More Light
Panic! At The Disco, Death of a Bachelor
Portugal. The Man, Woodstock
U2, Songs of Experience

Top Latin Album:
Nicky Jam, Fenix
Christian Nodal, Me Deje Llevar
Ozuna, Odisea — WINNER
Romeo Santos, Golden
Shakira, El Dorado

Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Avicii, AV?CI (01)
The Chainsmokers, Memories…Do Not Open — WINNER
Calvin Harris, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Kygo, Stargazing
ODESZA, A Moment Apart

Top Christian Album:
Elevation Worship, There Is A Cloud
Hillsong UNITED, Wonder
Hillsong Worship, Let There Be Light
Alan Jackson, Precious Memories Collection — WINNER
MercyMe, Lifer

Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way From Sunday
Travis Greene, Crossover: Live From Music City
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit — WINNER
Marvin Sapp, Close

Top Hot 100 Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape Of You”

Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.” — WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert, “XO Tour LLIF3”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Post Malone ft. Quavo, “Congratulations”

Top Streaming Song (Video):
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Lil Pump, “Gucci Gang”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

Top Selling Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”

Top Radio Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”
Imagine Dragons, “Believer”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Charlie Puth, “Attention”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You” — WINNER

Top Collaboration:
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
French Montana ft. Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”

Top R&B Song:
Childish Gambino, “Redbone”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”
Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” — WINNER
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B, “Finesse”

Top Rap Song:
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”
French Montana ft. Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar” — WINNER

Top Country Song:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina, “What Ifs”
Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road” — WINNER
Dustin Lynch, “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”

Top Rock Song:
Imagine Dragons “Believer” — WINNER
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Linkin Park ft. Kiiara “Heavy”
Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”
The Revivalists “Wish I Knew You”

Top Latin Song:
J Balvin & Willy William Ft. Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Becky G ft. Bad Bunny, ”Mayores”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Wisin ft. Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo”

Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This” — WINNER
Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato, “No Promises”
Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Ann-Marie, “Rockabye”
Kygo & Selena Gomez, “It Ain’t Me”
Zedd & Alessia Cara, “Stay”

Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship, “O Come To The Altar”
Hillsong Worship, “What A Beautiful Name” — WINNER
Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly, “I’ll Find You”
MercyMe, “Even If”
Zach Williams, “Old Church Choir”

Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, “Trust In You”
Travis Greene, “You Waited”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, “You Deserve It” — WINNER
Tamela Mann, “Change Me”
Charlie Wilson, “I’m Blessed”

*** end of list ***

Piercing Ken Thoughts: Another long list but once again one that doesn’t pay any mind to the primary genre that I love so much and support in earnest over on PiercingMetal.com – oh well, what can you do. For those who wonder about how these awards come to pass, according to their Official Wikipedia entry “the Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring, and social engagement. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound”. Considering the lack of Heavy Music presented or any of the tours that I knew were sold out at each and every stop, I guess the fans of those events aren’t in the tabulations. Oh well. I didn’t watch the broadcast and since I know so few of what the winners ended up being am kind of glad that I bypassed it. What about you folks who listen to much different stuff from my Metal side? Did some of your favorites win or were they cheated out of the prize? Chime in down below in the comments since that is what they are here for after all. Congrats to Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar who seem to have brought home the bacon with this years awards.

Official Website: http://www.billboard.com

Check Out The “All-American Summer Concert Series” 2018 Lineup

fox news, all-american summer concert series

The Scoop:
All-American Summer Concert Schedule has released their rundown of the free concerts that will be taking place on the FOX News Plaza on 48th Street just off the Avenue Of The Americas and its a wide gamut of stellar performers. Not only are these performances free of charge but they also serve up some BBQ ribs and chicken (unless I’m mistaken). There might even be beer which considering the time is kind of weird but here is the list of shows for you to begin marking down as interest items on your mobile device of choice or one of those handy dandy day planners that use pen and paper. I think its awesome that they do this kind of thing and wish there were more events like them.

The Concerts:
May 25: Lee Greenwood
June 1: Thompson Square
June 8: Mercy Me
June 15: 3 Doors Down
June 22: Lynyrd Skynyrd
June 29: Tobymac
July 6: Phil Vassar
July 13: Phillip Phillips
July 20: Dee Snider
July 27: Coming Soon
Aug 3: For King & Country
Aug 10: Cody Johnson
Aug 17: Scotty McCreery
Aug 24: Lee Brice
Aug 31: Scott Stapp

Piercing Ken Thoughts: Right off the bat I see a few that I am very interested in but I should admit something to you readers since we are close and all. Despite my efforts to be a part of more of these special showcases, I’ve only managed to catch the one that the legendary Alice Cooper did a few years ago. As they are free, its open to the general public and everyone records every moment of them for their Facebook, Instagram and whatevmer the hell else they opt to chronicle their world on so space is very limited. If you come in as a civilian you are among the crowd even if you decide to blog about it or post your pictures to a branded account like I would do. Now, folks in the unaware should know that these events start super early in the morning which is not always an easy thing for me if I’ve been at a late ending concert or event the night before. Some friends of mine go to these concerts right before their regular workday and I guess its pretty safe to use the excuse that the MTA caused you to be late since their overall services sucks so bad these days. Oh come on now you know I am right about that. So let close this up by asking you which shows you find most interesting and that you would like to attend. You can share your scoop down in the comments section below. Also, be aware that I will be listing every single one of these shows on our Events Calendar and the most topical ones from this list will be featured on the PiercingMetal.com Calendar. Ciao for now.

Official Website: http://www.foxnews.com/category/shows/fox-friends/all-american-summer-concert-series.html

The Quad Unveils “Hammer’s House of Horror, Part I: The Classic Years (1956–1967)”

Though I don’t seem to get to the movies outside of occasional Marvel film these days, I have to admit that this particular film festival sure looks interesting. Take a look.

The Press Release:
Throughout film history, many countries have had their own point-of-pride movie studios; Britain can claim several, whether as backlots or sites of creative capital. In Hammer Films, a genre-oriented counterpart to Ealing Films, the UK could boast of one with all that and more; Hammer’s output in the second half of the 20th century sent aesthetic and sensory frissons throughout the nation while influencing pop culture and world cinema. Although synonymous with horror, the Hammer library was stocked from the beginning with films of all kinds. Founded in November 1934 as Hammer Film Productions and based in London, the studio came out of the gate with dramas and then specialized in “B” pictures and homegrown tales, pausing only for WWII. A turning point came in the mid-1950s with a move into genre fare with an accent on the Gothic, and this first crop of titles in the Quad’s extensive two-part Hammer retrospective demonstrates that—as Universal Pictures had found in the 1930s—famous monsters were a good (and generally inexpensive) way to expand your industry footprint. Hammer finally made its first color movie in 1954; a good thing, too, since what would the next quarter-century of movies have been like without all that scarlet sanguinary screen imagery?
Continue reading The Quad Unveils “Hammer’s House of Horror, Part I: The Classic Years (1956–1967)”

Sony Presents “Blue Note Jazz Festival” Announces 2018 Lineup

Readers of my stuff on PiercingMetal know just how much I love the live music scene of our Big Apple. This bit of news focuses on a different genre completely from what I am used to and that’s why I am making sure you know the scoop about it right here on The Chronicles. Check it out.

The Press Release:
With over 100 events in five venues throughout New York City, the 2018 Sony presents Blue Note Jazz Festival will take place June 1-30, 2018. Sony Corporation is the Festival’s Official Title Sponsor and INGLOT Cosmetics of Poland is the Presenting Sponsor. Ticket information and a current schedule of events are available on the festival’s website, www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com. Additional performances, venues, and events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Highlights for the eighth edition of the festival include GRAMMY® Award winning trumpeter Chris Botti at the newly opened Sony Hall in Times Square; an intimate evening with American music icon Art Garfunkel at The Town Hall; two-time GRAMMY® Award nominee jazz vocalist Gregory Porter (presented by City Parks Foundation at Central Park SummerStage in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival); jazz fusion guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola; renowned folk singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot; a very special 5-night residency with future funk collective Lettuce performing for the first time ever at the historic Blue Note Jazz Club; jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer; Latin jazz legend pianist Eddie Palmieri; three-time GRAMMY® Award nominee and revered blues guitarist Tab Benoit at Highline Ballroom; iconic Brazilian producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist Sergio Mendes; celebrated blues guitarist Robert Cray; GRAMMY® Award winning multi-genre vocalist/musician Bilal performing with Victory (presented by founding festival partner Jill Newman Productions); New Jersey-based rocker Southside Johnny and many more!

This year’s Blue Note Jazz Festival features the addition of several new key partnerships marking a new chapter in the festival’s history.
Continue reading Sony Presents “Blue Note Jazz Festival” Announces 2018 Lineup

Foodies Unite! Presenting “Eatellia” A New Food Photo Network

Recently, I lamented about the ending of the Foodspotting App in a post that can be found HERE. I loved it at first since it was easy to use and help broadcast that which I was eating but over the most recent months it seemed like it was falling to the wayside. I’d learn that it was because it was heading towards its end thanks to a purchase by OpenTable and now its time to move on.

This post is to introduce our readers to an app that was learned about while trying to get all of our photos back from Foodspotting but more on that later. Foodies of the world, behold “EATELLIA” – a Social Network that appears to keep it simple and functional which is a win, win idea in my book. Take a look at my profile down below.

eatellia, social networking, foodie

So while you see there are some “700” or so photos in the profile, I’ve only been using Eatellia for a few days. I was able to still import almost all of my Foodspotting images into this account. Sadly, I think the window for that kind of old Foodspotting integration is closed but you can try. Speaking frankly, I am quite disappointed in the lack of communication from OpenTable to the Foodspotting user community about their accounts and images. With the technology available today, the means to access ones images and perhaps move onto a brand-new OT account should have been communicated. The failure to do so makes me feel that my personal information was just purchased by yet another medium and I will be making sure that there is no trace of me on OT for the time being. It’s not a network I think that I need but I digress.

So far Eatellia is a fun app for me to use and since I don’t really like posting food images on Instagram and pretty much abhor the use of Facebook for anything other than feeds to “The Chronicles” or PiercingMetal.com, think I will be continuing to utilize it. If I’m able to secure my press credentials for the Summer Fancy Food Show this year, you can count on my loading the account up with photos like you might recall seeing HERE. If you consider yourself a proper Foodie, then take that stuff off of the other socials and make them stand with something new. I’ve got their link down below for you to examine along with ones for both Yelp and OpenTable – the first so you can provide some value to the mix and the second to try and reclaim your Foodspotting stuff.

Relevant Links:
Eatellia: https://www.facebook.com/eatellia/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/
OpenTable: https://www.opentable.com/