Billboard: 2019 Record Store Day Yields Historic Week for Vinyl Album Sales

All hail vinyl! Record Store Day drove record-breaking music sales figures yet again, according to Nielsen Music.

The 12th annual indie music retailer celebration, staged on April 13, helped yield 827,000 vinyl albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 18, according to Nielsen Music — a record for Record Store Day week, and the third-largest sales week for vinyl albums since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991.  

The previous largest vinyl album sales haul for a Record Store Day week was 2018 with 733,000 sold in the week ending April 26. The only two larger weeks for vinyl album sales overall were logged during the Christmas season of 2018 (905,000; week ending Dec. 27 and 880,000; Dec. 20).

In addition, 673,000 vinyl albums were sold via independent record stores — the biggest week ever for the format at indie stores in Nielsen Music history. The sales sum beats the previous high, tallied a year ago during Record Store Day week (533,000), by 16%.

Top Record Store Day Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores
Rank, Artist, Title
1. Grateful Dead, Warfield: San Francisco, California, October 9th, 1980 / October 10th, 1980
2. Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks: Test Pressing
3. Green Day, Green Day Live! Woodstock 1994
4. Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires
5. Pink Floyd, A Saucerful of Secrets
6. Fleetwood Mac, The Alternate Fleetwood Mac
7. Prince, His Majesty’s Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club
8 (TIE). Pearl Jam, Live at Easy Street
8 (TIE). Weezer (Teal Album)

10. The Doors, London Fog: May, 1966

Read more details at Billboard:  https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8508474/2019-record-store-day-historic-week-vinyl-album-sales

Time to get your "Shuga!" Stonebwoy x Beenie Man

Time to get your "Shuga!"  Music super star Stonebwoy, who is known to make hit music loved by the masses, delivers again with his new single which features King of the Dancehall Beenie Man!

The music video for international collaboration was premiered on TRACE TV in Africa on April 23rd and has since racked up more than 75,000 views on YouTube!

The premise of the song is that we hustle hard every day and at some point we have to make time for the 'banana!'  Filled with double meanings, I'm sure this song will be played worldwide because of the sweet and relatable vibes!  

P.S.  The visuals are dope!  Watch the full video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNgY-3YKj1Q

Busy Signal's "Got To Tell You"

VP Records is proud to release the new single from reggae/dancehall veteran Busy Signal, “Got to Tell You” from his upcoming album Parts of the Puzzle. Out this Friday April 26th on all digital platforms, and exclusively premiering today on Large Up, the self-produced and self-written track is a high energy dancehall track laced with EDM.

“Got to Tell You” follows the success of his recent string of singles, “Stay So”, “One Way”, “Dolla Van” and more. With hit after hit, Busy Signal has established his talent and staying power in the industry with his versatility in blending dancehall and reggae with EDM, afrobeats, salsa and other international sounds to create hardcore bashment anthems and transcendent global hits.

Born Reanno Gordon, Busy first burst on the dancehall scene as part of iconic deejay Bounty Killer’s Alliance crew over a decade ago, establishing himself as a major factor in the genre with his breakthrough hit “Step Out” and an album by the same name. Successive projects like Loaded and D.O.B. further showcased Busy’s outside-the-box lyrical displays and eclectic ear for rhythms and, in 2012, he went back to basics with Reggae Music Again, an all-reggae set selected as one of the Top 10 albums of the year by the BBC.

In addition to solo work, Busy has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Major Lazer, who featured him on their 2013 international smash “Watch Out For This (Bumaye)” and “Jump” off 2017’s Know No Better EP, as well as on the title track from No Doubt’s Major Lazer-produced album Push and Shove. A remixed version of “Jump” can be heard in Bacardi’s “Dance Floor” commercial campaign currently airing on TVs across North America. A pioneer in the fusion of dancehall and Afro sounds, Busy Signal has also cultivated deep ties with Africa, frequently visiting countries such as Zimbabwe and Gambia to perform. With one foot firmly planted in the core Caribbean market and the other always exploring new sounds and styles, count on Busy to deliver another epic musical journey. -Some words by Jesse Serwer of Large Up

Stay tuned for the “Got To Tell You” official music video coming soon! 

Buju Banton's "Country for Sale."

Waiting for Buju to release new music was a test of patience.  At times several (old) songs resurfaced to trick us into believing they’re recent, but not so, until long time collaborator Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records drops and email into my inbox.  It is new Buju!

“Country for Sale,” in my opinion, is the observant Buju meeting the heartfelt Buju, meeting the weeping Buju, meeting the optimistic Buju.  As Buju continues to enjoy his return to his homeland, he can’t help but observe the status of the country which pulls on his heartstrings knowing that people who are not Jamaican can come to our island and ‘buy’ what they want.

Beginning with a drum pattern that resembles what we see soldiers march to when putting on a military display, and with horns, bass and riddim guitar in sync, the call to action is put out for one and all to hear and act on.  Buju laments “country for sale / apply within / now could they tell me what ah gwaan / I hear dem sell off everything / name your price / if the bargain is right / oh yeah / make the right connections / you can have anything that you like ….”

If the thought provoking Buju is who you were waiting to hear, wait no more.  Teaming with his long time producer Donovan Germain, you know the world is only receiving the best music, even if it hurts to hear the truth.

Listen to the entire song on my audiomack channel:  https://audiomack.com/song/natashavonc/buju-banton-country-for-sale-straight-mix-1644-m0

Nas and Mary J. Blige Co-Headline 2019 Tour

Nas and Mary J. Blige will be hitting the road together for the very first time this summer.

Live Nation announced on Tuesday (April 16) that the pair of New York natives are going to embark on a co-headlining tour, which will run through 22 cities in total across North America.

The “Love Is All We Need” collaborators kick off the trek in West Palm Beach, Fla. on July 11 and then make their way through a range of indoor and outdoor venues with stops in Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Boston also in store. 

Tickets for the blockbuster tour will first be available to Citi card members, who will have access to the presale starting on April 17 at noon local time. The rest of the tickets go on sale to the general on Friday (April 19) at 10:00 a.m. local venue time over at Live Nation’s website here:  https://www.livenation.com/artists/41954/mary-j-blige.

Check out all of the dates for Nas and Mary J’s tour below.

7/11 - West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre at the S. Florida Fairgrounds
7/13 - Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds 
7/14 - Jacksonville, Fla. @ Daily’s Place
7/16 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
7/20 - Atlantic City, N.J. @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
7/21 - Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
7/24 - Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion
7/25 - Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
7/28 - Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/31 - St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
8/2 - Houston, Tx. @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

8/3 - Austin, Tx. @ Austin360 Amphitheater
8/6 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Starlight Theatre
8/9 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
8/14 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/16 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint
8/17 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint
8/20 - Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
8/22 - Dallas, Tx.  @Dos Equis Pavilion
8/25 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
8/31 - Syracuse, N.Y. @ St Joseph’s Health Amphitheater
9/1 - Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center
*9/10 - Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage

Soca Gold 2019

Soca music has become synonymous with joy, laughter and good times and VP Records is proud to present the soundtrack for that with the 2019 edition of Soca Gold. Out June 21st, the compilation features some of the best soca songs of the season. The two-disc CD set includes 17 tracks on Disc 1 and a Soca Gold 2019 Mega-Mix by Team Soca- DJ Spice on Disc 2.

This year, Soca Gold adds new dimensions to the famed compilation series, with two key partnerships; RJR Communications Group Jamaica and FITBK Fitness Movement. Soca

Gold Live - Montego Bay is a live performance showcase to be broadcast over RETV Jamaica on June 22, 2019. This two-hour live broadcast will be streamed via VP Records YouTube channel to key markets during viewing/ launch parties. The Montego Bay event is a new step into travel and tourism, tapping into the ’island hopping’ trend within the classic Caribbean Carnival culture. This is following the inaugural show for the VP Records “Strictly The Best Live” that was done in Montego Bay in January of this year.

The FITBK troupe (a NYC based group of certified fitness instructors of Caribbean Heritage) will stage a ‘come along’ to participate in the festivities on June 22nd. After the project launch, the organization will host multiple themed events as part of their Coney Island Soca Explosion (held on consecutive Saturdays in July and August).

This year’s album features the hottest songs from the most recent Trinidad Carnival including Kes “Savannah Grass” and “Issa Snack” by Nessa Preppy X Travis World. Two tracks; “My Sweet Sweet Woman” by Tony Prescott (out April 19th) and Sean Caruth “Come Inside” (out April 26th) were exclusively commissioned for the compilation. Other standout tracks include “Marc” by Fay-Ann Lyons, “Brace Up” by Machel Montano and the popular track “Funky Business” by Fimba. Tracks from Soca Gold can be heard at carnivals in St. Vincent, New York, Baltimore/DC, Toronto, London and more.

“Every year, Soca becomes more and more recognized by the masses as a genre of music that brings joy and happiness to so many people.” said Edwin Howell, A&R at VP Records and Program Director for Reggae King Radio. “I am proud of this year’s set of songs as they represent what is trending right now with new and classic artists that make good music for carnival and beyond,” he concluded.

Soca Gold 2019 TRACKLIST

Disc 1
1. Savanah Grass - Kes The Band
2. Marc - Fay-Ann Lyons
3. Brace Up - Machel Montano
4. Issa Snack - Nessa Preppy X Travis World
5. Trouble In The Morning - V’Ghn
6. Rag Storm (feat. 3 Canal) - Super Blue
7. Water Blessings - Iwer George
8. Funky Business - Fimba
9. Soca Land - Jamesy P
10. Vent - Teddyson John X Intl Stephen
11. My Sweet Sweet Woman - Tony Prescott
12. Come Inside – Sean Caruth
13. Cyan Function - Rikki Jai
14. Wine After Wine - Hypasounds
15. Manager - Jus D
16. Feting Family - Mikey
17. Pull It Up - Ricky T

Riddim Salut from Yaadcore

In Jamaica, reggae and dancehall are built on a set of foundation riddims: Tried-and-tested instrumental tracks which return time and again to soundtrack new songs and movements, connecting the current day’s artists and producers with the music’s deep roots.

On his latest mixtape, Riddim Salut Vol. 1, renowned Jamaican DJ/selector YAADCORE pays tribute to Jamaican riddim culture, blending exclusive dubplates from reggae music’s top names (Chronixx, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Koffee) with classic riddims (Cuss Cuss, M16, Heavenless) from the reggae canon. The result is a one-of-a-kind mixtape that’s an illuminating listen for both reggae neophytes and experts alike.

Listen to Riddim Salut here:  

https://soundcloud.com/yaadcore/riddim-salut

ABOUT YAADCORE

As the creator of the popular Reggae Aroma mixtape series, founder of the global party Dubwise Jamaica, and the first person to play leading lights Chronixx and Protoje over the Jamaican airwaves, YAADCORE is one of the most prominent and influential DJs working in reggae today.

Having cemented his place as a pivotal tastemaker, he is now making his mark as a producer and vocalist with his first original recordings. His debut solo track, “Ready Now,” will be out May 3rd via Delicious Vinyl Island and 12 Yaad Records. Riddim Salut — that’s Salut, with no ‘E’ —  is the name of both his new mixtape series, and a new traveling party launching in 2019.