Chappell Roan Hits The Top 10 With A Risky (And Brilliant) Genre Pivot
Chapel Roan earns her highest debut on the Hot 100 as 'The Giver' opens at No. 5 and simultaneously ... More tops the Hot Country Songs chart in a bold genre shift. AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Chappell Roan performs onstage during weekend two, day three of the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by)
Chappell Roan is back in the top 10 on the Hot 100, and she's returned at the height of her fame… With a track that sounds like nothing else in her discography. The singer has already established herself as a major pop talent, and now, as she begins what looks to be the next chapter of her career, she's taking bold risks — and they're clearly paying off.
Roan's new single "The Giver" arrives at No. 5 on the Hot 100 this week. That's not just a strong start, it's her highest debut ever on the ranking of the most-consumed songs in the U.S.
According to Billboard, "The Giver" racked up 22.3 million streams in its first week on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. It also sold 6,000 copies and reached 2.2 million people via radio.
What's particularly interesting is that those radio plays are coming from stations across two different genres. That is a sign that Roan's latest release is resonating in multiple spaces, and that her move from one style to another may have been a smart move.
"The Giver" becomes Roan's third top 10 hit on the Hot 100 as it debuts. It comes close to matching the No. 4 peak of her breakout smash "Good Luck, Babe!," which still stands as her highest-charting success.
Just a few weeks ago, her earlier single "Pink Pony Club" also broke into the region, several years after it was first released. That track is still holding on this frame, though it slides several spaces to No. 9 after climbing to No. 7.
Anyone familiar with Roan's work will immediately notice that "The Giver" sounds nothing like the singles that first turned her into a star. The track leans away from pure pop and toward country, though it might be more accurate to describe it as country pop.
It's a notable shift, especially for someone who's still carving out their space in the industry. Most artists play it safe early on, sticking close to the style that made them famous, since it's usually what fans want more of…but Roan is already changing course.
She's not the only current-day musical star making that pivot. Beyoncé grabbed headlines when she announced Cowboy Carter, her country album that dropped last year and became hugely successful. Lady Gaga tried something similar with Joanne, and Sabrina Carpenter recently remixed her single "Please Please Please" as a duet with Dolly Parton.
'The Giver' opens at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, earning Roan her first appearance on that tally. That lofty debut shows that even though she's a newcomer to the genre, her entry is being taken seriously – at least early on. Country fans have seemingly embraced the track, though her performance may be tied solely to already-existing fans consuming the cut in large enough numbers to make it an undeniable hit on those lists. How it performs at country radio will be another test.
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Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
Addison Rae and the art of the rebrand
The business of being Addison Rae was booming. It was March 2021, and the then-20-year-old had recently become the world's top-earning TikTok star, dancing and lip-syncing her way to nearly 80 million followers and a vast portfolio of brand deals. She'd dropped out of school at Louisiana State University to sign with an agent and move to LA, was preparing to launch her own cosmetics line, and had already secured a second season of her Spotify-exclusive podcast. That summer, she'd make her film debut in Netflix's "He's All That," a role that would lead to a multimillion-dollar deal with the streamer. There was only one thing left to do: Become a pop star. But when the single and music video for Rae's debut single " Obsessed" dropped that month, listeners were anything but. The song was panned as phoned-in influencer slop. "This is proof that nowadays it's so easy to get into the music industry by using the clout you have," one YouTube commenter wrote. Critics weren't much kinder. "'Obsessed' proves she should stick to lip syncing," Langa Chinyoka wrote for entertainment blog Popdust. While the song's reception was almost unanimously negative, the real inciting factor was Rae's audacity to release original music at all: How dare an influencer best known as a purveyor of corny TikTok dance trends envision herself as an actual artist worthy of any stage bigger than an iPhone? Back then, no one could have predicted Rae's debut album, "Addison," would arrive Friday amid a flurry of praise from pop heads and critics alike. Four years after "Obsessed" became a spectacular flop, Rae has masterfully rebranded as the music industry's newest "It" Girl. This time, her strategy is working: her face is back on major magazine covers, she's collaborating and associating with pioneering pop stars like Charli XCX and Rosalía, and is being anointed " the new pop princess" by fans on social media. Against all odds, Rae has pulled off a rare pivot, trading a massive but unenthusiastic audience of passive social media scrollers for critical acclaim and a passionate niche of die-hard fans. As Walden Green wrote for Pitchfork, "Addison Rae has achieved something arguably more impressive than success: coolness." How did she do it? Act I: Flipping the script Rae is hardly the first celebrity to switch lanes, but the transition from TikToker to bona fide celebrity is particularly difficult — just ask Charli D'Amelio or Bella Poarch, both of whom boasted more followers than Rae in 2020, but have so far failed to parlay social-media fame into traditional Hollywood prestige. Lili Colwell, the vice president of digital at Night, a talent representation platform for online creators, said her clients face greater stigma when transitioning into a new discipline, as skeptics often assume that influencers are lazy trend hoppers, not creative forces in their own right. "They don't give these people enough credit," Colwell said. "They're like, 'Oh, they have no talent.'" Growing an audience on TikTok demands a constant churn of content. Rae recently told The New York Times' Popcast she was posting "ridiculous amounts of videos" at her peak popularity, sometimes up to 12 videos per day. Meanwhile, carving a fruitful path in the music industry demands discernment and a distinct point of view. The biggest stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé deploy tightly controlled communications strategies to keep their brand identities compelling and consistent. Tara Goodwin, a PR expert and founder of Goodwin Consulting, said for Rae to be taken seriously beyond social media, it was essential that she rejected TikTok's ethos of oversaturation and began sharing with more intention. "On TikTok, she had random posts all the time, never any rhyme or reason," Goodwin said. "Now, it's very curated, it's very strategic." In May 2025, Rae only shared 12 videos on TikTok for the entire month, mostly to promote music videos that were painstakingly styled, shot, and edited — a far cry from the off-the-cuff, low-effort clips that defined her early days on the app. Now, if she's going to lip sync or dance, it's to her own songs. Taking a step back from algorithmic ubiquity not only gave Rae more control over her narrative but also added a crucial layer of mystique to her persona — a key element in transforming her reputation from regular Louisiana girl with a knack for nailing TikTok dances to an aspirational, slightly unknowable celebrity and artist. "She's releasing bits and pieces to intrigue the audience and make them want more," Goodwin said of Rae's current social media strategy. "She's actually now creating a story." Online and in interviews, Rae has managed to sell her rebrand as an earnest progression in her creative coming-of-age. She told The New York Times that, after her TikToker days of hustling for mass appeal and millions of followers, she can finally afford to take risks. "I have this luxury now to be able to play and explore," she said. The fact that it's taken four years for Rae to re-emerge with a different, more adventurous musical persona only makes this arc more convincing. Her evolution didn't happen overnight; instead, Rae's dogged commitment to her new vision is a selling point. "She's no longer just an influencer making music — she's a pop artist who happens to come from an influencer background." Sara Andréasson, PR expert Rae has proudly told news outlets about how she convinced Columbia Records to give her another chance after the failure of "Obsessed" by presenting an elaborate mood board that laid out her new sound and aesthetic in buzzwords ("intense," "glitter"), colors (aquamarine, hot pink), and iconic pop performances. She has been working to personify that character ever since, with every carefully selected public appearance, red carpet look, and new song revealing another layer of her new self-mythology. Sara Andréasson, cofounder of Michele Marie PR, told Business Insider that this strategy has created demand and curiosity. "She's no longer just an influencer making music — she's a pop artist who happens to come from an influencer background." Act II: Finding a backer During her TikTok reign, Rae told BI, "You are who you hang out with." Though she was speaking at the time about how close she was with her family, the statement has become a key tenet of the Rae Rebrand. Rae's music earned its first major stamp of approval from the alt-pop star Charli XCX, who, after hitting it off with Rae in a studio session, asked to contribute a verse to "2 Die 4," a ringtone-era throwback track that was included on Rae's 2023 EP "AR." Before Charli XCX had her major crossover moment in the summer of last year with the ubiquitous acid-green rollout of her album "Brat," the British singer was known as a platinum-selling songwriter for other artists and an ahead-of-the-curve pop prophet in her own right. Her interest in supporting and collaborating with Rae, whom she'd also recruit for the remix of her "Brat" single, "Von Dutch," around the same time, legitimized Rae's artistic pursuits. DJ Louie XIV, a music critic and host of the Pop Pantheon podcast, said he's "keen to ascribe agency" to Rae, even if it could seem like her fame has been propelled by her shrewd choice of collaborators. It's not that he believes Charli is pulling the strings — it's that he trusts her eye for talent. "Maybe I'm buying the hype," he told BI, "but I think if Charli sees something in her, that means something to me." Rae's connection to Charli introduced her to a wider audience, made her more chic by association, and staved off doubts about her staying power. As Brat Summer raged on, Rae took a page out of Charli's cool-girl playbook, crashing parties and smoking cigarettes with club kids, and winning respect from celebrated songwriters like Lorde and Lana Del Rey. To top it off, she generated buzz when she joined Charli onstage for surprise performances during the singer's tour stops at Madison Square Garden and Coachella, and cheekily announced her album release date via a pair of pink underwear while performing the "Aquamarine" remix with Arca at the festival. Act III: Dressing the part Having good style is relatively easy; making your fashion serve a narrative purpose is harder. Rae is largely focused on the latter, using her outfits to signal her new priorities. Gone are the Brandy Melville sweatpants and backward baseball caps that made her look laid-back and accessible, like the average girl at Erewhon. Instead, she's worked closely with Interview magazine fashion director Dara Allen to execute a series of looks that aren't simply pretty or well-fitted, but edgy, flamboyant, and evocative. Rae savvily uses her clothing to evoke movie stars and pop icons and project herself into that lineage, landing a series of indelible fashion moments, from her pap walk in a baby tee accessorized with Britney Spears' memoir to the white satin lingerie set she wore for her VMAs red carpet debut, which Vogue described as "'Swan Lake' meets Las Vegas showgirl." Andréasson, who has experience dressing A-list celebrities for events, said Rae's style evolution stands out for its use of surrealism and storytelling. Rae in 2021. Gotham/GC Images Rae in 2024. XNY/Star Max/GC Images "She does a great job avoiding the costumey elements of nostalgia and instead reinterprets it with modern tailoring and fresh beauty choices," Andréasson said. "Nostalgia only works when it's recontextualized, and Addison seems to understand that." In a media landscape where rewearing a historic Marilyn Monroe gown or recreating a memorable look from a '90s sitcom are easy ways to score headlines, Rae has avoided the plug-and-play approach. Her style may be full of references, but crucially, she doesn't mimic other celebrities or copy exact outfits. Instead, she prefers to arouse a broader feeling of familiarity. For example, Rae cited the 2006 friendship comedy "Aquamarine" as an inspiration for her song of the same name and her mermaid-inspired look for the 2024 CFDA Awards — not in terms of the movie's content or plot, but in how watching it made her feel. "I wanted to find what aquamarine meant to me," she said. Act IV: Living up to the hype Rae's flair for refracting nostalgia through her own original lens is evident in her new music as much as in her aesthetic. Her debut album "Addison" is full of dreamy, mid-tempo pop that flirts with its influences, from Madonna's "Ray of Light" and Björk's "Post" to Spears' "Blackout" and Del Rey's "Born to Die." As the tracklist dances between decades, genres, and moods, Rae's personal touch fills the gaps. This kaleidescopic technique isn't always radio-friendly, but Rae no longer seems to be aiming for immediate chart success (none of the album's five singles have yet cracked the Billboard Hot 100's top 40, with "Diet Pepsi" peaking the highest at No. 54). And why should she? If there's anyone who knows the drawbacks of an abrupt rise to fame without a sensible plan to sustain it, it's Rae. Instead, she and her team are executing a strategy that prioritizes artistic legitimacy and real staying power, something Rae hinted at in a recent interview with Elle. "I feel like I've surpassed Addison Rae," she said. "It's just Addison now." Going mononymous is a shorthand for prestige: think Madonna, Cher, Beyoncé. Rae hasn't earned that level of name recognition yet, but if her journey thus far is any indication, her ambition, marketing savvy, and willingness to play the long game are not to be underestimated — at least, not anymore. "Back in the '50s, people were discovered in Hollywood by sitting at a lunch counter on a stool. TikTok was her stool," Andréasson said. "It's going to fade away, and all of the new things that she's doing are what she's going to be known for. That's just going to be a postscript in the Addison story."
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Forbes
Addison Rae Introduces Herself With Debut Album ‘Addison'
Addison Rae Getty Images for Coachella In just a few short years, Addison Rae has risen from budding TikTok star to pop music's newest 'it' girl. She made a splash on the Billboard Hot 100 last year with 'Diet Pepsi' and returned to the chart for her recent single 'Headphones On." That climb has culminated in Rae's self-titled debut album Addison, out now. Though she's only a few years into her career, Rae projects the confidence of an industry veteran on the album, as evidenced by most recent single 'Fame Is a Gun," proclaiming 'There's no mystery, I'm gonna make it, gonna go down in history / Don't ask too many questions, God gave me the permission / And when you shame me, it makes me want it more.' When reflecting on her journey and where she is now in a recent cover story with Elle, Rae explained that she's reached a place in her career where she's in control of what she does. 'I have the luxury now to say no to things I'm not interested in, or that don't feel like me or aren't reflective of who I am. It's still a job, at the end of the day. Everybody is trying to survive — I'm trying to survive and live here and do all these things that I love — but I definitely have become more intentional, because I do think saying no to things opens up a door for a much better yes,' she said. Still, she isn't resting on her laurels just as she's making her big debut in the pop world. 'What does that even mean, really, to be the pop girl? Let's see if the songs get more popular, then they can call me a pop girl," she mused to Variety. 'This is my shot. I've got to go big.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Belinda's ‘Indómita' Album & More Best New Music Latin
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week's picks below. Belinda, (Warner Music México) More from Billboard Jon Bellion Was Tired of Songwriters Getting 'Paid F-king Dirt' - So He Flipped the Script With 'Father Figure' Elvis Crespo, Elena Rose, Kapo & More: Vote for the Best New Latin Music This Week The Weeknd Wanders Through Purgatory in 'Baptized in Fear' Music Video When Belinda received the Evolution Award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music gala, she made it clear that 'Belinda isn't a musical genre.' During a career that spans 25 years, she's navigated through pop, rock, electronic, cumbia, and most recently, música mexicana. 'My career is versatile…it's the perfect word to define my style,' she previously told Billboard. Best representing her fruitful and experimental growth in the industry, the Spain-born, Mexican-raised star dropped Indómita, her sixth studio album and debut set under Warner Music. The 17-track album starts off with nine 'corridos coquettes,' where her alter ego 'Beli Bélica' shines in collaborations with genre hitmakers Natanael Cano ('300 Noches'), Tito Double P ('La Cuadrada'), and Xavi ('Mírame Feliz'). Across the next eight songs, she dabbles in trap music ('Death Note' and 'Silvana'); teams up with Netón Vega and Tokischa for two hard-hitting perreos ('+ Perra, + Bitch' and 'Wet Dreams'); and goes full dance in the Kenia OS-assisted 'Jackpot.' Other collaborators on the set include Alemán, Mala Rodriguez and Thirty Second to Mars. 'The [album's] title is very specific to a movement for women,' she explained of Indómita, which means 'untamed.' 'She's a warrior, independent, a woman who's out of the box, completely irreverent but at the same time strong, sexy, fun… all the things I like and that I am, and I'd like to convey that to people.' — JESSICA ROIZ Óscar Maydon, (Rancho Humilde) Excess, irreverence and romance collide in Óscar Maydon's Rico o Muerto, Vol. 1, a whirlwind of sierreño swagger that feels like a tequila-soaked fever dream. Across 12 tracks, the Mexicali artist channels the debauchery and drama of late-night escapades, weaving tales of fleeting romances ('Mr. Vallarta'), dismissal ('Para Ti') and indulgence ('ZAZA,' the only trap song). The party kicks off on 'Baja Beach,' a sun-drenched anthem named after the infamous Mexican festival, with Junior H and Fuerza Regida joining the revelry. 'Desvelada' turns up the nocturnal chaos alongside Peso Pluma and Netón Vega, while the focus track 'Asquerosamente Rico' with Peso takes playful opulence to new heights. On '2030,' Maydon rides solo, mixing carnivalesque accordion riffs with a pulsing electric bassline to deliver a debauched, dystopian glimpse into the future. The album is the right amount of star-studded that Luis R Conríquez and Gabito Ballesteros also join him on 'Fina Con Los Valentinos.' With pre-released hits 'Tu boda' and 'Amigos? No.' rounding out the collection, Rico o Muerto, Vol. 1 reaffirms Maydon's devil-may-care and romantic style. But more than a party album, it's a work where the unbridled fun and excitement feel as real as the early mornings it invokes. — ISABELA RAYGOZA Elvis Crespo, (Puntería Records) Merengue star Elvis Crespo delivers Poeta Herío, a term from Puerto Rican slang that translates to 'hurt poet.' The 13-track set showcases the vibrant essence of merengue, featuring lively rhythms and heartfelt lyrics encapsulating the joys and struggles of life through his music. The LP is a vibrant tapestry of tropical sounds, featuring an impressive roster of both legendary icons and rising stars. With Elvis Crespo at the helm, the project immerses listeners in his signature genres of spirited merengue, lively mambo and infectious bachata. This new chapter in Crespo's musical journey is fueled by collaborations with a diverse array of artists such as Ivy Queen, Jerry Rivera, Toño Rosario, Tony Tun Tun and Víctor Manuelle. Standout tracks include 'Cora Roto,' an emotionally charged song where Crespo unveils a gripping narrative of betrayal, where hidden truths come to light, revealing a harsh and unforgiving reality. This is followed by several heartfelt goodbye letters and concludes the album with a revamped version of his classic 'Nuestra Canción,' featuring Jerry Rivera. — INGRID FAJARDO Ozuna, 'Sirenita' (Nibiru International) Ozuna hasn't released an album in two years, so he could be setting the tone for a potential LP with the two singles he's released so far this year. His latest, 'Sirenita,' is a vibrant fusion of Afrobeats and the Puerto Rican hitmaker's signature rhythmic-leaning urban production, which serves as the perfect canvas for his sweet and delicate vocals. The lyrics to 'Sirenita' — which tell the story of a girl who's stolen Ozuna's heart — are a testament to Ozuna's knack for writing sensitive, romantic songs. 'Sirenita' serves as the lead-up to Ozuna's summer tour in Europe that will kick off on June 20 in Milan and span over ten cities across the continent. — GRISELDA FLORES Elena Rose, Sistek & Mazzarri, 'SINTIGO' (Warner Music Latina) Accompanied by producers Sistek and Mazzarri, Elena Rose releases 'SINTIGO,' an evocative track with an electronic vibe that explores the emotional contradiction of wanting someone to stay but also wanting them to leave. 'How do I tell you? My life without you makes no sense,' the artist sings over a subtle fusion of house with Afrobeats, resulting in a delicate yet euphoric soundtrack for summer. 'SINTIGO' – a Spanish play of the words 'Sin ti' (without you) and 'Contigo' (with you) – is the first preview of the Venezuelan singer-songwriter's highly anticipated debut LP, following her 2024 EP En Las Nubes – Con Mis Panas. 'This is the first of everything,' Elena wrote on Instagram. 'A summer without drama is coming … full of beautiful things.' – SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS Adriel Favela, Eddy, 'KbrN InfeLiZ' (Fono) Adriel Favela's 'KbrN InfeLiZ,' the first single from his upcoming album Elysium, is a sad sierreño song powered by raw lyrics about a man who realizes that his lifestyle and emotional failings make him incapable of loving someone back the way he is loved. The sierreño-style guitars add an even more dramatic and profound touch to the track, in which the regional Mexican star is accompanied by Eddy, an emerging música mexicana artist who has previously collaborated with Gabito Ballesteros, Calle 24 and Ed Maverick. 'KbrN InfeLiZ' has the makings of an anthem for today's generation. – TERE AGUILERA Kapo, 'Korazong' (Sony Music Latin/La Industria) Kapo's 'Korazong' is a romantic declaration of love powered by a hypnotic Afrobeats sound. Written by the Colombian singer and produced by Gangsta, the song is distinguished by its poetic and sincere lyrics in which Kapo, with his unmistakable raspy voice, sings to that woman who came to heal his heart and transform it with love. Although it is still early to know if it will be his next hit, what is clear is that Kapo reaffirms his knack for authentic songs that touch the heartstrings and appeal to all types of listeners. — LUISA CALLE Check out more Latin recommendations this week below: Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
