Coming To America
Following recent imported hits like Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” and Passenger’s “Let Her Go,” which scaled charts in multiple countries before crashing U.S. shores, John Newman’s “Love Me Again” (Republic) is building below Mainstream Top 40. The song received play on 26 chart reporters last week, spurring a 128% increase in spins, according to Nielsen BDS. The British native’s track has reached the top 10 in 15 countries and topped the Official U.K. Singles chart in July.
Turner Starts ‘Keys’
California-raised singer/songwriter Leah Turner’s debut single, “Take the Keys,” gains traction just below the Country Airplay chart. She honed her music skills while attending college, where she met Kenny Loggins. He encouraged her to move to Los Angeles, where she worked with David Foster and Humberto Gatica before her pursuits ultimately led her to Nashville. Signed to Columbia, Turner is working on her major-label debut album.
Party Time
PartyNextDoor, the first signee on Drake’s OVO Sound imprint, makes his first Billboard chart appearance, as the Drake-featured “Over Here” (Warner Bros.) debuts at No. 35 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop. The cut reached 2.1 million listeners last week. Before linking with Drake, the Toronto-based singer was making EDM-infused R&B under his real name, Jahron Braithwaite. His “PartyNextDoor” mixtape has sold 4,000 copies since its July 1 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan, despite its free availability online.
Alam A Arrives
Entering Tropical Airplay at No. 40, “Enamorado” (RDM) marks the first charted single for bachata singer Alam A. A 15% bump in airplay pushes the song onto the chart with plays at seven stations. Born in the Dominican Republic, the artist grew up stateside and began his musical career as a DJ at age 15. He’s teamed with former Aventura member Lenny Santos for the production of “It’s Me” (Soy Yo), due early next year.
Reporting by Wade Jessen, Amaya Mendizabal, Rauly Ramirez and Gary Trust.