Publisher’s Quarterly: Khalid’s ‘Talk’ Helps Sony/ATV Rule Radio Again In Q3
Sony/ATV Music Publishing was the No. 1 publisher among both the top 100 radio songs (22.96% share) and Hot 100 songs (23.96% share) for the third quarter of 2019.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing was the No. 1 publisher among both the top 100 radio songs (22.96% share) and Hot 100 songs (23.96% share) for the third quarter of 2019. That marks the eighth straight quarter it topped the radio songs list, while it wrested the top spot among Hot 100 songs away from Universal Music Publishing Group (22.93%), recording the highest market share since Billboard started tracking shares of those songs at the beginning of this year.
Lil Nas X‘s “Old Town Road” was the No. 1 Hot 100 song, while Khalid had the No. 1 airplay song with “Talk” and was also the top writer for that list in the third quarter. Khalid also shared writing credits on Ed Sheeran‘s “Beautiful People,” featuring Khalid (No. 18 track); “Eastside” from Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid (No. 35); and his own tune, “Better” (No. 65). Louis Bell was the top writer among the Hot 100 songs, with a co-write on nine songs, including three in the top 10.
Sony/ATV had a share in 56 of the top 100 radio songs, including “Talk,” in which UMPG — coming in second for the fourth straight quarter and collecting a share in 51 songs — also had a share. Kobalt, at No. 3 on the radio list, slipped slightly in market share to 16.59% from 16.9% last quarter, with its top song among the 42 it had a share in being the No. 2 track, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber‘s “I Don’t Care.” Warner Chappell Music improved slightly to 14.86%, but stayed in fourth for the sixth straight quarter; its top song was Lizzo‘s No. 3 track, “Truth Hurts.” Meanwhile, Warner Chappell retained the No. 1 ranking for the top 100 country airplay songs for the 11th consecutive quarter, this time with a 24.7% share.
BMG held steady as the No. 5 publisher of the top 100 radio songs, jumping from 4.45% to 5.73% in the third quarter with a share in “I Don’t Care,” while Reservoir leapt from No. 8 in the second quarter to No. 6 in the third with a 2.54% market share and its top track, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello‘s “Señorita.” On the same list, Big Machine jumped from No. 9 to No. 7 (top track: Luke Combs‘ “Beer Never Broke My Heart” at No. 15), Round Hill reentered the top 10 at No. 8 (top track: Dierks Bentley‘s “Living” at No. 30) and Downtown (Jonas Brothers‘ “Sucker”) and Big Deal Music (“Truth Hurts”) rounded out the top 10.
Among the Hot 100 songs, Sony/ATV also landed a share in 56 tracks, and while UMPG slipped to second, it actually improved its market share (from 22.62% in the second quarter) and share of songs (58 this quarter, up from 51). Kobalt remained in third, despite drops in market share (from 17.79% to 15.17%) and song share (from 49 to 45) — all three top publishers had a stake in “Old Town Road.” Warner Chappell ticked up to 13.22%, staying in fourth place, and had a share in 49 songs. Reservoir surged into fifth with a 3.96% market share, displacing BMG, while Downtown (No. 7) and Big Machine (No. 8) remained in the top 10. New arrivals were Big Deal, with a 1.07% share of four songs, and Handsdownpublisher, with DaBaby‘s “Suge” placing it in the top 10 for the first time.
This article originally appeared in the Nov. 2 issue of Billboard.
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