POP SMOKE

New data from the music industry confirms what a lot of people long suspected — 2021 was a very good year for Morgan Wallen, Adele and vinyl.

Retirees are ruling the roost in this year's Grammy nominations in the record of the year category.

South Korean superstars BTS were crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards on Sunday, brushing aside challenges from Taylor Swift, Drake and The Weeknd as they took home a total of three awards.

Cardi B has won five American Music Awards and performed on the telecast during her career so far.

Olivia Rodrigo is having a sweet year as the leading nominee at the American Music Awards in her first year to be eligible.

Cardi B’s “WAP” had new meaning at the BET Awards: winning and pregnant.

This week’s new entertainment releases includes Conan O’Brien closing out his TBS late-night show and the new soccer documentary “LFG,” a revealing look at the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s battle for equal pay.

Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby are the prom queen and king of the 2021 BET Awards.

It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son.

The Weeknd will celebrate his whopping 16 nominations at the Billboard Music Awards with a performance at the show.

The Grammy Awards have changed its tune and voted to remove its nomination review committees — groups that determined the contenders for key awards at the coveted music show.

The Weeknd was snubbed by the Grammys but he’s the leading nominee at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, where rappers Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD earned multiple posthumous nominations, including top artist.

The Weeknd, Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch are among the top nominees for next month’s iHeartRadio Music Awards.

This cover image released by Warner Records shows "I Just Wanna Live," by Keedron Bryant. Bryant's song was named one of the top 10 of the year by the Associated Press. Keedron Bryant, “I Just Wanna Live": During times of turmoil and unrest, people respond differently. She asked her son, then 12-year-old Keedron Bryant, to sing the song and the rest is for the history books. The song not only helped Keedron Bryant land a record deal, it helped heal the world at a time when music is a language that unites us all.

NEW YORK – Roddy Ricch is the king of Apple Music: The rapper has the music platform’s most-streamed song and album of the year. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” was the second most-streamed song of the year, followed by Australian singer Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey,” DaBaby and Ricch’s “Rockstar” and “Life Is Good" by Future and Drake. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year, was the most Shazamed song of the year (Apple acquired Shazam in 2018). Ranked by time spent viewing lyrics in Apple Music, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s raunchy hit “WAP” tops the list of most-read lyrics of 2020. Other songs in the Top 5 include “Dance Monkey,” YOASOBI’s “Yoru ni Kakeru,” Ricch’s “The Box” and Official HIGE DANdism “Pretender.”

And it earned him his first Grammy nomination in six years. 3 spot on the pop charts — is up for best rap song and best rap performance. And Anderson .Paak's “Lockdown," about police brutality and racial injustice, is up for best melodic rap performance and best music video. JAY-Z, THE SONGWRITERS, SHINESHappy wife, happy life: Jay-Z has lent his songwriting hand to his wife Beyoncé and he's earned Grammy nominations for it. PAUL McCARTNEY, THE ART DIRECTORPaul McCartney scored his 79th Grammy nominations this year — as an art director.

Others who may earn nominations include Lewis Capaldi, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen, Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, Ingrid Andress, Snoh Aalegra, Skip Marley, Mickey Guyton and CNCO. Ricch should also earn nominations for his guest appearance on DaBaby’s international hit “Rock Star,” helping him become the show’s overall top nominee. ________FOLKS LOVE FOLKLORETaylor Swift’s last two albums, “Lover” and “reputation,” didn’t earn nominations for album of the year. The seven-member group’s hit “Dynamite” could snag a nomination for best pop duo/group performance, and their latest album could compete for best global music album. 3 on pop charts, should earn a nomination for best country performance and best country song.

This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. Authorities say three men and two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the home-invasion death of the rising rapper. (Fox11 News KTTV-TV via AP)

This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. The three men were identified as Jaquan Murphy, 21, Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre D. Rodgers, 18, all of Los Angeles. Pop Smoke and his entourage staying at the home are not believed to be associated with the gang, Tippet said. “It’s our belief that (the home-invasion robbery) was based on some of the social media" posts, Tippet said. Earlier this year, Pop Smoke released the mixtape “Meet the Woo 2,” which debuted at No.

In this undated photo provided by Republic Records is Pop Smoke. "We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke," Republic Records said in a statement. An autopsy was planned after Pop Smoke was declared dead at a hospital. Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent, Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with Pop Smoke, were among those paying tribute on social media. “Young tycoon gone2soon had a blast wit ya,” Snoop Dogg posted, along with a video of himself and Pop Smoke on stage together.