KARP:^ JAMIYAWILSON.LILNASX:^ MILLER^MOBLEY.^ L
IZZO:^ HEATHERHAZZAN.In early April, Billboard moved
Lil Nas X’s breakout hit “Old Town
Road” to the R&B/hip-hop chart
from the country chart and found
itself in the middle of a debate over
how the music business should
classify the genre-defying hit.
Within weeks, the performer and
his fans quickly settled the matter
of where the song really belonged: atop the Billboard Hot 100,
where it reigned for a record-breaking 19 weeks. The song
has defined a year in music when the old assumptions about
where artists fit in have burst, and mavericks like Lil Nas X
and Lizzo — our other cover star this issue — have become
exciting new superstars, as well as top contenders for best
new artist and other major Grammy Awards in 2020.
Artists like Lizzo and Lil Nas X and their teams aren’t just
challenging genre conventions — they’re rewriting the rules
of a business that’s changing, and growing, as fast as it ever
has — and Billboard is more committed than ever to helping
our industry readers stay ahead of the curve.
Our new front section, The Market, will report and analyze
the changes sweeping through every aspect of the industry —
from recorded music to touring — both in the United States
and around the world. (We’re adding more global reporting to
highlight news and trends in key foreign markets that could
shape the business’ future.) As record labels double down on
artist development, The Sound will showcase the creators at
the center of the music economy, both the newcomers gaining
traction on our charts and the veterans reinventing themselves.
The Scene is devoted to the showcases and festivals that drive
the business and the events that bring industry executives
together to support some of the world’s most urgent causes.
The Players will celebrate the talent behind the scenes — both
individuals and companies — that music couldn’t reach its
audience without.
Even as genre boundaries fray, the kind of data-driven
insight that Billboard has always provided is more important to
the business than ever. As we double down on this core part of
our mission — launching a suite of new premium experiences
this week for digital subscribers — we’re giving our charts in
the magazine a makeover, too, with more color and space to
make them easier to digest. (Sign up for Billboard Pro online
to access insight reports, multimedia deep dives into hot topics
and conference calls with music industry insiders and experts.
Print-only subscribers can call customer support at 800-684-
1873 to upgrade to Billboard Pro; current digital and all-access
subscribers can click to claim their Pro account at no additional
charge by visiting https://www.billboard.com/offer.)
We hope that the refreshed design of Billboard reflects the
immediacy and vitality of today’s music business. We also hope
you’ll let us know what you think, and continue to share your
opinions and observations about the changes transforming the
landscape — whatever chart you might be climbing.
A Letter From The Editor
Hannah Karp
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
50 BILLBOARD • SEPTEMBER 21, 2019