Taylor Swift keeps a firm grasp on the top spot of the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated May 9), while Wiz Khalifa rises to No. 2. Further down the list, Justin Timberlake surges with a little help from his newly expanded family.
The Artist 100 is the first weekly survey dedicated to measuring artist activity across Billboard’s most influential charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, Top Album Sales and the Social 50. The Artist 100 blends data measuring album and track sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media fan interaction to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.
Swift spends a record-extending 24th week at No. 1 on the Artist 100, up by 3 percent in activity. Helping power her social metrics: a win at the April 20 Shorty Awards (which celebrate social media prowess) and her rumored new relationship with EDM superstar Calvin Harris.
Up 3-2 on the Artist 100, Wiz Khalifa ties his highest rank, first reached eight months ago (despite a 5 percent drop). The rapper first reached the runner-up spot when his album Blacc Hollywood debuted atop the Billboard 200 dated Sept. 6. That week, album sales accounted for 78 percent of his Artist 100 standing. With his Furious 7 soundtrack smash “See You Again” (featuring Charlie Puth) atop the Hot 100 for a third week, album sales now mark just 16 percent of his Artist 100 points; digital song sales lead at 52 percent.
Rounding out the Artist 100’s top five, Drake climbs 6-3; Alabama Shakes debut at No. 4, driven by their debut atop the Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts with new set Sound & Color; and Maroon 5 drops 4-5.
In other Artist 100 action, Justin Timberlake rebounds 75-62, with an assist from his wife, Jessica Biel, and their newborn, Silas Randall Timberlake. The new dad posted a picture of mom and son on Instagram prior to the chart’s tracking week, and it’s received 1.4 million likes to date. “The Timberlakes are ready!!!” he wrote, combining his fatherly pride with another love: His passion for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies’ postseason run: “GO GRIZZ! #Playoffs #BabyGrizzROAR.” (Timberlake is a minority owner of the team.)
On the Artist 100, Timberlake jumps by 15 percent in overall activity, with social reaction his biggest contributor in points (58 percent). [Billboard]