Karmin Debuts Video for, Makes Chart Gains With 'Brokenhearted'

by Gary Trust  |   March 22, 2012 5:05 EDT

Karmin debuted its video today (March 22) for "Brokenhearted," the pop duo's first Billboard Hot 100 hit. The song jumps 84-60 in its second week on the survey. Take a look (and listen) here:

The pair first gained attention for their viral covers of such songs as Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass." Karmin - Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, who met at Boston's Berklee College of Music - releases its debut album, "Hello," on April 24. The twosome sang "Brokenhearted" in its breakout apprearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" last month.

Karmin Recalls 'Emotional' Experience on 'SNL'

In addition to its Hot 100 flight, "Brokenhearted" pushes 10-4 on Heatseekers Songs, 22-20 on Pop Songs and enters Digital Songs (No. 52) and Radio Songs (No. 67).

Karmin clearly recognizes the important role that radio can play in building its audience. "Turn up your R-A-D-I-O Pennsylvania!," the act Tweeted today. "We are on our way to @985wkrz right now. Tune in or come on by!"

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Nicki Minaj, Skrillex and One Direction Make Social Chart Gains

by William Gruger, New York  |   March 22, 2012 7:47 EDT

This week on Billboard's Social 50 chart, Nicki Minaj bounds back into the top 10, Skrillex hits a new high and One Direction continue its American takeover.

After a brief sojourn from the top 10 last week, Nicki Minaj is back in the upper tier at No. 4 (up 13 slots) following a 6.1% increase in overall followers over the previous week. The flurry of social activity comes as the diva reigns in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with two different tracks: "Starships" (up to No. 6 from No. 9) and "Turn Me On" (with David Guetta, down one slot to No. 7).

The Social 50 chart ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, using a formula that blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays.

Minaj experiences a surge of 170,000 "likes" on Facebook, a 55% increase over her fan acquisition rate from the previous week. Blogs were in a tizzy last week courtesy of pictures of the bikini-clad artist during a video shoot for "Starships."

After 36 weeks on the chart, Skrillex finally cracks the top 10, rising seven spots to No. 9. The electronic artist was one of the most buzzed about acts who played South by Southwest last week, receiving over 107,000 Facebook "likes" (up 42% compared to the week previous).

UK pop group One Direction continues their march up the Social 50, moving from No. 9 to No. 5 (a new high) after the release of their debut album "Up All Night" on March 13. The act made history on the Billboard 200 albums chart as the first UK group to bow at No. 1 with a debut album. "Up All Night" entered atop the list with 176,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The media frenzy surrounding One Direction, including a performance on NBC's "Today" show, has translated into a storm of social buzz and activity. During the charting week the group experienced a 9% increase in overall online fan acquisition from the previous week, mostly resulting from a 164,000 gain in Twitter followers (up 29%).

The group understands how to reach fans, too. One Direction's Vevo channel features behind-the-scenes and touring-related content -- in addition to traditional music video clips. A video of the act greeting fans gathered in Natick Mall in Boston has received over 150,000 views since debuting March 20, contributing to an 16% increase in video views over the previous week.

Elsewhere on the chart, Usher (moving 37-31) experiences gains as well, as this week captured the tail-end of the surge of online activity surrounding the release of the video for his new single "Climax." The video debuted on March 8 and has since received over 4 million views, contributing in part to his total of 8,485,000 video views during the week (up 18.5%).

Back in the top 10: Adele continues to watch the Social 50 throne, resting comfortably at No. 1 as Lady Gaga jumps from No. 4 to No. 2. Gaga bumps Justin Bieber down four slots to No. 6 while Rihanna remains at the No. 3 spot. Eminem falls from No. 6 to No. 7 and Chris Brown slips from No. 5 to No. 10 as online activity generated by his newest single "Turn Up The Music" begins to taper off. Finally, LMFAO re-enters the top 10 at No. 8 (up six rungs) after a busy week touring.

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Ledisi gains self-confidence with new album (AP)

NEW ORLEANS – If there's any message Ledisi wants her fans to take away from her latest album, "Pieces of Me," it's about gaining a sense of self-confidence and self-worth.

"This project is very personal to me," she said in a recent telephone interview. "I want women to hear themselves in the music and find a way to celebrate and embrace who they are."

It's something that Ledisi has finally been able to accomplish in her own life. Early in her career, when Ledisi struggled to make inroads in the business, the New Orleans native started to have doubts about whether she'd fit in, or whether she had what it took to make it as a recording star.

But after the breakthrough success of 2007's "Lost & Found," which garnered her a Grammy nomination for best new artist, and 2009's "Turn Me Loose," which earned her additional Grammy nominations and more success, she's finally feeling confident. The title track, which is the album's first single, gives her audience a glimpse at a woman who's confidently tackling issues of love, intimacy, relationships, respect and empowerment.

"This is a reflection of me as a person, of the person I'm becoming," Ledisi said. "I hope it shows that Ledisi is funny. She is sad. She is spirited. She is very complex. It's about no longer wondering whether I'm worthy of being in this business."

Vocally, she can reign supreme in the R&B world; her stylistic tones also hint upon her penchant for jazz and opera. That versatility has helped draw acknowledgment from fans (who reach as high as the nation's first lady) as well as from peers, and helped her recognize pieces of herself that had been long-buried.

"All of the producers wanted me step back and look at what I'd done, to really see eight months later what we had," she recalled. "I was always asking, `Did I do good?' and for the first time, I was able to look back and say `Wow. That is so good.' This project reminded me to stop and smell the roses, to look around outside and really see what I'd done."

Ledisi, who recently wowed at the BET Awards with a masterful tribute to the late Teena Marie, has said that recording the album was therapy for her.

"I've been so happy with the response so far," she said. "I'm hoping that the project will draw younger audiences into the fold with the mix of old and new. It's fiery and uptempo and exciting. It's just great to know that someone out there is listening while in turns builds confidence and reminds me that `Hey, I've still got a little swag.'"

Asked what else might be in her future, Ledisi said she's working on a book, but wouldn't give any details, saying it's still early in the process.

"I'm just nurturing all the different sides of me," she said, laughing. "I can't wait to see what's next."

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Online:

http://www.ledisi.com/

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