cody simpson

Cody Simpson

Cody Simpson Makes Social 50 Debut, Chris Brown Leaps Into Top 20

Australian pop singer Cody Simpson debuts on the Social 50 chart at No. 32 thanks to the premiere of the video for his ballad "On My Mind." Since its release on June 17, the video has earned 293,000 plays, respectively (200% week-to-week increase). Simpson owes his success to YouTube, where he posted videos and later signed a deal with Atlantic Records. Through July and into August, Simpson is playing several dates, some of which include sets with fellow rising pop stars Miranda Cosgrove and Greyson Chance.

 

Next up, a collaboration featuring Justin Bieber helps R&B singer Chris Brown slingshot 24-15. The epic video for the song "Next To You" debuted on June 15, pulling in 7 million Vevo views (a 40% week-to-week increase). In it, the conflicted, sorrow-stricken Bieber and Brown helplessly watch their worlds fall apart, in fear that each has lost their one true love. Dancing through the rubble and flames, the pair brings the mid-tempo song to life. But, in the end -- and literally so -- only Bieber wins a place next to the girl he croons for, while Brown exits as, per the lyrics, "the sky is falling down." This ambitious video-directed by Colin Tilley echoes the over-the-top films produced by the late icon Michael Jackson, who himself moves 9-7.

Chris Brown Offers Mea Culpa After Using Gay Slur

With the viral success of the video for her single "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," pop star Katy Perry is vying for the coveted No. 1 spot, nudging her way through the crowd (7-2). In two weeks, the comical, star-studded video -- which features guest spots by "Friday" singer Rebecca Black, Hanson, and Kenny G -- pulled in well over 26,000,000 million Vevo views (a 214% week-to-week increase). As you may have seen, the video shows Perry as a hangover-recovering, high school nerd. In it, she receives assistance from Black and transforms from an ugly duckling to party-crashing swan princess. Over on the Hot Digital Songs chart, "Last Friday Night" rockets 28-1, gaining a top spot once held by Adele's (1-5) song "Rolling In The Deep."

Katy Perry's 'Friday' Flies Up Hot 100, Adele Still No. 1
The Social 50 ranks the most active artists on the world's leading social networking sites -- YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and iLike -- using a formula blending weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays.

Anticipation for the latest Selena Gomez single "Love You Like A Love Song" reaches a fever pitch, boosting the starlet 27-16. The audio for the song-uploaded to YouTube on June 11-has gained 653,000 views, respectively. Gomez told "E! News" that the song reflects her interpretation of how love feels the honeymoon, head over heals stage-though she quickly said at her age (18), she views love as something that's supposed to be "fun." A snippet of the music video also hit the web, which showcases high fashion styles, ranging from Gomez dressed up as a Japanese karaoke bar patron to a Mozart era debutante. Her newest album, "When The Sun Goes Down," with The Scene-due out June 28-features the single "Who Says," which is No. 22 on the Hot 100 chart.

Selena Gomez: The Billboard Cover Story

Mash-up artist Gregg Gillis, a.k.a Girl Talk, took over MySpace June 16-18-in what they call a "Hijack"-curating site content as he saw fit. This huge promotion gained him 183,152 friends, enough to catapult him-simultaneously-18-3 on Uncharted and re-enter Social 50 at No. 33. Uncharted No. 1 spot holder DJ Bl3nd also re-entered at No. 49, with a 10% gain in YouTube view. His latest mix, titled "Swagga," has earned 1.7 million views since its debut on May 16.

Cody Simpson Professes His Love At The Teen Choice Awards

Cody Simpson wasn’t a winner at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards (airing tonight at 8 p.m.), nor was he even nominated. But that didn’t stop the 13-year-old Australian pop pipsqueak from partaking in the fun on the red carpet at the event yesterday. Decked out in a white button-down shirt, Cody popped off his shades and professed his love for Tiger Beat magazine via a handheld sign. Keep playing your cards right, Cody, and you could wind up hosting the TCAs next year.