Kanye West has a released Christmas album today ‘Jesus Is Born’. The album is a a 19-track collection of songs performed with his Sunday Service Choir. This marks his second gospel effort.

Ariana Grande wrapped up her wildly successful 2019 Sweetener World Tour with a live album “K Bye for Now” (Republic).  Her nine month run ended in December with a final show at LA’s Forum. It was a big production show with 40 trucks and a 70 person crew. Ariana has been non-stop for nearly two years having released two albums back to back that scored top 10 hits as well as Grammy nods. After years of hard work, then comes exhaustion and reflection which is why she probably broke down in tears during her last performance.

Harry Styles is back with a No. 1 album after a two year hiatus. His new album Fine Line on Columbia bowed at No. 1 with 478,000 equivalent units giving him the third-largest opening week of 2019. The One Direction singer just wrapped up a sold-out crowd at L.A.’s Forum where he was joined by Stevie Nicks for a duet on Landslide.

The Hit Power of a Heartbreak Song: Although Lewis Capaldi doesn’t think his success will last very long, he shouldn’t count himself out yet. Power ballads today are more prominent on adult contemporary and don’t normally cross over from that space. Capaldi proved otherwise with his massive crossover smash Someone You Loved. Spotify in Germany played in role in the 23 year old developing artist before before he set the world ablaze.  Capaldi is up for a Grammy and majors are on the lookout for another crooner that can deliver a heartbreak song. Although a Capaldi cannot be reassembled, the billion streamed superstar opened the eyes to execs to a massive market that generally is ignored. UK and the U.S. loves heartbreak songs.

Look out for Manchester based pop artist LUCY.   She just dropped the first single ‘it’s cool’ which comes off her forthcoming EP.  Sonically, think Ariana meets Normani.  The track received BBC Introducing support and was premiered by BBC Radio Stoke. She popped on the scene in 2019 with her debut track one night which landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday, New Pop Revolution and Fresh Finds. Give it a listen.