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‘Bottle Rockets’ Send Scotty McCreery and Hootie & the Blowfish to Top of Country Airplay Chart

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Scotty McCreery and Hootie & the Blowfish climb two spots to the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Oct. 4) with “Bottle Rockets,” marking unique feats for McCreery and the band’s frontman, Darius Rucker, as well as McCreery’s label, Triple Tigers.

Scotty McCreery performs at the ACM Country Kickoff as part of the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards week held at the Ford Center at The Star on May 15, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.

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The single, which features newly recorded vocals from Hootie & the Blowfish built around its classic song “Hold My Hand,” credits 11 writers, including McCreery, Rucker and producer Frank Rogers. It increased by 14% to 30.5 million audience impressions in the Sept. 19-25 tracking week, according to Luminate. “Hold My Hand” became Hootie’s first major hit, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.

The ascent of “Bottle Rockets” to No. 1 puts Rucker in exclusive company with Tyler Hubbard. They are now the only artists who have ruled Country Airplay both as solo acts and with a duo or group, dating to the chart’s start in January 1990. Hubbard scored 16 leaders as half of Florida Georgia Line before earning the first of three solo No. 1s with 2022’s “5 Foot 9.” Rucker has collected nine No. 1s as a solo artist, beginning with “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” in 2008.

Triple Tigers, launched in 2016 as a joint venture between Thirty Tigers, Sony Music Entertainment-owned distributor The Orchard and Triple 8 Management, also notches a milestone. Directly following Russell Dickerson’s two-week reign with “Happen to Me,” “Bottle Rockets” gives the label its first successive Country Airplay No. 1s. To date, the imprint has powered 11 singles to the top, six by McCreery and five by Dickerson.

Meanwhile, “Bottle Rockets” joins such Country Airplay No. 1s that interpolate prior hits as Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” his 2022 leader that reimagines Jo Dee Messina’s 1996 breakthrough single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”

For the 31-year-old McCreery, “Bottle Rockets” is his first Country Airplay leader since “Damn Strait,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 in 2022. He wraps his quickest trip to the top spot: 20 weeks, nearly halving his previous fastest coronation (37 weeks for “This Is It” in 2018-19).

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Lego’s Latest Pokémon Collab Includes an Electric Pikachu-Themed Set: Shop It Here

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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Lego is getting in touch with the gaming community this new year with the release of three very intricate and nostalgic Pokémon sets.

If you grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, then this collection will mean a lot to you, considering all the Pokémon featured in this three-piece collection are all Generation One, meaning they’re all from the original 151 creatures featured in the first generation of Pokémon games. You’ve got all the familiar faces from Pikachu and Eevee to the water, grass and fire type starters all evolved, including Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur. In the Billboard sphere, Pokemon tracks from films like Pokémon: The First Movie and Pokémon: 2.B.A. Masters have all charted at some point and, of course, the iconic Pokémon theme endures in popularity to this day.

These fan-favorite characters have been transformed into brick sets, all of which are available to preorder now on Lego’s website. Sets include the Pikachu popping out of a Poké Ball for $199.99, the Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise trio for $649.99 and the Eevee figure for $59.99. Every set will be available starting Feb. 27. Each set is incredibly detailed, true to the characters to a tee.

<strong>Pikachu and Poké Ball</strong> Lego Set

$199.99

Buy Now at lego

A Pikachu Lego set.


The sets serve as decor items and a joyful pastime when building. Our favorite has to be the Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise Lego Set, which evokes memories of booting up a Nintendo DS, popping in Pokémon Diamond and choosing between starters, weighing options between a fire type or grass type before taking on the adventure of a lifetime.

If you’re wondering, ShopBillboard is totally a fan of grass types. The $649.99 set features all three starters fully evolved, standing on a pedestal with scenery that evokes each Pokémon’s power. Charizard is flying over a volcano because he’s a fire type, while Venusaur is standing in a flower patch because he’s a grass type and finally, Blastoise is a water type, so he’s standing on a geyser.

Pikachu’s set is equally adorable, seeing the electric type Pokémon leaping out of a Poké Ball, making the set look so lifelike. Pikachu isn’t a starter, but he’s a beloved character, especially thanks to the Pokémon cartoons in which he’s featured a ton alongside his buddy Ash Ketchum.

Lego, Pokémon, Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur, preorder, shop, decor, gaming

Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise Lego Set

$649.99

Buy Now at lego

A set featuring evolutions of starter pokemon.


Lego, Pokémon, Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur, preorder, shop, decor, gaming

Eevee Lego Set

$59.99

Buy Now at lego

An Eevee Lego set.


If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Eevee Lego Set for $59.99 is your best bet. The Gen One Pokémon has tons of personality and is beloved by all in the Pokémon fandom for its sweet personality and many Eeveelutions, or Eevee evolutions. The set seems pretty straightforward to build, seemingly the easiest of the three, and looks almost lifelike in its disposition.

According to Lego’s website, Wild Lego Pokémon creatures will be hidden throughout Lego and Pokémon’s official social media. “Sharp-eyed Trainers to catch them through hidden codes. Each week until our final release on Feb. 27, new ones will appear; each more surprising and trickier to catch than the last. Sign up or log in to your Lego Insiders account. Submit the code in the field below, and if your code is accepted, you’ll enter the draw to win one of 10 Lego Pokémon prizes!”

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Universal Music Names NY Times Veteran Hannah Poferl as Chief Data Officer

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Universal Music Group has appointed veteran journalist Hannah Poferl as chief data officer, effective immediately, marking a major hire for the world’s largest music company as it accelerates its data-driven strategy. Based in Santa Monica, Poferl will report to UMG chief operating officer Boyd Muir.

Poferl joins UMG after nearly 12 years at The New York Times, where she most recently served as the newspaper’s first-ever chief data officer, a role she assumed in 2021. During her tenure, she also held senior newsroom leadership positions including head of audience and assistant managing editor, playing a pivotal role in the Times’ digital transformation and subscription growth during a period of industry disruption.

At UMG, Poferl will lead global data and analytics initiatives across audience development, artist and fan engagement, talent discovery and the application of AI technologies to support the company’s “superfan” strategy. Her remit also includes unlocking long-term value from UMG’s extensive catalog and driving operational performance across its businesses.

A thrilled Muir praised Poferl’s “exceptional reputation and track record of strategically utilizing data, analytics and AI technology to grow, connect and engage audiences with creativity and culture,” saying it “mirrors our own vision for transforming the ways artists and labels can connect with fans. Her unique insight and deep understanding of both the creative and commercial aspects of the creative sector, dovetail perfectly with our own ambitions to accelerate the role data and technology play in our driving our superfan initiatives, direct to consumer platforms and UMG’s business globally.”

Poferl described the move as a natural extension of her career. “Storytelling has been central to my work, and music is one of the most powerful storytelling mediums,” she said, citing UMG’s artist-first approach and commitment to using technology in service of creativity.

At the Times, Poferl oversaw teams of more than 200 people and helped shape data practices that balanced analytics with editorial values. She developed systems that informed coverage decisions, drove readership growth and advanced machine learning capabilities to scale audience engagement. Since joining the Times in 2014, Poferl held roles including associate managing editor, director of newsroom strategy and deputy editor.

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Signed: Morrissey Returns to Sire for 14th Album; Manuel Turizo Re-Ups With SESAC Latina

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Morrissey signed with Sire/Warner Records for the release of his fourteenth solo studio album, Make-Up Is a Lie, which is preceded by the single of the same name. The album, his first in more than five years, will be released on March 6. Morrissey put out his first five solo albums on Sire: Viva Hate, Kill Uncle, Your Arsenal, Vauxhall and I, and Southpaw Grammar. The singer-songwriter and former Smiths frontman is currently on the U.S. leg of his world tour. — Chris Eggertsen


SESAC Latina has renewed its partnership with Manuel Turizo, who first joined the organization in 2017. In 2024, he was named SESAC Latina songwriter of the year (pop/Latin rhythm) and received song of the year (pop/Latin rhythm) for “El Merengue” with Marshmello. The Colombian artist has also earned multiple accolades, including three 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards: Latin airplay song of the year, Tropical song of the year, and Global 200 Latin song of the year, all for “La Bachata.” The two-time Latin Grammy nominee has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “La Bachata” (No. 67) and “Vaina Loca” (No. 94). Last year, the Colombian artist released a string of singles, including reggae-laden “Cosas de Enamorao — Salud mi Reina” and the Afrobeats-tinged “Mírame Ahora — Salud mi Reina.”

Manuel Turizo at the 2025 American Music Awards held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gilbert Flores/Penske Media

“We are so thrilled that Manuel will continue to be part of the SESAC Latina family. His talent and dedication to his craft are unparalleled and we can’t wait to support him as his career continues to soar,” said Celeste Zendejas, senior vp of SESAC Latina, in a statement. — Isabela Raygoza

See the rest of the latest artist signings below.

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