Spotify Wrapped 2023’s Top Artists, Albums And Songs

Nov 30 2023

Who was on your Spotify Wrapped Top Rankings?

In 2023, Spotify Wrapped highlights the musical landscape shaped by major female pop stars, diverse chart-topping sounds, and the global influence of powerful genres.

Taylor Swift claims the top artist spot with over 26.1 billion streams, celebrated with a creative puzzle piece reveal across billboards globally. Reggaeton sensation Bad Bunny secures second place, followed by The Weeknd, Drake, and Peso Pluma.

Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” earns the title of the year’s top song, surpassing 1.6 billion streams, while SZA’s “Kill Bill” and Harry Styles’s “As It Was” take second and third place.

Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” reigns as the most-streamed album for the second consecutive year, followed by Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” and SZA’s “SOS.”

The podcast realm sees The Joe Rogan Experience as the global leader for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Call Her Daddy and Huberman Lab. The diverse podcasts spotlighted key moments in pop culture, including reflections on female empowerment in media and discussions about the rise of AI throughout the year.

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Archbishop On His Funny ‘Bovril’ Encounter On Plane

Nov 29 2023

During an interview on RTK with Gabriel Lia, Archbishop Charles Scicluna talked about how he handled being called by his nickname, Bovril.

Scicluna recounted how he was on a flight and encountered two very different groups and encounters. The first group, a couple from Sliema, greeted him with ‘your grace’ and asked him to pray for them.

The second group however, three youths, greeted him with ‘aw bovril’. The youth told him that some people are afraid of flying, to which Scicluna responded, tongue in cheek: ‘tell them a bit of bovril will help.’

As the laughter from the audience faded, Scicluna revealed that he had embraced the nickname and even came up with an acronym: ‘bniedem onest, veru ragħaj, integru u leali (an honest person, a true shepherd, integral and loyal).

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Source: Newsbook Malta, RTK103

Palumbo Shipyards Open Day – A Resounding Success With 5,000 Attendees

Nov 29 2023

Palumbo Shipyards’ Open Day on Sunday, November 26, attracted 5,000 participants. The event provided a unique opportunity for visitors to witness firsthand shipyard operations in a safe and family-friendly environment while experiencing various forms of entertainment throughout the day.

All guests who attended Sunday’s event had the opportunity to have a much closer look at the ongoing operations at Palumbo Malta Shipyards. At the shipyard’s commercial side, there were seven vessels; four in dry docks and three at berth, all of them engaged in carrying out major maintenance works. At the Superyachts facility, two mega yachts were undergoing major refit works in the dock, and three other superyachts, one of which – a 100m – were being refitted at berth. An additional three superyachts were undergoing their maintenance period on the hard, which were lifted ashore with a 400-ton travel lift.

The open environment allowed families to explore shipyard operations, gaining insight into the processes involved and the safety measures taken on a daily basis.

Visitors were able to experience the yards’ commitment to sustainability and learn more about operational environmental practices. These included the installation of photovoltaic panels that allow the production of clean energy with which the shipyard powers its operations, to energy efficiency, and how the adoption of Hydrojetting, facilitated by acquiring 20 advanced Hammelmann machines, has revolutionized the boat surface treatment processes, as well as the pioneering use of AirLite paint.

Participants had also the chance to admire Palumbo Shipyard’s evolving urban forest in Malta—home to cypress, palm, and olive trees. This green haven is the shipyard’s commitment to sustainability, set to flourish and contribute to its goal of full sustainability by 2030.

Participants had the opportunity to explore workshops, docks, and other areas, which are usually reserved, during informative tours. These visits provided a deeper understanding of the daily operations of Palumbo Shipyards and the mechanisms involved in ship repair and maintenance.

The Palumbo Shipyards Open Day was not only an exploration of maritime excellence but also a celebration of Maltese talent. Renowned artists such as Ivan Grech, Kantera, Freddy Portelli, Joe Demicoli, Claudia and Fabrizio Faniello, Kevin Paul, Kurt Calleja, as well as id-Dulli and Veronica, performed on stage throughout the day.

The event featured an iconic Ferrari car as well as special models of supercars. Participants were able to admire the cars up close during the Open Day.

The little ones had their own dedicated space in the children’s play area, with train rides through the yard, Flyboard shows, a soccer field to practice with local teams, BMX exhibitions and other engaging activities. Families enjoyed a day of fun and excitement.

Antonio Palumbo, President of the Palumbo Group, expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating, “It was a great day out for all the family, where one could appreciate the good working practices and environmentally friendly procedures adapted on a day-to-day basis. The overwhelming turnout reflects the community’s interest in our operations and the maritime industry as a whole.”

Palumbo Shipyards extends its gratitude to the community for making the Open Day a resounding success and looks forward to future opportunities to connect with the public.

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Taylor Swift Named Artist Of The Year By Apple Music

Nov 29 2023

Following her chart-topping success, global tours, and the release of her concert film, Taylor Swift has earned the title of Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2023.

Apple Music unveiled its year-end charts, revealing Swift’s dominance as the most listened-to artist by subscribers, setting a new record for the highest number of listeners in a single year on the platform. Swift’s impact is evident with 65 of her songs reaching Apple Music’s Global Daily Top 100 in the first ten months of 2023.

The Top Global Songs list on Apple Music was led by Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” marking the first country song since “Old Town Road” (2019) to claim the top spot.

Interestingly, the chart saw a notable rise in country songs, with 11 making the list compared to four the previous year. Additionally, genres like música Mexicana and Afrobeats gained prominence.

The Top 100 2023: Shazam chart featured Rema’s “Calm Down” at the forefront, with Ayra Starr’s “Rush” and Libianca’s “People” also securing spots among the world’s most Shazamed songs.

Música Mexicana made history with four songs on the list, including Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola” at No. 18 and Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny’s “un x100to” at No. 70.

Apple Music highlighted various year-end charts, such as the Top Fitness Songs Chart led by British dance duo Punctual and the Top Songwriters Chart dominated by Drake. The comprehensive suite of Year-End Charts is available on Apple Music, offering a snapshot of the music trends that shaped 2023.

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