Midland is the top emerging act in the U.S., as the country trio climbs 2-1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart (dated Sept. 9), powered by the group's breakthrough single "Drinkin' Problem," which reaches new peaks on Hot Country Songs (No. 4) and the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 45).
The Emerging Artists chart (which launched with the list dated Sept. 2) uses the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard char
Airplay contributes the majority of Midland's Emerging Artists points (50 percent), followed by digital song sales (31 percent).
Midland succeeds Portugal. The Man, who ruled the Emerging Artists chart a week ago. The rock group graduates from the chart this week, as its hit single "Feel It Still" enters the top 25 of the Hot 100 at No. 24.
Rounding out the Emerging Artists top five, One Direction's Louis Tomlinson jumps 7-2, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie rises 4-3, Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee lifts 5-4 and 22-year-old Anaheim rapper Phora debuts at No. 5.
Phora's entrance is fueled by his latest studio album Yours Truly Forever, which earns him his first entry on the Billboard 200, at No. 44 (11,000 equivalent album units in its first week, ending Aug. 24, according to Nielsen Music) and third charted title on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, at No. 29.
Check out this week's full Emerging Artists chart here.
