Musicians from around the world took to social media to offer support for those affected by inclement weather and national disasters in the Americas, including Shawn Mendes, who was forced to cancel a concert in Mexico City after the city was hit by an earthquake.
The Social 50 is powered by data tracked by music analytics company Next Big Sound and ranks the most popular artists on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Wikipedia and Tumblr. The chart's methodology blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with artist page views and engagement. The chart’s latest tracking week ended Sept. 21.
Mendes, who jumps 19-5 on the Social 50 dated Oct. 7 with a 359 percent boost in overall reactions, wrote on Instagram that his “deepest condolences are with those affected by the earthquake in Mexico today,” promising that he “will be back” after announcing the Sept. 20 concert’s cancellation. Mendes has also donated to relief efforts.
He wasn’t the only one to make a statement. Beyonce, who shoots 30-8 on the chart with her best rank since May, garnered 24.8 million Instagram reactions, with some directed toward pictures of the Puerto Rican and Mexican flags flanking a text image reading, “God bless Mexico and Puerto Rico” (Puerto Rico was battered by the latest hurricane, Maria, to hit the Caribbean this season).
Shakira (28-17) and J Balvin (a re-entry at No. 26) spoke to the devastation as well. Shakira solicited donations via Twitter to UNICEF to assist Mexico after her scheduled appearance to announce nominations for the Latin Grammy Awards was postponed Sept. 20 due to the disasters.
Balvin, meanwhile, posted a video on Instagram expressing his sympathies and used the hashtag #orandopormexico (praying for Mexico) on another amid his just-started U.S. tour.
