Ariana Grande's Record Week & Guest Njomza on Co-Writing '7 Rings' & 'Thank U, Next': Chart Beat Podcast

2/21/2019 by Gary Trust , Trevor Anderson

Getty Images; Design by Tracy Allison

Ariana Grande and Njomza

"It's a very true story," Njomza says of the Hot 100's current No. 1.

Welcome to the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast, where each week co-hosts Gary Trust and Trevor Anderson, from the Billboard charts department, discuss why what's on the charts … is on the charts, while also looking at current chart action in a historical context for even greater insights.

This week, we recap Ariana Grande's historic week on the Billboard Hot 100, as she becomes the first soloist in the chart's 60-year archives to rank at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously, and only the second act overall to triple up at the top, after The Beatles. Grande spends a fourth week at No. 1 with "7 Rings," debuts at No. 2 with "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" and rebounds 7-3 with former leader "Thank U, Next," the title cut to her new album that concurrently launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

In honor of Grande's achievement, we welcome special guest, singer-songwriter Njomza, who co-wrote "Rings" and "Next." "It's insane, I still don't really know how to process it," she says of her current success. "When I was contributing, I was having a lot of fun in the studio. I didn't have any expectations, so seeing it No. 1 worldwide is pretty surreal. It's definitely a blessing."

Njomza, who recently released EP Vacation on SinceThe80s/Motown, discusses her discovery by Mac Miller after he noticed her on YouTube, which helped lead to her creative partnership with Grande. Of "Rings," Njomza says, "We went to Tiffany's and got really drunk on champagne, and Ariana ended up buying rings. We got in her driver's car on the way back to the studio, and we had a bottle of champagne, and I said, 'Hey, we need to write a song about this.' It's a very true story."

Listen to the latest Billboard Chart Beat Podcast and check back for additional upcoming episodes with artists, label executives, radio programmers and personalities, songwriters, producers and more. And, to receive every episode automatically in your inbox, subscribe to (and rate) the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast on iTunes! Plus, the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast is now available on an expanded range of platforms! You can listen on Acast, Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Overcast, PocketCast, Podbean, Stitcher and TuneIn.