Taylor Swift Leads Billboard Hot 100, Ed Sheeran Soars to Top 10

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 19, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

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Swift scores her longest career reign as 'Blank Space' rules for a fifth week, while Sheeran posts his best rank as 'Thinking Out Loud' leaps 24-6.

Blank Space" tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a fifth week, granting the superstar her longest command among her three career No. 1s. The track also takes over atop the Radio Songs chart. Plus, Swift bestie Ed Sheeran zooms to his best Hot 100 rank, as "Thinking Out Loud" surges 24-6.

We're taking a break from our holiday shopping (translation: we haven't started yet) to do what we do each Wednesday: run down the top 10 and more on the sales/airplay/streaming-based Hot 100.

See All Billboard Year-End Charts Here!

With "Space," released on Big Machine Records and promoted to radio by Republic Records, at No. 1 for a fifth frame, Swift establishes her longest Hot 100 reign. Her prior single, and second No. 1, "Shake It Off" spent four weeks on top. Swift's first leader, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," ruled for three weeks in 2012.

"You are the reason why, right now, this is the No. 1 song in the country," Swift beamed to the crowd at New York's Madison Square Garden Friday night (Dec. 12) before she launched into "Space" at WHTZ (Z100)/iHeartMedia's annual Jingle Ball concert.

2014: The Year in Music

"Space" also caps an incredibly successful year for women atop the Hot 100, as previously chronicled when female soloists kept men out of the top five for a record seven straight weeks in September-November. With this week's charts dated Dec. 27, women end 2014 having topped the Hot 100 (in lead roles) for 28 of 52 weeks. In 2013, women held the top spot for only 17 weeks, which followed lead females controlling the chart for 23 weeks in 2012. This year marked the most dominant one for women in the No. 1 spot since 2011, when women held the apex for a hefty 37 frames (led by the likes of Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna).

Taylor Swift Accepts Billboard's 2014 Woman of the Year Honor: 'Amazing Early Birthday Present'

"Space" stays at No. 1 on the Hot 100 powered by its coronation on Radio Songs, where it lifts 2-1 with a 4 percent gain to 137 million in all-format audience, according to Nielsen Music. It's Swift's fourth Radio Songs leader, following "Shake" (four weeks), "I Knew You Were Trouble." (four, 2013) and "You Belong With Me" (two, 2009).

Reaching the top of Radio Songs in just its sixth week, "Space" ties Pharrell Williams' "Happy" (the No. 1 Hot 100 song of the year) for the fastest flight to No. 1 in 2014. In fact, in the past 12 years, just two songs other than "Space" and "Happy" have soared to the summit in only six weeks: Eminem's "The Monster" (featuring Rihanna) (2013) and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (2011).

"Space" tallies a sixth nonconsecutive week atop the Digital Songs chart with 249,000 downloads sold (down 2 percent) in the week ending Dec. 14. As on the Hot 100, Swift rewrites her longest command on Digital Songs, passing the five-week reign of "Never." "Space" also leads Streaming Songs for a fifth week, with 12.2 million U.S. streams (up 1 percent).

Helping keep "Space" atop the Hot 100: Swift sang it to open the Victoria's Secret 2014 Fashion Show, which aired on CBS on Dec. 9. She also gave 1989 track "Style" its first televised performance; the song, which had spent a week on the Hot 100 at No. 60 in the same frame that 1989 launched atop the Billboard 200 (Nov. 15), re-enters the Hot 100 at No. 76, returning to Digital Songs at No. 21 (48,000, up a whopping 261 percent). Sources tell Chart Beat that "Style" is likely to be the next radio single from 1989, after "Space" has wrapped its run.

Hozier's "Take Me to Church" holds at No. 2 on the Hot 100. The Irish singer/songwriter's debut hit tops the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart for a fifth week (5 million, up 11 percent) and rises 3-2 on Digital Songs (202,000, up 29 percent), 6-3 on Streaming Songs (9.4 million, up 14 percent) and 10-9 on Radio Songs (78 million, up 11 percent). On the Hot Rock Songs chart, "Church" rules for an eighth week.

Aiding Hozier's momentum: he sang "Church" on the Victoria's Secret special. Also keeping his profile high: "Church" is nominated for song of the year at the57th annual Grammy Awards; Swift's "Shake" is up for record and song of the year.

(Despite Swift winning the battle for the Hot 100's top spot again this week, Hozier is a fan of hers, with Swift having even seen him in concert. "She's very cool, very nice, very encouraging," he says. "She's excited about new music, excited about other people's music. Very cool.")

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Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk!" (featuring Bruno Mars) pushes 5-3 on the Hot 100, adding top Airplay Gainer honors. The track bumps 4-3 on Digital Songs (170,000, up 12 percent), 22-15 on Streaming Songs (6.2 million, up 18 percent) and 31-17 on Radio Songs (49 million, up 33 percent).

Behind Hewlett-Packard's $20 Million Ad Spend Behind Meghan Trainor, Beginning with Her New Music Video

Meghan Trainor lands her second top five Hot 100 hit, as "Lips Are Movin" leaps 8-4. The track holds at No. 5 on Digital Songs (116,000, up 6 percent); reaches the Streaming Songs top five (8-5; 8 million, up 2 percent); and powers 36-23 on Radio Songs (44 million, up 23 percent). Meanwhile, Trainor's breakthrough hit "All About That Bass" falls 3-7. It led the Hot 100 for eight weeks and, like "Shake," is Grammy-nominated for record and song of the year.

Rounding out the Hot 100's top five, Sam Smith likewise notches his second top five Hot 100 hit, as "I'm Not the Only One" rises 7-5, led by its 9 percent increase to 91 million on Radio Songs, where it holds at No. 6. Smith reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in August with "Stay With Me," another dual contender for record and song of the year; Smith could additionally take home Grammys for "One" and "Stay" parent set In the Lonely Hour, up for album of the year, and for best new artist.

Ed Sheeran shakes up the Hot 100's top 10, as "Thinking Out Loud" rockets 24-6 as the top Digital Gainer. It flies 15-4 on Digital Songs with a 124 percent increase to 137,000 after Sheeran sang the ballad on the Victoria's Secret extravaganza. "Loud" bounds 25-17 on Streaming Songs (6.1 million, up 35 percent) and debuts on Radio Songs at No. 45 (28 million, up 43 percent).

Upon the Hot 100 vault of "Loud," Sheeran scores his second top 10 and highest placement on the chart. Prior single "Don't" peaked at No. 9 last month.

Below Trainor's "Bass" at No. 7 on the Hot 100, Maroon 5's No. 3-peaking "Animals" falls 4-8 (and departs the No. 1 spot on Radio Songs after four weeks); Ariana Grande & The Weeknd's "Love Me Harder" rebounds 10-9 after reaching No. 7; and Swift's "Shake" dips 6-10 (having spent all of its 17 weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10).

Visit Billboard.com tomorrow (Dec. 18), when all rankings, including the Hot 100 in its entirety and Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs, will refresh, as they do each Thursday.

Is this the globe's most eligible woman? Miss World 2014 goes to bilingual medical student from South Africa who wants to prove she's beauty AND brains

She beat 120 international contestants each deemed to be not only the most beautiful in their home countries, but the best example of what it means to be a modern woman.

So, who is Rolene Strauss - aka Miss World 2014 - and is she really one of the world's most eligible women?

This year's crop which made it to the final in London - the city where the competition started 63 years ago - far from being the stereotypical 'dumb beauty queens', were pretty and polished.

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Winning: South African Rolene Strauss, 22, was last night crowned Miss World 2014 in a glittering ceremony in London. So who is Rolene and what was it that ensured she cinched the crown? 

The majority hold a university degree, as well as juggling a vast array of interests, hobbies and charity work. 

Miss Strauss - whose first runner up was Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, and second runner up was Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit - is the perfect example of that. Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the contest's glitzy final in London on Sunday, with an estimated billion viewers watching on TV around the globe.

Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre.

 

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Talented: Medical student Strauss was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre

She pipped her fellow contestants to clinch first place in an action-packed three weeks that included a sports, top model and beach fashion competition, a talent contest, Beauty With A Purpose round and a debate at the Oxford Union.

Rolene's principle passion is medicine. The beauty queen is a fourth year medical student and science is clearly in her blood. 

Her parents are a doctor and nurse, and in a pre-taped interview for the pageant, Rolene said that becoming Miss South Africa and Miss World and studying medicine were her 'childhood dreams'.

'Everyone in my town called me Little Dr Strauss,' she said. 'Because I was always the little curly-headed girl running around behind my dad in the hospital.

'I'm a test tube baby and I believe my passion for health was born with me,' she added.

As well as being a medical student, Rolene is bilingual and speaks fluent English, as well as Afrikaans.

 

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Celebrations: As well as being a medical student, Rolene is bilingual. She speaks fluent English, as well as Afrikaans and says she has always dreamed of being Miss World and a doctor

Writing on her website, she explains that she's always had 'big dreams'. She said: 'We moved to a small town called Volksrust, in Mpumalanga. Ever since then I was a small town girl with big dreams. 

'To be the best me, to follow my destiny and someday be a woman who uses what she was given out of grace; to inspire, to love, to sympathize and to give.'

Obviously religious, she adds: 'The following verse never fails to give me goose bumps: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11. We all have a future of hope, a destiny planned for each as individual. The choices we make are the turns we take on the road to our destinies.' 

Paying tribute to her country after being crowned, she said: 'South Africa this is for you. I think I will brace myself for what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility.'

Rolene is determined to use her new crown for the good of the community. She told AFP she wanted to help spread education in her homeland and thereby help other people realise their dreams.

'I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams.'

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Top three: Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, left, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries

And she was already getting used to the glittering crown.

'I'll definitely keep it on as long as I can but my parents are staying around here so they'll be hugging me and I'm afraid that it might fall off,' she said.

There's good news for all the men out there; Miss Strauss is single. In a recent interview with the South African TV Authority, she was asked how many boyfriends she'd ever dumped.

She replied: 'I would say three.' When asked about her relationship status, she said: 'I definitely don't have a public relationship. 

'You know, as a Miss South Africa people look up to you and see you as an independent, strong woman. That's the picture I'd like to show people out there and I think it's difficult to be in a relationship because of your busy schedule.'

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Tough competition: Sunday's show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands and they had to compete in several rounds to win the crown 

Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries.  

This year's event has been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month.

Police in Honduras accuse her sister's boyfriend of shooting them after seeing his partner dancing with another man at a party. 

Strauss and other contestants will travel to the crime-plagued central American nation to build a school named in the sisters' honour.

'We hope that it will really start to impress on the people in Honduras that the violence, and hurting people like those two innocent women... maybe they can think again before they take a gun,' Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley told AFP.

Sunday's show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands - including Miss Bolivia in a colourful feathered headdress.

While beauty remains central to the event, the women taking part are chiefly judged on their talents and involvement in good causes. 

Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe.

Strauss is the third South African Miss World, the country having held the title in 1958 and 1974.

Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each.

Julia Morley, Miss World Chairman, said: 'It was great to bring the 64th Miss World Final back to London and where it all began 63 years ago.

'I’m looking forward to travelling with Rolene, the new Miss World, to visit countries around the globe to support this year’s finalists Beauty with a Purpose fundraising projects.' 

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Good genes: Her parents are a doctor and nurse and in a pre-taped interview for the pageant, she said that becoming Miss South Africa and Miss World and studying medicine were her 'childhood dreams'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2874266/Miss-World-2014-goes-bilingual-medical-student-South-Africa-wants-prove-s-beauty-brains.html#ixzz3M8COFnHH
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That's one way to deal with your demons: 'Possessed' Argentine singer claims she’s mended her ways after undergoing an exorcism

An Latin American singer has claimed that her life is finally back on track after she turned her back on medication and hired a faith healer to exorcise demons.

Sabrina Sabrok, who currently lives in Mexico, said her life was falling apart earlier this year when she had checked in to a clinic in the capital to be treated for depression and panic attacks.

But the 38-year-old felt the medication she was put on while being treated in Mexico City were not really helping, and in desperation she turned to faith healer Zulema.

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Sabrina Sabrok, 38, who currently lives in Mexico, said her life was falling apart earlier this year when she had checked in to a clinic in the capital to be treated for depression and panic attacks

   The Argentine blonde, who has appeared on several television shows including the Mexican version of Celebrity Big Brother, said Zulema had told her that she was 'possessed'. 

So Sabrina hired the healer and her helpers to help her, and then carried out a dramatic exorcism in a local cemetery, which was captured on film.

 The video shows her screaming, swearing and shouting, with many people suggesting the exorcism looked more like a low budget horror movie.

But Sabrina, who has also hosted her own television show on TeleHit, said she doesn't care what her critics think as the faith healer had helped her get her life back on track.

The video of the exorcism shows Sabrina screaming, swearing and shouting, with many people suggesting the exorcism looked more like a low budget horror movie

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Sabrina (center) hired a faith healer to help her exorcise her demons and mend her troubled ways

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Sabrina (left), who has also hosted her own television show on TeleHit, said she doesn't care what her critics think as the faith healer Zulema (right) had helped her get her life back on track

Zulema said: 'I am really pleased that the exorcism helped and drove the demons out of her.'

Things are now looking up for Sabrina - born as Lorena Fabiana Colotta - as she went on to perform with 37-year-old Mexican singer and actress Ivonne Soto.

Last week, the singer took to the stage in Cancun where she revealed she has a new boyfriend named Edson.

She said: 'You can't imagine how much pleasure he has brought me, my life is now really back on track.' 

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Sabrina (right) singer took to the stage in Cancun where she revealed she has a new boyfriend Edson (left)

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Things are now looking up for Sabrina (left) - born as Lorena Fabiana Colotta - as she went on to perform with 37-year-old Mexican singer and actress Ivonne Soto (far right)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2871576/Troubled-Argentine-singer-claims-s-mended-ways-undergoing-exorcism.html#ixzz3M1S8Dwue
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She IS Fancy! Charli XCX wows in plunging white sheer lace gown at Billboard Women in Music luncheon

She sang about being fancy when she featured on Iggy Azalea's hit single.

Proving just how desirable she is Charli XCX wowed in white at the Billboard Women In Music luncheon on Friday in New York.

The 22-year-old was every bit a sexy siren as she took to the red carpet in a floor length lace gown.

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She IS fancy! Charli XCX wowed in white at the Billboard Women in Music luncheon on Friday in New York

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Sexy siren: The 22-year-old slipped into a floorlength lace gown which featured a deep V-cut neckline

Charli, real name Charlotte Aitchison, wore her brunette hair, which was styled in loose curls, to one side as she lined her lips with a shade of scarlet.

Showing off her curves, Aitchison's revealing fishtail dress featured a deep V-cut neckline.

Standing tall, the British songstress wore a pair of white stilettos as she accessorised with a choker, sparkly bracelet, rectangular earrings and lilac talons. 

Putting her best foot forward, Charli's stunning number drew similarities to the backless Michael Costello gown Beyoncé wore to the Grammy Awards earlier this year. 

 

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Chucking up the deuces: The British singer flashed the peace sign as she made her way into the venue

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Beautiful: Charli wore a shade of scarlet lipstick as she lined her brown eyes with black eyeliner

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From all angles: The Fancy singer struck various poses before heading to the red carpet for the photocall

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Gorgeous: Charli accessorised her look with rectangular earrings, a sparkly bracelet and a choker 

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Who rocked it better? Charli's gown drew resemblance to the the backless Michael Costello gown Beyoncé wore to the Grammy Awards in January

With guests including Queen Bey, Jessie J, Taylor Swift and the legend that is Aretha Franklin all in attended Charli was jubilant as Paramore's Hayley Williams presented her with the Hitmaker Honor.

Taking to the stage to collect her award, according to Billboard XCX quipped: 'Wow I'm so nervous!

'It's really cool to be at a music industry event where over half the people in the room have vaginas. P**** power!'

She continued: 'To be recognized for my work as a songwriter is really incredible because that's something I care about so much. It's been fabulous and f***ing wild. Every single woman in this room is so incredible.'

Following the star-studded luncheon, Charli tweeted: 'ok so i met Beyonce earlier and she is genuinely the most gracious woman in the world.'

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'Over half the people in the room have vaginas': During the event, Charli received the Hitmaker Honor

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Simply stunning: Charli, who has featured on songs with Icona Pop and Iggy Azalea, worked the red carpet

  

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'It's been fabulous and f***ing wild': Charli was presented with her award at the luncheon by Hayley Williams

Ahead of the event, Charli XCX continued her promotional assault on the US as she prepares for the release of her second album, Sucker, which is out December 15.

However as she made an appearance on The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show for a live interview it was her outfit that dominated.

The Cambridge born singer she was in high spirits during the chat as she sported an animal print Adidas jumper and black mini skirt with a faux fur lined PVC coat. 

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Earlier: Ahead of the event XCX continued her promotional assault on the US with a radio interview

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Up and coming: Charli appeared on The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show to talk about her new album, Sucker

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2872157/Charli-XCX-wows-plunging-white-sheer-lace-gown-Billboard-Women-Music-luncheon.html#ixzz3LjvAeU7W
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