17 December check out pics and Selena’s interview for the special edition “The No.1 Issue” of Billboard

Check out pics and excerpts from the new Selena’s interview for the special edition “The No.1 Issue” of Billboard.

In pandemic-stricken 2020, Selena Gomez had one of her most successful years yet. After scoring her first Hot 100 No. 1 at the end of 2019 with the vulnerable post-breakup ballad “Lose You To Love Me,” Rare became her third No. 1 title in early 2020, earning 703,000 equivalent album units to date, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. “There’s this bittersweet feeling, of course,” says Gomez. “I would much rather the world be in a better place. Yet at the same time, it was so beautiful to see that my music could hopefully bring some people some sort of joy in the midst of it.”

“Blackpink is an incredible group and their album is awesome, and I thought it would be so fun to step into a whole different world, so it was a no-brainer. It was very different from any music I’ve done, but that was the point. The idea of doing something with a dominant girl group, bringing their culture here — and obviously they did equal for me over there — it just seemed so perfect.” – Selena

“It’s nice to know that Rare became what it became for me,” adds Gomez. “And obviously I would like to say that it was the best album that I’ve released so far. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna challenge myself for the next.” – Selena

“What drew me to Interscope is not only the talent they have, but really just John. In my hard times, or if I couldn’t figure something out, he was always on my side. And we’re like best friends — I can call and ask him about anything. He’s got a heart in this crazy industry.” – Selena about Interscope CEO John Janick.

As Gomez plots future releases (she says she has “a whole little vessel of good things coming,” which could include a Spanish-language project), Interscope will abide by that synergistic approach to support whatever comes next for her — album or not. “She’s a businesswoman and a pop star,” says LaMotte, “and all the people who work on Team Selena take that really seriously.”

“We had to make sure the promotion of the album felt as personal as the music was to her,” says senior vp marketing Matt LaMotte, pointing to intimate listening sessions and online fan Q&As held upon Rare’s January release, as well as album artwork and merchandise that Gomez herself helped curate. When the pandemic hit the United States in March, she launched a new set of merch for the empowering single “Dance Again,” with proceeds going to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

“If Rare Beauty is rolling out a product launch, we plug in our entire digital marketing team to make sure her fans rally around that launch with the same enthusiasm as they would around a music project,” says LaMotte.

Source: www.billboard.com