Sony Music had a successful quarter, reportedly driven by the success of popular artists like SZA.
The St. Louis, MO-born artist is still basking in the success of her sophomore album “SOS,” which was released on Dec. 9, 2022. Billboard reports the album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart when it debuted, selling 318,000 equivalent album units and setting a record for the best streaming week for an R&B album.
Hit singles on the album included “Kill Bill” and “Snooze.”
Speaking to the album’s inspiration, SZA told Rolling Stone, “I think this album was partially inspired by love lost, but mostly inspired by my departure from attempting to be a nice girl. I’ve tried to be a nice girl for so long and it’s just not who I am, inherently. And I think I’ve done nice things and I am a kind person, but I’m not a nice girl. And that’s okay. And I think coming to terms with that and really expanding upon that and exploring that is kind of like this new chapter in my life.”
“SOS” resonated deeply with fans, gaining widespread appreciation that extended beyond chart success. SZA went on to embark on an arena tour in February 2023, which was later extended to meet the high demand after two months, notes Billboard. The additional tour dates were picked up during the summer starting in June.
Sony Music also highlights “SOS” as its best seller for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, 2024.