Korean KPop boyband BTS panicked when they realized their single “Permission to Dance” was a dud. Sales for two weeks come to 200,000 despite their insistence that it’s a hit. (No one likes the facts.)

So today they dropped a whole new version of the song, calling it the R&B version. No one in the group is Black and the song has nothing to do with actual R&B. But they’ve slowed it down and added a LOT of augmentation. It’s been remixed to sound like BoyzIIMen circa 1995.

This version went straight to number 5 on iTunes today. The old version is further down the chart.

Let’s see if the “R&B” version makes a difference. You can hear them each below, and compare away. What’s next? How about the country version?

Permission to Dance Original version

Permission to Dance (R&B version)

Oh Lorde.

The New Zealand born pop star, singer of the one hit wonder “Royals,” is having as bad a summer on the charts as Billie Eilish.

Lorde’s new single, “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” was released at midnight. It went to number 100 on iTunes and now is at 117. It’s basically DOA. UPDATE SATURDAY Now number 197.

This follows Lorde’s first single from her new album dying on the vine. The only difference was that “Solar Power” was ridiculed for being a rip off of George Michael’s classic hit, “Faith.”

So that’s two strikes before the album, also titled “Solar Power,” hits us on August 20th.

Eilish has had three flop singles in a row before her album, “Happier than Ever,” comes out on July 30th.

Where are all the teen girl fans? In Lorde’s case, it may just be she waited too long. Her last album, also not a hit, was four years ago. She didn’t secure her audience, and they grew up. Adele should take note.

Def Jam Records has no idea what the deal is with Kanye West‘s Donda album.

This morning they sent out a press release saying only that Kanye had “unveiled” the album last night at  sold out listening party.

Other than that there was no word about when or if the album would ever be released.

There’s something on the release about Kanye beating the Beatles or some nonsense. LOL. Don’t get me started.

It’s possible this is a seasonal disorder for Kanye. He did the same thing last year almost to the day– announced the album’s release and then nothing happened.  Read here and here.

Kanye also said last September — he may not recall — that he wouldn’t release any more music until his contracts with Sony and Universal were up. Anyone remember that?

Tonight’s listening party in Atlanta for Kanye West’s new album will be an interesting mixed audience.

Some of the fans will have paid a couple hundred bucks for seats. Thousands are going for free.

To ensure a full looking Mercedes Benz Stadium, Kanye’s said to have given away 5,000 tickets to students. Will they go? Why not? It’s free!

The reason for this largesse is because tickets didn’t sell well. There are still hundreds of seats for sale, maybe up to a thousand. Only a small portion of the stadium is being used for the “Donda” listening event.

The “Donda” show will be broadcast on Apple Radio, bypassing Jay Z’s Tidal service where Kanye was an original partner. The album drops at midnight for those who are waiting for the full experience.