I love it when a plan comes together… As announced, I was on holiday in October. By consequence, I haven’t been able to add new recommendations to the blog until this week. Despite that, the monthly figures show hardly any dip. As I had hoped, you found your way to the Carte Blanche Music archive. Great to see the ‘long tail’ principle also applies to blogs. To this one, at least…

Nevertheless, the Top 10 of articles you read the most in October is in line with earlier round-ups. Roi by Videoclub is still by far the most popular song  among you. By far. Its follow-up, former Wildcard En Nuit, is in the list as well this month. Your open-mindedness towards great new music really showed in October, as you gave Rick Astley a warm welcome in terms of views. 30 Years after his Stock Aitken Waterman produced worldwide hits, he still proves relevant in 2019.

Pretty much all of the rest of the Top 10 is exclusive Carte Blanche Music material. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t heard any of these tracks on any radio station outside the artists’ home country. I’m confident that is one of the success factors of this blog. Thanks for your confidence!

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in October is below. Since I’ve continued to add new tracks to my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music during my holiday, my Spotify list has by now expanded to circa 865 songs. If you wish to follow it, please click here.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
3. IBE – Table Of Fools
4. Calby – The Everyday Bit
5. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
6. Friedberg – Go Wild
7. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
8. Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
9. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
10. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Because of a – if I may say so myself – well-deserved holiday, not much will happen here on the Carte Blanche Music blog during the month of October. But I will continue to update my Spotify playlist. So, if want to keep track of the best new music, please follow that one, if you didn’t already. Furthermore, during my absence, this blog is a wonderful archive of recent music. It holds over 1500 recommendations of songs from all over the world, in all genres and many languages. Listening via your platform of choice is only one mouse click away.

That said, let’s look back upon my tips that were most-read in the month of September. What strikes me, is that 4 out of the Top 10 tracks are songs in French. Videoclub continue their winning streak, but elsewhere, we find Ethel (#7), Shanguy (#8) and Claire Laffut feat. Yseult (#9). One possible explanation is the popularity of France among holiday-goers, who may have heard these songs on the radio there and searched for more information when back home. But that’s only guessing…

The only recommendation that was published in September, was for Calby’s The Everyday Bit. It shows up at #3 among your favourites of the month. All of the other entries are slightly older, which proves you like Carte Blanche Music for its archive as well.

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in September is below. All of these tracks, and circa 800 more, are in my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music, which will continue to be updated during my holidays. Click here to follow it. See you again in November!

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Calby – The Everyday Bit
4. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
5. Friedberg – Go Wild
6. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
7. Ethel – Rubikscube
8. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
9. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes
10. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

For as long as pop music exists, artists from the United States and Great-Britain have been the main suppliers of hits worldwide. That doesn’t mean, of course, those are the only countries with talented musicians. As far as I’m concerned, there is an incredible amount of great music coming from Australia, Canada, Sweden, France and Belgium, to name but a few. Obviously, that opinion is reflected in the recommendations here on Carte Blanche Music. And I’m oh so glad to see (or presume) that you apparently agree with me.

Just look at my posts that were read the most during the month of August… The Top 5 consists of acts from France (Videoclub), Belgium (IBE), Austria (Friedberg), the Netherlands (Ed Struijlaart) and Italy (Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci)! Australian band Sheppard follows suit. The first American and British band (The Black Keys, and The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport) are at number 7 and 8, respectively, only to be chased by another French act (Shanguy) and Inhaler from Ireland. The latter beat Serbia’s Ana & The Changes to a Top 10 position by a nose…

In short, I’m very proud to be able to introduce you to so much great music from all around the world. And even more than that, I’m very happy you seem to appreciate that. A big thanks to you!

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in August is below. All of these tracks, and over 700 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Ed Struijlaart – What I Like About You
5. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
6. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
7. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
8. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
9. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
10. Inhaler – My Honest Face

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

French music is doing ‘très bien’ on the Carte Blanche Music blog. For the sixth consecutive month, Roi by Videoclub is (by far) your favourite recommendation, but Corine’s version of Je Danse Le Mia is a strong runner-up. Just outside this month’s Top 10, we find former Wildcards Toukassé by Shanguy and Videoclub’s new single En Nuit.

But you’re not only fans of music from France. Between the ten most read blogs in July are acts from Austria (Friedberg), the Netherlands (Pyro), Belgium (IBE), Italy (Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci), Northern Ireland (Pat Dam Smyth), and the United States (SWMRS). The ‘remaining’ artists (The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport and Sophie & The Giants) are from Great-Britain. Well, in fact they’re leaving, but that’s not their fault.

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in July is below. All of these tracks, and over 600 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Pyro – F.O.M.O.
5. IBE – Table Of Fools
6. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
7. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
8. Pat Dam Smyth – Last King
9. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
10. SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

As you probably know by now, Carte Blanche Music is about new music only. But apparently my recommendations sometimes come a little early. Perhaps too early for some of you. Therefore, it’s very gratifying to see that some of my tips from months ago are only being picked up now. Okay, my recommendation of Roi by Videoclub has been massively popular ever since it was published, back in January, and is still by far the piece that was read the most in the month of June. But another song in French, Toukassé by Shanguy (which was a Carte Blanche Music Wildcard in March), is only starting to be appreciated now. I’m sure the hot weather plays a role in this, as it’s an ultimate summer song.

Talking about potential summer hits: (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena by Mamacita (feat. Didy & Roy Paci) was one of Your Favourites in June as well.

The full Top 10 is below. All of these tracks, and about 550 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
3. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
4. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
5. Friedberg – Go Wild
6. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
7. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
8. Inhaler – My Honest Face
9. IBE – Table Of Fools
10. Otherkin – On And On

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

When I recommended Roi, only the second single of French teen duo Videoclub, on 14 January, I couldn’t have known this write-up – and the song, obviously – would become so much-loved for months to come. Since February, this track dominates the monthly ‘Your Favourites’ round-up. And if that isn’t special enough, the article has reached more people month over month ever since. In May, once again, the number of people that read this specific blog was 2½ times as high as in April. Congrats!

The all-female-fronted Top 3 also contains debut single Love Me Long of Dutch singer Narda and last year’s Waste My Air by Sophie & The Giants. Talking about ‘all-female’: Belgian/French project Gemme’s cover of Sweet Harmony by The Beloved enters Your Favourites at #5.

Sir Notch profits of receiving an important Dutch advertising prize for the use of Gimme That Sunshine in a commercial for fruit drink Appelsientje. This news keeps the song, released in August 2018, comfortably in the Top 10 of most-read recommendations in May.

The full list is below. All of these tracks, and over 450 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Narda – Love Me Long
3. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
4. Phantom Isle – Four Walls
5. Gemme – Sweet Harmony
6. Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard ^(WC)
7. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
8. Phil Collins – The Man With The Horn
9. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
10. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

I’m not sure why, but April is always a good month for Carte Blanche Music. Last month was this blog’s best ever in terms of both visitors and pageviews. Thanks a lot, I hope you found what you were looking for, or even better, I hope you’ve discovered songs and artists you didn’t already know!

One of the big drivers of last month’s numbers was French duo Videoclub. To be more precise, these youngsters have been dominating the Carte Blanche Music statistics ever since I wrote about their single Roi on 14 January. They dominated the results to such extent, that I started to doubt, to be honest. Was my recommendation targeted by a bot, pumping up the figures? Or was there another suspicious pattern to be found? However, after diving deep in Google Analytics, I must conclude Videoclub are really that popular. Next to direct referrals via Facebook and Twitter, most of the hits are the result of organic searches. Examples of search terms are the names of the teens (Adèle Castillon and Matthieu Reynaud), but also ‘carte blanche music france’ and ‘videoclub band’.

So, with a doubt-free mind and my hand on my heart, I can tell you my review of Videoclub’s Roi was once again the best-read article on Carte Blanche Music last April. Other ‘golden oldies’ that still perform extremely well are Gimme That Sunshine by Sir Notch and Waste My Air by Sophie & The Giants. These appear to be evergreens. And in case you’re interested: the lead vocals in your Top 10 are equally split between female and male 😉.

Enjoy your 10 favourites below. For further listening, check my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music, which is by now filled with over 22 hours of great recent music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Chateau Chateau – Burn Me Alive
3. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
4. Charmless I – Cold Queen Killer
5. Will Hutton – Silhouette
6. Moddi – Kriegspiel
7. Self Esteem – Girl Crush
8. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
9. Yuna – Forevermore
10. Owl Eyes – You And I / Le Soleil

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Your Favourites is a monthly chart, published on the first day of each new month, and looking back upon the most-read Carte Blanche Music recommendations in the month before. So, today’s edition shows which of my blogs received the most eyeballs in March.

The latest data, where IP addresses are counted only once, expose a rather unique phenomenon: ever since 14 January, when I wrote about Videoclub’s single Roi (only the young French duo’s second outing), it has been a vast favourite of yours. It appeared in the Top 10 of most-loved blogs in January, topped the February listing, and was still the most-read recommendation last month. And to make it even better, I can reveal it’s the best-loved song on the Carte Blanche Music blog since I started it, in January 2017. If you haven’t heard the track yet, simply click the link below. Obviously, the same goes for the other tracks in your list.

Another interesting track among Your Favourites of March is Gimme That Sunshine by Sir Notch. Released in August 2018, this looks set to become an all-time summer anthem, which keeps popping up in your monthly charts. After re-entering in February, it jumped back into the Top 3 over March. Great thinking to give this hit a title that appears to be suitable both in sunny periods and in periods that lack sunshine.

Enjoy your 10 favourites below, or discover almost 300 other great recent songs in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music…

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Barry Moore – Hey Now
3. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
4. Model Depose – Damage Control
5. Retro Video Club – Addicted
6. Sun Gods – Zanzara
7. Indigo – Distant Lullaby ^(WC)
8. Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
9. Josh Leys – Army Of Love
10. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

So far, this winter can hardly be called a winter, and you won’t hear me complain about it. In February, weather record after record was broken. It looks like this is reflected in your favourites of this past month. There’s a sunny vibe running through this Top 10, which features the most read Carte Blanche Music recommendations of February.

Dutch producer Sir Notch has not one, but two tracks amidst your favourites. Last year’s Gimme That Sunshine still resonates with you, while his latest single (a co-production with his youth friend Tommy The Sound) stands proudly at #2.

Talking about being proud: the only two established artists in your Top 10 are Pet Shop Boys and Dodgy, all of the other entries are emerging – or even debuting – acts. You guys have great taste!

Below are your 10 favourites. You can find them all (and many more) in my daily updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music:

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Sir Notch & Tommy The Sound – Miami Vice
3. Cassia – Small Spaces
4. Picture This – Modern Love
5. Nadia Sheikh – Toxic
6. Lydia Briggs – Down
7. Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer ‘19
8. dodie – Monster
9. Pet Shop Boys – What Are We Going To Do About The Rich?
10. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Just like all of the tracks I add to the Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist on a daily basis, all of the songs I recommend on this blog are hand-picked. If it’s on here, it’s good… But that’s only my opinion. On top of that, on the first of every month, I publish an overview of your favourite Carte Blanche Music posts. And because good traditions must be cherished and continued, below you’ll find the most-read blogs of January.

Throughout the first month of this year, I collected over 110 great new tracks in the 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music (almost 7 hours of highly recommended songs). Below, the 10 of those you liked best:

1. Christon – Closer To A New Day
2. Jesse Hite – When It All Comes Down
3. Cat Pierce – Human Experience
4. Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
5. Model Depose – Bombs Are Falling
6. 900 Miles feat. The Kooks – Hold Tight
7. Videoclub – Roi
8. Chateau Chateau – Evidence
9. Uncle Frank – Lay It All At His Feet
10. Nona – Last To Know

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

https://www.carteblanchemusic.nl