The Voice 21 alum Libianca enters the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘People’, hitting the road with Alicia Keys
The Voice season 21 alum Libianca officially hits the Billboard Hot 100, as her breakthrough single “People” debuts at No. 91 on the chart dated May 13, marking her first entry.
According to Billboard, the song, released Dec. 5, 2022, via 5K/RCA Records, landed on the chart with 5.9 million U.S. streams (up 33%), 2.7 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 28%), and 1,000 downloads sold (up 40%) in the April 28-May 4 tracking week, according to Luminate. It’s radio reach is growing. The song starts at No. 37 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 39 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
The song’s streaming gains can be partly attributed to multiple remixes of the track: with Becky G (released April 21); Ayra Starr and Omah Lay; and Cian Ducrot, as well as a sped-up version.
The song also surges into the top 40 of both of Billboard‘s global charts, bounding 41-19 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and 47-25 on the Billboard Global 200.
Tik Tok Viral Sensation
TikTok helped propel the song’s popularity. A segment of the original has been used in over 1.6 million clips on the platform to-date. A piece of the song’s sped-up version has been used in more than 265,000 clips.
Billboard interviewed the Cameroonian-American Afrobeats singer in April. About uploading the song and realizing it went viral, LiBianca said: “Waking up the next morning to so many people feeling so connected to the song. I saw families sending me videos of their babies singing the song, and women messaging me about the s–t that they go through in their homes and how this song needs to drop ASAP because it’s calling to their hearts.”
Libianca’s The Voice journey took her to the Top 20 in 2021
Libianca, was born Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji in Minneapolis before relocating to Cameroon. On The Voice in 2021, the singer got as far as the Playoffs on Team Blake Shelton. She auditioned with SZA’s “Good Days.” Both coaches Ariana Grande and Blake Shelton turned their chairs.
She also performed Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted,” “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd and Doja Cat’s “Woman” before leaving the competition at the Top 20.
Libianca opens for Alicia Keys on her Summer Tour
Next, Libianca will hit the road as the opening act for former The Voice coach Alicia Keys. Keys to the Summer Tour opens in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 28 and runs through July 21 in St Louis, Missouri.
