RADIO REPORT: POP! Goes The Picks (May 2015) (Part One)

It’s time once again to analyze the airwaves and find out if your favorite new singles will be lighting up the national charts during the month. Which tracks will climb to the top and which ones will hit a stop? Here’s a small selection of new songs being serviced in May on the CHR and Hot AC formats in the first part of this month’s Radio Report:

CHR (*) and HOT AC (**)

BRITNEY SPEARS featuring IGGY AZALEA – “Pretty Girls” (May 5) (*)
Label: RCA
While she continues her latest run of performances at her Britney: Piece Of Me residency in Las Vegas, Spears is ready to top the charts once more after a disappointing era with Britney Jean. Her new single sees her collaborate with Aussie rapper Azalea, just coming off her sixth CHR radio hit, “Trouble”. Will Spears garner her first top ten single in two years? We’ll have to wait and see.

LITTLE BIG TOWN – “Girl Crush” (May 5) (**)
Label: Capitol Nashville/Interscope
Comfortably in the top ten digital sellers for another week is this Country crossover, one that’s stirred up much reaction over the last month. It’s currently in the top 20 at Country radio, but testing has proven mixed with the audience, as the song registers the fifth highest negative score on the tally. It is easy to hear why this song could work at Hot AC radio, but it still may be a tough sell.

MARIAH CAREY – “Infinity” (May 5) (* + **)
Label: Epic
Just before she takes the stage in Las Vegas, the legendary Carey is out with her new single, the only new song to be featured on a compilation album titled #1 To Infinity. The album features her 18 chart-topping songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1990’s “Vision Of Love” and 2008’s “Touch My Body”. Her presence at radio may be diminished, but this should receive decent support.

PARACHUTE – “Crave” (May 5) (**)
Label: Vanguard
Serviced to radio back in mid-March, the latest single by the incredible shrinking Virginia trio has been played on several Hot AC outlets, but isn’t being covered at all on the band’s social media profiles. It’s very peculiar. Well, now with a new record label, the home of many other acts at the format, their catchy sound is definitely a winner on my weekly chart. Will radio take to it as well?

PLAIN WHITE T’S – “Pause” (May 5) (**)
Label: Proud Bird/Redjacket
The Illinois quintet, best known for hits like “Hey There Delilah” and “Rhythm Of Love”, hit a few bumps in the last few years. In early 2013, their “Should’ve Gone To Bed” was serviced at the same time that member Tim Lopez appeared on NBC’s Ready For Love. The series tanked; their single stalled, as did a followup. Independent but keeping strong, their new song is worth a replay.

SHAWN MENDES – “Stitches” (May 5) (*)
Label: Island/Republic
It was quite the achievement when Mendes’s first album, Handwritten, entered the Billboard 200 at #1 last week. However, that second week drop was a tragic one. Front-loaded and lacking radio support on two singles with two pushes each, it may fall off in mere weeks at this point. Early adds at the two Los Angeles CHR stations is an encouraging sign, but it’s no guarantee of a smash.

ALLEN STONE – “Freedom” (May 12) (**)
Label: Capitol
After the self-titled Allen Stone era with ATO Records, the 28-year-old Washington singer and songwriter lands at Capitol for his upcoming Radius set (due on May 26) and has a split single campaign at two formats to lead it off. As “Upside” continues to grow at AAA radio, picking up a pair of stations this week, “Freedom” is new at Hot AC. It’s a great retro pop record that deserves love.

BARENAKED LADIES – “Say What You Want” (May 19) (**)
Label: Vanguard
Back with a new studio album in June, the Canadian quartet gets their pinball on as they bounce back onto the music scene. Much like the arcade game, however, you can’t win every time, and the band has seen their airtime diminish quickly in the U.S. over the past decade (save for a play of “One Week” or “Pinch Me” occasionally.) Their sound is still solid and the live show is just as good.

JASON FRENCH – “You Just Want My Money” (May 19) (*)
Label: Interscope
French is a 26-year-old newcomer who has already won over the social crowd with his first single, a hugely successful song on the video application Vine, and on streaming platforms, where “Money” has tallied 7.5 million plays thus far on Spotify. The singer is currently between a radio tour and recording his debut album, and if this is a preview of what’s to come, expect some good tunes.

SAM HUNT – “Take Your Time” (May 19) (*)
Label: MCA Nashville/Capitol
“Take” was one of the songs featured in this post from March in regards to recent Country hits that I thought could cross over to pop radio. Well, it’s all happening! Hunt’s tune is already gaining well at Hot AC radio and it received a decent amount of adds in the last CHR report. Hey, Shawn Mullins’s “Lullaby” spent seven weeks atop the chart in 1998-9; this could do some damage too.

TAYLOR SWIFT featuring KENDRICK LAMAR – “Bad Blood” (May 19) (*)
Label: Big Machine/Republic
“Blood” was one of the few songs on this month’s Radio Report to also be featured in my Song Of The Summer contenders list in mid-April. As I mentioned, Swift is coming off her third CHR #1 in a row with “Style”, making the 1989 era her most successful at the format so far. Will the forthcoming remix, with an artist yet to be identified, propel her back to #1 again? It may just happen.

Which of these new songs would you like to see on top of the charts? Let me know! Comment below or click the “Get Social!” tab to find PGTC on social media.

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (April 28)

Brown wants the crown.

The last release date in the month of April turns the twang up to a ten, but that’s not everything that the schedule is strumming up. Here are the albums and singles that are new in stores for the week of April 28:

• You know them from Country smashes like “Chicken Fried”, “Toes” and “Goodbye In Her Eyes”, but the latest album in the Zac Brown Band catalog has the band going in a few different directions. Perhaps that’s why they called it Jekyll + Hyde. “Homegrown” recently hit #1 at the format, but they’re also on top of the Active Rock survey with “Heavy Is The Head”, featuring Chris Cornell. No matter what side you prefer, the set should be #1 in sales next week. (iTunes)
• Close to landing his third #1 single at the Country format with “A Guy Walks Into A Bar”, 31-year-old Missouri musician Tyler Farr is out with Suffer In Peace, his first album in a year and a half. The song was recently certified Gold, and the top ten (or possibly top five) is looking good for the new full-length release. (iTunes)
• Josh Groban‘s recent #1 album in the United Kingdom is now out here this week, Stages. The new set is a collection of songs from classic musicals and features a duet with original American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson. Look for the effort to crash the top ten next week. (iTunes)
• Other releases out this week include: Blur‘s The Magic Whip (iTunes), Eric Clapton‘s Forever Man (iTunes), Everclear‘s Black Is The New Black (iTunes), George FitzGerald‘s Fading Love (iTunes), Insane Clown Posse‘s The Marvelous Missing Link (Lost) (iTunes), Matthew West‘s Live Forever (iTunes), Mew‘s +- (iTunes), Pat Benatar‘s 35th Anniversary Tour (Live) (iTunes), Raekwon‘s Fly International Luxurious Art (iTunes) and The Weepies‘s Sirens (iTunes).

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:

• “Ah Ha”, new from Nate Ruess. (iTunes)
• “Counting On Love”, a new single from Matt McAndrew. (iTunes)
• “Infinity”, new from Mariah Carey. (iTunes)

It’s all about Mumford & Sons next week as Wilder Mind hits stores on Monday. A full preview of the week, including other new releases from Ciara and My Morning Jacket, comes on Sunday night.

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: April 26, 2015

They’ve booked a few nights here.

DEBUTS
40. Jakubi – Couch Potato
39. Gavin James – The Book Of Love | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
33. Sam Hunt – Take Your Time (39)
25. Jukebox The Ghost – Postcard (34) | BIGGEST MOVER
18. Matt Woods – In The Dark (23)

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. Delta Rae – Scared (12) | PEAK: #10
09. Mat Kearney – Billion (10) | PEAK: #09
08. Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You (11) | PEAK: #08
07. The Script – Man On A Wire (07) | PEAK: #07
06. Tori Kelly – Nobody Love (06) | PEAK: #06
05. Nate Ruess – Nothing Without Love (05) | PEAK: #05
04. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do (03) | PEAK: #01 for four weeks
03. Years & Years – King (01) | PEAK: #01 for two weeks
02. Life Of Dillon – Overload (04) | PEAK: #02
01. Saint Motel – My Type (02) | PEAK: #01 for one week | NEW #1

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Vinyl Theatre – Breaking Up My Bones (2)
2. needtobreathe featuring Gavin DeGraw – Brother (4)
3. Adam Lambert – Ghost Town (-)
4. twenty one pilots – Tear In My Heart (5)
5. Oh Honey – Sugar, You (8)
6. Kacey Musgraves – Biscuits (3)
7. Walk The Moon – Different Colors (-)
8. Francesco Yates – Better To Be Loved (7)
9. Rixton – We All Want The Same Thing (-)
10. Ed Sheeran – Photograph (-)

In The Mix:
Allen Stone – Freedom
Anderson East – Satisfy Me
Barenaked Ladies – Say What You Want (new)
Bleachers – Like A River Runs
Charli XCX – Famous
Grace Potter – Alive Tonight
Heymous Molly – Life’s A Beach
Hilary Duff – Sparks
IAMDYNAMITE – In The Summer
Jacquie Lee – Tears Fall
Jamie Lawson – Wasn’t Expecting That (new)
James Taylor – Today Today Today
Leslie Clio – My Heart Ain’t That Broken (new)
Little Big Town – Girl Crush (new)
O.A.R. – Two Hands Up
Plain White T’s – Pause
Shawn Mendes – Stitches (new)
Shift K3y – Name And Number
Taylor Swift – Bad Blood
U2 – Song For Someone
Walk Off The Earth – Rule The World
Will Young – Love Revolution

Chart Notes:

• In the 1980’s, a California band named The Motels had a string of four top 40 songs, including two top tens: 1982’s “Only The Lonely” and 1983’s “Suddenly Last Summer”. Three decades later, another California band called Saint Motel brings the word back and sings the words on this week’s new #1 song, “My Type”. The track is currently rising towards the top ten on Alternative radio and has some good crossover potential this summer.
• Up nine notches to #25 is this week’s Biggest Mover, trio Jukebox The Ghost’s “Postcard”. It’s their first top 40 release and can be found on their self-titled album. Though the volume of postcards sent through the mail has decreased over time thanks to email and social media, you can still buy packs of them for use. I’m sure the three guys would appreciate some.
• This week’s Highest Debut is from newcomer Gavin James, a 23-year-old from Dublin, Ireland who comes in at #39 with “The Book Of Love”. The song was originally recorded by Boston band The Magnetic Fields in 1999, and many covers of it have been issued throughout the years. James’s version is currently a hit in Belgium and The Netherlands.
• Also debuting this week is another new act, Jakubi, a five-piece Australian group based in Melbourne. They’re new at #40 with “Couch Potato”. In a week, the five men begin a West Coast tour before making stops in the Midwest and Northeast in late May and June. A video clip for the song recently debuted.

(See my full chart on the M4BCC message board)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: April 24, 2011

How well did they “Do”?

It is time for yet another trip back into the archives on Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my latest top 40 goes up for the week, I’ll be featuring a past countdown straight from chart files of Adam’s Top 40. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on. Alright, let’s get a move on back to my junior year of college and take a look at my favorite songs from this week in 2011…

Debuts:
40. MAT KEARNEY, “Hey Mama”
39. PLAIN WHITE T’s, “Boomerang”

Biggest Mover(s):
BC JEAN, “I’ll Survive You” (39-32, up 7 spots)

10. ADELE, “Rolling In The Deep” (down 1)
Album: 21 (2011, XL/Columbia Records)
Peak: #1 for six weeks

09. MARTIN SOLVEIG featuring DRAGONETTE, “Hello” (up 4)
Album: Smash (2011, Big Beat/Atlantic Records)
Peak: #9 for two weeks

08. COLBIE CAILLAT, “I Do” (steady, second week)
Album: All Of You (2011, Universal Republic Records)
Peak: #5 for two weeks

07. PINK, “F**kin’ Perfect” (down 3)
Album: Greatest Hits… So Far!!! (2010, LaFace/Jive Records)
Peak: #1 for three weeks

06. ANDY GRAMMER, “Keep Your Head Up” (down 3)
Album: Andy Grammer (2011, S-Curve Records)
Peak: #2 for eight weeks

05. PARACHUTE, “Something To Believe In (Jeremiah)” (up 1)
Album: The Way It Was (2011, Mercury Records)
Peak: #1 for three weeks

04. THE BAND PERRY, “If I Die Young” (up 3)
Album: The Band Perry (2010, Republic Nashville Records)
Peak: #2 for two weeks

03. JESSIE J featuring B.O.B, “Price Tag” (up 2)
Album: Who You Are (2011, Lava/Universal Republic Records)
Peak: #2

02. DURAN DURAN, “All You Need Is Now” (down 1)
Album: All You Need Is Now (2010, S-Curve Records)
Peak: #1 for two weeks

01. JASON ALDEAN featuring KELLY CLARKSON, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (up 1)
Album: My Kinda Party (2010, Broken Bow Records)
Peak: #1 for four weeks

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback countdown and don’t forget to follow my blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.

How About “That”: Will These Tunes Travel To The U.S.?

It’s another year of a big international presence at radio and sales as we continue to look to the overseas charts to see what’s in rotation across core playlists and services around the globe. Here in the U.S., George Ezra and James Bay are among many breakout stars in 2015, and already established European hits by Marlon Roudette and OMI are among this year’s Song Of The Summer contenders on the CHR radio chart. With so much new music out there in every country imaginable, the amount of acts and songs to go through can be overwhelming. However, here are three singles that are charting well elsewhere and not yet available in the States that I hope can make an impact later this year:

JAMIE LAWSON – “Wasn’t Expecting That”
Origin: Plymouth, England

Opening for Ed Sheeran on his latest tour down under and being the first signing on his imprint, a label called Gingerbread, has some pretty nice benefits. Now, the 39-year-old English singer/songwriter is reaping the rewards of his cool connection with a major radio and sales hit in Australia and New Zealand. The tune originally charted in Ireland over four years ago, reaching its peak of #3 in February 2011. The understated song could break out here, much like “The A Team”. It’s perfect for AAA radio.

LESLIE CLIO – “My Heart Ain’t That Broken”
Origin: Berlin, Germany

Clio’s been making a name for herself overseas for several years now, releasing her first album in 2013 to modest numbers. At age 28, she’s moved onto her next album and her latest single in “Heart”, another moderate success in her home country and a more minor entry in nearby Austria and Luxembourg. Her sound is described as “bloodshot-eyed soul”, a modern twist on the classic vibe that many acts are embracing. However, this empowering pop song could easily sync and sit well on Hot AC radio.

NICKLESS – “Waiting”
Origin: Zurich, Switzerland

There is not a lot out there on young Nickless, but he’s a 19-year-old singer/songwriter from Zurich and this is his debut single there, a top 20 digital hit with an even higher Shazam ranking just beneath the top ten. Swiss press has tried to compare he and fellow Swiss singer Bastian Baker, who had several songs chart in 2011 and 2012. The two also toured together in 2014. Baker never made his mark in the U.S., but this singer’s charming sound and image are ready to win over more fans across the world.

Which of these three cuts will make it to the U.S. first and do the best here? Let me know! Comment below or click on the “Get Social!” tab above to find PGTC on Facebook and Twitter.

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (April 21)

Shakes, rattle and roll.

Acts from Alternative radio are highlighted in this week’s releases roundup, including a highly anticipated second set for three guys and a gal from the Heart Of Dixie. Here are the albums and singles that are new in stores for the week of April 21:

• Three years ago, singer Brittany Howard and the band Alabama Shakes began a great run with their first album, Boys & Girls, certified Gold in 2013. (Lead single “Hold On” was certified Gold a year later.) Now, the quartet is back with the  critical winner that’s sure to be next week’s top debut, Sound & Color. It features “Don’t Wanna Fight”, their current hit at multiple formats. (iTunes)
• Though their single “Lifted Up (1985)” didn’t lift up nearly as high as some of their past singles, Passion Pit isn’t letting that stop the release of Kindred, available this week. This is the third album for the act; their previous effort, Gossamer, reached the top five on the Billboard 200 during the summer of 2012. (iTunes)
• The New York quintet called Joywave first charted at the Alternative format in 2014 as the featured act on Big Data‘s #1 single, “Dangerous”. They’re out with How Do You Feel Now? this week. It includes the recent hit “Somebody New”, which was aided by iHeartRadio’s On The Verge program. (iTunes)
• Other releases out this week include: 10 Years‘s From Birth To Burial (iTunes), A Silent Film‘s New Year (EP) (iTunes), Built To Spill‘s Untethered Moon (iTunes), Curren$y‘s Even More Saturday Night Car Tunes (EP) (iTunes), Dustin Kensrue‘s Carry The Fire (iTunes), Frank Sinatra‘s Ultimate Sinatra (iTunes), Matt Woods‘s In The Dark (EP) (iTunes), Murs‘s Have A Nice Life (iTunes), Passenger‘s Whispers II (iTunes), Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen‘s Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 (iTunes), San Fermin‘s Jackrabbit (iTunes), the one and only PPL MVR‘s the one and only PPL MVR (EP) (iTunes), They Might Be Giants‘s Glean (iTunes), Various Artists‘s Radio Disney Music Awards (iTunes), Yelawolf‘s Love Story (iTunes) and Young Thug‘s Barter 6 (iTunes).

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:

• “Ghost Town”, new from Adam Lambert. (iTunes)
• “Hallelujah”, new from Panic! At The Disco. (iTunes)
• “She Bad”, a new single from Vine star Cameron Dallas and featuring SJ3. (iTunes)
• “Talking About”, the new single from Conor Maynard. (iTunes)

Josh Groban‘s Stages and the Zac Brown Band‘s Jekyll + Hyde will be among next week’s top new releases. Will either one debut at the top? A full preview is coming in seven!

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: April 19, 2015

Royalty rules again.

DEBUTS
40. Florida Georgia Line – Sun Daze
39. Sam Hunt – Take Your Time | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
34. Jukebox The Ghost – Postcard (39)
30. MIKA – Talk About You (35)
27. Brandon Flowers – Can’t Deny My Love (32)
23. Matt Woods – In The Dark (28)
19. Causes – Teach Me How To Dance With You (24)
16. Martin Luke Brown – Take Out Of Me (22) | BIGGEST MOVER

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. Mat Kearney – Billion (11) | PEAK: #10
09. Taylor Swift – Style (06) | PEAK: #01 for two weeks
08. Scott Helman – Bungalow (08) | PEAK: #08
07. The Script – Man On A Wire (09) | PEAK: #07
06. Tori Kelly – Nobody Love (07) | PEAK: #06
05. Nate Ruess – Nothing Without Love (05) | PEAK: #05
04. Life Of Dillon – Overload (04) | PEAK: #04
03. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do (03) | PEAK: #01 for four weeks
02. Saint Motel – My Type (02) | PEAK: #02
01. Years & Years – King (01) | PEAK: #01 for two weeks

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Gavin James – The Book Of Love (9)
2. Vinyl Theatre – Breaking Up My Bones (4)
3. Kacey Musgraves – Biscuits (5)
4. needtobreathe featuring Gavin DeGraw – Brother (7)
5. twenty one pilots – Tear In My Heart (10)
6. MAGIC! – No Way No (3)
7. Francesco Yates – Better To Be Loved (8)
8. Oh Honey – Sugar, You (-)
9. Jacquie Lee – Tears Fall (-)
10. Jakubi – Couch Potato (-)

In The Mix:
Allen Stone – Freedom (new)
Anderson East – Satisfy Me (new)
Bleachers – Like A River Runs (new)
Charli XCX – Famous
Ed Sheeran – Bloodstream
Grace Potter – Alive Tonight
Heymous Molly – Life’s A Beach
Hilary Duff – Sparks
IAMDYNAMITE – In The Summer
James Taylor – Today Today Today
O.A.R. – Two Hands Up
Plain White T’s – Pause
Rixton – We All Want The Same Thing (new)
Shift K3y – Name And Number
Taylor Swift – Bad Blood
Tuxedo – Do It
U2 – Song For Someone
Walk Off The Earth – Rule The World
Will Young – Love Revolution

Chart Notes:

• In his fifth week on the chart, Martin Luke Brown reclaims the title of Biggest Mover with “Take Out Of Me”, up 22-16. You’ll be able to purchase Brown’s debut EP, named after his latest single, within the next week in most countries. Brown’s former top ten entry, “Nostalgia”, drops four notches to #38 this week as it hits the half-year mark at 26 weeks on. Way to go, Martin! Look for more new music later this year.
• Remember this post of a month ago where I predicted six Country hits that could make the jump to pop radio? Well, guess I made some guesses. Two of those tracks climb aboard this week, including Sam Hunt‘s “Take Your Time”, in at #39. It is the first chart single for Hunt, who claims this week’s #1 single at the radio format. He previously led on that survey last year with “Leave The Night On”.
• Also debuting this week is the second crossover single to make my chart for the duo Florida Georgia Line. Bowing in at #40, it’s “Sun Daze”. Last time around, they hit #3 with “Cruise” in a remix with rapper Nelly. The two are currently up in the top ten on the Country chart with “Sippin’ On Fire”.
• Next week may see a debut from Adam Lambert and his new single, “Ghost Town”, as an instant impact, but how will he do against newcomers like Gavin James and Jakubi? Stay tuned!

(See my full chart on the M4BCC message board)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: April 20, 2008

Supermusical Superflashack.

It is time for yet another trip back into the archives on Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my latest top 40 goes up for the week, I’ll be featuring a past countdown straight from chart files of Adam’s Top 40. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on. Alright, let’s get a move on back to the weekend of the very first national Record Store Day and take a look at my favorite songs from this week in 2008…

Debuts:
40. WEEZER, “Pork And Beans”
35. 3 DOORS DOWN, “It’s Not My Time”

Biggest Mover(s):
GAVIN DEGRAW, “In Love With A Girl” (20-12, up 8 spots)

10. MAROON 5, “Won’t Go Home Without You” (down 2)
Album: It Won’t Be Soon Before Long (2007, A&M/Octone Records)
Peak: #4 for three weeks

09. FERRAS, “Hollywood’s Not America” (up 1)
Album: Aliens & Rainbows (2008, Capitol Records)
Peak: #6

08. JACK JOHNSON, “If I Had Eyes” (down 1)
Album: Sleep Through The Static (2008, Brushfire/Universal Republic Records)
Peak: #7 for two weeks

07. ADELE, “Chasing Pavements” (down 1)
Album: 19 (2008, XL/Columbia Records)
Peak: #6 for two weeks

06. LIFEHOUSE, “Whatever It Takes” (down 1)
Album: Who We Are (2007, Geffen Records)
Peak: #1 for one week

05. THE LAST GOODNIGHT, “Stay Beautiful” (up 4)
Album: Poison Kiss (2007, Virgin Records)
Peak: #4 for three weeks

04. THE BRAVERY, “Believe” (steady, second week)
Album: The Sun And The Moon (2007, Island Records)
Peak: #3 for three weeks

03. MATCHBOX TWENTY, “These Hard Times” (steady, third week)
Album: Exile On Mainstream (2007, Atlantic Records)
Peak: #2 for two weeks

02. R.E.M., “Supernatural Superserious” (steady, third week)
Album: Accelerate (2008, Warner Bros. Records)
Peak: #2 for six weeks

01. LEONA LEWIS, “Bleeding Love” (steady, seventh week)
Album: Spirit (2008 – U.S. release, Syco/J Records)
Peak: #1 for fourteen weeks

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback countdown and don’t forget to follow the blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.

Song Of The Summer 2015: Who Will Shine This Year?

Jumpin’ into the pool of pop.

Easter and Passover may be over and your taxes may be in, but the race is just beginning at radio and retail for the single that is bound to become the Song Of The Summer. Every year between early April and mid-May, a number of songs enter in the lower rungs of the chart, only to soar weeks later and deliver the jams for another fantastic summer season. Now, that does not mean that songs already high on radio playlists won’t dominate the airwaves, but the major labels are trying to keep things fresh, and so, a newer song is likely to burn up over the coming weeks. (You can’t listen to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars forever.)

Last year, we didn’t have one dominant Song Of The Summer as the turnover at #1 on CHR was pretty rapid. Two songs did get to spend three weeks at the top spot: “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX in June and “Rude” by MAGIC! in August. It’s been a rather slow year as far as the Hot 100 goes, with just three #1 singles at this point in April. We just hit six on CHR (which is one less song than this point last year.) I’m thinking we’ll have some more medium-sized reigns this year., though nothing too long. Remember, even “Uptown Funk” had six weeks at #1 on pop radio versus that humongous fourteen week total on the Hot 100, which probably won’t happen again for another few years.

So, get the surfboard out and get ready to surf the dial, kids, summer will be here before you know it. Here are my picks for the fifteen tasty tunes you need to listen out for on that long drive to the beach this summer:

ADAM LAMBERT – “Ghost Town”
Label: Warner Bros.
Radio: premiere on April 21

Press and radio outlets have responded very positively to this single early on. Will the pop chart accept him back into “Town”?

BEA MILLER – “Fire N Gold”
Label: Hollywood
Radio: adds date on April 28

Miller’s “Young Blood” couldn’t quite seep into the veins of Top 40 programmers, but she has a new “Fire” that’s ready to burn.

BRITNEY SPEARS featuring IGGY AZALEA – “Pretty Girls”
Label: RCA
Radio: premiere on May 5

Looks like we are in store for a retro clip for this hotly anticipated collaboration. It’s like the Britney Jean era never took place.

CALVIN HARRIS featuring HAIM – “Pray To God”
Label: Columbia
Radio: adds date on May 5

The sister trio charted last year with “Forever”, while Harris’s career is still hot. Hopefully, their collective prayers will pay off.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN – “I Really Like You”
Label: School Boy/Interscope
Radio: as of April 12, #45 (759 spins, +143)

Jepsen’s single may have found its second wind thanks to a viral clip from Justin Bieber and manager Scooter Braun’s roster.

FALL OUT BOY – “Uma Thurman”
Label: Island/Republic
Radio: as of April 12, #60 (232 spins, +92)

Moving on from the slow builder that was “Centuries”, the band’s second single is a cool twist on the theme from The Munsters.

JASON FRENCH – “You Just Want My Money”
Label: Interscope
Radio: adds date on May 19

French’s debut release for the label is a solid summer jam that’s right on the “Money”. The Vine numbers for the track are huge.

MARTIN GARRIX featuring USHER – “Don’t Look Down”
Label: Spinnin’/RCA
Radio: as of April 12, #49 (609 spins, +420)

Dutch DJ/producer Garrix is back with the single that could become his second U.S. top 40 hit very soon. It’s all up from here.

MEGHAN TRAINOR – “Dear Future Husband”
Label: Epic
Radio: as of April 12, #22 (3819 spins, +779)

Trainor’s third hit in a row went Gold before it even touched CHR lists this year. Perhaps radio is just the “Husband” she needs.

OMI – “Cheerleader” (Felix Jaehn Mix)
Label: Ultra/Columbia
Radio: adds date on May 19

This singer’s cut of three years ago was remixed and became an international smash. We’re up next. (Toni Basil not included.)

PITBULL featuring CHRIS BROWN – “Fun”
Label: Mr. 305/Polo Grounds/RCA
Radio: adds date on April 21

This duo’s “International Love” peaked at #6 back in 2012. Can lightning strike twice for the two men? That sure would be fun.

SKRILLEX & DIPLO (as JACK Ü) featuring JUSTIN BIEBER – “Where Are Ü Now?”
Label: OWSLA/Mad Decent/Atlantic
Radio: as of April 12, #47 (618 spins, +285)

When two giants of EDM take on a bad boy of pop, they create a song that clicks on air. It’s Bieber’s first airplay hit since 2013.

TAYLOR SWIFT featuring KENDRICK LAMAR – “Bad Blood”
Label: Big Machine/Republic
Radio: adds date on May 19

The 1989 era has given Swift her first era with three #1 CHR singles in a row. As for the special guest on this remix, who knows?

WIZ KHALIFA featuring CHARLIE PUTH – “See You Again”
Label: Atlantic/RRP
Radio: as of April 12, #34 (1723 spins, +1089)

After selling 464,000 copies digitally last week, we’ll be hearing this big track for months to come as Furious 7 keeps riding on.

YEARS & YEARS – “King”
Label: Interscope
Radio: adds date on April 21

Already receiving good adds in several notable markets, this English trio shall reign supreme, just as they did on the U.K. chart.

Also look out for:
ALESSO featuring ROY ENGLISH – “Cool”
AXWELL /\ INGROSSO – “On My Way”
DILLON FRANCIS & DJ SNAKE – “Get Low” (re-release)
JEREMIH featuring FLO RIDA – “Tonight Belongs To U!”
MARLON ROUDETTE – “When The Beat Drops Out”
OLLY MURS featuring DEMI LOVATO – “Up”
RIHANNA – “American Oxygen”
…and other Q2 singles that are yet to be announced.

Let me know what song you think will come out on top in the comments or on social media – click the “Get Social!” tab above.

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (April 14)

A “Big” debut on the horizon.

From swinging onto Vine and through the branches of the Billboard 200, there’s a rising social star whose fans are wild about a debut album from him. Let’s jump into the jungle with the albums and singles that are new in stores for the week of April 14:

• He’s all of 16 years old and he already has a top five EP and two charting singles on the Hot 100. Of course, he also has a few million fans to his credit across his social media platforms. Popular Vine singer and now major label recording artist Shawn Mendes is out with a full-length album called Handwritten, featuring “Life Of The Party” and “Something Big”. Though neither has become a radio hit despite two releases of each to the CHR airwaves, the pre-order count built up in the last few months will certainly land him in the top two when all is said and done. (iTunes)
• Looking for their first top ten (and perhaps even top five) on the Billboard 200 is the hard rock quartet Halestorm and their third studio album, Into The Wild Life. The set features a recent #1 single on the Active Rock chart, “Apocalyptic”, and a few other album cuts that are selling, like “Amen” and “Sick Individual”. A nice sales week is in order for them, but given the recent change to the album chart formula, we’ll have to wait and see just how well it does. (iTunes)
• With the first studio album released by the Nash Icons imprint of Big Machine Records, country star Reba McIntire is out with Love Somebody, featuring the minor chart single “Going Out Like That”. (She’s credited by her first name now.) Though it won’t do nearly as well as her past sets, the new material’s gone over well with her fans. (iTunes)
• Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator is already topping the iTunes albums list with Cherry Bomb, which was announced a few days before its release this week. Several album cuts from it are charting well on the overall songs list. A physical CD is due later this month. (iTunes)
• Other releases out this week include: Avid Dancer‘s 1st Bath (iTunes), Dance Gavin Dance‘s Instant Gratification (iTunes), Dwight Yoakam‘s Second Hand Heart (iTunes), Greg Holden‘s Chase The Sun (iTunes), Jack Garratt‘s Synesthesiac (EP) (iTunes), needtobreathe‘s Live From The Woods (iTunes), Sabrina Carpenter‘s Eyes Wide Open (iTunes), The Mowgli’s Kids In Love (iTunes) and Tori Amos‘s deluxe re-issues of Little Earthquakes (iTunes) and Under The Pink (iTunes).

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:

• “Addicted To A Memory”, new from Zedd and Bahari. (iTunes)
• “Still Want You”, a new instant grat track from Brandon Flowers. (iTunes)

Next week, rockers Alabama Shakes could be the top debut on the chart with Sound & Color. How will they do against other potential entries from Passion Pit and Yelawolf? A full preview is coming in seven!