NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of September 16, 2022

Born to top the charts.

Check out the broad spectrum of colorful New Music Friday releases this week, including the current sets from BLACKPINK, Koe Wetzel and Marcus Mumford and top tracks from Charlie Puth, Jeremy Zucker and WizKid…

Notable albums out this week: Bazzi‘s Infinite Dream (Stream), Death Cab For Cutie‘s Asphalt Meadows (Stream), Djo‘s Decide (Stream), Drake Milligan‘s Dallas/Fort Worth (Stream), EST Gee‘s I Never Felt Nun (Stream), FLETCHER‘s Girl Of My Dreams (Stream), Jessie Reyez‘s Yessie (Stream), Koe Wetzel‘s Hell Paso (Stream), LeAnn Rimes‘s God’s Work (Stream), Little Big Town‘s Mr. Sun (Stream), Loveless‘s End Of An Era (Stream), Maggie Lindemann‘s Suckerpunch (Stream), Marcus Mumford‘s (Self-titled) (Stream), Mariah Carey‘s Butterfly (25th Anniversary) (Stream), Michelle Branch‘s The Trouble With Fever (Stream), Mitchell Tenpenny‘s This Is The Heavy (Stream), Mxmtoon‘s Rising (Deluxe) (Stream), Noah Cyrus‘s The Hardest Part (Stream), Rina Sawayama‘s Hold The Girl (Stream), Starcrawler‘s She Said (Stream), Steve Aoki‘s Hiroquest: Genesis (Stream), Tai Verdes‘s HDTV (Stream)

Notable EPs out this week: Amy Sheppard‘s Nothing But Wild (Stream), BLACKPINK‘s Born Pink (Stream), Boy In Space‘s Backyard (Stream), David Kushner‘s Footprints I Found (Stream), Daya‘s In Between Dreams (Stream), Victoria Canal‘s Elegy (Stream)

New digital singles that you can buy/stream this week include:
“50 Shades Of Pink”, We Three (Stream)
“Adiós”, JAWNY (Stream)
“Ain’t Got Nothin’ Figured Out”, MAGIC! (Stream)
“Ain’t Missin’ You”, Dylan Schneider (Stream)
“Antsy”, UPSAHL (Stream)
“Back To You”, Alexander Stewart (Stream)
“Backfired”, Layto (Stream)
“Backseat (All I Got)”, Sam MacPherson (Stream)
“Bad To Me”, WizKid (Stream)
“Bump”, Dora Jar (Stream)
“Can’t Take Me Anywhere”, Sam Tinnesz (Stream)
“Casper”, Jeffrey Eli (Stream)
“CDBaby<3”, Chloe Moriondo (Stream)
“Danielle (Smile On My Face)”, Fred Again.. (Stream)
“Destination OK”, Phil Good (Stream)
“Excuse The Mess”, Austin Snell (Stream)
“Expiration Date”, NERIAH (Stream)
“Fine”, Kyle Hume (Stream)
“FMK”, GAYLE & Blackbear (Stream)
“From The Ashes”, Illenium & Skylar Grey (Stream)
“Granola Bars”, Gnash & Annika Wells (Stream)
“I Can’t Make You Love Me”, Boyce Avenue featuring Rachel Grae (Stream)
“I Don’t Think That I Like Her”, Charlie Puth (Stream)
“I Feel It In The Wind”, Smith & Thell (Stream)
“I Gotta I Gotta”, Flowerovlove (Stream)
“If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)”, Kelsea Ballerini (Stream)
“I’m So Happy”, Jeremy Zucker featuring BENEE (Stream)
“Irresponsible”, Kiana Ledé (Stream)
“Just Stay For Once”, Zachary Knowles (Stream)
“Lilypad”, Charlotte Clark (Stream)
“Love In The Way”, Bleu & Nicki Minaj (Stream)
“Mars”, Scott Hoying (Stream)
“Miss My Dawgs”, Kaash Paige & 6LACK (Stream)
“Nails”, Noga Erez featuring Missy Elliott (Stream)
“Neighbors”, Nate Mitchell (Stream)
“Never Leave”, Bailey Zimmerman (Stream)
“Northern Attitude”, Noah Kahan (Stream)
“Nothing Lasts Forever”, DYLAN (Stream)
“Ovule”, Björk (Stream)
“Right Person Right Time”, Rachel Grae (Stream)
“Sailor On The Moon”, Masked Wolf featuring IDK & KayCyy (Stream)
“Talking To Yourself”, Carly Rae Jepsen (Stream)
“We Didn’t Learn A Thing”, Greg Holden (Stream)
“Welcome To The Plant Cell Bath”, Gabby Start (Stream)
“You Say My Name”, The Heavy Hours (Stream)
“You’d Never Know”, BLÜ EYES (Stream)

Next week, the newest albums from 5 Seconds Of Summer and Kelsea Ballerini are among the largest releases on the schedule. For Adam’s personal picks of the week, listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of September 6, 2019

Hollywood’s swinging.

Lots of fun finds are here for the first release date of September, including a big album that’s sure to Post giant numbers. Here are all the top new albums and singles hitting stores this Friday:

POST MALONE – Hollywood’s Bleeding (iTunes)
Features: several larger streaming and radio hits like “Circles”, the Young Thug-assisted “Goodbyes”, “Wow” and more

Notable albums out this week: Aitch‘s AitcH20 (iTunes), Barns Courtney‘s 404 (iTunes), Foy Vance‘s To Memphis (iTunes), Home Free‘s Dive Bar Saints (iTunes), Jax Jones‘s Snacks (Supersize) (iTunes), Lindsey Stirling‘s Artemis (iTunes), Mahalia‘s Love And Compromise (iTunes), Melanie Martinez‘s K-12 (iTunes), MUNA‘s Saves The World (iTunes), RÜFÜS DU SOL‘s Solace Remixed (iTunes), Sister Hazel‘s Earth (iTunes), Sleeping With Sirens‘s How It Feels To Be Lost (iTunes), The Highwomen‘s The Highwomen (iTunes)

Notable EPs out this week: Alessia Cara‘s This Summer (iTunes), David Spekter‘s Elephant (iTunes), Death Cab For Cutie‘s The Blue (iTunes), FRND‘s Adventures Of The FRNDship: Issue 1 (iTunes), Mallrat‘s Driving Music (iTunes), Phangs‘s A_Wreck (iTunes), Snow Patrol‘s Reworked 2 (iTunes)

New digital singles that you can buy this week include:
“49-99”, Tiwa Savage (iTunes)
“Actress”, Delacey (iTunes)
“Ain’t Together”, King Princess (iTunes)
“Always There”, Greta Van Fleet (iTunes)
“Back To You”, Hudson Taylor (iTunes)
“Bad Habit”, Zach Sorgen (iTunes)
“Bad Idea!”, Girl In Red (iTunes)
“Bathroom Floor”, Maddie & Tae (iTunes)
“Better Than You Loved Me”, Aaron Smith (iTunes)
“Bipolar”, Kiiara (iTunes)
“Butter”, Snow Tha Product (iTunes)
“Carry Me Away”, John Mayer (iTunes)
“Casual” and “Middle Name”, Thomston (iTunes)
“Catching Feelings”, Drax Project featuring Six60 (iTunes)
“Cold”, R.Lum.R (iTunes)
“Comfort Crowd”, Conan Gray (iTunes)
“Compromise”, Gallant featuring Sabrina Claudio (iTunes)
“Control”, Garrett Kato (iTunes)
“Dark Circles”, Ryan Beatty (iTunes)
“Delusional”, Youngr featuring Ilselena (iTunes)
“Did It To Myself”, Orla Gartland (iTunes)
“Dirty Laundry”, Danny Brown (iTunes)
“Dream Girl”, Anna Of The North (iTunes)
“Easy”, Next Town Down featuring 6LACK (iTunes)
“Factor In”, Kevin Garrett (iTunes)
“Fade Out (Dark Heart Remix)”, Seeb with Olivia O’Brien & Space Primates (iTunes)
“Falling Down (SYML Remix)”, Harrison Storm (iTunes)
“February 2017”, Charli XCX featuring Clairo & Yaeji (iTunes)
“Feel Up”, Pia Mia & YG (iTunes)
“Flickers”, Wrabel (iTunes)
“For Your Eyes Only”, Cashmere Cat (iTunes)
“Got Off Easy”, Kevin Griffin (iTunes)
“Green Eyes”, Joseph (iTunes)
“Hallelujah”, Oh Wonder (iTunes)
“Hard Liquor” and “Tip It Back”, Jaira Burns (iTunes)
“Hey, I’m Just Like You”, Tegan & Sara (iTunes)
“High School”, Alexander 23 (iTunes)
“Homecoming Queen?”, Kelsea Ballerini (iTunes)
“Hurts”, Wafia featuring Louis The Child & Whethan (iTunes)
“I Believe In Us”, WILD (iTunes)
“I Know”, Rence (iTunes)
“I Need You More Than You Want Me”, Fly By Midnight (iTunes)
“I Really Wish I Hated You”, Blink-182 (iTunes)
“I Remember”, Patrick James (iTunes)
“I Wish”, Declan J Donovan (iTunes)
“Innit”, Drumaq (iTunes)
“Intro” and “Pink”, Two Feet (iTunes)
“In The Middle”, Alesso & SUMR CAMP (iTunes)
“Kill My Mind”, Louis Tomlinson (iTunes)
“Know Your Heart”, Wanderer (iTunes)
“Let It Be Me”, Steve Aoki featuring Backstreet Boys (iTunes)
“Letting Go”, Dotan (iTunes)
“Liar” and “Shameless”, Camila Cabello (iTunes)
“Living Proof”, Des Rocs (iTunes)
“Love Me Less”, MAX featuring Kim Petras (iTunes)
“Marry Those Eyes”, MKTO (iTunes)
“Missing Home”, Flora Cash (iTunes)
“More”, Electric Guest (iTunes)
“Never Change”, Don Diablo (iTunes)
“Nobody’s Perfect”, Fire Jane (iTunes)
“No Hard Feelings”, Melii (iTunes)
“Oh No!!!”, Grandson (iTunes)
“Over”, Tyron Hapi & Babet (iTunes)
“Over You”, HOLYCHILD (iTunes)
“Pick U Up”, Foster The People (iTunes)
“Pill For This”, Sam DeRosa (iTunes)
“Pretty Bitchin'”, Miranda Lambert (iTunes)
“Purple Hat”, Sofi Tukker (iTunes)
“Pyro”, Aaron Carter (iTunes)
“Really Don’t Like U”, Tove Lo featuring Kylie Minogue (iTunes)
“Rollin'”, Hootie & The Blowfish (iTunes)
“Sanremo”, MIKA (iTunes)
“See You Soon”, Kim Churchill (iTunes)
“Sounds Of The Skeng”, Stormzy (iTunes)
“Strange”, Celeste (iTunes)
“Summer’s Over”, Elijah The Boy (iTunes)
“Superpower”, Adam Lambert (iTunes)
“The Runner”, Foals (iTunes)
“Time For You”, Taio Cruz featuring Wonder Studio (iTunes)
“Torn (KREAM Remix)”, Ava Max (iTunes)
“Treehouse”, James Arthur with Ty Dolla $ign & Shotty Horroh (iTunes)
“Two Commas”, Poo Bear (iTunes)
“Violence”, Grimes & i_o (iTunes)
“Walk Alone”, The Him (iTunes)
“Wanted”, OneRepublic (iTunes)
“Where We’re From”, Marc E. Bassy (iTunes)
“Why Do You Love Me (Klingande Remix)”, Charlotte Lawrence (iTunes)
“Woman Lover Powerful”, Daniella Mason (iTunes)
“Younger”, Jonas Blue & HRVY (iTunes)

Next week, look out for new albums from artists like Charli XCX, Korn, The Lumineers and more. For Adam’s personal picks of the week, listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of August 17, 2018

A sweet escape for summer.

Following the death of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, fans of the performer have sent her classics up the charts with no end in sight. It’s bound to be an interesting week on the Billboard 200, especially with some top new releases out now. These are the notable digital and physical releases headed into the market this Friday:

ARIANA GRANDE – Sweetener (iTunes)
Grande’s new album includes the songs “No Tears Left To Cry” and “God Is A Woman”, and features collaborations with performers like Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj. Given the sales and streaming momentum related to the death of Franklin, a full week of data may be enough for one of her many hits compilations to pull ahead of Grande’s set. It’s just too early to tell at this point. In any case, Sweetener will almost certainly be the highest-charting new release of the week.

Notable albums out this week: Aminé‘s ONEPOINTFIVE (iTunes), Cole Swindell‘s All Of It (iTunes), Dan Owen‘s Stay Awake With Me (iTunes), Death Cab For Cutie‘s Thank You For Today (iTunes), Matt Gresham‘s Who Am I Now (iTunes), Mitski‘s Be The Cowboy (iTunes)

Notable EPs out this week: Sabrina Claudio‘s No Rain, No Flowers (iTunes), Vory‘s Lucky Me (iTunes)

New digital singles that you can buy this week include:
“5 Dollars”, Christine & The Queens (iTunes)
“16 Steps (Club Edit)”, Martin Jensen & Olivia Holt (iTunes)
“A Lifetime To Repair (Edit)”, Kylie Minogue (iTunes)
“All I Am”, Jess Glynne (iTunes)
“Are You Ready?”, Disturbed (iTunes)
“Baby”, Bishop Briggs (iTunes)
“Best I Ever Had”, The Unlikely Candidates (iTunes)
“Bigger”, St. Lucia (iTunes)
“Cana”, Kid Ink featuring 24hrs (iTunes)
“Celoso”, Lele Pons (iTunes)
“Come Down (RAC Remix)”, Noah Kahan (iTunes)
“Crazy World”, MNEK (iTunes)
“Forgotten Love”, AURORA (iTunes)
“Free Mind”, Tash Sultana (iTunes)
“Fuh You”, Paul McCartney (iTunes)
“Girls Go Wild”, LP (iTunes)
“Goodbyes”, The Knocks featuring Method Man (iTunes)
“Happier”, Marshmello & Bastille (iTunes)
“HEART$”, Luke Christopher (iTunes)
“Honestly” and “Honestly (Encore)”, Gabbie Hanna (iTunes)
“Hurting”, SG Lewis featuring AlunaGeorge (iTunes)
“Keep In Touch”, Tory Lanez with Bryson Tiller (iTunes)
“Long Distance Runner”, Matt Nathanson (iTunes)
“Made For Now”, Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee (iTunes)
“Masterpiece”, OMI & Felix Jaehn (iTunes)
“Might Not Make It Home”, LPX (iTunes)
“Naked”, Lo (iTunes)
“No Erasin'”, Steve Perry (iTunes)
“Nonchalant”, 6LACK (iTunes)
“Ocean (David Guetta Remix)”, Martin Garrix featuring Khalid (iTunes)
“Promises”, Calvin Harris & Sam Smith (iTunes)
“Pull Me Deep”, Logan Henderson (iTunes)
“Real For You”, James Hersey (iTunes)
“Real Friends”, Camila Cabello featuring Swae Lee (iTunes)
“Science”, Allie X (iTunes)
“So Mean”, Lions Head (iTunes)
“Sweet But Psycho”, Ava Max (iTunes)
“Tell Me That”, Tim Chadwick (iTunes)
“The Flute Song”, Russ (iTunes)
“TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME”, The 1975 (iTunes)
“Wish I Never Met You (Feather Remix)”, Loote (iTunes)
“You”, A Great Big World (iTunes)

Next week: look out for new albums from Alice In Chains, BTS and more. For Adam’s personal picks of the week, listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

RADIO REPORT: POP! Goes The Picks (July 2015) (Part Two)

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 July on the Alternative and Triple A formats in the second part of this month’s Radio Report:

ALTERNATIVE (*) and TRIPLE A (**)

BRANDON FLOWERS – “Lonely Town” (July 14) (*)
Label: Island/Republic
It was very disappointing to see “Can’t Deny My Love” being, well, denied entrance into the Alternative top 40 after a tough battle earlier this year. With the second single from his The Desired Effect album, 34-year-old Flowers appeals for the format’s support with another tasty new wave inspired cut with a lovely kick of brass for good measure. It might be his only chance to save this era.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – “The Ghosts Of Beverly Drive” (July 14) (*)
Label: Atlantic
With “Black Sun” having recently gone recurrent at the format after climbing as high as #2, the Washington trio follows it up with a spooky single about a prior relationship from Gibbard’s past. Beverly Drive, of course, refers to the street that runs through the California cities of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. It is a needed change of pace and should pump that pedal as the fall approaches.

FAMILY OF THE YEAR – “Make You Mine” (July 14) (* + **)
Label: Warner Bros./Nettwerk
It’s been quite a ride for this quartet and their single “Hero” over the past three years. Originally an Alternative and Triple A hit in the spring of 2013, months after the summer 2012 release of their album Loma Vista, the track returned last summer when it was used to promote the film Boyhood. Hopefully, their latest single also sticks around, a classic California record that is burning hot.

JARRYD JAMES – “Do You Remember?” (July 14) (**)
Label: Interscope
Six months ago, James was totally unknown to fair amount of people and quietly released a single that was produced by the noted Joel Little, best known for his work with singer Lorde. Then, he pulled off an awesome feat: a #2 chart peak in his native Australia without any major label backing. Of course, one has picked it up for a U.S. release. It’s a record to watch for the fall, so stay tuned.

LIANNE LA HAVAS – “What You Don’t Do” (July 14) (**)
Label: Warner Bros.
The English singer/songwriter from London got the critics buzzing with her debut album from 2012, Is Your Love Big Enough? It was a top five success in the U.K. despite a trio of singles that stalled underneath the top 100 in that country, while both the songs and the album went largely unnoticed here. Her album Blood will be seeping into our musical veins later this month. It’s a winner.

MUSE – “Mercy” (July 21) (**)
Label: Warner Bros.
From the concept album Drones, which recently became the trio’s first #1 album on the Billboard 200, this single is already doing well on streaming platforms and will no doubt bolt its way up the Alternative survey in mere weeks. However, the adds date listed is only for Triple A radio, where “Dead Inside” was just a mid-charting hit at best. Nevertheless, it’s a great choice from the effort.

WALK OFF THE EARTH – “Hold On (The Break)” (July 21) (**)
Label: Columbia
Rather than ruling the world with their last single, this Canadian band was ruling the headlines when singer Sarah Blackwood and her son were kicked off a United Airlines flight because of his fussy behavior. Luckily, since the story has faded, the quintet is able to return to what they do best and perform. “Hold” is a mellower choice, but one that lends itself well to a potential crossover hit.

RYAN CORN – “White Flag” (July 28) (**)
Label: Curb
Missouri singer/songwriter Corn got his first taste of radio play last year when an original song called “Wonderful Things” briefly touched the top 40 at the Triple A format before Christmas. Now, he’s heading back to radio with a remake that’s become a staple in his recent sets, “White Flag”, originally a hit for Dido in 2003. Corn puts a nice pop/rock spin on the track. I’ll be rooting for it.

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.

For The Record: Adam’s Pop Picks For Record Store Day 2015

All the spin on RSD.

Another year, another round of Record Store Day shopping is on schedule for this Saturday, April 18. The annual event is once again taking place all over the world, and the massive music fest is sure to bring out even more people than last year, so make it to your local store or stores early enough so that you don’t get caught behind the huge lines. With another diverse collection of exclusive CD and vinyl pieces across all genres and eras, there’s something for everyone, but quantities are limited.

In honor of the eighth national day, I’ve managed to bring down my big list to the eight most essential pieces that I’m looking to find on my journey. It may be a struggle, but let’s hope for the best. Though a little more retro-skewed than last year’s list, here are my top pop picks:

(Check out the full list of U.S. releases for RSD here.)

A-HA, “Take On Me” (Image)
Format: 7″ Picture Disc
Label: Rhino
If “Feel This Moment” wasn’t a musical moment for you, there’s always the 1985 classic to look back on, a huge #1 for the band on the Billboard Hot 100. The best part about this release is it’s a picture disc with a frame from the iconic video. Radical, man.

BEE GEES, Extended (Image)
Format: 12″ EP
Label: Rhino
This special four song set from the phenomenal brother trio features some of their international hits from the RSO era, like the Saturday Night Fever cuts “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever”. In fact, all four songs can be found on that landmark soundtrack.

BIG DATA featuring JOYWAVE, “Dangerous” (Image)
Format: 7″ Single
Label: Warner Bros.
“Dangerous” is the biggest single to date for producer Alan Wilkis, a #1 song on the Alternative chart last summer and included on his recent 2.0 album. This release definitely has one of the coolest package designs for RSD as it looks like a big floppy disk.

DAVID BOWIE, “Changes” (Image)
Format: 7″ Picture Disc
Label: Rhino
The word legend gets thrown out a lot nowadays, but Bowie truly is one and this classic single is a reminder of that status. From the Hunky Dory album, it charted twice but never made the top 40. The picture used is a different one from the original sleeve.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE and FREEDY JOHNSTON, “Bad Reputation” (Image)
Format: 7″ Single
Label: Atlantic
Johnston’s best-known song was a minor Alternative hit in the fall of 1994 before crossing over to the CHR chart in 1995. This split 7″ release concept has been one of the essentials throughout past events, including the always popular Mystery Artist one.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, “What Kind Of Man” (Image)
Format: 12″ Single
Label: Republic
“Man” is the leadoff single (and a top ten Alternative hit) from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, scheduled to be released in early June. The 12″ single release comes on blue vinyl encased in a copper sleeve and features the b-side “As Far As I Can Get”.

GROUPLOVE, Under The Covers (Image)
Format: 10″ Single
Label: Atlantic
The California quintet is welcomed back onto the RSD list after appearing on a split single two years ago. This EP, a three track set strictly featuring covers, includes two unreleased songs and an additional remake recorded for a Spotify session last spring.

MUMFORD & SONS, “Believe” (Image)
Format: 7″ Single
Label: Glassnote
They may have lost the banjos, but they haven’t lost their enthusiasm for the holiday. I purchased a vinyl copy of their EP Live At Bull Moose in 2013 and I will be looking out for this. The jacket is not fancy, but the song is a solid Alternative chart-topper.

Are you looking forward to the RSD celebration and is there another cool release not listed here that you’ve got to buy? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter: click the “Get Social!” tab above to find us on there.

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (March 31)

Looking for some “Sun” at the top.

Another month of the year is nearly done, which means a quarter of 2015 has come and gone. Crazy, right? Luckily, some solid releases are ready to close things out. Here are the albums and singles that are new in stores for the week of March 31:

• Kintsugi is the name of the latest effort for Washington rockers Death Cab For Cutie, and it marks a pretty big change for the group as longtime member Chris Walla decided to part ways with the act last year. Now playing as a trio, the guys look to land the fourth top five album of their career. Of course, it is led by “Black Sun”, which climbed to #1 on Triple A radio last week and is trending towards the top five on the Alternative survey. (iTunes)
• Inspired by a friendship with popular comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his series Seinfeld, American rapper Wale returns to the charts with The Album About Nothing, featuring the recent Urban radio single “The Body” (featuring Jeremih) and current hit “The Matrimony” (featuring Usher.) It is certainly a unique project that taps into multiple fan bases and this support should propel it to a top five debut next week. (iTunes)
• It was a very tight race on Country radio between two “Homegrown” titles recently, but Darius Rucker‘s “Homegrown Honey” made it to the top first and he’ll be bringing his Southern Style to the Billboard 200 next week. This makes three years in a row now that Rucker has released an album; last year, it was the seasonal Home For The Holidays. (iTunes)
• Three Days Grace recently scored a #1 song on the Active Rock chart with “I Am Machine”. The quartet’s fifth studio album, Human, their first to feature lead vocalist Matt Walst, is out this week. The guys have had three consecutive sets debut in the top five, and they’re hoping this will be their fourth. (iTunes)
• Other releases out this week include: Boz Scaggs‘s A Fool To Care (iTunes), Death Grips‘s The Powers That B (iTunes), Erica Campbell‘s Help 2.0 (iTunes), Hollywood Undead‘s Day Of The Dead (iTunes), Hudson Taylor‘s Singing For Strangers (iTunes), Jodeci‘s The Past, The Present, The Future (iTunes), Ludacris‘s Ludaversal (iTunes), Madeon‘s Adventure (iTunes), New Motion‘s Anyway (EP) (iTunes), Nightwish‘s Endless Forms Most Beautiful (iTunes), Ringo Starr‘s Postcards From Paradise (iTunes), Ron Sexsmith‘s Carousel One (iTunes), Scott Weiland & The Wildabouts‘s Blaster (iTunes), Sufjan Stevens‘s Carrie & Lowell (iTunes), The Maine‘s American Candy (iTunes), The Prodigy‘s The Day Is My Enemy (iTunes), Van Halen‘s Tokyo Dome, Live In Concert (iTunes), We Are Harlot‘s We Are Harlot (iTunes) and the Various Artists compilation, NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards – 50 Years (iTunes).

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

• “I Don’t Like It, I Love It”, an instant grat track from Flo Rida, Robin Thicke and Verdine White. (iTunes)
• “Woman (Oh Mama)”, the new single from Joy Williams. (iTunes)

Next week, it’ll likely be rockers All Time Low taking the top chart debut with Future Hearts. Who else makes it into the top ten? A full preview is coming in seven!

RADIO REPORT: POP! Goes The Picks (February 2015)

It’s time once again to analyze those airwaves and find out if your favorite songs will be lighting up the national charts in 2015. What singles will climb to the top and which ones will hit a stop? Here are some of the new songs being serviced in February on the AAA, Alternative, CHR and Hot AC formats in this month’s Radio Report:

CHR (*) and HOT AC (**)

CHARLI XCX featuring RITA ORA – “Doing It” (February 3) (*)
Label: Atlantic/RRP
A little extra girl power is never a bad option, and so Ora joins in on this already fun track from the Sucker album, due in several European territories in about two weeks. Hopefully this will be “doing” better than “Break The Rules” very soon.

ECHOSMITH – “Bright” (February 3) (*)
Label: Warner Bros.
The “cool kids” of the Sierota family are looking to prove they’re still popular with pop radio program directors on their latest single from Talking Dreams. Co-written by MoZella, this stripped down song shows the quartet has versatile taste.

SAM SMITH – “Lay Me Down” (February 3) (*)
Label: Capitol
Smith’s third CHR radio single from In The Lonely Hour is kind of a puzzling choice considering that it was originally out in 2013 and “Like I Can” just went top ten in Europe. However, the singer’s Grammy hype will push the track up quickly.

ARIANA GRANDE – “One Last Time” (February 10) (*)
Label: Republic
With a title that sounds so, well, final, the My Everything era may be coming to an end after its fourth official single. The release follows “Love Me Harder”, which recently broke the top 3 at CHR radio. Will Grande’s era go out on a high note?

FANCY – “Goodbye” (February 10) (*)
Label: Big Machine/Republic
Though the label seems invested in a mysterious campaign, Jake “Fancy” Hagood has been known in Nashville for some time now and has a few cuts that have been recorded. As a pop newcomer on a country label, this is one release to watch.

GORGON CITY featuring JENNIFER HUDSON – “Go All Night” (February 10) (*)
Label: Priority/Capitol
The English duo’s Sirens album has given them four top 40 hits in a row in the United Kingdom, the one being their most recent with a #14 peak. Hudson’s never been huge with CHR radio, but this 90’s house record is worthy of charting here.

MADONNA – “Living For Love” (February 10) (*)
Label: Interscope
Leaked onto the internet a few months ago and then released with an album pre-order for Rebel Heart in late December, “Living” is finally being serviced to radio this month, though it may be too late to receive the “Love” it desires. We’ll see.

SIA – “Elastic Heart” (February 10) (* + **)
Label: RCA
It’s the second time around for “Elastic” at radio, which initially garnered some pop play when it was featured in the film The Hunger Games – Catching Fire. Thanks to a new video clip and set of unusual performances, it’s buzzing once again.

RYN WEAVER – “OctaHate” (February 24) (*)
Label: Interscope
Weaver’s first single was a huge streaming hit and exploded in the blogosphere thanks to several high-profile plugs. Now is the time for the American public to get behind the track and make the performer one of 2015’s big national breakouts.

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ALTERNATIVE (*) and AAA (**)

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – “Black Sun” (February 3) (* + **)
Label: Atlantic
Since we last saw the Washington band, they’ve lost a longtime member, but they are gaining very nicely at several radio formats thanks to a strong comeback single. “Sun” will be shining in the top ten at both Alternative and AAA this month.

THE MOWGLI’S – “I’m Good” (February 3) (* + **)
Label: Photo Finish/Republic
Two years ago, the group from California made their mark on the Alternative survey with “San Francisco”, breaking the top 20 in spring 2013. Back from the jungle and swinging swiftly from station to station, the septet is ready to roar again.

ÁSGEIR, “Torrent” (February 10) (**)
Label: Columbia
The country of Iceland has given us some pretty unique artists over the years and this 22-year-old is no exception. He is following up “King And Cross”, which received some minor AAA play, but this epic single will certainly do some damage.

COLONY HOUSE – “Second Guessing Games” (February 10) (*)
Label: Descendant
The Tennessee rock trio went to radio last fall with “Silhouettes”, peaking just beneath the top 40 at Alternative, but the second single from their When I Was Younger set is just as great. This House is only getting settled in the neighborhood.

FALL OUT BOY – “Uma Thurman” (February 10) (*)
Label: Island/Republic
This tune is like, totally psychedelic, man. Making creative use of the theme from the classic TV show The Munsters, the next radio single from American Beauty/American Psycho is ready for more crossover gains. Can someone say Smash?

IN THE VALLEY BELOW – “Peaches” (February 10) (*)
Label: Capitol/Caroline
The duo of Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob are new to the radio scene, though they’ve been performing together for many years. After building up press and additional mixes in the past year and a half, these “Peaches” are now ripe for spinning.

SAINT MOTEL – “My Type” (February 10) (*)
Label: Elektra/RRP
Last summer, “Type” was a minor top 40 single in the United Kingdom, but it quickly faded away. Luckily, the energetic sound is back thanks to the new Stateside release and a solid base of Alternative stations playing it. Those horns are hot!

ALABAMA SHAKES – “Don’t Wanna Fight” (or) “I Don’t Want To Fight No More” (February 17) (* + **)
Label: ATO
I’ve seen both titles listed for this release, but regardless of which one is used, the quartet from the Heart of Dixie will be pumping out the new jams this spring, including a forthcoming album in April. Guess we will have to “Hold On” for more.

FENCES – “Sunburns” (February 24) (*)
Label: Elektra/RRP
The band led by singer and songwriter Christopher Mansfield released “Arrows” as a single last year, but it failed to take off with an audience here. After an album delay multiple times both this and last year, Lesser Oceans is out on March 10.

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Which songs would you like to see do well from the list above? Let me know! Comment below or click the “Get Social!” tab to find PGTC on social media.