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 September on the CHR and Hot AC formats in the first part of this month’s Radio Report:
CHR (*) and HOT AC (**)
AVICII – “For A Better Day” (September 8) (*)
Label: Island/Republic
This Swedish DJ/producer’s Stories album will finally be available on October 2, but with two singles pulled here (“The Days” and “Waiting For Love”) and another that didn’t perform well (“The Nights”) at the format, this era’s true potential outside of streams and some sales has yet to be seen. Perhaps this song, with an uncredited vocal by singer Alex Ebert, will find some positive results.
ANDY GRAMMER – “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah)” (September 15) (* + **)
Label: S-Curve/Hollywood
2015 has been as sweet as “Honey” for singer/songwriter Grammer thanks to his hit single about fidelity, a song that also saved an album era (Magazines Or Novels) that was off to a rocky start. Now, this bouncy tune heads to radio from the reissue of that set. I prefer that “Forever” or “Red Eye” from the original album get some airtime, but I am not in control here. Is it a “Good” decision?
MAROON 5 – “Feelings” (September 15) (* + **)
Label: Interscope
“This Summer’s Gonna Hurt…” came and went pretty quickly, and that hurt on the way down stung real hard. In fact, for a top ten single to only spend 11 weeks in the top 40 nowadays is downright disastrous. Luckily, the group is moving onto this single from V, which has done modestly well in streaming. Sure, I might shed a tear for “It Was Always You” being shafted again, but this is solid.
DAVID COOK – “Criminals” (September 22) (**)
Label: Analog Heart/INgrooves
The final season of American Idol begins in January, and this guy took home the title back in 2008. Cook last appeared on the Hot AC chart in early 2012 when “Fade Into Me”, his fifth top 40 single at the format, stalled in the 30’s, essentially marking the end of the This Loud Morning era (and his time signed to RCA Records.) It may not be big, but even a small group of outlets should help.
ELLIE GOULDING – “On My Mind” (September 22) (*)
Label: Interscope
Goulding has a pair of releases going to CHR radio this month, with this and her feature on Major Lazer‘s “Powerful” competing for airplay at the format. (The latter song has the edge at the moment, but that can soon change.) In a recent magazine profile, the single was described as an “upbeat pop banger” and a “guitar led, Swiftian tale”. Sounds promising to me. Watch out for its debut.
MARC SCIBILIA – “How Bad We Need Each Other” (September 22) (**)
Label: I.R.S. Nashville/Capitol
Raised in New York state and now based in Nashville, Scibilia’s rise to his first radio single was several years in the making. In fact, this song was first released in 2012 on a self-titled EP and scored several syncs along the way. Now, three years later, the song will be exposed to an even greater audience thanks to it being reissued up by a major label. We’ll see how urgent that “Need” becomes.
YEARS & YEARS – “Desire” (September 29) (*)
Label: Interscope
Earlier this year, it was really sad to see this trio’s single “King” stall out so low on the pop radio survey because of its huge success in the United Kingdom. However, it looks like their U.S. label is giving them a second chance to hit the airwaves with this song. It’s already gone top 40 in a few countries overseas and, hopefully, it can also make a nice dent here. It’s all we can desire at this point.
Which of these new singles 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.
