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Let’s take a look at what’s going on with the new tracks from these megastars, how they’re selling and how they set up two of Q4’s most eagerly anticipated albums.

“ROAR,” “APPLAUSE” AND THE NOISE THEY MAKE

Some Initial Numbers on Katy and Gaga

When two of music’s biggest sirens release singles the same week, that’s a story. So let’s take a look at what’s going on with the new tracks from these megastars, how they’re selling and how they set up two of Q4’s most eagerly anticipated albums.

557k is what we industry experts refer to, in our special insider terminology, as a "buttload" of singles to sell in one’s first week. And Katy Perry’s Pop anthem "Roar" (Capitol), now the first-week record-holder for 2013, is just getting started.

"Roar" is #1 at iTunes—having booted none other than Robin Thicke’s "Blurred Lines" from that perch. Perry’s smash was #15 on the Mediabase Pop chart in its first week with 6,575 spins, and is #12 at this writing. We’ve already discussed the artful rollout of the track, featuring four tantalizing teaser clips and a clever lyric video, as well as the fabled gold 18-wheeler seen tooling around the nation bearing the title of her new album, Prism, and its 10/22 street date.

Lady Gaga’s "Applause," meanwhile, moved 218k in its debut week; the Interscope superstar’s new one sits at #4 on the iTunes singles chart. The track had a #23 bow at Pop radio and 3,781 first-week spins and is currently at #17.

Both artists rocked VEVO view counts, with the "Roar" lyric clip earning 3.3m U.S. plays and 12.3m worldwide, and the audio-only "Applause" scoring 2.3m domestic views and 12m globally. The official "Applause" video, meanwhile, which was added at MTV just ahead of its online premiere, finds Gaga very much in her wheelhouse of wild, surrealist, confrontational imagery; it quickly zoomed past the 30m-views mark on VEVO. Katy's official "Roar" clip is pending, another cool teaser having heralded its arrival.

Of course, Gaga opened and Katy closed 8/25’s MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn. After the show aired, pre-orders began on Prism, which moved to #7 on the album chart. Gaga’s perf, full of quick costume changes, showcased her mercurial image and love of artifice; Katy’s triumphant boxing-ring rendition of "Roar," meanwhile, played up an underdog-beating-the-odds narrative. Both also benefited from VMA advertising tie-ins, Gaga with the Kia Soul and Katy with Pepsi.

Pre-orders on Gaga’s forthcoming ARTPOP (due out 11/11), initially drove the album to #7 on the iTunes album chart (it’s now #21). Forecasts for its first week are generally in the 400k range.

A big wild card in Gaga’s upcoming album bow, however, is her mobile app. What role could it play in boosting, facilitating or otherwise influencing sales? You’ll recall a little record called Magna Carta Holy Grail that got a slight boost from mobile.

Stay tuned for more news on these stars, their songs and the Q4 wagon train.

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