A BEAUTY OF A SET-UP
The boys are back in town. DCD2/Island’s Fall Out Boy are now gearing up for the release of the sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho, ready to drop 1/20. Digital pre-orders have been brisk and could finish around 100k, which would put the record on track to sell somewhere between 175-200k. Such numbers virtually guarantee them the #1 spot on the HITS Building Album Sales Chart.
“Centuries,” the first single off American, which launched back in August and enjoyed some massive syncs (see below), remains in the Top 10 at iTunes. It's currently certified Platinum, and hit Top 5 at Alt radio and currently sits in the Top 15 at Pop.
Meanwhile, “Uma Thurman” was the third of five instant grat tracks to hit #1 at iTunes, while “Immortals,” which also graces the Big Hero 6 ST (a Top 10 grossing movie of 2014) is also available pre-release.
“Initial reactions to Fall Out Boy’s new album have been phenomenal,” says Island President David Massey. “Given the platinum success of the album’s first hit single, ‘Centuries,’ with nearly 30 millionYouTube views to date, back-to-back #1 songs on iTunes and extraordinary preorders, we are off to a very exciting start with American Beauty/American Psycho. We fully expect to be working this album throughout the year with multiple hit singles.”
Radio is (as with all Island releases) handled by Republic’s Promo staff. “The team, led by Ron Cerrito andAmanda Dobbins, quickly drove ‘Centuries’ into the Top 5 at Alternative, giving the band their biggest song at the format since 2006,” declares SVP Promotion Gary Spangler. “Growing audience at Top 40 and Hot AC, along with a multilayered marketing campaign, helped drive sales and maintain momentum throughout the holiday season.”
He adds that “Centuries” has broken through at a time when Pop stations are largely steering clear of rock, and predicts that “Uma” and “Irresistible” will enjoy similar action.
If you’re a fan of football, or any televised sport for that matter, you can probably sing every note of “Centuries.” Syncs on the track have been massive, spanning a multitude of major sports networks, namely ESPN. The anthem was licensed for the entire college football season as the official theme song, which is already feat, but is even more significant due to the fact that, for the first time ever, college teams had playoffs (like the NFL). That adds up to a whole lotta eyeballs (and ears, for that matter).
The tune, of course, has earned beaucoup non-sports syncs, including the People Magazine Awards on NBC,Kimmel, Good Morning America and Dancing With the Stars and in promos for ABC’s new series, Forever.
For release week, the boys, who turned in a stirring performance on The Voice finale, will make stops atToday, Kelly and Michael and Fallon.
Today marks the announcement of FOB’s Boys of Zummer U.S. tour with Wiz Khalifa, kicking off in 6/10 in Camden, NJ and slated to wrap at the storied Hollywood Bowl two months later; tix go on sale on 1/23. Meanwhile, the first show announced at London's Wembley Arena has sold out in a single day; a second date there is being set up.
“Fall Out Boy’s legions of fans around the world have been patiently waiting for this moment to finally arrive,” said Island EVP/GM Eric Wong. “The release of American Beauty/American Psycho is the first great rock explosion of the new year, and everyone at Island looks forward to taking the album to multi-platinum and beyond."
FOB’s 2013 set, Save Rock and Roll bowed at #1 and is approaching Platinum status. Its lead single, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark sold 3.5m tracks. We’re just glad they don’t know what we do in the dark.
Wentz and co. are known for their interactive relationship with fans and unique social media strategies. ForSave, a music video for each of the LP’s tracks were released in an 11-part series, entitled The Youngblood Chronicles, which followed a single narrative, over a span of 15 months. Many of the clips featured cameo appearances from other artists, including Big Sean, Foxes, Tommy Lee, Courtney Love and Elton John as a God-like savior.
In the “Centuries” video, a very cinematic depiction of a Roman battle at the Coliseum, Rick Ross appears as a terrifyingly brutish competitor. Expect more fantastical, visually arresting clips (possibly featuring some surprise guests) to follow. The video for “Irresistible” is in the can and “Uma Thurman” is in the works, so keep those peepers peeled.
To top it all off, the pop/rockers just wrapped their “12 Days of Fall Out Boy,” which presented fans with daily, home-made videos, including one of Panic! At the Disco’s Brandon Urie giving his humorous and intoxicated recollection of the band’s history (after shots of Coldcock whiskey, Jameson, Glenlivet and countless beers) and one driven by the band-members’ dramatic readings of fan confessions (naughty and nice) similar toJimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets."
"People want to put a label on Fall Out Boy. All I know is how talented they are,” notes Crush Management’sBob McLynn. “We've been working with them for 12 years and they are making their best and most successful music now, far beyond anyone's expectations. This band is as real as they come."
