Quantcast
Playing a song that your market is already buying makes you look like a genius. If you at least look like a genius, it goes a long way to compensate for the 20 other stiffs you swore were smashes.

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, IVANA SUGGESTS

She Doesn’t Mean to Be Snarky, but, Really,
Get a Clue, PoMo PDs!
HELL AND BACK: It’s been two weeks since the 9/9/9 PM launch of Arcade Fire’s epic new single “Reflektor,” and this has been the band’s swiftest rise to Top 25 in their career, with 40 Modern Rock adds in two weeks! The band is the musical guest for SNL’s season opener this Saturday, with host Tina Fey! Immediately following at 1:00 AM (or 10:00 PM for those of us with the East Coast feed on our DirecTV), Arcade Fire will host their own 30-minute “variety” show on NBC. Let me repeat this for the PDs who, like Tawny Kitaen, are still asking, “Who the fuck are Arcade Fire?” Lorne Michaels, who has the pick of EVERY guy/girl/group making music for his season opener, has chosen Arcade Fire for this all-important premiere of his new cast. Then he offered the band an additional half hour, with full creative control. This, my dears, is UNPRECEDENTED. A television legend and a major network have chosen to partner with Arcade Fire—perhaps your station in market #308 will give “Reflektor” the same consideration this Monday… Also this Saturday, Vampire Weekend is headlining a sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl! Indie rock triumphs on both coasts (said the one who will be at a very important bat mitzvah that night), and all points in between, as evidenced by Glassnote’s Chvrches, whose debut LP The Bones of What You Believe is currently #9 on the iTunes Album chart! Well, how did that happen, you ask? Here’s how: The band has been playing shows in the U,S, since 2012—from small venues to huge festivals. In concert, the band has that ephemeral “magic” that grows their fanbase exponentially with each show. The Recover EP followed and quickly sold 75k without much radio support, but as the touring base expanded, radio has now become a (sorta) willing participant, with early love from Alt Nation, KRBZ, 20 on 20, KRXP, WWCD, KNRK, 98.7, KNDD, WROX, Live105, WLUM, KROX, WHFS and more. When chatting with the man who put the “Glass” in Glassnote this morning, I reminded him that this trajectory—where the market LEADS radio to a record, is the same path that Mumford’s debut took, but now with 10 times the airplay! If you recall, when Sigh No More was released, the record had huge sales debuts in Minneapolis (KCMP) and Boston (WFNX), which was a clear indication that the record was undeniable. So when you, beloved programmer, look at your weekly dartboard of label priorities and the weekly Let’s Make a Deal options presented by your personal Monty Hall, perhaps you should click on the iTunes chart or call your local retailer to find out what should really be your priority. Here’s why: Playing a song that your market is already buying makes you look like a genius. If you at least look like a genius, it goes a long way to compensate for the 20 other stiffs you swore were smashes. Also, you can build an entire career based on that-song-you-played-first (re: Lee Chesnut/”Wicked Games”), Your next step is simple: Add “The Mother We Share.” Watch the record sell in your market. Attach your call letters to the band’s next sold-out show in your market. You are a genius... Do not underestimate the mass appeal potential of Foals and White Denim. It took you almost a year before you “got” Tame Impala, must we remind you… I’ve worked with The Airborne Toxic Event since 2008. In fact, I got a “labor” add on “Sometime Around Midnight” from Marc Young at Q101 on Oct. 7, 2008 (I had to have something to show for being out of the office on a Tuesday). I love this band. So when singer Mikel Jollett told us he had written a new song on his motorcycle trip back from a show in Omaha, we were excited to hear it! It’s called “Hell and Back” and it’s an absolute one-listen stomper. The initial response has been incredible, with adds from KCSN, WRFF, Alt Nation, KRBZ and WZNE. Email me if you want a copy ([email protected])!... SONG TO HEAR: Haim’s “The Wire”… PEOPLE TO WATCH: Sue Kelley, Dustin Matthews, Bill Burrs, Troy Hanson, Ian McCain and Dave Barbis.

NEAR TRUTHS: KINGDOMS
File under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. (3/26a)
ONE SHINING HITS LIST
She shoots, she scores! (3/26a)
YTD MARKET SHARE
Zeroing in on the elite teams (3/27a)
BEST IN THE WEST:
STEVE BERMAN
High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
MUSIC REVENUE TOPPED $17B IN 2023: RIAA
Streaming subscriptions lead the charge. (3/27a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)