NEAR TRUTHS: REALIGNMENT AND RECOGNITION
Underscoring the year's biggest stories (11/19a)
NEAR TRUTHS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Nervous time in the music biz and beyond. (11/16a)
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NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
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By Karen Glauber
Welcome back, my friends, to the release schedule that never ends! Since we last convened, the Top 10 at Alt radio hasn’t moved at all. One exception is lovelytheband, whose “broken” got even bigger—after 59 weeks on the chart!—while follow-up “These Are My Friends” fights for its well-earned spot in Top 10. I call this phenomenon the “Float On Effect,” named after the Modest Mouse song that was an even bigger hit after it had been on the chart for a year, thereby relegating the follow-up, “Ocean Breathes Salty,” to also-ran status. Panic! At the Disco’s “High Hopes” is currently #1 at Alt, Top 40 and Hot AC, so that appears to be a lock at #1 at Alt for a while, unless Mumford & Sons’ “Guiding Light” can surge to the top spot, as it deserves… The little record that could, Flora Cash’s “You’re Somebody Else,” was #1 at RateTheMusic this week in all cells, and it’s still showing signs of growth with over half the panel already in Power. Flora Cash will be opening for lovelytheband this year as direct support… During the break, I spent 10 consecutive hours watching the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, so my mantra for 2019 is “What would Midge do?” Lisa Sonkin was the first to suggest that Midge could become our beacon of strength for the year ahead, and I’m sure we’ll be texting when Rachel Brosnahan hosts SNL this weekend, with musical guest Greta Van Fleet. This is Greta Van Fleet’s year to shine, as Amanda and Drew drive their new single, “You’re the One,” up the chart on the heels of four Grammy nods! Their father, Robert Plant, is oh so proud of their success… Lisa Sonkin and Darice Lee will have a new Vampire Weekend single in the not-too-distant future. Like everything Ezra Koenig does, the song is perfect. In the meantime, MØ f/Foster the People’s “Blur” is gaining traction, as it appears to be a bona fide hit for SiriusXM’s Alt Nation, KNDD, WLKK, WWCD and KHTB, to name a few. Also on deck for Columbia is a smash called “Giant” by Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man… I have enormous respect and affection for Judah & The Lion (pictured). This morning, at 4am (I was awake), their new single, “Over My Head,” launched at radio. Caroline promo goddesses Marisa Di Frisco and Marni Halpern should close most of the Alternative panel in the first week. Their unbridled passion for the band is reason enough to add it this week, not to mention that it’s one of the best new songs out there!... Dennis Blair and Artie Gentile are on deck to have an incredible first week with “Timebomb”—the new single from Walk the Moon. Wishful thinking aside, it isn’t a Rancid cover, and, like everything DB touches, it will be a smash… Everybody’s favorites, Catfish and the Bottlemen, are back with a new single called “Longshot,” which is a lock for Most Added on 1/21. Capitol’s Gary Gorman, who’s still at the top of the Alt chart with Marshmello/Bastille, while Barns Courtney’s “99” inches towards #10, will also do exceptionally well with Catfish… Rob Goldklang is bullish on Rüfüs Du Sol’s “Treat You Better,” which is already on the air at KITS, Music Choice, WNYL, WLUM and KROQ before the official add date! Rüfüs Du Sol is listed with the second-biggest font size on the Coachella poster, so you know your audience knows more about them than you do… We know the format is frothing over the 1/31 arrival of new music from Cage the Elephant, but there are other songs that deserve your attention first, like “Ghost” by Badflower, who are grateful to be nominated for an iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist; new this week are WIVG and KNRQ… SHAED’s “Trampoline,” out via Photo Finish/Caroline, is an unmitigated smash, and I’m deeply in love with The Strumbellas’ “Salvation” (Glassnote)… See you at ALTerEgo next week? I’ll have the new AJR single to play you (Dustin) when we see each other… SONG TO HEAR: The Raconteurs’ “Now That You’re Gone.”