2.10.12 US Radio Promo info, In:Demand Interview

Just catching up so sorry for the late reply --

I do not think it matter whether the first single was an upbeat single or a mid-tempo ballad. I have not heard any more of this album than anyone else has. But the industry folks who have heard the music and the reviewers who previewed the album, have consistently said that it is great, that BTIKM is nothing like the rest of the album, and that Trespassing and/or Cuckoo are hits. And Trespassing or Cuckoo appear to be the next singles.

I do not expect any Adam Lambert track will race up the charts -- that is why I do not want RCA to wait until March or after the album is released to put out another single.

I love FYE -- and I have spent a lot of time thinking about why it did not do better on US Radio -- but I would not classify it as a flop, just not a hit in the US.

It makes little sense for FYE to be first single to launch an openly gay artist in the US. It was by a man, a gay man, and about S&M dominance. It was written for a woman (rumor is Britney) and not used. So it was given to Adam. A woman could release this song because we have a double standard in US Pop music. I do not think any man could have had a hit with this track but a new gay artist -- that was a huge 2. stretch.

Setting aside the subject matter of FYE -- it had two other problems:

1. They produced it with a vintage beat track (circa 1970's) that is a shuffle beat -- common in old glam rock but probably never heard by pop radio listeners.

2. The track was already replace by WWFM on 11/18/09 but the AMA performance pretty much sealed the deal on this track.

Finally, if you look at the top 10 pop songs over time, tempo does not matter that much. There are successful and unsuccessful track in all different tempos. But they are usually really good pop songs with a hook. And the hit songs usually have current production styles.

Finally -- the strange coincidence of Adam's two lead singles is just odd:

- FYE - Writer(s) Claude Kelly, Dr. Luke Producer Dr. Luke
Music video: Ray Kay.

- BTIKM - Writer(s) Claude Kelly, Henry Walter, Joshua Coleman, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke) Producer Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Ammo Music video: Ray Kay.

Maybe for Adam #3 they should have a different team do the lead single?

Regarding the comparison to other mid-tempo hits -- why one song is a hit and another is not is very complex. But the vast majority of singles of all tempos, by many famous major label artists are not hits. The hits are exceptions.

My conclusion is that for whatever reason, the song is struggling. I believe PDs/DJs want Adam to be successful and are willing to play his music. I know there is nothing wrong with the vocal performance or the live performances. RCA is really working hard to promote the track. So that leaves the song and/or the production. IMHO the RCA execs picked the wrong track for the lead single.

I tried it, too.

You can listen and download from the Soundcloud:


2012-02-10 Mix 104.1 Boston ADAM LAMBERT Interview with Grammy Talk
Soundcloud Uploaded by GaleChester
3:37 min
soundcloud.com/galechester/mix-104-1-boston-adam-lambert



More at bottom of this page and the next:

atop.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tres&thread=698&page=3

The FYE Music Video was filmed on 11/15/09 -- so it was planned in October before the decision to release WWFM. (WWFM was announced as the second single on 11/18/09). Right after the video was shot but before it was released. Stations already had WWFM before the video was shot so plan was in motion to go to the second single.

RCA got a lot of pressure from radio to release WWFM -- particularly Z100 and other Clear Channel stations.

The most common explanations are:

1. RCA planned to release WWFM as the second single and moved it forward when it was clear FYE was not going to get the needed airplay.

OR

2. The official story: They led with FYE so Adam would have an upbeat song to perform at the AMAs and always planned to release WWFM as the lead single.

The latter explanation makes no sense to me -- why have the high-profile AMA performance of a song you plan to bail on? And why release a music video for a single that it not the real single.

IMO they saw the situation and switched singles.

It is hard to remember that in 2009 Adam was walking down a path that no one had succeeded on before -- launching a publicly gay artist. Not like Ricky Marin who came out years later.

Back to BTIKM vs. Trespassing and Cuckcoo --- I honestly think RCA wanted to learn from the FYE era and they found a song that was in line with WWFM for Adam to record as his lead single.

NOTE -- I have deleted all of the posts about Kris Allen that had nothing to do with Adam. And I deleted the responses that quoted those comments.

Many of our members were not involved in AI8 and most who were don't want to rehash it yet again. It was 3 years ago and is way over.

I also deleted all of the comments about MJsBigBlog's policies. The vast majority of people here do not even know who MJ is or care about what happens on that site.

Like Adam is doing -- let's maintain focus on what is important --- Adam Lambert.
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