Gretchen Wilson, "Homewrecker"

[Marv]

The only reason that I mentioned her as being a 'mortal lock' to wind up as the #1 female vocalist of the year in the year-end issues of R&R & BB is because
  'Homewrecker' appears to be headed for at least the top 20, and her first three singles are still garnering substantial recurrent airplay, something no other female vocalist can claim.

The 'marketing' argument is part of the pciture as well; the primary reason that her CD didn't debut @ #1 (although it only missed by some 2,000 copies, if memory serves) is because of the unprecedented manner in which 'Redneck Woman' exploded at radio.

One of the higher-ups at her label was quoted in R&R as saying that 'ideally you'd like to drop the CD at retail 12-14 weeks AFTER the first single hits radio'.

But because 'RW' absolutely streaked up the charts (it needed only SEVEN weeks to get on 100% of R&Rs reporters, which is flat-out unheard of for a debut single!!!!), and needed only FOUR weeks to hit the top 10 at many major Country stations, including KZLA), the release date was moved up TWICE to meet skyrocketing demand.

But you also must keep in mind that LOTS of folks will not buy a CD until they've heard the second or even third singles from it, and that has certainly been the case with her CD. None of her first four singles sounds even remotely like any of the others, and all were quite different in both subject matter and tempo.

The word-of-mouth on her singles and CD have obviously been spectacular; it's merely been up to her label to promote her CD and career, and score some high profile concert and TV appearances, which she's been doing virtually non-stop.

The marketing has been great, but the music and her appeal to women AND men are equally important reasons for why she's exploded so overwhelmingly.

[musicfan_84]

Couldn't have said that better myself.

[Deleted]

Steelo said:

At least Gretchen's songs and album isn't as cheesy as what Shania writes.

Have you even heard the song "Redneck Woman"?

Clearly you haven't.

[Deleted]

I won't quote Marv's whole reply, but I just have to say the following in response:

Marv I think there's one big connection that you're clearly missing.

You mention 'marketing' and airplay in two separate parts. You act as though they have NO connection to each other.

That's clearly not the case, especially in today's radio climate.

Assuring airplay, and/or a high position on the charts, is one of the major parts of MARKETING these days - especially to give NEW artists a 'push.'

That is a main feature of the business.

I assure you that Gretchen streaking up to the top of the charts with her debut single was NOT mainly done by demand from fans. Clearly it was a MARKETING strategy.

Sony has spent a lot of money making Gretchen a star.

They have also sent her everywhere[/U] to push her album.

From talk shows like Jay Leno to the World Series baseball game, the Radio Music Awards, the "Billboard" Awards, the CMAs, the AMAs, the Grammys, the Super Bowl, "60 Minutes" specials on CBS/CMT, a bunch of CMT specials, and more[/I]...

She's even appeared briefly on the Ashlee Simpson show for gosh sakes.

With all of that, her debut album is just at 3.2 million in Sales, which includes sales from the 2nd version of her debut album.

All of that 'push' for her Singles, Appearances, and multiple re-releases of her album requires money to make it all happen.

Only time will tell if Gretchen will stick around.

Right now, they are trying to get everything[/U] they can out of her debut album.

They are about to release a third version of her debut album.

She has not even been out for 1 year and they're re-re-releasing her debut album for a third time.

That is very interesting, to say the least.

[Marv]

It makes no sense to me either. Usher re-released his current CD with 4 new songs on it after selling 6,000,000 of it, for the express purpose of getting a diamond certification for selling 10,000,000 copies.

All he and his record label got was a much-deserved thrashing on the cover of Billboard.

His CD has sold another 2,000,000 copies since the reissue, but why would anybody want to insult and piss off 6,000,000 customers?

Insofar as Ms. Wilson is concerned, I don't doubt that Sony has spent TONS of money in promoting her, and saturating every available media with lots of promotional material.

Since her CD has sold over 3,000,000 copies, it obviously worked, and being the subject of TWO cover stories in Billboard within a month didn't hurt either!!!!!

Considering the start the CD made in the marketplace as a result of the release date being moved up twice due to the way in which the single exploded at radio, the folks at Sony have to be VERY happy with sales numbers like those.

[musicbuff78]

MusicSTFan said:

Have you even heard the song "Redneck Woman"?

Clearly you haven't.

Clearly I have since I own Redneck Woman

[Marv]

Thanks to the ACM nominations, her CD will undoubtedly get ANOTHER boost at retail.

'Homewrecker' soared TEN spaces @ R&R this week, which isn't too shabby either.

[prenatt1166]

more information on her next LP can be found HERE.

:)

[Free2Bme]

Steelo said:

Not the best choice though, as I think it's quite weak.

Holdin' You should have been released instead, otherwise I can't think of any other song I would have released from that album.

'Homewrecker' is not one of my choice songs from the album. I agree with you that 'Holdin' You' should be released. As well as "When it Rains" and "What Happened".

[Free2Bme]

Steelo said:

You're right, I don't, because everytime I do, it's anything but vids.

I'm with you on this one. Anytime I flip the channel over to CMT they're playing anything but music videos. Or, if they paly a video it's the same few video repeats over and over again.

[Free2Bme]

Ahhh, but, Tammy Wynette must be looking down from heaven smiling.

Zazie said:

The lyrics would have to improve to earn the description of "cheesy." It's true country to sing about how you're attracted to strangers but you can't act on it, not even to the extent of one dance, because you're afraid your man will leave you? Loretta Lynn must giggle every time she hears that.

[WhySoSerious?]

All posts not related to Gretchen Wilson or "Homewrecker" will be deleted. This thread WILL NOT become a Shania Twain debate.

[Marv]

There are at least a half-dozen songs in the top 10 that have been on the charts for at least TWENTY weeks, so Ms. Wilson appears to have a strong shot of hitting the top 10 again, even if it doesn't happen for another 6-8 weeks.

[Free2Bme]

OK.. fair enough.
I'll make sure to include GW and/or Homewrecker in my future responses on this thread.

TCorey said:

All posts not related to Gretchen Wilson or "Homewrecker" will be deleted. This thread WILL NOT become a Shania Twain debate.

[resistol]

Not as good as her other singles IMO.

[Lovincountry]

resistol said:

Not as good as her other singles IMO.

I totally agree. I really liked her singles before this one.
When I first heard it on the radio, I wondered why radio was playing this song at all....then I heard it was by Ms. Wilson....that explained all! I admire her and really enjoyed Redneck Woman, but, this one is not up-to-par.

[dcowboy77]

Mediabase chart:
LW TW Artist Title
2 1 GRETCHEN WILSON Homewrecker

Congratulations ! another #1 for Gretchen.

[austin]

This one is actually my favorite by Gretchen. Glad it is her second #1. :) .

[drock89]

Great song, great album.

Why this song made #1 (R&R) and "When I Think About Cheating" missed #1 on both magazines is beyond me. That is definetly a more superior track.

Makes you think--what will Sony do next? One more single from "Here For the Party" or hold off and release the lead from "All Jacked Up" next month?

[automyskin89]

what have her peaks been for all her singles?

[musicfan_84]

Well... I would think that since they've been getting press about the new release that it would be weird to do one more single from the debut. However, Sony has said the release date will be sometime in September. If that's the case, the release of the lead single should be in July sometime, no doubt that it will rise quickly. So, if that's the case, who knows what they'll do? They may hold off for the lead until July (some artists that would hurt, but Gretchen can more than get away with it) or they may release one more single from the debut. I can see this happening: releasing the lead from All Jacked Up very soon, having it rise quickly and then Sony pushing up the release date of the album. Who knows though?

[drock89]

They won't want to push this album up too..Here for The Party was and it cost the album the #1 debut.

Nick... Redneck Woman (#1 BB, RR), When I Think About Cheating (#3 BB, ???), Here For the Party (#4 BB, ???), Homewrecker (#1 RR, ???)

Those are all guesses, but they are close.

[dcowboy77]

Billboard peaks:

redneck woman #1
here for the party #3
when i think about cheatin' #4

[automyskin89]

I'm shocked, they all deserved #1 IMO!

[Zazie]

Gretchen's going to peak at #2 Billboard with Homewrecker, so she'll post #1, 2, 3, and 4 Billboard peaks with her first 4 radio releases. I'm sure she'd rather have had 4 #1's, like Clint Black and Brooks and Dunn did, but she's had a terrific run. I can't remember anybody having 1,2,3, and 4 peaks with their first 4 officially-released songs.

[Marv]

I know that Clint's first two singles wound up #1 and #2 for the year in 1989, and nobody's done that since.

I have no idea who hold the record for the most #1s at the start of a career.

[Marv]

Actually, 'WITAC' did hit #1 in spins @ Mediabse for one week, but peaked @ #2 in R&R, due to their super-convulted chart methodology system.

[JimColyer]

I am a Nashville songwriter. I am pitching Hard Earned Love to Gretchen. Listen jimcolyer.com/music/?page=2