Tim McGraw - "If You're Reading This"

[WamuFive]

When's the last time a single artist had the 2nd and 3rd highest gaining song during the same chart week? Pretty neat what's happening right now.

Any ways, here's my suggesion...

Ditch "I Need You" For Now. I don't think we've reached the point of no return yet, it's just cracking the 15 million mark (on the Mediabase chart). Release the studio version of "If You're Reading This" to radio ASAP and make it available via i-tunes charity single.

Then, release other singles from Let It Go. For the NEXT album, they need to do "I Need You" right, they need to record an accoustic version and release that to radio. It will be different enough (and better than the original if you ask me) to be successful on the second go round I think.

That would be my suggesion, but what do I know, I'm just a peon listener/consumer.

[rowdawg21]

wamufan said:

When's the last time a single artist had the 2nd and 3rd highest gaining song during the same chart week? Pretty neat what's happening right now.

Any ways, here's my suggesion...

Ditch "I Need You" For Now. I don't think we've reached the point of no return yet, it's just cracking the 15 million mark (on the Mediabase chart). Release the studio version of "If You're Reading This" to radio ASAP and make it available via i-tunes charity single.

Then, release other singles from Let It Go. For the NEXT album, they need to do "I Need You" right, they need to record an accoustic version and release that to radio. It will be different enough (and better than the original if you ask me) to be successful on the second go round I think.

That would be my suggesion, but what do I know, I'm just a peon listener/consumer.

I don't think there's any chance of "I Need You" being recorded differently and re-released. Radio isn't just going to "ditch" it right now; their listeners want to hear it. It's also poised to hit the top 10 in another 3 weeks or so regardless of how "If You're Reading This" performs.

[WamuFive]

Yeah, I know. That's just what I would do. It does seem that "If You're Reading This" has taken some of the wind from "I Need You"'s sails. IYRT actually gained more audience last week than I Need You. I just hope IYRT doesn't sabotage INY's chart run. Some stations may prefer to play IYRT over INY and diminish INY's chart potential.

Reading the article that ShaniaGotchaGood posted, it's hard to not want to see If You're Reading This released as an official single. But hey, as long as I Need You can continue to be successful, I'm all for it. I think a single should be supported whole-heartedly or not at all. As long as whatever single is out there is being supported by the label and its what the majority of the fans want, then it's fine by me I suppose.

[S4C]

I really, honestly think radio couldn't give a dang what song it is. No matter how [oddly] good his songs are getting, radio will play it no matter what... That comes out wrong, but I know what I'm trying to say.

And..... I think they couldn't give a dang if Tim had two singles out... I don't think one would hurt the other until like one is top 10.. heh

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Could "If You're Reading This" be this year's "Life Is a Highway"?

[Uncle Lumpy]

tenpoundhammer said:

Could "If You're Reading This" be this year's "Life Is a Highway"?

If Curb would play there cards right, it could be this years Live Like You Were Dying ....

[msm444]

...or this could happen (from today's Country Aircheck)

For many of our radio readers, the legality of playing the televised version of Tim McGraw's ACM show stopper "If You're Reading This" is a big concern, especially in light of CBS/Viacom's aggressive anti-YouTube stance. As we reported yesterday and has been reiterated by a statement from Curb today, there is no "clean" copy of the song. A Music City attorney contacted by Country Aircheck opines CBS and the ACM would have to "join together to legally stop YouTube or radio" from playing the telecast version. He added it would be a huge hassle and probably not worth the trouble. But don't take our word for it. Please consult your corporate attorney for guidance.

[S4C]

This is what comes from songs without studio recordings... sung LIVE AT THE ACMs.... BY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARTISTS IN COUNTRY.... Heh, I find this a little funny.

[Marv]

Gregg Swedberg, who's the PD of longtime country powerhouse K-102 (KEEY Minneapolis) as well as VP/GM for Clear Channel's Upper Midwest Division, SWORE to Lon Helton that he HAD heard a 'clean' (or recorded) version of 'I Need You' DID exist from one of the big wheels at Tim's label.

Leave it to that pompous lawyer to go overboard and hyperventilate over this.

There's no way that 'I Need You' is going to be pulled back a la 'Rock You Baby' by Tim's label; it's the second hottest single on the radio right now (behind Keith Urban), and could conceivably wind up as one of the FIVE biggest singles of Tim's career, if not reach the record-shattering heights of 'Live Like You Were Dying'.

If a station SHOULD choose to push 'If You're Reading This' as opposed to 'I Need You' (as KZLA did in playing the heck out of 'Tiny Dancer' while 'She's My Kind Of Rain' was enroute to a non-bulleted two-week stay at #1 @ R&R--it peaked at #2 at BB), then that's THEIR prerogative.

But radio essentially dictated 'I Need You' as the next single, almost certainly as they did with 'Back When' as the follow-up to 'Live Like You Were Dying', so the label honchos would have to have their heads examined at once if they pulled the plug on 'I Need You'.

[rowdawg21]

marv said:

Gregg Swedberg, who's the PD of longtime country powerhouse K-102 (KEEY Minneapolis) as well as VP/GM for Clear Channel's Upper Midwest Division, SWORE to Lon Helton that he HAD heard a 'clean' (or recorded) version of 'I Need You' DID exist from one of the big wheels at Tim's label.

I think you meant to say "If You're Reading This" instead of "I Need You" here?

Also, this is from Wednesday's edition of Country Aircheck:

Literacy Test: In Monday night's Country Aircheck Music Edition, KEEY/Minneapolis PD Gregg Swedberg said he had heard a "clean" version existed of "If You're Reading This," the song Tim McGraw sang on last week's ACM awards show. RPM Management's Scott Siman contacted us to set the record straight. "There is no clean version," he says. "Tim and the Warren Brothers wrote the song about three weeks ago. Needless to say, we are overwhelmed with the response from fans and industry."

[Marv]

Rowdawg--I goofed again---thanks for catching that error.

[skipper]

Tim actually has three singles in the top 40 of the country chart if you count his contribution to the rapidly rising "Find Out Who Your Friends Are." That's pretty impressive, and the quality of that song only reinforces the pleasant problem of having THREE excellent singles involving Mr. McGraw out at the same time. I had this epiphany as I listened to the Mcgraw, Chesney version on my local station. I like the Lawrence solo version better though, obviously.

[sbp17]

Cool, this song got a big Memorial Day surge.

I Need You has slowed down considerably. I'm sure this song and Faith's new one are impacting it.

[rowdawg21]

I think it's ridiculous that Curb can't get a studio version of this out. It will most likely be in the top 25 next week, and I'm sure Tim would have no problem taking some time out of his schedule to record it. I bet Curb is hoping the song will start dropping now that Memorial Day has come and gone.

[WamuFive]

This does not appear to be a good situation right now. For all we know, Tim may be scheduled to record a studio version in the coming weeks. He begins his tour in 2 weeks I think.

But right now, what was once the hottest (or second hottest) song on the chart has been reduced to a crawl. His album sales are quickly declining and the fact that a clipped audio is being played against the label's wishes are doing nothing to help the situation. Curb needs to face the reality. I think the next week, now that Memorial Day has passed, will be a telling week. But if this song doesn't cool off soon and INY restore airplay, then Curb needs to acknowledge what the fans want for a change and do the smart thing.

I will wait two weeks before I pass final judgement, but I don't like what I see right now.

[rowdawg21]

wamufan said:

This does not appear to be a good situation right now. For all we know, Tim may be scheduled to record a studio version in the coming weeks. He begins his tour in 2 weeks I think.

But right now, what was once the hottest (or second hottest) song on the chart has been reduced to a crawl. His album sales are quickly declining and the fact that a clipped audio is being played against the label's wishes are doing nothing to help the situation. Curb needs to face the reality. I think the next week, now that Memorial Day has passed, will be a telling week. But if this song doesn't cool off soon and INY restore airplay, then Curb needs to acknowledge what the fans want for a change and do the smart thing.

I will wait two weeks before I pass final judgement, but I don't like what I see right now.

I don't think the slow down of "I Need You" can be attributed to "If You're Reading This" just yet. I think "I Need You" will continue to post strong gains and make the top 5 at the very least regardless of what this song does. I'm sure "I Need You" took a hit yesterday since it was Memorial Day, but I expect it to recover.

As for the album sales, I don't think this song had any effect on them. Most casual Tim fans who don't yet own the album probably aren't even aware that this song is not on it. There really isn't an album in the country genre (outside of the ones by Rascal Flatts and Carrie) that has performed extremely well. I think his album is selling decently considering the state of album sales.

[Marv]

Swedberg also told Helton in that issue of Country Aircheck that he wishes that 'Tim would get over his STUPID feud with his record label.'

Why the heck are they STILL feuding about NOW??????

[WamuFive]

The only fued I know of was when Curb released his Greatest Hits instead of Set This Circus Down. I haven't heard of any recent fueds.

Personally, I would have some fueds over single choices, but that's just me.

[Deleted]

I stopped watching the ACM's with one-hour left and haven't heard this song on any stations yet.

Not sure I want to, either. They need to move ACM's back to April and the performers need to sing songs that are already on an album.

[WamuFive]

crazy4music said:

They need to move ACM's back to April and the performers need to sing songs that are already on an album.

Many people would argue that this song is better than anything he's got on his current album (I don't know if I'm one of them yet). Also, many stars debut songs from upcoming albums--I don't know anyone who was disappointed with Tim's performance of Live Like You Were Dying 3 months before the album was released.

This was a pretty special song for many people. I would take a listen and then see what you think. When I heard that he sang a completely new song, I was diappointed until I saw the performance; then I was amazed.

[rowdawg21]

I'll admit I was against Tim performing a song not on his album, but that was before I heard the song. After I heard him perform "If You're Reading This," I had no problems with the song selection.

[Marv]

Same here; the ACM folks and their colleagues at the CMAs would NEVER impliment a rule stating that no artist could perform a song unless it was on an existing CD.

As one of the VERY biggest Tim McGraw fans on this board, I'm NOT going to blow a gasket if a song as astonishing as 'If You Needed This' is only available via an iTunes download or whatever.

I would not want to get decapitated on the cover of Billboard and/or cussed out with language that would make Al Pacino blush like crazy if I had the audacity to incur the wrath of my ultra-loyal fans by re-issuing a CD with a new track or two and having the nerve to ROYALLY insult my fan base by making them cough up ANOTHER $12.00 (give or take a buck or two to buy a 'new' CD simply because it added a new song or two.

I'll just take solace in the fact that his current CD is LOADED with future hit singles, and that if I do have to wait until the summer or fall of 2008 for 'IYRT' to be included on his next CD, then that's show biz.

For identical reasons, Blair Garner would NEVER impliment such a rule as well on his top-notch 'After Midnite' show; otherwise he would never have had the privilege of world-premiering at least two #1 singles by King George, Tim's mesmerizing 'Live Like You Were Dying' CD, Brad Paisley's outstanding single 'Alcohol', and too many other smashes and masterpieces to count, including such exceptional should-have-been a top ten smash single tune, such as Jo Dee Messina's mesmerizing 'It Gets Better'.

Since Tim has performed THREE standout tunes that were NEVER released as singles ('That's Why God Made Mexico' on 'The Tonight Show', 'Angel Boy' on Fox's New Years Eve Show a few years ago, and 'Things Change', I'm kinda used to being surprised by him!!!!!

[drock89]

Angel Boy was a single, though.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Angel Boy wasn't a single... was it?

[drock89]

tenpoundhammer said:

Angel Boy wasn't a single... was it?

There was a video shot for it. It's a weird video, too.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

^That doesn't mean it was a single.

[drock89]

tenpoundhammer said:

^That doesn't mean it was a single.

Ok, well CMT played a video for it.

[GiggaWho]

I think the easiest solution is for them to add a studio version to the digital version of the album. That way new album purchasers would get it and people who wanted to download it separately could get it. They could also do something like what they did when Shakira re-released her album and people who already had the album were able to download the new tracks off her website for free (at least I think that's what they did).

[musicfan_84]

shaniagotchagood said:

Angel Boy was a single, though.

Angel Boy was not a single, but there was a video.

[WamuFive]

^ Correct. "Angel Boy" was on the Set This Circus Down cd and there were only 4 singles released; Angel Boy was NOT one of them. Tim had a video for it, but videos are not always radio singles.