iHeartRadio On The Verge artists

[Kurt]

Here's a (hopefully) comprehensive list of all artists featured on iHeartRadio's On The Verge program, as well as its preceding Artist of the Month program (which I'm not sure had the same 150-spins requirement that OTV had). Some dates are approximate and I may have errors in some format placement - let me know if you spot any.

POP
January 13, 2014: Cash Cash - "Take Me Home" (feat. Bebe Rexha)
February 5, 2014: Aloe Blacc - "The Man"
May 15, 2014: Sam Smith - "Stay With Me"
June 23, 2014: Clean Bandit - "Rather Be" (feat. Jess Glynne)
August 12, 2014: Tove Lo - "Habits (Stay High)"
April 3, 2014: Katy Tiz - "The Big Bang"
September 22, 2014: Nick Jonas - "Jealous"
December 15, 2014: Prince Royce - "Stuck On A Feeling" (feat. Snoop Dogg)
February 9, 2015: Tori Kelly - "Nobody Love"
March 30, 2015: Nate Ruess - "Nothing Without Love"
August 10, 2015: Hailee Steinfeld - "Love Myself"
September 28, 2015: Conrad Sewell - "Hold Me Up"
February 2016: ZAYN - "PILLOWTALK"
January 2017: Julia Michaels - "Issues"

HAC
February 7, 2014: New Politics - "Tonight You're Perfect"
April 14, 2014: Rixton - "Me And My Broken Heart"
June 26, 2014: Echosmith - "Cool Kids"
August 19, 2014: G.R.L. - "Ugly Heart"
October 22, 2014: Ella Henderson - "Ghost"
January 29, 2015: Sheppard - "Geronimo"
March 30, 2015: Rachel Platten - "Fight Song"
July 2, 2015: Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - "Cecilia And The Satellite"
August 24, 2015: Jamie Lawson - "Wasn't Expecting That"
January 2016: Lukas Graham - "7 Years"
February 2016: ZAYN - "PILLOWTALK"
August 2016: Wrabel - "11 Blocks"

RHYTHMIC
April 3, 2014: Iggy Azalea - "Fancy" (feat. Charli XCX)
July 3, 2014: Steve Aoki - "Delirious (Boneless)" (feat. Kid Ink)
August 11, 2014: Jasmine V - "That's Me Right There" (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
November 17, 2014: Hoodie Allen - "All About It" (feat. Ed Sheeran)
January 19, 2015: Natalie La Rose - "Somebody" (feat. Jeremih)
March 16, 2015: Fifth Harmony - "Worth It" (feat. Kid Ink)
May 11, 2015: Pia Mia - "Do It Again" (feat. Chris Brown & Tyga)
August 17, 2015: Rita Ora - "Body On Me" (feat. Chris Brown)
December 7, 2015: Majid Jordan - "Something About You"
June? 2016: Kent Jones - "Don't Mind"
January 2017: Bibi Bourelly - "Ballin'"
January 2017: Russ - "Losin' Control"

URBAN
February 18, 2014: Jhené Aiko - "The Worst"
April 10, 2014: Mila J - "Smoke, Drink, Break-Up"
June 5, 2014: Anthony Lewis - "Candy Rain" (feat. Billy Bang)
June 30, 2014: Tinashe - "2 On" (feat. ScHoolboy Q)
August 11, 2014: Kirko Bangz - "Rich" (feat. August Alsina)
November 3, 2014: PARTYNEXTDOOR - "Recognize" (feat. Drake)
December 15, 2014: Teyana Taylor - "Maybe" (feat. Yo Gotti & Pusha T)
January 26, 2015: Justine Skye - "Collide" (feat. Tyga)
March 9, 2015: Sevyn Streeter - "Don't Kill The Fun" (feat. Chris Brown)
May 11, 2015: Tink - "Million"
October 7, 2015: Empire Cast f/Yazz & Timbaland - "Bout 2 Blow"
November 16, 2015: Jacquees - "Like Baby"
February 15, 2016: Ro James - "Permission"
June? 2016: Kayla Brianna f/Rich Homie Quan - "Do You Remember"
August? 2016: Joey Bada$$ - "Devastated"
March 13, 2017: Lecrae f/Ty Dolla $ign - "Blessings"

ALTERNATIVE/ACTIVE
February 18, 2014: KONGOS - "Come With Me Now"
April 3, 2014: Bleachers - "I Wanna Get Better"
April 21, 2014: Royal Blood - "Out Of The Black"
June 5, 2014: Vance Joy - "Riptide"
July 7, 2014: Milky Chance - "Stolen Dance"
August 25, 2014: Death From Above 1979 - "Trainwreck 1979"
October 20, 2014: BANKS - "Beggin' For Thread"
February 10, 2015: Joywave - "Somebody New"
February 16, 2015: The Temperance Movement - "Take It Back"
April 27, 2015: X Ambassadors - "Renegades"
June 15, 2015: The Struts - "Could Have Been Me"
August 24, 2015: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - "S.O.B"
November 2, 2015: Nothing But Thieves - "Trip Switch"
January/February 2016: The Strumbellas - "Spirits"
June? 2016: Bishop Briggs - "River"
August? 2016: Judah and the Lion - "Take It All Back"
January 2017: Rag'n'Bone Man - "Human"
April 2017: Sir Sly - "High"

COUNTRY
February 18, 2014: Craig Campbell - "Keep Them Kisses Comin'"
April 14, 2014: Dustin Lynch - "Where It's At"
June 16, 2014: Sam Hunt - "Leave The Night On"
August 11, 2014: Chase Bryant - "Take It On Back"
October 20, 2014: RaeLynn - "God Made Girls"
January 12, 2015: A Thousand Horses - "Smoke"
March 9, 2015: Michael Ray - "Kiss You In The Morning"
May 4, 2015: Chris Janson - "Buy Me A Boat"
July 6, 2015: Cam - "Burning House"
October 15, 2015: Granger Smith - "Backroad Song"
January 14, 2016: Maren Morris - "My Church"
June? 2016: Tucker Beathard - "Rock On"
August 2016: Lauren Alaina - "Road Less Traveled"

ARTIST OF THE MONTH
January 14, 2014: Arcade Fire - "Afterlife" [Alt]
January 7, 2014: AJR - "I'm Ready" [Pop]
December 16, 2013: Jake Owen - "Days Of Gold" [Country]
December 13, 2013: Broken Bells - "Holding On For Life" [Alt]
December 13, 2013: A Great Big World - "Say Something" (feat. Christina Aguilera) [Pop]
December 13, 2013: Avenged Sevenfold - "Shepherd Of Fire" [Active]
December 13, 2013: Sebastian Mikael - "Last Night" (feat. Wale) [Rhythmic?]
November 4, 2013: Arcade Fire - "Reflektor" [Alt]
November 4, 2013: TiDUS - "Without A Care" [Urban?]
November 4, 2013: Bastille - "Pompeii" [Pop]
November 4, 2013: Dan + Shay - "19 You + Me" [Country]
September 10, 2013: Iggy Azalea - "Change Your Life" [Pop]
September 6, 2013: The Henningsens - "I Miss You" [Country]
September 6, 2013: Bastille - "Pompeii" [Alt]
September 6, 2013: Asking Alexandria - "The Death Of Me" [Active]

[Linnethia Monique]

Nate Ruess being selected for this still baffles me.

[trustypepper]

I don't mind the program but I think artists who have had hits before shouldn't even be considered for it. Craig Campbell, Dustin Lynch, Sevyn Streeter, Kirko Bangz, etc.

[Linnethia Monique]

Apr 27, 2015 14:39:14 GMT -5 trustypepper said:

I don't mind the program but I think artists who have had hits before shouldn't even be considered for it. Craig Campbell, Dustin Lynch, Sevyn Streeter, Kirko Bangz, etc.

I agree. Sevyn Streeter already has a #1 on Urban Radio, with Chris Brown no less, so it makes no sense. Same thing with Kirko Bangz since he has a Platinum single and I believe a #1 Rhythmic and Urban hit under his belt.

[peacebone]

Apr 27, 2015 14:16:13 GMT -5 Kurt said:

April 3, 2014: Katy Tiz - "The Big Bang"

I still laugh at thinking how badly that song flopped despite how much Clear Channel attempted to force it. Must have been humiliating for them. Awful song too, it deserved to flop IMO.

Also, DFA1979 was an OTV artist? Interesting.

[kanimal]

May 1, 2015 17:37:35 GMT -5 peacebone said:

Apr 27, 2015 14:16:13 GMT -5 Kurt said:

April 3, 2014: Katy Tiz - "The Big Bang"

I still laugh at thinking how badly that song flopped despite how much Clear Channel attempted to force it. Must have been humiliating for them. Awful song too, it deserved to flop IMO.

Also, DFA1979 was an OTV artist? Interesting.

The Big Bang looked bad at the time.  We were all caught off guard (and perhaps offended) by the idea of a song getting "guaranteed airplay" and saw other songs ride the push to much bigger peaks.

But we've since seen several OTV songs (across all formats) flame out nearly as spectacularly.  Barring a sudden resurgence (which Fifth Harmony admittedly shows us is possible), Nate Ruess might peak LOWER than Katy Tiz did with pop OTV, and he's a far more recognizable and established name with a far more recognizable voice who received considerably more exposure for his song.

And though they might have peaked slightly higher, I'm not singing the praise of how the Tori Kelly and Prince Royce songs performed either.  And both are considerably bigger stars with considerably more support/buzz than Katy Tiz.

[peacebone]

May 4, 2015 11:05:59 GMT -5 kanimal said:

May 1, 2015 17:37:35 GMT -5 peacebone said:

I still laugh at thinking how badly that song flopped despite how much Clear Channel attempted to force it. Must have been humiliating for them. Awful song too, it deserved to flop IMO.

Also, DFA1979 was an OTV artist? Interesting.

The Big Bang looked bad at the time.  We were all caught off guard (and perhaps offended) by the idea of a song getting "guaranteed airplay" and saw other songs ride the push to much bigger peaks.

But we've since seen several OTV songs (across all formats) flame out nearly as spectacularly.  Barring a sudden resurgence (which Fifth Harmony admittedly shows us is possible), Nate Ruess might peak LOWER than Katy Tiz did with pop OTV, and he's a far more recognizable and established name with a far more recognizable voice who received considerably more exposure for his song.

And though they might have peaked slightly higher, I'm not singing the praise of how the Tori Kelly and Prince Royce songs performed either.  And both are considerably bigger stars with considerably more support/buzz than Katy Tiz.

Wow, I've actually heard that Nate Ruess song on stations that weren't Clear Channel, unlike The Big Bang which ONLY played on Clear Channel stations. Didn't know it was that bad of a flop, especially considering Nate has had three big hits in the past few years (We Are Young, Some Nights, and Just Give Me a Reason) and a moderate hit (Carry On), and according to Wikipedia, Nothing Without Love (#77) peaked higher on the Hot 100 than The Big Bang (#100). I don't think the Tori Kelly and Prince Royce songs were that big of a hit either, but at least I heard those outside of Clear Channel too (although in Prince Royce's case it might have had to do more with his bachata roots, since I live in Miami, and how all of his singles including that song were played to death on the local Spanish stations).

And looking at that list again, I think I have another reason for me to hate Clear Channel, if they're the ones responsible for making Echosmith popular. I despise that band.

[kanimal]

May 4, 2015 14:50:45 GMT -5 peacebone said:

May 4, 2015 11:05:59 GMT -5 kanimal said:

Wow, I've actually heard that Nate Ruess song on stations that weren't Clear Channel, unlike The Big Bang which ONLY played on Clear Channel stations. Didn't know it was that bad of a flop, especially considering Nate has had three big hits in the past few years (We Are Young, Some Nights, and Just Give Me a Reason) and a moderate hit (Carry On), and according to Wikipedia, Nothing Without Love (#77) peaked higher on the Hot 100 than The Big Bang (#100). I don't think the Tori Kelly and Prince Royce songs were that big of a hit either, but at least I heard those outside of Clear Channel too (although in Prince Royce's case it might have had to do more with his bachata roots, since I live in Miami, and how all of his singles including that song were played to death on the local Spanish stations).

And looking at that list again, I think I have another reason for me to hate Clear Channel, if they're the ones responsible for making Echosmith popular. I despise that band.

I haven't been tracking the station plays for Nothing Without Love (and definitely didn't with The Big Bang), but the fact that The Big Bang peaked higher (and presumably had more weekly spins) means it was getting more airplay than is guaranteed by the program.  So if it truly was just an iHeartMedia song, then those stations still liked it more than they currently do the Ruess song.

Billboard Hot 100 isn't really apples-to-apples in this case, because discounts can play a huge role in driving sales (sales for Nothing Without Love surged in response to a $0.69 sale).  And I do seem to recall The Big Bang starting to gain some sales traction - interestingly enough right when it seemed to start struggling at radio.

In any event, I'm not defending Katy Tiz' song - it clearly isn't an example of a successful OTV song.  My point was just that it seemed worse in context because a lot of us, insofar as we were unfamiliar with the program, thought it unfair that a song none of us really liked was getting guaranteed airplay.  Now that we take the program for granted, it's easier to overlook a lot of similar "failures."

[Kurt]

Some #TiZFACTS that no one is probably that interested in: "The Big Bang" definitely did get a few non-Clear Channel (this was technically pre-iHeartMedia lol) adds, though I'm not sure how many: link It peaked positionally at #24 on 6/18/14 and peaked in spins the day after at 2790 (both according to Kworb). It also had pretty decent sales and callout for a while (see this page), the former aided in part by a re-release under Atlantic and a subsequent Hot Tracks feature. But regardless, similar to what kanimal said above, comparing most factors of the two songs' runs is generally apples-to-oranges, and our familiarity with the program now makes us generally less leery of its songs' runs.

[brb]

I think Nate Ruess was the biggest CHR OTV flop so far because he was known, had nation wide promo in the iHeart media awards, and also had support from additional formats, alternative (where this already got purged lol) and HAC, but was still hovering around the #140s in ITunes till it got discounted.
Oh well, I guess Jack Antonoff took all the fun from Fun when he left for Bleachers.

As for Katy Tiz, too bad they didn't choose Whistle (While You Work It.) It's a better song than The Big Bang and is also doing better than it on iTunes considering its low AI.

[kanimal]

Not sure how we all missed it, but it was announced last week that Pia Mia's "Do It Again" is the new On the Verge song at rhythmic.  Starts today (5/11).

[Kurt]

May 11, 2015 0:17:30 GMT -5 kanimal said:

Not sure how we all missed it, but it was announced last week that Pia Mia's "Do It Again" is the new On the Verge song at rhythmic.  Starts today (5/11).

Ah, I see it now - thanks! I don't get press releases, so I usually only notice when iHeartRadio's site updates; also, the Tink one that showed up last week later disappeared, so I suspect it'll begin and be announced today.

[peacebone]

The Struts' "Could Have Been Me" was announced as a new OTV song for Alt.

news.iheart.com/articles/iheartradio-on-the-verge-490150/the-struts-iheartradio-on-the-verge-13670986/

[kanimal]

Nearly a year after its release, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness' "Cecilia and the Satellite" was named an On the Verge song late last month.

news.iheart.com/articles/iheartradio-on-the-verge-490150/andrew-mcmahon-in-the-wildnerness-iheartradio-13725100/

It seems like this is for Hot AC, but the song has been there for a while as well.

[Spidey]

Jul 2, 2015 3:29:51 GMT -5 kanimal said:

Nearly a year after its release, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness' "Cecilia and the Satellite" was named an On the Verge song late last month.

news.iheart.com/articles/iheartradio-on-the-verge-490150/andrew-mcmahon-in-the-wildnerness-iheartradio-13725100/

It seems like this is for Hot AC, but the song has been there for a while as well.

Explains why I randomly started hearing that song on Hot AC stations recently.

[kanimal]

Rita Ora's "Body On Me (featuring Chris Brown)" is the new On the Verge song at rhythmic.

The announcement was made on 8/17, but I have a hard time believing OTV played no role in last week's super sizable add count + spin total.

[kanimal]

(Sorry for the double)

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' "SOB" confirmed at alternative

Jamie Lawson's "Wasn't Expecting That" confirmed - presumably at Hot AC

[wjr15]

I thought Fight Song was an OTV song for Pop too? Maybe I'm wrong haha

[kanimal]

Conrad Sewell's "Hold Me Up" is the new pop pick (looks like pop OTV is back on a regular schedule after taking the summer off).

[Kurt]

New Urban (I think) selection: Yazz from the cast of Empire.

[kanimal]

Oct 7, 2015 17:57:46 GMT -5 Kurt said:

New Urban (I think) selection: Yazz from the cast of Empire.

Indeed appears to be urban; it was last week's most-added song at the format and is rising on the airplay chart.

It looks like Post Malone's "White Iverson" is the new rhythmic On The Verge song.  After failing to launch the past three selections past the Top 15 (one didn't even get to the Top 15, and one didn't get to the Top 20), it appears iHeart is going with an already-established song this time around.

[jred]

Looks like "Hold Me Up" might be the third Pop OTV song this year to not even make it past #25.

Also, I think Bleachers should have gotten a deal for Pop last year. They could have been big.

[kanimal]

Due to the adds and airplay it had been getting over the past few weeks, there had been some speculation.

It's now officially confirmed: Granger Smith's "Backroad Song" is the new On The Verge song at country radio.

[sabre14]

Don't know exactly why iHeartMedia waited so long to officially announce it; Granger's song was supported with strong airplay from the iHeartMedia stations for weeks now and the add date was last week. We've been speculating it would be the next selection since August. I'm sure that Wheelhouse Records getting some things sorted out had to do with it. Perhaps the other genre selections were a factor in iHeartMedia waiting til now for "Backroad Song."

[Deleted]

Wasnt Kaya Stewart - Im In Love With A Boy an On The Verge/Artist song as well?

[maine]

Nov 16, 2015 19:04:28 GMT -5 @walker9 said:

Wasnt Kaya Stewart - Im In Love With A Boy an On The Verge/Artist song as well?

There was speculation, but nothing was ever announced for it. I think it was just a heavy first week push from her label. 

[kanimal]

And while In Love With A Boy did get adds from high-profile iHeart stations, much of its airplay was coming from stations owned by other networks.

Interested in the future of "On The Verge" at pop. Many kind of figured the Conrad Sewell song would struggle, but the Hailee Steinfeld one backed up its airplay with solid sales -- and had powerful backing from Republic. While it was not a particularly good song, it had a lot going for it in terms of radio promotion.

If that couldn't succeed, it will be interesting to see what still can. It's been over a year since an OTV song cracked the Top 10 at pop.

[Daryl the Beryl]

From the pop 7 Years thread

Feb 5, 2016 14:57:33 GMT -5 kanimal said:

From HDD's Vibe Raters:

"iHeart’s On the Verge for Hot AC"

#Toldja

[kanimal]

Feb 5, 2016 23:46:59 GMT -5 Daryl the Beryl said:

From the pop 7 Years thread

Feb 5, 2016 14:57:33 GMT -5 kanimal said:

From HDD's Vibe Raters:

"iHeart’s On the Verge for Hot AC"

#Toldja

Same update has Zayn's PILLOWTALK as On The Verge at pop and rhythmic and The Strumbellas' Spirits as On The Verge at alternative.

[divasummer]

Zayne didn't even need one.
Stations were going to play this for at least a month regardless of the "On The Verge" deal.

I will say I do pay a little more attention when an artist that has the deal comes on the radio.
It feels like there's a little hype behind the song.