Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 10:58:39 GMT -5
Whether a song is a "song", "single", "hit" or "album track" is just semantics.
No one here seems to have a clear consistent alternate definition of single.
With itunes in place, virtually all tracks are now available for purchase as individual songs, prior to itunes, only "singles" were available as individual songs.
Perhaps the word "single" doesn't exist anymore. (Unless someone has a consistent definition)
Songs available for purchase can chart, songs available for purchase can become hits, radio songs (also available for purchase) can generally become bigger hits. Radio songs, not available for purchase can also become hits. That much is clear. And I think we all agree on that. The rest could mean that applying physical terminology (such as "single") to the digital world may not be appropriate
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badrobot
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Post by badrobot on Sept 24, 2010 11:12:34 GMT -5
Whether a song is a "song", "single", "hit" or "album track" is just semantics. No one here seems to have a clear consistent alternate definition of single. With itunes in place, virtually all tracks are now available for purchase as individual songs, prior to itunes, only "singles" were available as individual songs. Perhaps the word "single" doesn't exist anymore. (Unless someone has a consistent definition) Songs available for purchase can chart, songs available for purchase can become hits, radio songs (also available for purchase) can generally become bigger hits. Radio songs, not available for purchase can also become hits. That much is clear. And I think we all agree on that. The rest could mean that applying physical terminology (such as "single") to the digital world may not be appropriate I think this sums it up well. It is also worth noting that (at least online), Billboard now simply calls its list the "Hot 100" without adding "Songs" or "Singles" after it -- although they do use song, track, and single as terminology on other, more specific charts.
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musicrocks
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Post by musicrocks on Sept 24, 2010 11:31:28 GMT -5
I was wondering why this thread jumped a couple pages overnight haha, shoulda expected this.
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badrobot
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Post by badrobot on Sept 24, 2010 11:36:49 GMT -5
I was wondering why this thread jumped a couple pages overnight haha, shoulda expected this. Heh. Although I gotta say much prefer this kind of discussion to the "artist vs. artist" fan wars that often dominate threads.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 11:40:39 GMT -5
I was gonna say the same thing, an actual discussion on a discussion board is refreshing. This thread though can still have hourly itunes updates of your favorite songs if that is what you prefer
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 11:42:26 GMT -5
So I'll get It started
Just The Way You are is #1 Only Girl (In The World) is now #4
now that this weeks Glee songs have started to fall off
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 12:46:09 GMT -5
Rhianna is coming to snatch that wig off of Bruno's head in a few weeks!
And Katy could never.
It is so repressed.
There, is that better?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 13:06:23 GMT -5
yay! back to normal
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Post by jj99$ - - LeLe on Sept 24, 2010 13:43:08 GMT -5
Wig Snatching central..
Anyone know when Whip my Hair is being released.
90. Radioactive - Kings of Leon.. What is wrong with you America... this song deserves to be #1
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Sept 24, 2010 14:11:40 GMT -5
2. Like a G6 (feat. Cataracs & Dev) - Far East Movement 3. Just a Dream - Nelly
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renfield75
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Post by renfield75 on Sept 24, 2010 16:02:36 GMT -5
Whether a song is a "song", "single", "hit" or "album track" is just semantics. No one here seems to have a clear consistent alternate definition of single. With itunes in place, virtually all tracks are now available for purchase as individual songs, prior to itunes, only "singles" were available as individual songs. Perhaps the word "single" doesn't exist anymore. (Unless someone has a consistent definition) Songs available for purchase can chart, songs available for purchase can become hits, radio songs (also available for purchase) can generally become bigger hits. Radio songs, not available for purchase can also become hits. That much is clear. And I think we all agree on that. The rest could mean that applying physical terminology (such as "single") to the digital world may not be appropriateI think that's it...prior to iTunes, it was an easy definition because a "single" was a physically released piece of recorded music. Vinyl, cassette, CD, whatever. In this day, all songs available for purchase are singles. Since "actively-promoted track" is awkward, we need to come up with a new word to distinguish songs like "California Gurls" from songs like "Circle The Drain." I mean most of us would refer to "Imma Be" as the fourth "single" from The E.N.D., when technically the entire album was released as a group of singles after "I Gotta Feeling." It's like "b-side." It used to mean the flip side of a single, now it just means a non-album track released to promote an album cut. As the industry has completely changed in the past 15 years, it may be time to retire some archaic words and come up with new, more accurate terms.
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Post by Adonis the DemiGod! on Sept 24, 2010 16:26:06 GMT -5
Single means song released to radio. Songs can still chart on the HOT 100. Is the chart even still called the HOT 100 singles chart or is it called HOT 100?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 16:46:52 GMT -5
Single means song released to radio. Songs can still chart on the HOT 100. Is the chart even still called the HOT 100 singles chart or is it called HOT 100? I disagree with that that would mean all the radio-only hits from the 90s were singles and Stairway to Heavan was a single as well. Ifyou find copies of those singles, let me know, I would like to buy them ;)
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WotUNeed
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Post by WotUNeed on Sept 24, 2010 17:07:21 GMT -5
Ifyou find copies of those singles, let me know, I would like to buy them ;) Copies of the "Stairway to Heaven" promo 45 are relatively easy to find. A single was pressed; a commercial single was not. Is being simply pressed on a 45 enough to consider the song a single, or does it have to be commercially released in said form too? <shrug>
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 17:33:42 GMT -5
I had kind of thought there was general agreement here that the term "single" is an outdated term applying to physical music and really doesn't translate well to the digital realm?
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SPRΞΞ
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Post by SPRΞΞ on Sept 24, 2010 17:34:06 GMT -5
Lol, all this talk is because the Glee songs blocked Rihanna and Bruno from #1. Tho i do think eventually one of the Glee songs will sell enough to debut at #1. perhaps the Britney episode?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 17:36:08 GMT -5
Can someone find an industry article (preferrably from Billboard) that defines the term single ONLY as a song actively promoted to radio without regard to commercial availability?
Thanks
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DJ General
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Post by DJ General on Sept 24, 2010 17:44:09 GMT -5
A single is something that is promoted to radio. =)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2010 17:46:21 GMT -5
A single is something that is promoted to radio. =) Gotta make sure I quote this LOL
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Post by musicissalvation on Sept 24, 2010 19:49:02 GMT -5
back on planet relevant looks like Only Girl won't be getting the number 1 spot anytime soon.
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Post by Adonis the DemiGod! on Sept 24, 2010 19:57:25 GMT -5
A single is something that is promoted to radio. =) I would say officially promoted as a single by the record company through video radio and other means.
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felipe
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Post by felipe on Sept 25, 2010 11:32:16 GMT -5
Whether a song is a "song", "single", "hit" or "album track" is just semantics. No one here seems to have a clear consistent alternate definition of single. With itunes in place, virtually all tracks are now available for purchase as individual songs, prior to itunes, only "singles" were available as individual songs. Perhaps the word "single" doesn't exist anymore. (Unless someone has a consistent definition) Songs available for purchase can chart, songs available for purchase can become hits, radio songs (also available for purchase) can generally become bigger hits. Radio songs, not available for purchase can also become hits. That much is clear. And I think we all agree on that. The rest could mean that applying physical terminology (such as "single") to the digital world may not be appropriateI think that's it...prior to iTunes, it was an easy definition because a "single" was a physically released piece of recorded music. Vinyl, cassette, CD, whatever. In this day, all songs available for purchase are singles. Since "actively-promoted track" is awkward, we need to come up with a new word to distinguish songs like "California Gurls" from songs like "Circle The Drain." I mean most of us would refer to "Imma Be" as the fourth "single" from The E.N.D., when technically the entire album was released as a group of singles after "I Gotta Feeling." It's like "b-side." It used to mean the flip side of a single, now it just means a non-album track released to promote an album cut. As the industry has completely changed in the past 15 years, it may be time to retire some archaic words and come up with new, more accurate terms. If you say Imma be was the fourth single from that album I'm pretty sure everybody would understand that, so I don't really see need for chaging the terminology. Now if you say that BEP released 14 singles from that album, now that would sound strange.
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felipe
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Post by felipe on Sept 25, 2010 11:32:52 GMT -5
I had kind of thought there was general agreement here that the term "single" is an outdated term applying to physical music and really doesn't translate well to the digital realm? Not really.
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felipe
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Post by felipe on Sept 25, 2010 11:38:05 GMT -5
Single means song released to radio. Songs can still chart on the HOT 100. Is the chart even still called the HOT 100 singles chart or is it called HOT 100? I disagree with that that would mean all the radio-only hits from the 90s were singles and Stairway to Heavan was a single as well. Ifyou find copies of those singles, let me know, I would like to buy them ;) But I do think Don't speak WAS a single. The fact it was not available for individual purchase is irrelevant. Even though there might have been a time when the term "single" reffered exclusively to physical releases, I do believe the general use dictates that "single" reffers to songs that are actively promoted to radio/clubs/etc. I'm pretty sure almost everybody recognizes "Don't speak" as a single, and reffer to it as the third single from Tragic Kingdom. They are reffering of course to the fact that it was promoted as a single, even though there was no physical release.
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HolidayGuy
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Post by HolidayGuy on Sept 25, 2010 11:40:29 GMT -5
Yeah, it's all semantics. Like I said, if a track on iTunes is available to buy listed away from any album and it says "Single," that's s single to me. :)
Maybe when Rihanna's video premieres (if it hasn't already), it will get a sales boost.
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felipe
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Post by felipe on Sept 25, 2010 11:46:41 GMT -5
Can someone find an industry article (preferrably from Billboard) that defines the term single ONLY as a song actively promoted to radio without regard to commercial availability? Thanks 2m, do you acknowledge the fact that most people use the word "single" nowadays to reffer to songs actively promoted, disregarding whether they were commercially available? Just to make sure we're on the same page.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2010 11:55:15 GMT -5
Yeah, it's all semantics. Like I said, if a track on iTunes is available to buy listed away from any album and it says "Single," that's s single to me. :) Maybe when Rihanna's video premieres (if it hasn't already), it will get a sales boost. Like the example that I posted earlier that means Taylor Swift has had only 4 singles over the course of 2 and half albums
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2010 11:56:22 GMT -5
Can someone find an industry article (preferrably from Billboard) that defines the term single ONLY as a song actively promoted to radio without regard to commercial availability? Thanks 2m, do you acknowledge the fact that most people use the word "single" nowadays to reffer to songs actively promoted, disregarding whether they were commercially available? Just to make sure we're on the same page. No I acknowleged earlier that the word "single" might not be applicable to itunes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2010 11:58:47 GMT -5
I disagree with that that would mean all the radio-only hits from the 90s were singles and Stairway to Heavan was a single as well. Ifyou find copies of those singles, let me know, I would like to buy them ;) But I do think Don't speak WAS a single. The fact it was not available for individual purchase is irrelevant. Even though there might have been a time when the term "single" reffered exclusively to physical releases, I do believe the general use dictates that "single" reffers to songs that are actively promoted to radio/clubs/etc. I'm pretty sure almost everybody recognizes "Don't speak" as a single, and reffer to it as the third single from Tragic Kingdom. They are reffering of course to the fact that it was promoted as a single, even though there was no physical release. Back in the day, that and Stairway to Heavan were referred to as album cuts or "airplay only" hits that became popular. These songs and others like them were excluded from the Billboard SINGLES chart. The fact that this site calls them something different now doesn't change that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2010 12:13:28 GMT -5
If you read through this thread there are varying definitions of the word "single"
Some here say the Glee songs are singles because they were released separately from an actual album and have the word "single" attached to its description.
Others here would say, well no they aren't "singles" because radio won't touch them.
Frequently we see albums with multiple hits. On these albums, we frequently see only 1 or 2 advance songs released to itunes, then this album will go on to produce several more hits. Itunes will likely not offer a separate single for 1.29 after the album has already come out, if the same track is already available for purchase. Does that mean hits in these cases are not singles? Are they just album tracks that happen to chart?
There are conflicting definitions circling here, which is why I was willing to acknowledge that perhaps "single", a term applied to physical music is not appropriate for digital.
I offered my old-school definition that if a song is widely available for purchase as a stand-alone track then it is a "single"
I still think that.
I think that songs promoted to radio are "radio singles"
I think the Glee songs are "singles" even though radio won't touch them.
Like I said earlier, I could acknowledge the difference between today's stand alone tracks and pre-itunes stand alone tracks being that pre-itunes stand alone tracks existed because there was an intention to market them in some fashion.
Does anyone have a confirmed industry definition of "single"?
Otherwise I would use "digital single", "radio single" or "youtube single" to differentiate.
The word "single" is too broad to tie to one narrow thing here.
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