Madonna - "Living For Love"

[seaguy27]

I will say one thing…I expected the radio resistance, however I did expect sales of the song despite radio to be somewhat stronger. Also thought the international performance would be better since they have been more supportive of her even at her age.

[Az Paynter]

Back in the top 50. Now we'll get to see how its affected from both days of AT40 play (instead of returning to the top 50 thanks to the first part of the boost).

45 50 MADONNA Living For Love 524 691 -167 1.132

[HolidayGuy]

^Az, do you know how many stations spinning AT40 contribute to the pop panel? It has more than 300 airings over the weekend, but the pop panel isn't quite that large.

[parkerricky]

Madonna continues her climb up Mediabase Dance Airplay Chart Today @ #19

[HolidayGuy]

Per the heads-up about AT40 this week, I listened to one of the stations online playing AT40/LFL this weekend.

Ryan Seacrest announced Madonna as having the Subway Fresh Buzz Song of the week, and said it was just in time for the new album, that she has the most top 40 hits (55) and most No. 1s (15) for a female, and that she charted each year from 1983-2006. And that she's about to do it again with "Living For Love."

[popbox]

Mar 7, 2015 5:11:12 GMT -5 seaguy27 said:

I will say one thing…I expected the radio resistance, however I did expect sales of the song despite radio to be somewhat stronger. Also thought the international performance would be better since they have been more supportive of her even at her age.

The international performance is really pathetic/troubling. She has been massive internationally since the COAD era. Even the likes of Give It to Me, Celebration, and Give Me All Your Lovin were huge international hits and top tens in most countries. This has only been a big hit in the likes of Sweden, Belgium, and Finland. Girl Gone Wild was bigger overall. It's an awful showing from her, especially for a lead single. And a really good lead single at that. Maybe this is the fallout from MDNA and its singles being such a lackluster effort?

[HolidayGuy]

^GMAYL was No. 1 in Canada, and had some top 10 peaks in other countries, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was huge. Well, compared to LFL, it would be, I guess.

The way team M went about releasing LFL didn't help matters- not that it would have been a top 10 hit if released right around the Grammys, but to let it sit out there and fester for nearly two months before the Grammys and radio push- probably not the best decision they made, even with the leaks in mind.

[SPRΞΞ]

It was a terrible decision. However, it would've leaked anyways when the whole thing leaked, so what can you do. But hey, we got a terrific video out of it, a #1 Dance hit, so it's not a complete failure in my book. Ghosttown tho, that song screams hit, so hopefully they go all out on that one.

[adman0468]

Mar 7, 2015 15:28:11 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

It was a terrible decision. However, it would've leaked anyways when the whole thing leaked, so what can you do. But hey, we got a terrific video out of it, a #1 Dance hit, so it's not a complete failure in my book. Ghosttown tho, that song screams hit, so hopefully they go all out on that one.

But Ghosttown has been out since December too. Aren't we going to run into a lot of the same problems?

[SPRΞΞ]

Mar 7, 2015 16:01:18 GMT -5 adman0468 said:

Mar 7, 2015 15:28:11 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

It was a terrible decision. However, it would've leaked anyways when the whole thing leaked, so what can you do. But hey, we got a terrific video out of it, a #1 Dance hit, so it's not a complete failure in my book. Ghosttown tho, that song screams hit, so hopefully they go all out on that one.

But Ghosttown has been out since December too. Aren't we going to run into a lot of the same problems?

Probably, but Ghosttown is a much better single than LFL.

[tatula69]

Every post-lead single from every album ever released has "been around" by the time it is released as a single.

I miss the 80's where a lot of songs would get the radio remix treatment when released to radio. It would always be a treat to see how they went and made a particular song more likely to be a radio and sales hit .

[tatula69]

In the final analysis, I don't think that waiting to release the song at a point just before release would've made a big difference. Maybe technically, I would've helped the song chart somewhere on the Hot 100... Maybe. But making the difference between a bonafide hit and a bomb, I don't think it would've mattered. The non stans by en large didn't notice / care that the song was around since December. The vast majority of the listening and buying public out there probably first heard the song when it received that push after Valentine's Day anyway. Just saying.

[areyoureadytojump]

If LFL had debuted on Valentine's Day as originally planned, as a digital single, it would have sold well.

But, it was released as a pre-order so people bought it as part of the album.

Sales would have been better.

[HolidayGuy]

^But, would she have performed it at the Grammys, if it was going to be released Valentine's Day?

I agree that had it been released around Grammys time, as a standalone, it likely would have fared a bit better.

Will LFL see any sales and/or streaming benefit from album-release week, like some tracks do? We'll see.

[popbox]

Mar 7, 2015 16:38:52 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

Mar 7, 2015 16:01:18 GMT -5 adman0468 said:

But Ghosttown has been out since December too. Aren't we going to run into a lot of the same problems?

Probably, but Ghosttown is a much better single than LFL.

Strongly disagree. I think LFL was the most hit ready song on the album by a long shot. Especially for Europe. It should've smashed Europe on the level of Hung Up and 4M. But I will agree the awful release strategy did no favors. They needed to just go all out and move up all their promo plans when it leaked in December. Dumb to wait until a month ago to "officially" release it.

[KissMyAxe]

I agree with popbox, this kind of music is worshiped in Europe so i don't know why it is flopping so hard in so many European countries

maybe the release schedule was fucked up just like y'all said

[Deleted]

Personally, I prefer the demo version since this sounds better as a house influenced song. I don't really see anything else being a hit for her at this point but the album is overall better than her last effort.

[Keelzit]

This was definitely the wrong choice for the lead single; not because it's a bad song but because it doesn't break any new ground for her as she's been doing this same sound for a decade now with the exception of Hard Candy. I refuse to believe that JT was the only reason 4 Minutes was a hit; that song was totally in line with what was trendy during 2008 but was a fresh sound for Madonna and I knew it would smash the moment I heard it. It didn't matter who sang it, the production alone was killer and that was enough for it to smash. The only songs on Rebel Heart that that come close to that are the title track and Ghosttown but I don't see them doing any better than this at this point.

[Az Paynter]

Looks like whatever gain we were expecting was offset by a loss of airplay elsewhere; it's out of the top 50 again, and the current #50 has only 5 more spins than this had yesterday.

[HolidayGuy]

AT40 airs on a lot more stations today, so we'll see if it re-enters the top 50 tomorrow.

[Az Paynter]

There's still the final update, so we may still get a look at what actually happened today.

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Mar 8, 2015 0:19:59 GMT -5 Keelzit said:

This was definitely the wrong choice for the lead single; not because it's a bad song but because it doesn't break any new ground for her as she's been doing this same sound for a decade now with the exception of Hard Candy. I refuse to believe that JT was the only reason 4 Minutes was a hit; that song was totally in line with what was trendy during 2008 but was a fresh sound for Madonna and I knew it would smash the moment I heard it. It didn't matter who sang it, the production alone was killer and that was enough for it to smash. The only songs on Rebel Heart that that come close to that are the title track and Ghosttown but I don't see them doing any better than this at this point.

I don't agree that it was the wrong lead-in at all. It combines the whole gospel LAP thing and 90s house with modern production, it's a Madonna song through and through. Ghosttown is great but a little anonymous and the album version of Rebel Heart wouldn't have been strong enough, neither of them would have performed any better than this.

The leak hurt it and I don't see how this could have been avoided given that her two big promo opportunities were in Feb/March, so dropping the single around that time (as planned) would have been ideal and likely given it a higher peak. As it stands, it's been in limbo for 2/3 months. Most people knew it was knocking around and there was plenty of press for it/her, but it wasn't on sale everywhere and there seemed to be a few false starts with the radio push.

That all said, I doubt it would have made such a significant difference that we wouldn't be trying to pin down why the song isn't performing better. Madonna just isn't going to push a single that high anymore. I really don't believe quality is an issue this time around, but there's a myriad of other reasons - even positive press seems to take issue with her age, her image and the music she's making. The vast majority of articles I read about her at the moment use 'the 56 year-old' in lieu of her name. She won't change, so nor will that.

Best we can hope for is a strong album opening and tour - given she's not touring until late this year, I imagine we'll get at least some promo for Ghosttown, which I'm hoping will give the album legs.

[HolidayGuy]

Is "Centuries" the only track that Mediabase will remove for the final chart?

Supposedly, the Cumulus stations that were spinning it now are lessening their plays.

[skizzo]

I think Hozier and One Republic too

[HolidayGuy]

Thanks- yeah, I wasn't sure if it goes by top 10 or 15. But top 10 sounds right for Mediabase.

[skizzo]

I think it used to be top15, but now its top10. But dont quote me on that

[parkerricky]

At least,Madonna continues her climb up..up Mediabase Dance Airplay Today @ #15

[parkerricky]

Unfortunately a lot of the Cumulus stations yesterday have begun reducing their spins.

It's -3 spins,-4 spins down the line. Oh well...

Tonight,we'll see how all this is reconciled with the at40 plays????

[Juanca]

Mar 8, 2015 8:34:54 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Thanks- yeah, I wasn't sure if it goes by top 10 or 15. But top 10 sounds right for Mediabase.

Yes, it's top 10 :)

[HolidayGuy]

parker- it may pop back into the top 50 once recurrents are removed. And then tomorrow's update will include the spins from AT40 today (the show is aired nearly three times more on Sunday than Saturday). After this week is done, though, I imagine any airplay it has will decline swiftly.