Elton John & Britney Spears - "Hold Me Closer"

[jumpb4uthink]

^ that’s a healthy audience gain though.

[holdmecloser255]

A rare +1M update. Nice.

[degen]

Interesting that people in here perceive that radio is “shoving another Harry Styles song down our throats” when the literal definition of shoving a song down your throat is one that’s barely even in the Spotify top 100. Stay different pulse. It brings me kicks. Lol.

[holdmecloser255]

Oct 6, 2022 9:11:59 GMT -5 degen said:

Interesting that people in here perceive that radio is “shoving another Harry Styles song down our throats” when the literal definition of shoving a song down your throat is one that’s barely even in the Spotify top 100. Stay different pulse. It brings me kicks. Lol.

There is no correlation between radio and Spotify. Plenty of radio hits, such as Swift's "Delicate," had huge airplay despite charting relatively low on Spotify. 

[Daenerys]

Oct 6, 2022 5:59:38 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

there won't be another spot opening up in the top 10 for WEEKS. 

Is that because the spin counts are so far ahead, or that all the songs in the top 10 are still gaining? 

If this stalls its a bit of a shame, this feels like a top 10 hit. If nothing else, at least Billboard acknowledges it as a Top 10 Pop hit. 

[big2000]

Once this makes the top 10, it’ll likely fit comfortably into the category of songs that are trying to gain but can’t get far up because radio isn’t letting go of their old favorites. The spin gaps are also quite large at the moment. The #7 and #8 songs (Bad Habit and I Ain’t Worried) are both about 2800 spins ahead of the #9 song (Glimpse of Us). Plus, Hold Me Closer and the current #10 song (Music For A Sushi Restaurant) are currently about 1200 spins behind Glimpse of Us. Since Sushi Restaurant and Hold Me Closer have very close bullets, it’ll be hard to predict which one will be in the top 10 come Sunday.

[Az Paynter]

Oct 6, 2022 16:11:58 GMT -5 Daenerys said:

Oct 6, 2022 5:59:38 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

there won't be another spot opening up in the top 10 for WEEKS. 

Is that because the spin counts are so far ahead, or that all the songs in the top 10 are still gaining? 

If this stalls its a bit of a shame, this feels like a top 10 hit. If nothing else, at least Billboard acknowledges it as a Top 10 Pop hit. 

It's both. There's an almost 1200 spin gap between #10 (Harry) and #9 (Joji), and then a nearly 2800(!) spin gap between #9 and #8 (OneRepublic). And then the next unbulleted song is Harry again at #6 (about 4200 spins ahead of this), but radio is tightening the purse strings on 'Late Night Talking' again. This week was important for Elton/Britney's momentum because it's now been set up to hit a brick wall, and based on previous experience I can see pop radio tricking itself into thinking HMC isn't connecting enough for top 10 conversions due to its own f**kery.

[Az Paynter]

POP:
12 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 7889 7162 727 21.778

+52 Spins
-41 Bullet
+0.205 Audience

HOT AC:
8 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3721 3366 355 13.934

+23 Spins
-36 Bullet
+0.292 Audience

AC:
9 9 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 730 573 157 3.535

+26 Spins
+12 Bullet
-0.020 Audience




SPINS:
3972 Spins from #7, Harry Styles (LNT) (+195)
3853 Spins from #8, OneRepublic (+124)
1224 Spins from #9, Joji (-9)
143 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (-112)

[holdmecloser255]

Cold Heart's peak audience was 67.52M. I wonder if HMC could potentially reach 70M.

[jenglisbe]

Oct 6, 2022 16:26:27 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

and based on previous experience I can see pop radio tricking itself into thinking HMC isn't connecting enough for top 10 conversions due to its own f**kery.

What's the evidence that it *is* connecting?

[holdmecloser255]

Oct 7, 2022 8:57:33 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

Oct 6, 2022 16:26:27 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

and based on previous experience I can see pop radio tricking itself into thinking HMC isn't connecting enough for top 10 conversions due to its own f**kery.

What's the evidence that it *is* connecting?

Shazam charts have a significant impact on airplay. HMC is still pretty high in the US. 

  hitsdailydouble.com/shazam_us_top_100

[Daenerys]

Oct 7, 2022 8:57:33 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

Oct 6, 2022 16:26:27 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

What's the evidence that it *is* connecting?

Potentially call out scores. I'm assuming at this point if it's this high on Top 40 (as well as AC and Hot AC) listeners either don't mind the song or like it. It's non-offensive material that works for most listeners and fills space. I feel like poor call outs would have killed this when it was in the mid teens by now. Radio is different from streaming in that radio has to balance the popularity of a song, with the irritation of the average listener. So what works well on Spotify may not be what the average listener can stomach before their morning coffee or during a 15-45 minute commute after work.

There isn't any reason for Top 40 to play Elton or Britney if this wasn't connecting with audiences. It doesn't feel like either artist or their teams is actively pushing this, so radio must be playing it for some reason. 

[jenglisbe]

Oct 7, 2022 9:22:09 GMT -5 Daenerys said:

Oct 7, 2022 8:57:33 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

What's the evidence that it *is* connecting?

Potentially call out scores. I'm assuming at this point if it's this high on Top 40 (as well as AC and Hot AC) listeners either don't mind the song or like it. It's non-offensive material that works for most listeners and fills space. I feel like poor call outs would have killed this when it was in the mid teens by now. Radio is different from streaming in that radio has to balance the popularity of a song, with the irritation of the average listener. So what works well on Spotify may not be what the average listener can stomach before their morning coffee or during a 15-45 minute commute after work.

There isn't any reason for Top 40 to play Elton or Britney if this wasn't connecting with audiences. It doesn't feel like either artist or their teams is actively pushing this, so radio must be playing it for some reason. 

I think all of that is potentially true and do think radio audience can be different from streaming audience. I'm just trying to determine what evidence there is this particular song should be top 10, etc. It was also stated that radio is holding onto other songs, but presumably the same things you mention - call out score and such - are why radio is still supporting those songs.

[leonagwen]

This song is doing fine. Unfortunately Sushi Restaurant is getting better updates in a year where Harry Styles is the It male of pop, plus the fact that radio is holding onto older songs in the top 10 too long. Also remember that Bebe Rexha, Lil Nas X and Sam Smith are moving up fast so it's highly likely that #11 will be the peak of this song.

[Az Paynter]

POP:
12 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 7992 7227 765 22.172

+103 Spins
+38 Bullet
+0.394 Audience

HOT AC:
7 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3749 3455 294 14.162

+28 Spins
-61 Bullet
+0.228 Audience

AC:
9 9 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 761 584 177 3.581

+31 Spins
+20 Bullet
+0.046 Audience




SPINS:
3769 Spins from #7, Harry Styles (LNT) (+203)
3768 Spins from #8, OneRepublic (+85)
1148 Spins from #9, Joji (+76)
113 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (+46)

[Eqbk]

Joel Corry remix:


It was the only one of the 3 new versions that were released Friday, so it seems like they will be released one at a time. Purple Disco Machine had recently given a preview his remix of the song on social media, so that one is probably the next to be released.

[Koochie]

some of y’all still out here trying to act like this is underperforming like a Christina single huh

let me burn some sage and pray

[upsidedown]

A comeback queen!

[holdmecloser255]

Oct 8, 2022 5:58:33 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

POP:
12 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 7992 7227 765 22.172

+103 Spins
+38 Bullet
+0.394 Audience

HOT AC:
7 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3749 3455 294 14.162

+28 Spins
-61 Bullet
+0.228 Audience

AC:
9 9 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 761 584 177 3.581

+31 Spins
+20 Bullet
+0.046 Audience




SPINS:
3769 Spins from #7, Harry Styles (LNT) (+203)
3768 Spins from #8, OneRepublic (+85)
1148 Spins from #9, Joji (+76)
113 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (+46)

It seems to be closing in on MFASR.  

[Envoirment]

Hopefully it'll keep gaining consistently and eventually peak in the top 5 on pop radio. Happy to see how well it's done so far and fingers crossed it'll have a good amount of longevity.

[🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾]

The Joel Corry remix is on streaming.



Digitally delivered:
Joel Corry Extended Remix (5:23)
Joel Corry Remix (4:08)

---

I am actually liking this version of it. The vocals are much clearer and it sounds like a proper duet. The production is harder hitting.

[Az Paynter]

POP:
12 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 8086 7415 671 22.478

+94 Spins
-94 Bullet
+0.306 Audience

HOT AC:
7 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3817 3504 313 14.540

+68 Spins
+19 Bullet
+0.378 Audience

AC:
9 9 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 794 593 201 3.922

+33 Spins
+24 Bullet
+0.341 Audience




SPINS:
3710 Spins from #7, OneRepublic (+58)
3400 Spins from #8, Harry Styles (LNT) (+369)
1069 Spins from #9, Joji (+79)
246 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (-133)

[upsidedown]

US will continue to try and keep stanning

[It's me, bitch.]

Mediabase tracking:

31 - 21 - 19 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 (7 weeks)
ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer

[Az Paynter]

POP:
11 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 8180 7600 580 22.668

+94 Spins
-91 Bullet
+0.190 Audience

HOT AC:
7 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3885 3575 310 14.875

+68 Spins
-3 Bullet
+0.335 Audience

AC:
9 8 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 839 605 234 4.267

+45 Spins
+33 Bullet
+0.345 Audience




SPINS:
3246 Spins from #8, Harry Styles (LNT) (+154)
979 Spins from #9, Joji (+90)
346 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (-100)

[holdmecloser255]

HAC and AC are stanning this really hard. It will probably go #1 on both formats. It's a shame that it seems to be stalling on pop. That tacky Bebe Rexha song will probably keep it out of the top 10.

[Daenerys]

I was about to say I think this will be the first time ever in her career where she has done better on AC and Hot AC then she has on the Pop format.

Kind of crazy to see this hitting Top 15 on overall airplay, yet it likely won't hit top 10 on Top 40. By comparison Sometimes and Everytime performed similarly on the main airplay chart and were both top pop 5 hits. This could have been an easy top 5 in any other time in her career with similar metrics. 

[Az Paynter]

POP:
11 11 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 8241 7709 532 23.020

+61 Spins
-48 Bullet
+0.352 Audience

HOT AC:
7 7 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 3931 3645 286 15.292

+46 Spins
-24 Bullet
+0.417 Audience

AC:
9 8 ELTON JOHN & BRITNEY SPEARS Hold Me Closer 852 639 213 4.569

+13 Spins
-21 Bullet
+0.302 Audience




SPINS:
3636 Spins from #7, OneRepublic (+99)
2956 Spins from #8, Harry Styles (LNT) (+290)
971 Spins from #9, Joji (+8)
416 Spins from #10, Harry Styles (MFASR) (-70)

[holdmecloser255]

It keeps gaining at a pretty steady pace. It will probably return to the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it needs to top HAC and AC and go at least top 5 on pop in order to gain enough points for a possible top 10 placement. Nevertheless, this song has already outperformed everyone's expectations.

[Dylan :)]

#26 (+1) on the Hot 100 this week, although without a gain in points this week