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'I Am' • Fifth Album

Scene
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I am personally disappointed in how Def Jam and Island have handled things. They do not seem to have agreed on an integrated strategy, and I'm not sure who is to blame. I could be wrong, so I'll just leave it there for now. I feel though that Leona needs to be careful moving ahead. Either Def Jam and Island prove themselves the rest of the year as worthy partners, or they release her and she moves on to other things. If you are going to sell like an indie, you may as well be one fully.

 

I AM is a good album. Production on certain songs could have been better (and I'm sure that can be said for a lot of other work), but it has gems that qualify for a good sales run. The issue so far seems that a precise strategy was not applied in its release. I can only recommend the below in my considered judgment.

 

As time is of the essence and videos for IGU and ALS (the other uptempo tracks on the album) are not ready, it may be time to send FUMF to Top 40. This will be done in conjunction with a worldwide push of the same single. They need a solid uptempo track fast on the format, one whose organic airplay on it will help draw the requisite buzz for Leona. Fast; I'm not willing to bet on any of the unvideod songs because...things could happen (re: I AM video).

 

Push FUMF till it peaks. If this is mid-November, then go with I Got You as a next single. It has nice religious undertones that could play well from Thanksgiving through to the New Year. YKMW can get the routine Talent Show showcase, but radio, daytime TV can be all about I Got You.

 

Will really look forward to see what's in store in terms of promo. Island also needs to get moving on Europe if they are covering release there.

 

They've both had obstacles to overcome though - especially Island. Syco's handling of Leona's career has caused long-term damage to her brand. It is going to take time to rebuild that. It would be a completely different story if Leona maintained commercial success in the US between 2009 and now. But since she hasn't, UK radio won't give her material a chance - no matter how good it is. Global radio only support tracks if they are (a) already hits (b) from huge worldwide artists and/or (c*) from Global Management artists. Leona doesn't fall into the latter two categories and it's a catch 22 situation for her since she needs them to get a hit but will only get their support once she's got a hit. Ugh it's so confusing to explain well. :lol: The best way for her to get UK radio back on board is to become successful in the US again and I do think Def Jam are putting in the crucial groundwork at the moment which may not be resulting in much at the moment from our point of view but it should be useful for the future. Def Jam are major players in America so bagging the likes of Ellen and James Corden should not be taken for granted. However, I do agree with the messy separate Island/Def Jam campaigns. I think 'Fire Under My Feet' would've been a great lead US single but maybe they were put off by its charting in the UK? But the fact it nearly cracked the top 100 on US iTunes with just NBA promo and iTunes homepage promo should have indicated that the song has potential. FUMF didn't chart badly because it is a weak single - it's catchy, it's instant, it's a statement track with broad appeal - it charted badly due to UK radio politics. Even if FUMF isn't to one's taste (I don't think it is the strongest song on the album at all), it's obvious that it has commercial appeal.

Edited by Scene

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Agreed agreed agreed; I'm quite intrigued to see how her career will pan out in the U.S.
I think everything does rely on her doing well in America now. Really hope this Ellen performances results in a strong surge in interest for Leona after. Part of me really wants her to perform something other than Thunder (definitely not I Am), as it just does not seem to be grabbing the U.S. Audience the way a comeback single should, with Leona's promo so far.
I think everything does rely on her doing well in America now. Really hope this Ellen performances results in a strong surge in interest for Leona after. Part of me really wants her to perform something other than Thunder (definitely not I Am), as it just does not seem to be grabbing the U.S. Audience the way a comeback single should, with Leona's promo so far.

 

She hasn't had much promo so far. :wacko:

 

All she has had is GMA, which led to the album climbing really well and even Thunder. Leona's issue just now is she doesn't have a radio hit on POP and HAC has stalled. Radio needs to be addressed.

Fantastic week of promo!

 

They are doing good on that side of things, but it would be even better if Thunder was on Pop radio right now, as these performances would have more impact and help it take off on iTunes then radio.

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They are doing good on that side of things, but it would be even better if Thunder was on Pop radio right now, as these performances would have more impact and help it take off on iTunes then radio.

 

I don't even know what's going on with Top 40 radio. It actually bores me even thinking of it since everyone has been wondering for so long. Surely if they haven't sent 'Thunder' to Top 40 now, they are just using it as a HAC-only single to get her reacquainted with the format and maybe they are planning on releasing another single to both HAC and Top 40?

I think her record company is waiting to see how much of an effect the Ellen and James Corden performances affect Thunder on itunes before they decide to release the next single.If she performs Thunder on Ellen and Thunder surges into the top 50 on itunes then maybe it will get sent to Top 40 radio.If Thunder only rises to something like 120-160 then it's time to think of the next single.I think FUMF or I Got you would do well in the Usa.All we can do is wait and see what happens.
If I was her record company why waste her time performing a song that's peaked on Hot AC and is losing spins? She should be performing FUMF on Ellen tomorrow.
Album back to £11.99

 

why?

 

It was only until Thursday midnight. Will free-fall now.

 

If they were going to put it up they should have made it 9.99 which is a happy medium.

I think her record company is waiting to see how much of an effect the Ellen and James Corden performances affect Thunder on itunes before they decide to release the next single.If she performs Thunder on Ellen and Thunder surges into the top 50 on itunes then maybe it will get sent to Top 40 radio.If Thunder only rises to something like 120-160 then it's time to think of the next single.I think FUMF or I Got you would do well in the Usa.All we can do is wait and see what happens.

 

This would make zero sense. They should have put together a focus group a long time ago to determine which among the choice singles was best. I highly doubt Thunder came out on top. I don't what challenges they are facing as a label, but its hard not to see gross negligence with how things have been handled so far. I hope FUMF is sent to Pop radio next week, and that Leona performs it for her next appearances.

She hasn't had much promo so far. :wacko:

 

All she has had is GMA, which led to the album climbing really well and even Thunder. Leona's issue just now is she doesn't have a radio hit on POP and HAC has stalled. Radio needs to be addressed.

She has had Live with Michael and Kelly as well as a U.S. Radio tour (including one of the big top 40 stations), so it is not just a case of people don't know about it. Ellen and James are the biggest slots she has by far, but I worry it will just be a similar case to her other promo pieces where Thunder climbs quick (to around 100 if lucky) and then drops like a bomb soon after. Thunder is currently 281 on US iTunes with her AC AirPlay starting to decline. I hope things go well but I can't see Ellen and James saving this campaign unless Leona pulls something special out the hat (and her label put something up for top 40 adds).

Edited by GTH

It enters the Irish Album Chart at #22 this week.

 

12 places higher for the UK please :(

US album sales+streaming= 9125 debuting #43..could still changing a bit though

Edited by pes

#12 in the UK is not as bad as I expected, It could have peaked #11 had they bothered to release I AM video but yeah good enough opening sales in the US and I'm guessing it could manage a higher peak next week with Ellen / Late Late etc
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