I just wanted to see what everyone's views were on this debate. Me personally, it is my number 1 gripe with The Saturdays/their management.

 

Let's start with Wordshaker, yes Forever Is Over was a bad choice for the lead single, however I do not think it should have been abandoned completely. Once Ego was released the album started to climb up the charts again and it probably would have done the same if they should released One Shot and Here Standing as the final singles, which I'm sure would have pushed the album well over 100k, and then re-released it, with all the songs from Headlines and had two further successful singles (Higher, Missing You). I know Headlines was a success, but it would have looked way better to push Wordshaker's sales higher than abandon the campaign completely.

 

Now, On Your Radar, which I do believe was the worse move. The album had flopped which was obvious yes, however, it really should have been released off the back of AFU and It may have charted higher and performed better. Anyway, they had LOTS of single potential from that album (Faster, The Way You Watch Me, Get Ready, Get Set) which were all screaming to become singles and would have probably performed well, If they had released one of these it would have performed way better than '30 Days' did and they would have saved money as they wouldn't had have to record a brand new song.

 

Wordshaker - 85k

On Your Radar - 60k

 

 

I do think if given more of a push these albums would have both crossed 100/150k. :( Sad really, I hope LFTW doesn't head in the same direction, What are your thoughts?

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by Lew

I agree that OYR could have been salvaged but I don't think wordshaker could have been.

No for both.

 

Wordshaker had One Shot, Here Standing SCREAMING to be released.

On Your Radar - Get Ready, Get Set , Faster and Do What You Want With Me.

I agree with the above. Even if the singles didn't chart well, they would have undoubtedly helped with albums sales!

Wish I didn't Know screamed for a release... It wouldn't have saved the album but I'd have helped it

On Your Radar 100% should not have been abandoned. They could have easily got another 2 big selling singles out of that album, even if it didn't boost the album. 'Faster' and 'Get Ready, Get Set' would have both saved the era!

They should've made Headlines an actual re-release with public perception of it being a new album - then maybe (had things continued in the same fashion) they'd have a second platinum album.

Wordshaker was dead. Ego couldn't saved it even though it was clearly a success on the charts. People were talking about it, it was played on radios and on TV. Really, One Shot would have just been a nice selling single, but that album was already burried.

 

As for On Your Radar, it's a bit complicated. Forever Is Over went to #2 and was a great airplay success, so it was normal for them to release Ego on the radios even after the flop of Wordshaker, but it would have been a big risk to release a song from a #22 flop album and send it to radios especially after a #15 flop single that hasn't even went top 25 on airplay. Radios wouldn't have touched anything 'old' from them at that time because it would have been considered a flop right away. What would have been the point of playing a song that could potentially be another flop like the last single and the album that it's on. Sure charts placement =/= quality, but radios aren't really open minded.

 

That's why I wanted them to release Not Giving Up after Disco Love. DL went top 5 and the album went top 10. Sure the sales are bad, but at least it's a new single from a top 10 album which has a lot more to it than a new single from a top 25 album let's say. Not Giving Up has more chance of getting airplay that anything out of On Your Radar at that time. Oh and Leave A Light On would have messed everything up because it would have charted outside the top 10. So yeah. There you go.

 

 

Wordshaker was dead. Ego couldn't saved it even though it was clearly a success on the charts. People were talking about it, it was played on radios and on TV. Really, One Shot would have just been a nice selling single, but that album was already burried.

 

As for On Your Radar, it's a bit complicated. Forever Is Over went to #2 and was a great airplay success, so it was normal for them to release Ego on the radios even after the flop of Wordshaker, but it would have been a big risk to release a song from a #22 flop album and send it to radios especially after a #15 flop single that hasn't even went top 25 on airplay. Radios wouldn't have touched anything 'old' from them at that time because it would have been considered a flop right away. What would have been the point of playing a song that could potentially be another flop like the last single and the album that it's on. Sure charts placement =/= quality, but radios aren't really open minded.

 

That's why I wanted them to release Not Giving Up after Disco Love. DL went top 5 and the album went top 10. Sure the sales are bad, but at least it's a new single from a top 10 album which has a lot more to it than a new single from a top 25 album let's say. Not Giving Up has more chance of getting airplay that anything out of On Your Radar at that time. Oh and Leave A Light On would have messed everything up because it would have charted outside the top 10. So yeah. There you go.

 

 

Wordshaker was dead. Ego couldn't saved it even though it was clearly a success on the charts. People were talking about it, it was played on radios and on TV. Really, One Shot would have just been a nice selling single, but that album was already burried.

 

As for On Your Radar, it's a bit complicated. Forever Is Over went to #2 and was a great airplay success, so it was normal for them to release Ego on the radios even after the flop of Wordshaker, but it would have been a big risk to release a song from a #22 flop album and send it to radios especially after a #15 flop single that hasn't even went top 25 on airplay. Radios wouldn't have touched anything 'old' from them at that time because it would have been considered a flop right away. What would have been the point of playing a song that could potentially be another flop like the last single and the album that it's on. Sure charts placement =/= quality, but radios aren't really open minded.

 

That's why I wanted them to release Not Giving Up after Disco Love. DL went top 5 and the album went top 10. Sure the sales are bad, but at least it's a new single from a top 10 album which has a lot more to it than a new single from a top 25 album let's say. Not Giving Up has more chance of getting airplay that anything out of On Your Radar at that time. Oh and Leave A Light On would have messed everything up because it would have charted outside the top 10. So yeah. There you go.

 

If I remember correctly, Greg James played 'Faster' on Radio 1 just a couple of weeks after OYR's release claiming it was the next single. Clearly, the airplay demand was not massively diminished.

 

EDIT: I'm correct, this was on the first post of the '30 Days' thread: "It seems Faster is going to be single 13 from The Saturdays as it was confirmed on Radio 1 today by Greg James. What are everyone opinions? I think it's wise as the radio will eat it up and it is the second cherry picked behind the amazing last Call."

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by APRIL J

I actually think Headlines should have had another single. Missing You and Higher were both hits, they had a hit TV show, the album was selling well, they were very popular with radio and TV stations and they were the only active girlband at the time. Here Standing as a winter release would have been brilliant seeing as the album was already at the lower end of the top 100 for a few months anyway.

I did want 'Here Standing' released after 'Ego', but in hindsight they made a wise move by moving straight on to Headlines. The reason why no more singles were released after 'Ego' is because although it did well, it barely helped the album sell any more and financially it wouldn't have been wise to invest in another single after the album doubtlessly lost their label a ton of money.

 

On Your Radar had lots of potential but again I really think they did the right thing, the album and single it was released off the back of both bombed and another single probably would have struggled to go top 40 and only caused more damage for them. I agree with what someone said earlier though that it may not have been so bleak if the album were released after 'All Fired Up'...

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by Silver Rocket

Wordshaker was handled perfectly - it was still a top 10 album and followed by their best album charting to date. In reality the girls only had to record five tracks, which meant the label didn't fork out a tonne more money but got the 250,000 sales they needed for Wordshaker, so it balanced everything out. It also meant the girls had 3 top ten albums.

 

On Your Radar, again, was the right thing to do. I know it had a lot of great singles, but the single campaign for MHTO was doomed from the go, they released in a ridiculously busy Q4 - which they should never have done, they were a member down during the promo. Yes, Faster would have been a good single choice, but it would be a huge risk and would unlikley help sell the album. Releasing 30 Days was smart as it was new to attract a wider fan purchase and kept them in the public eye in 2012. Also, including Turn Myself In was very wisdom for trapping fans into buying. TWYWM would have flopped harder than MHTO, GRGS is a fan favorite but isn't as strong as Faster. DWYWWM and Last Call were the highlights of the record but would not have transitioned into commercial successes, despite their utter brilliance.

Wordshaker was handled perfectly - it was still a top 10 album and followed by their best album charting to date. In reality the girls only had to record five tracks, which meant the label didn't fork out a tonne more money but got the 250,000 sales they needed for Wordshaker, so it balanced everything out. It also meant the girls had 3 top ten albums.

 

On Your Radar, again, was the right thing to do. I know it had a lot of great singles, but the single campaign for MHTO was doomed from the go, they released in a ridiculously busy Q4 - which they should never have done, they were a member down during the promo. Yes, Faster would have been a good single choice, but it would be a huge risk and would unlikley help sell the album. Releasing 30 Days was smart as it was new to attract a wider fan purchase and kept them in the public eye in 2012. Also, including Turn Myself In was very wisdom for trapping fans into buying. TWYWM would have flopped harder than MHTO, GRGS is a fan favorite but isn't as strong as Faster. DWYWWM and Last Call were the highlights of the record but would not have transitioned into commercial successes, despite their utter brilliance.

 

I couldn't disagree with you more.

I really don't think Wordshaker could be saved. If Ego couldn't sustain it's sales, nothing could. On Your Radar on the other hand was packed full of single worthy material and yet they gave up on it straight away because it got lost in the Xmas rush!! Atleast they aren't making the same mistake this time!!

I really don't think Wordshaker could be saved. If Ego couldn't sustain it's sales, nothing could. On Your Radar on the other hand was packed full of single worthy material and yet they gave up on it straight away because it got lost in the Xmas rush!! Atleast they aren't making the same mistake this time!!

 

 

Agreed. Faster, Get Ready, Get Set and The Way You Watch me!

'Wordshaker'

Yes, I think it was right to move on from it when they did (with the benefit of hindsight). 'Ego' became one of their biggest hits, but it didn't exactly turn the album sales around massively - all they could manage is a 1 week re-entry in the Top 40 (I know that would seem like a miracle these days, but back then it didn't look good not too long after 'Issues' had helped 'Chasing Lights' get into the Top 10).

 

'Headlines!' was ultimately a cleverly disguised 'Wordshaker' repackage anyway. Quite a smart move to get more mileage out of the 'Wordshaker' tracks in this way. Certainly more effective than if they'd persevered with 'Wordshaker' or even re-released it with the same title. 'Headlines!' came across like a fresh new project.

 

'On Your Radar'

They didn't give it enough of a chance. :( Yes, it had 3 singles released before it, but the one which launched it wasn't the right choice at all. 'Faster' and 'Get Ready, Get Set' were wasted opportunities. '30 Days' wasn't anywhere near good enough to justify them abandoning 'On Your Radar'.

WORDSHAKER

 

Single 1 - Ego (August)

Single 2 - One Shot (November)

*Album Release* (November)

Single 3 - Here Standing (January)

Single 4 - Wordshaker (April)

Single 5 - Missing You (August)

*Album Re-Release* (August)

Single 6 - Higher (November)

Single 7 - Lose Control (February)

 

ON YOUR RADAR

 

Single 1 - Notorious (August)

Single 2 - All Fired Up (November)

*Album Release* (November)

Single 3 - Faster (January)

Single 4 - 30 Days (May)

*Album Re-Release* (May)

Single 5 - Get Ready, Get Set (July)

Single 6 - The Way You Watch Me (October)

Single 7 - Last Call (December)

 

I think debut position doesn't really matter if it re-peaks later on, just so long as it's debut sales are decent hence the November release theory.

 

 

 

 

 

WORDSHAKER

 

Single 1 - Ego (August)

Single 2 - One Shot (November)

*Album Release* (November)

Single 3 - Here Standing (January)

Single 4 - Wordshaker (April)

Single 5 - Missing You (August) I would've switched wordshaker and missing you around. Missing you would more likely be successful thus drive album sales and then release wordshaker to close of the standard edition before the rerelease.

*Album Re-Release* (August)

Single 6 - Higher (November)

Single 7 - Lose Control (February)

 

ON YOUR RADAR

 

Single 1 - Notorious (August)

Single 2 - All Fired Up (November)

*Album Release* (November)

Single 3 - Faster (January)

Single 4 - 30 Days (May)

*Album Re-Release* (May)

Single 5 - Get Ready, Get Set (July)

Single 6 - The Way You Watch Me (October)

Single 7 - Last Call (December)

 

Really like your idea for On Your Radar :)

 

I think 7 singles is waaaay too much, especially for a group like The Saturdays where more money would end up being spent than is earned. I think Wordshaker could've done with a proper re-release in the end though.

 

1. Ego

2. One Shot

-- album release--

3. Here Standing

4. Missing You

-- re-release with Headlines! tracks added on --

5. Higher

*end*

 

On Your Radar could've gone on for longer had they actually bothered to pick a good 3rd single to ensure a better first week peak for the album. :lol: MHTO was a crappy single choice, always was.

 

1. Notorious

2. All Fired Up

-- album release --

3. Faster

4. Get Ready, Get Set

*end*