Digital09

I think Britney is flopping compared to the hype and fame she has. She is still promoted and treated like an A-List artist. But when you look at the figures she hasn't had a massive smash since Womanizer (3 years ago) and her singles are now limping into the back end of the Top10 before dropping again. The general trend is still for Dance/R&B/Autotuned music, so guitar bands are finding it hard to get a look in. I don't see this changing in 2011, but next year the tide will most likely turn back to 'Rock/Guitar/Live' music as these trends only ever last for a few years at a time.

A lot of the songs mentioned in this thread are very much 'Radio' hits IMO. Songs by the Feeling, 'Loving You Long Time' by Mariah etc are pleasant easy listening, inoffensive songs for the commercial stations and Radio2 to play during the day...but they don't exactly make you dash to iTunes to download them. I'd be interested to see what Airplay/Sales ratio The Klaxons got back in 2007, when Radio1 was trying to force feed them to the public, despite all the promo 'Golden Skans' remains their only top10.

also his last album and singles could be considered a return to form after Rudebox. I think Robbie has found his new 'level' now, once he leaves Take That he'll return to having album sales on a par with 'Reality Killed' but won't achieve the heights of 'Sing When Your Winning' again. His 2nd Take That spell should mean his confidence is back to do big live shows again though.

RKelly is one of those artists that won't ever have a consistent, high selling career in the UK (too much baggage and ridicule) but is always capable of popping up out nowhere to have a big hit. Who'd have predicted 'Ignition' would be as huge as it was for example. I liked Maroon5, they remind me of my college days, but I can't see where they'd fit in today's market, they are too bland. Girls Aloud would have a hit with anything should they decide to reform, they were still gaining sales and growing their fan base when they went on hiatus. the act I really want to see comeback is Christina Aguilera, she is a massive talent with a massive voice...but its all gone wrong in recent years, so far wrong that one more flop album could really end her career. Her next single has to be a top-class worldwide smash. I'd also like to see the Killers return and kick on from being a band with a decent fanbase that gets a lot of radio play...to being the worldwide 'U2 Sized' Rockband they can be.

Its definitely a show for the SKY+ so you can skip all the "best group performance of a reggae influenced country and western ballad" type awards!

I think Shakira is one of those rare artists who will maybe only have 1 hit in 10 singles. Her voice is like Marmite and you either love it or hate it. But once in a while she pulls out a massive hit (Whenever, Wherever, Hips Don't Lie) and the public like it. For most people she is the kind of artist where you only want the big hit singles on your iPod and can't bear to listen to full albums of her work.

Christina Aguilera is now in a position where her next single has to be a global mega-hit or she risks fading into obscurity. Bionic was a flop all around the world, her first foray into Film (Burlesque) hardly set the world alight, in America she's a joke for getting the national anthem wrong at the Superbowl. I'm a big fan of hers, but this next single has to be something really special, with a proper marketing campaign from her label.

I feel she badly needs a new management team/label as they seem to completely mess up her promo. with her last album 'X' they released the one song that didn't really 'fit' with the albums sound (2 Hearts) as the lead-single. Got her some great slots on US TV (Dancing With The Stars etc) but then chose to release the most forgettable song (All I See) this time around the lead-single was good...but then they chose to release a summer song (Get Outta My Way) in September, by which time the weather had turned and the song lost impact as a result. to top the year off they got Kylie an XFactor slot for 'Better Than Today' but then didn't bother to release the song until a month later, again losing all momentum. She managed to perform on XFactor, Children In Need and the Royal Variety, 3 of the biggest shows of the year...but it all seemed out of sync with the songs 'release' date. I don't think the album was her best work, it is pretty forgettable...but her management really screwed it up IMO. I also think she and Christina Aguilera have some big thinking to do about what style they want their next album to be. The public don't seem to have become board at both artists 'Electro-pop' sound, and I think something radical is needed next time round.

The common theme seems to be that acts who were popular 2-5 years ago have struggled to capture the hype they had first time round. Acts like Scissor Sisters, Maroon5, Ting Tings, Mika, Duffy...all had great hype with their first albums, and will go down as being some of the 00's most memorable acts. But the public quickly tires and moves on. And in some cases (such as the Scissor Sisters) they simply took too long releasing their 2nd/3rd albums.

I was a bit 'meh' about 'Only Girl In The World' until I went clubbing last night, and it was played several times, making the crowd go wild. The proper sound system of a club really takes the song to a different level.

as I said earlier in the thread, ITV have little to no interest in Xmas Day or January, as advertising rates are much lower. this is why they wheel out the big guns like XFactor, I'm a Celeb etc before Xmas, as all the big brands want to advertise their xmas tat.

the trouble with Popstars the rivals was that due to the mid-week charts, we all knew Girls Aloud had won, so the final had no suspense. the latest on XFactor seems to be that the final will simply move to a week earlier, which I think would be a good move, and would give 2 weeks of big sales. what Cowell really needs to do though is get the cheque book out and pay for a good song from a top songwriter. Even 'hardcore' XFactor fans are becoming bored of the songs. Last years choice of Hallelujah was a bit unexpected, and its high sales reflected that the public were pleased with it. Whereas dull choices like 'when you beleive' and the 'climb' have performed less well. That's my goal is the best selling XFactor winners song, and that's the only one which was original (it was recorded before, but never released)

more importantly Christmas Day is a dead loss to ITV, as all the advertisers want their adverts to be on at least a week before Xmas day (to tempt shoppers into buying their products) which is why on Xmas day all you see is DFS sale and holiday adverts and ITV put out a uninspired schedule.

Owl City have already been US no1, so are quite likely to make the top5 the song is a bit so-so IMO though, it starts off all trance-y and electronic, and expected big things...but its all a bit bland.

Don't know what actually is the best selling live album...but I remember Robbie Williams Knebworth CD sold well, and I imagine Oasis' 'familiar to millions' did good business too

she has to deliver a good XFactor performance...last year she just strolled on, looked uninterested, performed a bland song and left. And got the flop it deserved. if she goes on and sings live and nails the vocal, she'll have a hit...but I have my doubts as to whether her voice is up to it live anymore.

I thought that, but after a few listens it really is a classic. The production is very epic and gets into your head after a few plays. i'd stick my house on it being no1, especially after a dry ice, choir and pyrotechnics filled XFactor performance

really poor decision to release another greatest hits you need 3 studio albums as a bare minimum between albums IMO (usually that means 9 hit singles to choose from)

I don't understand why both Alexandra and Robbie's labels released the songs so early to radio. I'm bored of both songs already. Record labels really have to get out of this dated idea of putting a song on the radio then making us wait a month or even 6 weeks to buy it. There is no wonder people illegally download when you simply can't hear a song you like anywhere legally except the odd play on radio for weeks.

completely down to singles selling more again the songs around it such as Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby, Toploader - Dancin In The Moonlight, Outkast - Hey Ya!, P!nk - Get The Party Started, Britney Spears - Toxic are/were much bigger songs. Just they came out in years when the singles market was dying.

Leona's song is a grower IMO, was underwhelmed at first...but after a few listens the 'epic' production really shines through. it has also made a good debut in America, debuting at no50, her highest debut there so far. I think JLS could surprise though, I don't think people realize quite how big their fanbase (largely an army of teenage girls) are