WavesOfLust

Doesn't matter how Liz Taylor performed, Taylor got the biggest hit of her career with Ophelia, that's more than enough - and look, I'm not saying the success of Ophelia was inorganic, the song is catchy and has everything right to become a hit it would've been successful regardless, but the song was also inescapable. Radio impact is everything…. it's important to cultivate your connections with iHeartMedia.

The same said event which is hosted by the very media force who owns and controls nearly all radio? The same radio giant who has an active probe investigation on them for payola law violations? Okokokok true it's all very much conspiracy

let's not act like her showing up at iHeartRadio was because she was bored, she knew what she was doing with that and you can make of that as you will.

The only thing that isn't organic about this scenario is the fact that Ella's label bought a marketing package from Clear Channel (now operating as iHeartMedia) ((who also owns nearly all the radio stations by the way)) and that package includes ads, contests, airplay, dj chatter etc. If it were truly fair and square, Olivia would absolutely clear. They wouldn't need to do this if she were up against anyone who wasn't inorganically and heavily supported/backed by radio deals like this though, country music radio deals are essentially the astroturfing in music form. Like really think about it, I understand your point to an extent, but at the end of the day we're really comparing Olivia's $1 iTunes variants up against an enmourous marketing force and monopolized radio machine with the power to put a song everywhere at once, it's not an even matchup, Ella's no.1 isn't organic either (however her Wallen collab, unfortunately, will be very organic once it terrorizes the no.1 spot all summer and we should be prepared for that)

I think it's crazy that so many loopholes surrounding payola, particularly in radio where it's sold to record labels as a ~marketing package~ to dodge legal penalties, exist that artists even need to resort to this. I even don't blame the artists for playing the game, because really what other choice do they have? If this were truly a even playing field (like purely based on real listener demand, and what people are choosing on their OWN without that push) Olivia would without a doubt come out on top, no question. iHeartMedia operating like a monopoly is a huge problem, I think that's what the focus should be shifted to.

lol, well, no, because if it were truly that easy then Olivia wouldn't be the potential first artist in the history of Billboard to initially set the record.

It's time country music radio payola be investigated on full scale tbh, whatever came about the IHeartMedia probe last year following the accusations of payola law violations?

Then while they're at it, they should also open another investigation into country radio payola, because it's honestly out of control and way more questionable than any $1.29 single variant on iTunes.. like be serious. If we're going to talk about tactics then let's not pretend the industry suddenly got shady overnight lmao. Radio has been playing this game forever, especially in country, spins are heavily influenced behind the scenes. Compared to that, fans buying a cheap variant of a single to support an artist feels pretty tame.

Because she'll become the first artist in history to have all three lead singles debut at no. 1, it's a pretty wild accomplishment and not something that'll be easy to beat. Like when are we realistically going to see another artist debut their very first single at no. 1 and then keep that streak going across two more albums? It's kind of insane. That's the reason they're pushing this hard IMO, and honestly, she could push even harder. Country music payola is no joke

and to that i say good for her 💘 i've been begging for her chart obsessed era, especially considering the record she will break if it goes no.1 which is basically an untouchable record to break afterwards

and i'm placing bets now that she'll be joining olivia rodrigo on her next tour

Instead you should listen to Audrey Hobert, who not only ("co")-wrote Gracie's last album and but was the sole reason behind That's So True becoming the hit it was She released her debut last summer and it's amazing

tbh many of the songs she used to post to instagram before ever releasing an album were actually all so good, i'm not sure what happened after she got the record deal 🤔 i think too many cooks in the kitchen

i don't think so, it didn't click with alot of people until weeks after release- i vividly remember the reaction being just as divided with people having hoped/expected another good 4 u type of pop off

it's a nice thought and the promo would be insane but no chance in hell sabrina is sharing that stage with a direct competitor who would overshadow her 😭 the second olivia walks out, it stops being "sabrina's coachella set" and becomes a whole discourse