It's a tight race this week for most popular song in Atlanta, with Nico & Vinz's "Am I Wrong" just squeaking by Magic's "Rude" and Sam Smith's fast-rising "Stay With Me."
They are separated by just 14 spins over the past seven days: 322, 321 and 308, respectively.
In fact, "Stay With Me" has some factors going for it that will likely propel it to the top, possibly in a few days: it's played on seven stations in Atlanta vs. the four pop stations for the other two songs. All three have support from Star 94, Q100, Power 96.1 and B98.5, according to Mediabase 24/7. Kiss, Magic and V-103 are giving the white soul singer some spins as well.
What's interesting is these are all new acts and all are pure pop in different ways. And none are American. Nico & Vinz, a Norwegian black duo (now how often is that a descriptive?) provides African dance elements, a propelling drum beat and a moody club feel. This reviewer compares the vocal stylings as a cross between Sting and Akon.
Canadian band Magic's "Rude" has a pleasant laid-back mid-tempo summer reggae-lite vibe.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Smith's song may have the most enduring appeal. Sure, it has a similar melodic line as Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" but it couldn't be any different in sentiment or vocals. The British singer, who broke it big stateside in March with a bracing appearance on "Saturday Night Live," has an impressively vulnerable, sad voice that adds weight to his plea to a lover who won't stay. The gospel choir chorus doesn't hurt. It sticks with yo u like John Legend's love letter "All Of Me," a top spun song on Atlanta radio for months (and remains at No. 6). No surprise "Stay With Me" has garnered 41 million-plus views on YouTube.
Smith, by the way, is featured in another top 10 song by Disclosure called "Latch."
Other songs in the top 10 are also big summer hits on top 40: Ariane Grande's "Problem' at No. 5 is relying on airplay from just Power and Q100. Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy," at No. 4, gets support from V-103, Hot, Power and Q100. Both have too many rap elements for B98.5 or Star to bite.
A fast-rising crossover hit enters the top 10: Florida Georgia Line's "This is How We Roll." The country duo already had a top 40 smash last summer with "Cruise" thanks to a remix that included Nelly. "This is How We Roll" has been a hit for months on the Bull and Kicks 101.5, the mainstream country stations. Now Star 94 and Power have added it thanks to a Jason DeRulo remix. As a result, the song in one week went from 29 spins to 141.
Here's the top 10
1. Rico & Vinz "Am I Wrong"
2. Magic "Rude"
3. Sam Smith "Stay With Me"
4. Iggy Azalea "Fancy"
5. Ariane Grande "Problem"
6. John Legend "All of Me"
7. Maroon 5 "Maps"
8. MKTO "Classic"
9. Disclosure "Latch" (with Sam Smith)
10. Florida-Georgia Line "This is How We Roll"
Top 5 songs on various Atlanta stations measured by Mediabase 24/7 (stations such as X107.1, Q100 at 97.9, Good Time Oldies 98.9 and Streetz 94.5 are not included)
V-103
1. Schoolboy Q "Studio"
2. T.I. "No Medicore"
3. T.I. "About the Money"
4. Iggy Azalea "Fancy"
5. Rich Homie Quan "Walk Thru"
Recent added songs: John Legend "You & I," Jeezy "Seen It All" Rich Gang "Lifestyle" Chris Brown "New Flame," Jhene Aiko "To Love & Die"
Hot 107.9
1. Rich Homie Quan "Walk Thru"
2. T.I. "About the Money"
3. Schoolboy Q "Studio"
4. Migos "Handsome and Wealthy"
5. Iggy Azalea "Fancy"
Recent newly added songs: Rae Sremmurd "No Flex Zone" B.O.B. "Swing My Way" Chris Brown "New Flame"
Kiss 104.1
1. Ledisi "I Blame You"
2. M. Jackson & J. Timberlake "Love Never Felt So Good"
3. Fantasia 'Without Me"
4. Tamar Braxton "All the Way Home"
5. Pharrell WIlliams "Happy"
Recent adds: Avery Sunshine "Call My Name," KEM "It's You" Sam Smith "Stay With Me"
Majic 107.5/97.5
1. Pharrell Williams "Happy:
2. John Legend "All Of Me"
3. George Tandy Jr. "March"
4. Erci Benet "New For You"
5. Robin Thicke "For the Rest Of My Life"
Power 96.1
1. Iggy Azalea "Fancy"
2. Ariana Grande "Problem"
3. Magic! "Rude"
4. Sam Smith "Stay With Me"
5. Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong"
ADDS: Florida-Georgia Line "This is How We Roll," Becky G "Shower" Pharrell Williams "Come Get It Bae" Ed Sheeran "Don't" Ariane Grande "Break Free"
Q100
1. Magic! "Rude"
2. Calvin Harris 'Summer"
3. Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong"
4. Ariane Grande "Problem"
5. Disclosure "Latch"
ADDS: Ariane Grande "Break Free" 5 Seconds of Summer "Amnesia" Sia "Chandelier" Madden Brothers "We Are Done" Becky G "Shower" AJR "I'm Ready"
Star 94, which has become a bit more rhythm in recent weeks with songs such as Flo Rida's "Wild Ones," David Guietta's "Titanium," Gym Class Heroes and Pitbull's "Timber"
1. OneRepublic "Countin Stars"
2. Sam Smith "Stay With Me"
3. John Legend "All Of Me"
4. Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong"
5. Magic! "Rude"
ADDS: Florida-Georgia Line "This is How We Roll" Meghan Trainor "All About That Bass" MKTO "Classic" Ed Sheeran "Don't" Better Than Ezra "Crazy lucky" The Script "Superheroes"
B98.5
1. Paramore "Ain't it Fun"
2. Sam Smith "Stay With Me"
3. John Legend "All Of Me"
4. Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong"
5. Rixton "Me and My Broken Heart"
ADDS: Magic! "Rude" (Also added Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait" way after the fact)
Praise 102.5
1. Hezekiah Walker "Every Praise"
2. William Murphy "It's Working"
3. Ricky Dillard & New G "Amazing"
4. William McDowell "Withholding Nothing"
5. Isaac Carree "But God"
ADD: Canton Jones "More Of You" Wess Morgan "Cry"
Fish 104.7
1. Newsboys "We Believe"
2. Citizen Way "How Sweet the Sound"
3. Crowder "I Am"
4. Matt Redman "Your Grace Finds Me"
5. Matthew West "Do Something"
ADDS: Casey Darnell "Over and Over" For King & Country "Fix My Eyes" Tenth Avenue North "No Man Is an Island"
Kicks 101.5
1. Joe Nichols "Yeah"
2. Chris Young "Who I Am With You"
3. Billy Currington "We Are Tonight"
4. Brad Paisley "River Bank"
5. Jake Owen "Beachin' "
ADDS: Luke Bryan "Roller Coaster" Florida-Georgia Line "Dirt" Keith Urban "Somewhere In My Car" Jason Aldean 'Burnin' It Down" Maddie & Tae "Girl in a Country Song"
94.9/The Bull
1. Billy Currington "We Are Tonight"
2. Joe Nichols "Yeah"
3. Cole Swindell "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight"
4. Dierks Bentley "Drunk On a Plane"
5. Jake Owen "Summer Jam"
ADDS: Florida-Georgia Line "Dirt" Scotty McCreery "Feelin' It" Jason Aldean "Burnin It Down" Jon Pardi "What I Can't Put Down"
Radio 105.7
1. Bleachers "I Wanna Get Better"
2. Arctic Monkeys "Why'd You Only Call Me When..."
3. Bastille "Bad Blood"
4. Fitz & the Tantrums "The Walker"
5. Neighbourhood "Afraid"
ADDS: Dirty Heads "My Sweet Summer" Coldplay "A Sky Full of Stars" Milky Chance "Stolen Dance"
Rock 100.5
1. Led Zeppelin "Houses of the Holy"
2. Rolling Stones "Beast of Burden"
3. Aerosmith "Sweet Emotion"
4. Aerosmith "Walk This Way"
5. Jimi Hendrix "Foxey Lady"
97.1 The River
1. AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long"
2. Stevie Nicks "Edge of Seventeen"
3. Genesis "That's All"
4. Eddie Money "Take Me Home Tonight"
5. INXS "Need You Tonight"
Let's compare the River and Rock 100.5 in terms of decades because it appears the River now relies evenly between the 1970s and 1980s while Rock is now emphasizing the 1970s with an even split between the 1980s and 1990s.
2000s: The River: 0.3% Rock 100.5: 5%
1990s: The River: 7% Rock 100.5: 27%
1980s The River: 42% Rock 100.5: 23%
1970s The River: 42% Rock 100.5: 38%
1960s: The River: 8% Rock 100.5: 5%
SOURCE: Mediabase 24/7
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