Single vs Promotional Single?

[AlwaysLoveGaga 4,297]

I kind of feel embarrassed asking this question, but has always confused me what the difference between a Single and a Promotional Single. I think I have a basic idea of the difference, but am still a little confused.

Thanks! 

[shame 25,360]

to me the main difference is that the promo single usually flops

[dynamite 54,185]

Edit: I realised that I don't actually know 

[Midnightrush891 727]

Promo singles are what they call singles that flop, an example Massive Attack by Nicki Minaj 

[Gracious Gaga 17,163]

3 minutes ago, dynamite said:

A promo single usually doesn't have a video I think

Hair was a promo single, or a real single that got cancelled?

hair was a promo!  I believe Edge of Glory was originally promo also but became official single.  

usually, promo singles are released to buzz/promote an album but they dont get radio play.

 

edit: *straight from wikipedia* On May 5, 2011, Interscope sent out an e-mail to radio stations across the United States, which stated that "The Edge of Glory" was to be released on Monday, May 9, 2011, as the first of two promotional single for Born This Way. It was to serve as the first song in the "Countdown to Born This Way" promotion on iTunes Store. However, after its release to the digital stores, "The Edge of Glory" started selling a considerable amount of digital downloads, prompting Gaga to make it the third single from Born This Way.

[Woohoo 6,534]

Let's not forget that dope peaked #8 with barely any promo  that's higher than PI

[dynamite 54,185]

Just now, Gracious Gaga said:

hair was a promo!  I believe Edge of Glory was originally promo also but became official single.  

usually, promo singles are released to buzz/promote an album but they dont get radio play.

Ah ok,

I think A-Yo was a promo single too wasn't it?

[shame 25,360]

Just now, Midnightrush891 said:

Promo singles are what they call singles that flop, aka Massive Attack by Nicki Minaj 

looks like they should've made perfect illusion a promo single smh, even hair charted higher

[AlwaysLoveGaga 4,297]

Ok I'm not alone

[Gracious Gaga 17,163]

3 minutes ago, dynamite said:

Ah ok,

I think A-Yo was a promo single too wasn't it?

according to Wiki, you are correct about that

I think Venus & Dope were also promo singles. beautiful dirty rich was as well.  

edit: and DWUW was originally a promo single, but we all know how that ended  

[SureJoanne 11]

3 minutes ago, dynamite said:

Ah ok,

I think A-Yo was a promo single too wasn't it?

Yes it was

[ArtpopAct2 2,672]

Think it’s basically another way to say “song that comes out before the album but doesn’t get radio play, video etc that a regular single would” 

which is odd because all those things are... promo  so basically a promo single is a single without promo

[AlwaysLoveGaga 4,297]

1 minute ago, ARTPOPAct2 said:

Think it’s basically another way to say “song that comes out before the album but doesn’t get radio play, video etc that a regular single would” 

which is odd because all those things are... promo  so basically a promo single is a single without promo

Thank you!!! That makes sense!! 

[ArtpopAct2 2,672]

Just now, AlwaysLoveGaga said:

Thank you!!! That makes sense!! 

I guess you could say it’s called that because it releases ahead of the album to promote the album.

its an odd term though, i much prefer “buzz single”

[LadariousGarage 1]

Wait aren't promo singles like not really promoted and nobody gives a f*ck about them and singles people give a f*ck about and are promoted