PSYCHOSHTICK 3,023 Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 7 hours ago, LGAte said: I’m going to inform everyone of something as a marketer that surprises me that pop fans have not caught on to yet: Spoiler In 2026, the lead single is not the “big single” anymore. Streaming changed how people buy music and if they do choose to buy it, it is near an album release when there is the most hype. So if you are going the singles-route: releasing a lead as a pallet cleanser or world starter is more the purpose of a lead now because you aren’t going to maximize commercial purchases months out- things move too fast now. The lead single is often the “identity” single now. In the past, singles and radio carried the hype into the album but that doesn’t happen anymore. Hype is built over time. This happened with brat, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter. So the music labels opt for multiple singles rolled out and pick the hit as the 2nd or 3rd single nearest the album. Do we not see this with Gaga as well? Her last 3 pop albums have had a bigger 2nd single and a moderate lead. (Perfect Illusion/Millions Reasons, Stupid Love/Rain on Me, Disease/Abracadabra). For example, it would be like, if Born This Way came out today, Marry the Night WOULD be released as the lead single because it is the most excellent “vibe” and “world building” of that era (isn’t that ironic it was the last single?), and THEN I would say Born This Way or Judas being chosen as the “prime” single nearest the album. Or with ARTPOP literally choosing ARTPOP (the song) as a lead and then releasing Applause or Aura or Venus as a prime single. or vice versa- Abracadabra would be the lead of Mayhem in 2011, with Disease as the second single, Vanish Into You as the third, Zombieboy as a Halloween treat, and then Die With A Smile as the outro of the era. MY POINT HERE BEING: Madonna’s actually “big hit” of this era is probably either the Sabrina song OR it’s something that will be released during Pride Month. I also am pretty sure about this considering the tone of the song- it’s not trying to be a pop song- at all. It’s trying to be something you experience ala dance tracks back in the day that were on albums to continue the vibe- not be the hits. I Feel So Free acts as a way to nod to Future Lovers/I Feel So Good by Donna Summer (which was literally the fan-loved opener of the Confessions Tour interestingly), and is meant to set the tone of the album. The hit of Confessions II will probably come out in 4-6 weeks. Thank you so much! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonBaetens 9,384 Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 15 hours ago, Squidward T said: Because the song is awful. I’m sorry but it’s true. She can do much better. Really? I like it a lot, it's Confessions meets Madame X when you're lonely, I'll be lonely too / https://www.last.fm/user/SimonBaetens 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAPRISONGS 1,652 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 On 4/20/2026 at 12:16 AM, Ladle Ghoulash said: The concept of basic reading comprehension lmao the concept of being rude over a joke lmfao Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladle Ghoulash 48,884 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 2 minutes ago, CAPRISONGS said: the concept of being rude over a joke lmfao Jokes are usually funny We have forgotten our public MANNERS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAPRISONGS 1,652 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said: Jokes are usually funny ... Edited April 21 by CAPRISONGS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladle Ghoulash 48,884 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 21 minutes ago, CAPRISONGS said: ... Am I wrong? We have forgotten our public MANNERS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EART HL I NG 851 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 This is so off-topic and definitely aging myself… but it’s kind of iconic that her outfit on the cover is near exact to Nina Williams in Tekken 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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