What lesson is Gaga's team going to learn from everything after Abra underperforming?

[StrawberryBlond 15,451]

- Release the music video on the same day as the new song. That used to be the way for over 2 decades for a reason. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know people don't care as much about mvs in the streaming era but it's all the more reason that you'll stand out by placing importance on the video and forcing people to have the video be their first experience of the song will increase the likelihood of the video catching on. 

- Release on a Friday. For EVERYTHING. Midweek releases are for indie artists who don't have high expectations for chart performance or artists who just don't care and just want to put out music and not much more. If you want maximum hit straight out the gate, Friday is non-negotiable.

- Spread out promo performances over multiple singles. Almost all her live performances were focused on Abra, which is good but there's no point putting out other singles if you're going to put it all on the one song. 

- Put major ads everywhere. Spotify banners, tv spots, posters on the streets. Don't assume that everyone knows she has new work coming out.

- Let her tour in every region where she's popular. No Latin American leg for the Mayhem tour after she hasn't toured there properly since 2012 is unacceptable. Yes, she did those Mexico dates and the free Rio date but they were pre-tour (though I still see no reason why that wasn't included as they were the same show) and they're just 2 countries. I'm not buying that those regions are profitable. Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Shakira (plus many more) had sell-out tours in multiple Latin American countries last year. We need to end these tired stereotypes of "you lose money by touring there." Her fans there have earned her to go there.

- Putting out a mainstream song as a single. HBDUWM and GoE were right there. Album tracks are for fans, singles are for the public. We need to get over the concept of every song has to be out there and different and breaking the mould. Public successes are literally what will keep her popular, relevant and making music for years to come. 

[Killa 18,740]

5 hours ago, Creyk said:

Well, two things can be true:

1. Abra was a big worldwide hit

2. Abra underperformed in her home market and was a minor hit there at best. 

This is just facts and the recurrent streams prove it. 

It was unfortunately short lived. The Song has very low streams. Which might tell US that the Song Is at fault and was Just a momentary tik tok viral Song. Or It failed to completely be on everyone's radar.

To me It answers your question. The problem Wasnt the promo but the Song It self. 

[KindnessPunk 2,458]

Abra underperformed?

[imogen2133 445]

I know a lot of people here are saying "the charts don't matter" but I disagree, they tell us what people are listening too(well sort of) and what will influence music going forward. I personally would love songs like disease or Abra that are much more out there, dance heavy and experimental (well mainly Disease) do well and influence music going forward and for it to be more popular than the Tik Tok music/safe bland stuff like Taylor Swift rut we are in now. I know that is basically a fever dream at this point but I would like to see more songs like that gain popularity. I mean DWAS being a success isn't exactly surprising, it's a safe, adult contemporary ballad aimed at the GP and that is why it did so well, I think it is more impressive when songs that have sounds that aren't popular at that time do well because they have to fight harder to be successful and that is why disease in particular flopping was frustrating at the time(but not exactly surprising unfortunately).

Edited May 27 by imogen2133

[Ouranos 978]

GP are sheep and slow. Bloody Mary is a perfect example. Don’t obsess over charts and streams just enjoy the music 

[TheARTPOPball 1,481]

Step 1 - become Taylor swift 

[JustJames 1,084]

On 5/25/2026 at 10:31 AM, doppelganger said:

Forget about the conventional album rollout and go big. Sometimes more is more.

I love Abracadabra's rollout but it came at the expense of the other songs, and the album overall. And the weaker songs like TDD and Runway came, with videos, when I would have liked a video for VIY or SOAM, or any other songs that are way more deserving. 

The notion Abracadabra’s rollout and/or the additional singles (TDD and Runway) we got this last year came “at the expense” of anything else is pure fantasy. Regardless of how fans twist it, DWAS was ultimately a part of MAYHEM and thus, we’d already gotten 3 singles and 3 MVs from the album, which is absolutely in line with her previous eras and eras of other major pop acts.

A post-album single does literally nothing for album / concert sales in 2025/6. Unless you’re still expanding your audience like a Sabrina or Olivia, or have a track go viral, it’s a total waste and had she released a song to radio and had it not enter BB100, we’d have hundreds of “what can her team learn about X” threads related to it. 

TDD and digital reissue was additional promo/content we’d have not otherwise gotten.

On 5/25/2026 at 10:42 AM, Starmie25 said:

I think they wanted "Abracadabra" to be main focus, plus it had only been a single for not even 2 months at the time.

I also feel 'Disease' mv underperforming played a part in limited mv releases @River

 

I’m pretty sure Disease’s numbers were expected. They kept it lowkey while the Joker saga played out, and let an acclaimed track signaling the type of sound etc. to be expected off MAYHEM build a bit of hype and fulfill her commitment to a late ‘24 lead single.

On 5/25/2026 at 1:09 PM, Creyk said:

Well, two things can be true:

1. Abra was a big worldwide hit

2. Abra underperformed in her home market and was a minor hit there at best. 

This is just facts and the recurrent streams prove it. 

No, these are opinions based on cherry picking a set of metrics you feel are most relevant toward determining what defines a hit and minor hit. 

How do we have threads every week whining about nostalgia, and yet people still obsess over “recurrent streams” as if it isn’t totally normal for most people to eventually move on from listening to a song (regardless of of quality or performance during the time it was in-market) after more than 12 months?

It did NOT underperform. It was #1 on US Spotify, #7 on US Pop Radio, made the top 60 on the YE Chart (comparable to tracks like Yes And?, Texas Hold Em, and Break My Soul), and spent the entirety of its 20 week on the Hot 100 inside the top 50. It only missed a top 10 peak due to its release coinciding with Kendrick’s SB. 

[JustJames 1,084]

The concept of telling a team that was behind the 9th-best selling album of the year globally what they “could learn” is crazy to me. 

Also, why is it whenever Gaga releases a single for a show or movie, it needs to be some major blockbuster hit? TDD and Runway did better than 99% of similarly released singles and they still get ridiculed by her own fans. Taylor, Beyoncé, SZA, and Rihanna have released movie singles that were DOA, Ariana’s DCMA was comparable to TDD, etc. These songs are made for a specific purpose and audience that isn’t going to totally align with their core fanbases and that’s fine. Their purpose is to promote a movie/show.

[andy232000 13,120]

Abracadabra would have been top 3 if it werent for the supwer bowl. She had more than enough points. Its just a matter of adjusting your release timing.