Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license

I think that's the point of the rigging, if it happens - it's not to replace organic sales entirely, but to generate them (and launch/position the artist for future releases) by getting the song onto the big chart playlists. I think it happens all the time, but this one just looks more obvious than usual.
 
It's the same as it has been for decades, isn't it? It's promo/advertising, and speculating to accumulate.
 
It makes me wonder which artists have had the most money / dodgy dealing thrown at them WITHOUT getting a sustained career out of it? Presumably they would be dropped fairly quickly if they didn't start turning it around.

I genuinely don't believe you can buy star quality, but doubtless many have tried.
 
I find it interesting that some have compared this to when Britney blew up with Baby One More Time, I don’t agree it has anywhere near the same impact. Maybe it’s all about perspective and age... as a man in his thirties, this song isn’t for me, but as a gay teenager Baby One More Time was.
 
Dance Witch Abortion said:
I find it interesting that some have compared this to when Britney blew up with Baby One More Time, I don’t agree it has anywhere near the same impact. Maybe it’s all about perspective and age... as a man in his thirties, this song isn’t for me, but as a gay teenager Baby One More Time was.
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Time will tell. Baby One More Time wasn't immediately "iconic"; it was just a big hit that seemed to have come out of nowhere but had actually been brewing for a while outside of most people's line of sight. And, indeed, I recall suspicions about its first week sales tally but I think these were largely sour grapes from the real-music brigade.
 
Agree, it was immediately iconic! It had been out for a few months earlier in the US but didn’t come on the UK radar until early 1999 and it just felt instantly like the arrival of someone who was here to stay, as well as having cross-generational appeal which I imagine Driver’s License lacks.
 
Ag said:
It so was!
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Only among people who ritually abuse the word "iconic". It was a big pop hit with a pedo-bait video. See also: t.A.t.U.'s "All The Things She Said" (which is a much better record).
 
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everything was different then. songs premiered and then had 6-8 weeks to be everywhere on radio and TV before they could be purchased. how can apples be compared with oranges?

if anything it's a much bigger achievement to release a song today and get a first week #1 with all the hype and awareness happening in real time, not weeks ahead.
 
We used to have loads of sudden hits from acts that weren't in most people's field of vision. Cornershop's "Brimful Of Asha" was another. I think what's making people suspicious is that we're not used to that any more - we're used to slow climbs and durability (which it may well have, who knows?).

The more I think about, the more I think all this stuff about bot farms is probably bullshit. It's plausible to me as an old yin who remembers the sales-only charts and there may well be some element of that but if it was as easy as this, we'd have been seeing it for years. Do we not think Cowell and his ilk would have been onto it to at least get an act top 10 and onto some playlists?
 
Jark said:
everything was different then. songs premiered and then had 6-8 weeks to be everywhere on radio and TV before they could be purchased. how can apples be compared with oranges?

if anything it's a much bigger achievement to release a song today and get a first week #1 with all the hype and awareness happening in real time, not weeks ahead.
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It’s a good point, different times and circumstances. I just can’t imagine either Olivia or the song having the same relevance in pop culture in 20 years.
 
octophone said:
Do we not think Cowell and his ilk would have been onto it to at least get an act top 10 and onto some playlists?
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I think there has been some element of it from Cowell, such as Matt Terry’s first “proper” solo single being on Hot Hits UK for months on end despite never cracking the top 40. I guess they call that payola rather than anything to do with bots.
 
I think people just liked the song and were free and ready to listen! I don't smell a great deal of cynical behaviour here at all.
 
This kind of reminds me of when Ariana Grande released This Way and it was number one on iTunes with a big lead. I had also never heard of her.

based on not much, I think she’s going to have more big hits
 
Remember when they found out Spotify made up fake artists to pay less money to the real artists? I could believe anything.
 
Alla said:
Remember when they found out Spotify made up fake artists to pay less money to the real artists? I could believe anything.
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This just made me think. Does Spotify own a record label yet? Would it make them more money if they did?
 
I gave in and listened to this. Dreary shite that's only redeeming feature is its bridge. Even then, that's probably just the cheerleader effect.

4/10
 
Spotify don't invest in music. They invest in podcasts and such like. Their "investment" in music amounts to the fake artists, designed to essentially reduce the amounts paid in royalties (i.e. - the fake artists need to be paid too). For ease: imagine that Spotify have £10,000 in royalties to divide up among 12 artists. If they invent a further 4 artists, the £10,000 the same because it's based on subscriptions but it is now being divided among 16 artists, except, for 4 of them, the money goes straight back into Spotify. The 12 real artists earn less than they would have done.

Apply that at scale to the numbers Spotify actual deals with. They are paying one-off session fees or buyouts with a huge return, especially on ambient/relaxation/etc playlists, all the time whittling away at the viability of music as a full-time income. Short term gain with long term impact.
 
This will block Ariana from the Hot 100 #1 this week (and probably next several weeks too). OH.

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Finally listened to this (actively).

This is pretty bloody GREAT to be fair, not surprised it's taken off.
 
I thought I was in the PRETTYMUCH thread for a second, but yes I agree. The payola accusations are interesting when it's plainly a great song.
 
Her ex-boyfriend that the song is about, and her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, both have songs out now, seemingly about the same situation.

I haven't listened but it warms my heart to know that the zoomers are having their 'Lindsay and Hilary fight over Aaron Carter' moment.
 
that's a very VENGEFUL clapback considering Olivia's song is about her own insecurities and doesn't shade this Sabrina girl at all.

sit down bitch.
 
If someone brought their past relationship into my present one by referencing me in their work (thereby putting a target on my back for their followers) AND declaring that they still love my partner... I think a "step off" reply wouldn't be unwarranted.

(That said, I think this is all record label shenanigans.)
 
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He's very charming in High School Musical The Musical The Series :D
 
"disgusting" is a BIT much though Jarcque
 
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