Steady Rising
Chart extract from radioandrecords.com
David’s historic debut at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 was accomplished without national radio. Digital plays and purchases created an unprecedented spike for the song in the first week of official release. And according to those with knowledge about these metrics, an initial spike of this magnitude would not have been possible by way of David’s core fan base alone–the iTunes exposure, the Z100 premiere, and organic Internet proliferation (so-called “viral marketing”) helped expose many new listeners to David. The precipitous drop in charting after the spike was inevitable, given the limited radio play. Ever since radio stations started adding Crush to their playlists, however (new ones are still being added), the song has been steadily rising on the charts again.
For more detail on the charting of Crush, check out Seattlearchie’s column at FansofDavid.
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Thank you for the chart. Rascal. David is doing very well indeed as a newcomer. I am so happy for him.
Thanks for the update Rascl Palin. That’s kinda what I thought/hoped would be the trend towards chart and then world domination! I saw yesterday that someone pointed (not sure who, can’t turn back now) out the ‘Lincoln Heights’ promo, feat. “Crush.” ‘That’s pretty awesome’ I thought, then I saw it on youtube and I even got all va-clempt. It was just so awesome to see another show, (not a FoX/CBS owned) show using DA’s song. Just thought I’d share…Awww.. Here’s the link. Oh and BeeBee, you’re welcome! Anything4You.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGUTXHcerwY
It’s great to see isn’t it. The slow steady climb back up. Seattlearchie does a great job of explaing, escpecially all the numbers. Although it is still not clear to me what audience number means.
Going back JesseQ, thanks for your 4shared link
This chart is reassuring. David’s going to be fine (I’m no longer worried). Also, the song is going to get further exposure by being featured in the premiere show of an ABC Family program called Lincoln Heights, from what I understand. All this indicates that Jive is going to do all that they can to promote the single and give David the support he needs as a new artist.
In fact, this full speed plan of theirs, as David transitions from Idol tour to this next phase, has given me hope that, in the eyes of his label, he is functioning as one of their “debut artists,” and not as the American Idol runner-up. In the past, such treatment from other labels created this ridiculous expectation that they would immediately go gold or platinum, due to the show’s popularity, and when they fell short, they were quickly dumped.
By treating David as a new artist, I have hope that his label is not going to rest on his Idol laurels and actually market him in the same way they would any of their label artists. If they could market Jordin Sparks successfully (keep in mind she wasn’t nearly as popular as David and, unlike David, her win continues to be tainted with the idea that another contestant -- namely Melinda Doolittle -- should have won; by not winning, David doesn’t even have that baggage, had he beaten Cook), David comes to them with so much more.
As everyone here loves to say, and I’m finally coming on board fully: Trust the Archulator!
Love it when David is introduced as either “new artist David Archuleta” or just “David Archuleta”. The runner-up thing is over!
I’m very happy with David’s chart positions. He is firmly in the top 40 on both major Top 40 charts (26 on Billboard, 22 on R & R). This means he’ll be on all the national Top 40 countdowns and every hit music station should be playing Crush soon if they’re not already. He is also getting play on adult contemporary stations. No matter where Crush goes from here, I have to consider David’s first single a big success. David is also closing in on selling 500,000 copies of Crush. I’m not worried because when he gets close I have no doubt that we’ll see to it that he gets over 500,000 and make Crush a gold record.
well, this is great and as all my fellow SF Bay Area David fans know, he has yet to be played on RadioAlice (97.3) or Star 101.3 (with Ryan S. on in the afternoon). Bay Area fans have been calling, etc. for more that a month but California is a big holdout so far…so annoying!! I really want to hear him in RadioAlice studio because all David’s favorite musicians have been in there and it is a cool place to be.
#7 Collegemom, I’m from the Central Coast Area of California, San Luis Obispo, and I had a heck of time e-mailing and politely requesting and I’m sure I had some help and finally, I’ve heard it consistently on three of our local stations even a hard core hip hop station that I can barely stand listening sometimes with the repeated plays of Lil Wayne, etc. But, anyway, hopefully you will have the same experience soon. Is there anything I can do to help. If you post their website addresses, I will also request. I travel to your area on business frequently and also get very frustrated that I never hear it. These rise in charts should make a difference. Let’s keep it up!
hello gorgeous-Wow you really do get ‘anxious’ about this stuff. I am very glad that your readers didn’t get you to stick to your pledge.
“So, I now find myself pleading to my faithful readers to remind me of my pledge to swear off this show and NOT get sucked into it again because of an adorable 16-year-old named David Archuleta.”
collegemom, I don’t understand why this SF market is so slow to get on board. I wonder if there is some components to the slow and easy marketing strategy that I don’t understand. Coincide the launch of the music video with airplay in larger markets for bigger effect and impact? I am probably imagining strange things by now because I just don’t get it.
rascal, thanks for posting seattlearchie’s great write up on Crush’s progress. I learned some more by reading more of seattlearchie’s comments following this one on FOD. I feel good knowing David is on track with a huge potential to reach new heights! Yay!
(continuing from above, pressed tab on accident)..That is a pretty dang nifty site that you have! I’ve been browsing the blogs on there for an hour. Good stuff!
hello gorgeous, I didn’t know that Jordin Sparks’ win continues to be tainted with the idea that another contestant -- namely Melinda Doolittle -- should have won. That’s too bad, for her, even though MD was my favorite of that season, and Elliott Yamin was my fav during his season (I’m throwing that in because I saw awhile back that you liked him too, and did you know EY said on his website early in season 7 that David was his favorite and that he wasn’t particularly impressed with the rest of the male contestants. The man has taste!).
Sorry if this has already been shared, but this evening’s Entertainment Tonight is airing a segment shot during the making of the Crush video. Sure to be an insightful report featuring an in-depth interview with Archie — kidding. Still, excellent promo for our guy.
(And Vermeer and Hello Gorgeous, I actually bought Elliot’s CD — hear he’s recording a 2nd.)
I’m a Bay Area resident too and utterly frustrated that I haven’t heard Crush on the radio here, despite constant requests to Radio Alice and Star 101.3. I really don’t get it… it’s good to know that he’s being played more and more in other areas of the country. I’m sure they’ll figure it out eventually, but in the meantime, I’ve got my Crush CD on repeat!
JesseQ#9, I see you did your homework. Ha!
Obviously, my readers didn’t do a good job of dissuading me. I interrupted an important historical series I was blogging on just to gush over my discovery of David Archuleta! They knew better than to discourage me.
vermeer, I might be projecting a little about the Jordin Sparks thing, but I think there is still a general consensus that Melinda should have won her season.
TOfan, thanks for the info. on Elliot’s CD -- I have to check it out.
It’s good to know that the steady climb is the more common way that songs make it to the top, that landing at the top of iTunes and #2 on Billboard was a happy aberation. I think when exposure picks up, so will his numbers. I can’t wait to see him up there again.
On another note, I have a bunch of copies of the pamphlet “For the Strength of Youth” that David uses to guide his behavior. I’ll give one free to anyone who sends me a self-addressed stamped envelope (3 stamps) that is big enough to hold a 5x7 enclosure. It addresses standards for youth all the way from family, friends, education, dress and appearance to music, language, dating, sex, etc.
It’s a sweet little pamphlet, easy to read. Let me know you’re interested at karendisbrow@yahoo.com and I’ll get an address to you so you can send the SSE in to me.
I too really enjoyed Melinda Doolittle and understand she will be bringing out an album this fall with HiFi recordings. I read somewhere that she was finishing a tour in Hawaii opening for Amy Grant. I find it astounding that the American people are having such an influence on finding new talent. Their lives are all changed. Sometimes its a huge change and sometimes a smaller one.
I find David outside the box. He was interested in A1 so entered through that venue but the day will come when no one will care. He will just be David or Archuleta and the whole world will know his name.
My apologies for the ET misdirection, folks. Guess the Crush item was bumped for late-breaking exclusive footage of Dannielynn Smith’s 2nd birthday party. (I so WISH I was kidding.)
Have you seen Crush listed #3 in a compilation entitled ‘Teen Pop iTunes Essentials’? I wonder whether these sales are added to Crush’s tally.
Ok, now I’ve done it! My transformation into obsessive fanatical fandom is complete. I’ve just joined the ranks of all the other fans who have joined youtube and have made videos of David. I took Eva Cassidy’s version of “Imagine” and combined it with David’s younger version of “Imagine”, then finished it with the American Idol version. Since this is my first foray into this cyber-jungle, if you have any suggestions or comments, I’d greatly appreciate them. I hope you don’t mind Rascal for me using your forum to announce this, but I feel like I’m among friends and I wanted to share this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7S6ePNU-yE
I must confess, I’m starting to get itchy to make another.
Great job cutter12. I must say I am impressed, Eva’s version harmonized well with David’s. I am glad you included some images of David which I have not seen before; he is adorable. Thanks!
cutter12 -- that is eerie and wonderful and I SO hope David hears it! There are places in it that make my hair stand on end, the harmony is so perfect. Kudos to you!!!!!!
cutter12, thank you for sharing your work, your labor of love. Very hauntingly beautiful. So sad Eva is gone and so thankful that David introduced me (and many of us who didn’t know her) to her.
I liked what you did, cutter. Well done!
It occurred to me some time back that it would be cool if David would do a duet with Eva Cassidy similar to the ones that were done by and for Natalie Cole. Remember how beautiful they were, her singing with the old videos of her dad, Nat King Cole? I’d bet Eva’s family would be pleased to have David duet with her coz he’s SO good, the results would pure magic, and it would prompt more interest in her and sales of her music.
I hope that happens sometime down the road. Anticipating what he could do with that opportunity is mind-boggling.
Oops. Would “be” pure magic.
Hauntingly beautiful! Great job, cutter12! Especially if this is your first effort.
cutter12 -- Great job! Thanks for sharing -- another one to watch over and over! Beautiful -- just beautiful!
Off topic, but interesting: Found this while surfing the Web:
Q What is pop singer Paul Anka doing these days?—Timothy Tyrrell, Chicago, Ill.
A He’s putting the finishing touches on his autobiography, set for publication this year. “I’m also working on a Broadway show about my life,” Anka, 67, tells us. “I’d like David Archuleta [17-year-old American Idol runner-up] for the lead, because he reminds me so much of myself as a young singer.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UftZY-aX3po
I’m sure a lot is not conveyed via these ancient videos, but early Paul Anka seems cheesier and less resonating than our David. Any thoughts?
And a morning treat for you all: David singing WYSYLM last night in Evansville:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Pf4HX29TI
Hey caseydog, I am getting the much hated message that the “video is no longer available” when I try to open your link. I’ll check into youtube later.
Surely a broadway role at this time would almost not allow David to spend time to record and develop his own music, wouldn’t it?
Great honor, though, for Anka to want him isn’t it!
awestruck: I’m still opening both vid links above just fine. But yes, I agree. Not much time for broadway when you’re doing a world tour!
#20 Cutter12, I almost cried when I watched your video. I am very touched… When I heard David’s version, all I thought is though Eva Cassidy has left, Eva Cassidy is still here. How life is amazing, when you see someone has been inspired by you and live with that…
Thank so much for your video. Thanks.
Omigosh, Cutter12, simply stunning!! Eva’s and David’s versions move me to tears for different reasons. I find hers tinged with sadness, David’s with hope. You’ve blended them so beautifully *sniff*. Thank you.
I wonder what my computor issue is then re opening the videos, any ideas?
Hi everyone…just putting my toe in the water on your site.
In Toronto, Crush is being played more (TOFan…are you from TO?), albeit slowly. I request daily on ChumFM, and also joined an on-line feature called “Music Meeting” to rate his music as well as others. I also call the DJ sometimes (NEVER done that before) to ask for a new spin. DJ’s are still shocked that DA’s fans are over 15 years of age. That’s getting so old.
IMHO, David/Crush needs TV exposure beyond family channels. The song’s theme could easily fit an episode of 90210 (HOT right now..and there IS a ‘crush’ between two main characters) although we all know crushes don’t last too long on these shows before they develop into something WAY beyond that. I understand well this is unlikely the association David and his team wants at this point in his career. Good thing I’m not on his management team.
Cutter12…beautiful video. Interesting how David has introduced me to new artists, like Eva Cassidy. I listened to James Morrison and Jason Mraz last night. Very good stuff.
Hi pastel. I’m from Calgary and have no luck so far with any of the Calgary stations. I really hate listening to radio stations, much prefer my CD’s, but will have to make more of an effort so I feel justified in making phone calls instead of e-mailing.
I want to thank you guys for the wonderful things you have said about the video I made. #20
I’m glad you all enjoyed it.