Is Peacekeeper a flop?

[jeffs]

Since it has gone live on Radio last Wednesday I have yet to hear it on the radio in NYC/NJ. I have spent 4 hours a day commuting to and from work and have been scanning all radio staions, top 40, light rock, rock to no avail. Obviously it has been on in NYC but from what I can tell it is becoming a flop of a single. If this is the case I blame Warners for picking one of the more anemic songs from this new album as a first single.

[stefan]

Originally posted by jeffs
If this is the case I blame Warners for picking one of the more anemic songs from this new album as a first single.

I couldn't tell Peacekeeper was anemic. Especially haven't I heard a song from the new album (just considering the possible singles i.e. you can't count things like Come, Red rover etc, these are great tunes but not for the masses as a single release) which I would regard as edgier. But that's of course a matter of subjective and personal impression.

A different question is how you could estimate success. In my opinion it's ridiculous that there is no single in the stores and that the charts are based on airplay. Madonna or Eminem could release the daily news as singles and still get Number one airplay. So if FM don't succeed with a single, it's more likely because of the fact, that radio stations don't want to play music from groups of that age and with a certain public image. I would not be surprised if the responsible radio staff even did not listen to the song. I really doubt that they did and then said, "no that`s not good" On the other board I read, that a station wouldn't play it until it already has success and other stations are playing it a lot. That`s somehow a circle... Get the single out in the stores, base the charts on the amount of sold copies and no Aguilera, Britney and Nsync radio mafia can manipulate what finally the billboard chart result is like...

[jeffs]

So if FM don't succeed with a single, it's more likely because of the fact, that radio stations don't want to play music from groups of that age and with a certain public image. I would not be surprised if the responsible radio staff even did not listen to the song


Well, during the 4 hours or so I did manage to hear Go Your Own Way and Gypsy each once so it isn't anything personal against Fleetwood Mac or their public image, I think it is the listenability of the song speaking loudly for itself. I love FM and certainly do not want to be dis-respectful to one of my favorite bands. I am just upset of the lack of radio play and what I find as a questionable first single.

[John Run]

Radio is very reluctant to play anything new by older bands/artists. It is a fact. These bands do poorly on radio, marginally better with album sales, but tour extremely well. It would be surprise if any NEW Fleetwood Mac song got extensive radio airplay outside of a few niche stations/markets.

[stefan]

I agree with you John Run. Older titles from older bands are played here also a lot.

[The Chain]

Gypsy, most of all, and other songs aalways play on a radio station up here.

[Gazza]

Album sales are the only thing that matter.

[sparky]

I don't think a federal law could get radio stations to play new songs from "classic rock" artists. Actually, federal law allowed radio to become homogenized, but I'll get to that. The "classic rock" station in Los Angeles plays old songs. Period. I don't care how good the new songs are. Springsteen can't get new songs on, nor The Stones. The only older artists who have gotten any play at all in recent years have been Sting and Bonnie Raitt. And that is mostly on AAA "adult alternative" stations. I envy those people who have such stations in their cities. We in Los Angeles lost both ours - and as a result have the most monotonous, uninspired radio of any large city in the country. I have heard Peacekeeper twice here - in conjunction with on-air appearances. I 'm not holding my breath for more plays. People at the radio stations don't really pick the songs anyway - their parent companies tell them what to play. I believe 5 companies now own @ 70% of the stations in the U.S. And their stations play the exact same songs in every city. Thank you, F.C.C. and deregulation !

[The Chain]

I HATE THAT

OLD MUSICIANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR NEW MUSIC ON EVERY STATIONS. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM, INSTEAD OF PLAYING THE NOT-SO-TALENTED MUSICIANS OF TODAY, WHO HAVE TO LIP SYNC TO GET ANY TYPE OF FAME.

RRRRRRRRRRRRR. FLASHBACK TO REQUESTING PEACEKEEPER. FUMMING, FUMMING.

IT SO DUMB THE WAY CLASSIC ARTISTS ARE TREATED LIKE DOGS:distress:

[seteca]

I wonder if British radio stations will play any of the Say You Will tracks...at all??? I really hope they release Peacekeeper here aswell, it would do very well, especially given the mood of the majority of the British public.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

[wondergirl9847]

How the BLEEP are we supposed to know if it's a flop or not, they won't play the BLEEPING thing on the BLEEPING radio!!!!!! :mad:
I heard it ONCE the other morning and they MADE FUN OF IT so bleh. Also, I heard another radio station DJ say that FM had a new album coming out..so I'm all "YAY, they are about to play PK when the commercials are over!!" Um....they played frickin RHIANNON!!!! GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!


RADIO BITES!!!

[estranged4life]

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
RADIO BITES!!! [/B]
Actually here's MY opinion of radio:
<img src="http://www.angelfire.com/music3/rhiannon/Barf_Smilie.gif">
<br>..."YUCKKKK", Bwj

[Skylark]

:confused: I tell you they absolutely ruined it with
the new words! It ROCKED with Lindsey's
Solo version! It was Scary... now it is too
softened...It's Nothing! JMO!Pouting!Sky:mad:

[NoQuestionsAskd]

Breathe deeply...it is going to be alright. Sometimes a single doesn't gallop out of the gate..it builds...like Lindsey said in that recent interview, there are many other possible singles in case "Peacekeeper" misses its target...

I think the singles from Stevie's last album made more of an impact on VH1 than the radio...and I think [inspite of comments to the contrary] there will be a video...whether it is for Peacekeeper or the second single....

[Rob67]

Who cares if any of the songs are hits or not? Pop radio and MTV only care about teenage girls' listening habits. If music quality was an indicator of success then Out of the Cradel would have been a smash in my opinion.....


Take it easy...:cool:


Rob

[DownOnRodeo]

My suggestion is - wait for RTTG to be released!!!!


And I agree with the idea that Peacekeeper is song that will build momentum, and may well become a song played on classic rock for years ahead, when the truth of its lyrcis become better publicised.

[Street Angel]

Originally posted by seteca
I wonder if British radio stations will play any of the Say You Will tracks...at all???

I wonder the same about German radio stations. The only time I heard any TISL tracks was when the album as a whole was presented, in these "Here are the new CD releases of the week" kind of shows. Due to a lack of singles I didn't hear any new Stevie songs anymore. Which brings me to...


Originally posted by Gazza
Album sales are the only thing that matter.

and

Originally posted by Rob67
Who cares if any of the songs are hits or not? Pop radio and MTV only care about teenage girls' listening habits.

I agree with both statements and going by what I've heard from all you Ledgies in the US, this is true.
However, in European markets (like Germany) it is a bit different. Sure, I won't expect MTV or VIVA to play any Mac videos as they only care about teenagers' listening habits indeed. But radio is a different thing over here... Hmm, I'll try to explain - as our singles charts are based on sales (and nothing else), of course a commercially released single is needed to score any hits. German radio DOES play all kinds of songs (even NEW songs by OLD artists), but usually they only play songs that are released as commercial singles (see Stevie Nicks example mentioned above). Radio can be an important marketing tool over here, because even when these singles (that receive airplay) do NOT chart, they can mean a strong pull for the album. The reason why artists like, for example, Joe Cocker, Chris Rea or Chris de Burgh still sell huge amounts of albums in Germany (which is as far as I know the third biggest record market in the world sales-wise, i.e. not totally unattractive) is NOT because they have big hit singles or because 95% of the record-buying public consists of middle-aged fans who are buying their old heroes' new albums, but because the commercial single releases get exposure on radio and make people buy the entire album. That's why I'm hoping FM have a single release over here (oh and of course because of potential bonus tracks :laugh: ). Single release -> Radio play -> Album sales.

So, the truth in our (European) case might lie somewhere in the middle. :)

[jeffs]

There are those people on the board that have a place in their listening hearts for this song and those that do honestly like the song but lets face it - even if you took the hundreds of thousands of people across the world who are FM fans and will be anxious to see them in concert I am sure the majority would be less than excited when they hear this song. There are tons of older artists who get significant air time, oh like Santana currently, but the songs are good. So my argument is if FM had a kick ass single that the overall public would like to hear on the radio the radio stations would definitely play it despite their 'old' status.

[Janet]

I live near Philly and they never played Stevie and Im sure they wont play Fleetwood Mac. We have no station that would except maybe b 101 and they even wait until a song is a HIT to play it.

The rock stations won't play it. The top 40 won't play it because thats for kids. The alternative rock won't play it because its not
"cool" enough. The older rock stations might but that has no influence on anything, they just do it out of respect. So there is no where to play Fleetwood Mac. Its just sad.

[John Run]

Jeff-Santana has taken the idea of having outside writers pen songs for him and then having the lead vocals done by current 20 something artists.

WBOS in Boston played the Peacekeeper this morning.

On this board there are many worriers and complainers. All of which is fine, however many know very little about the music industry or how it works.

It is a fact older artists do not get much air play. Radio formats have become extremely tight. Finally, it often takes a significant period of time for any single to penetrate airplay rotations. I give to you the example of Sheryl Crow's Soak Up the Sun. A song that was a huge AC radio hit. It was released in February, did not land in heavy rotation until late march and then became a radio staple for the next 6 months.

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by John Run
On this board there are many worriers and complainers. All of which is fine, however many know very little about the music industry or how it works.

Thanks for enlightening us.

Here's the deal: The timing of Peacekeeper's release is slightly off. A couple more months and it would have resonated more. Another single would have worked better as a lead-off. Obviously this song is being released as the first single because both current Fleetwood Mac voices are prominent and it is all part of the marketing strategy. Never mind that this has never been a consideration before and that the song has been weakened or that Fleetwood Mac has usually been bold in releasing a first single, as in Go Your Own Way, Tusk and Big Love. None of those songs were typical radio fodder when they were released, and now they've all become classics in their own right.

But, look, who cares if they play the damn thing on the radio? I hardly ever listen to the radio, and when I do it's usually for the news or to tune in to WFUV-FM. If you live in New York, this is the only decent radio station around.

If you like it, listen to it. Never mind what the radio is playing.

[John Run]

Carne wrote: If you like it, listen to it. Never mind what the radio is playing.

Great Point!!

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by John Run
Carne wrote: If you like it, listen to it. Never mind what the radio is playing.

Great Point!!

Oh, damn. Now I feel bad for being a wise ass to you... Damn your gracious ways!!! :D

[tommer]

Originally posted by jeffs

There are tons of older artists who get significant air time,
to which planet do you call "home" ?:rolleyes:

[chiliD]

Originally posted by thewhitewingedd
Would anyone have been re-aquinted with Santana if it hadn't been for Rob Tomas?

Well, would they have EVER been "acquinted" with Santana, in the first place, if it hadn't been for PETER GREEN???

[jeffs]

OK - Santana was a bad example. Someone dear to Lindsey and Stevie's heart, Tom Petty has gotten alot of NYC air time with his new album and he is an old timer. Bruce Springsteen, an old timer, dominates the radio here with his new stuff (maybe because he is a local hero). I am no radio expert like some of you obsessed fans but I think it is fair to say that if an old act comes out with a genuinely fresh, great song that is worthy of radio play it will get it's fair shot at getting played. I think the bigger issue is how many older acts are coming up with fresh sounding stuff? I think Peacekeeper could have used Rob Thomas' help as much as Santana benefited from his. No one on this board wants FM to be more successful than me, I've waited for this Lindsey material anxiously since his Dance comment about his new solo album/Bleed to Love Her speech.

[Les]

Regions do make a difference. Petty and Springsteen got virtually no airplay here for their new material. Funnily enough, one of the classic rock stations here broadcast a recently taped concert of Springsteen's a few weekends ago, but that station never has and never will play anything from the new album. Scratch your head about that one for a while. ;)

U2 and Aerosmith are the only "old" acts I hear on "new" radio.

[rianbay1]

Let's give "Peacekeeper" a chance! If you look on www.rronline.com, which lists the national airplay charts, "Peacekeeper" is listed on both the "Hot AC" and Triple A charts as "To be added." Just wanted to let you guys know.


BRIAN

[NoQuestionsAskd]

Also, if first week sales are STRONG then more radio will pick up the single...something that happened to some degree after TISL debuted at #5..."Everyday" got picked up by a couple stations...

[joe]

Originally posted by Rob67
Who cares if any of the songs are hits or not? Pop radio and MTV only care about teenage girls' listening habits. If music quality was an indicator of success then Out of the Cradel would have been a smash in my opinion.....


Take it easy...:cool:


Rob


I agree completely!

[joe]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
But, look, who cares if they play the damn thing on the radio? I hardly ever listen to the radio, and when I do it's usually for the news or to tune in to WFUV-FM. If you live in New York, this is the only decent radio station around.

If you like it, listen to it. Never mind what the radio is playing.

I agree...i listen to tapes mostly...but i try to have about 3 or 4 different stations to switch back and forth to that have different ones....my favorites are the ones that play a very wide array of music and not a lot of it is stuff you hear everyday.

CarneVaca....what number is WFUV?

Thanks
Joe
thumbsup:

[RobNYC]

You are most likely not going to hear it on Top 40. More like Adult Contemporary and classic Rock stations may carry it.

But that doesn't matter too much. Stevie didn't have a hit single with TISL but it still made it to #5 when it came out. Plus I don't believe the Dance had any top 40 singles either. I would hear Silver Springs on the radio but only on the classic rock stations.

Peacekeeper IMO is a good track so i wouldn't worry. It's solid and shows that they can still turn out catchy songs.

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by joe
CarneVaca....what number is WFUV?


90.7 on your dial.