June 1, 2020 Volume 37, Number 25

ARTIST, Title, Label Neg. Neu. Wait RECOMMENDED

BUFFETT, Jim m y – Down A t The Lah De Dah ( Go o d Co m p any) X JO NA S BRO THERS, feat. Karo l G) – X ( Rep ub l ic) X - ½

REVIVING DAYVID – O n The Ed ge ( NashTown) X STYLES, Harry – Waterm el o n Sugar ( Syco / Co l um b ia) X - ½

DAWN MARIE – Lo ve Sto ries ( JD) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ GRA NDE, A riana, and Justin Bieb er – Stuc k With U ( DefJam / Rep ub l ic) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ LIPA, Dua – Don’t Start No w ( WB) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ MARSHMELLO , and Hal sey – Be Kind ( A strtal werk s/ Cap ito l ) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ PUBLIC – Honey In The Sum m er ( Isl and / Rep ub l ic) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ STYLES, Harry – A d o re You ( Syco / Co l um b ia) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ WEEKND, The – Blind ing Lights ( Rep ub l ic) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ THE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC RESEARCH LETTER June 1, 2020 -- Page 2

Recommended Top Rotation AC Tracks Week of June 1, 2020 1. LOST IN THE W OODS -- Jonathan Groff (W altDisney) (1) X X (R ecommended 1/20) 2. ALL I W ANT -- Olivia R odrigo (Disney) (2) X X (R ecommended 2/10) 3. INTENTIONS -- Justin Bieber, feat. Quavo (DefJam) (3) X X (R ecommended 2/24) 4. LOYAL BR AVE TR UE -- Christina Aguilera (W altDisney) (4) X X (R ecommended 3/23) 5. MEMOR IES -- Maroon 5 (Interscope) (5) X X (R ecommended 2/24) 6. KINGS & QUEENS -- Ava Max (Atlantic) (6) X X (R ecommended 3/30) 7. DIDN’T I -- OneR epublic (Interscope) (9) X X (R ecommended 3/30) 8. COULD I LOVE YOU ANY MOR E -- R enee Dominique f/Jason Mraz (JMA) (7) X X (R ecommended 2/17) 9. I DAR E YOU -- (Atlantic) (11) X X (R ecommended 5/4) 10. GALILEO -- Olivia R ox (SongBird) (8) X X (R ecommended 3/9) 11. SOUTH OF THE BOR DER -- Ed Sheeran/Camila Cabello (Atl.) (10) X X (R ecommended 1/3) 12. MOR E HEAR TS THAN MINE -- Franja Du Plessis (Juanita/Universal S.A.) (14) X X (R ecommended 5/12) 13. HER -- Anne Marie (MajorTom/Asylum) (12) X X (R ecommended 4/13) 14. I JUST W ANNA SHINE -- Fitz and The Tantrums (Elektra) (13) X X (R ecommended 1/20) (R ecommended 5/25)

Recommended “B” Rotation Menu

[No testing songs on the current playlist, at this time]

COLD (I’M SORRY...) -- James Blunt (Atlantic) (Recommended 9/30)

IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU -- Shawn Mendes (Republic) X X (Recommended 5/27) (I’M GONNA) LOVE ME AGAIN -- Elton John/Taron Egerton (Virgin) X X (Recommended 6/10) NEVER REALLY OVER -- Katy Perry (Capitol) X X (Recommended 7/1) HOLD ME WHILE YOU WAIT -- Lewis Capaldi (Vertigo/Capitol) X X (Recommended 7/8) SOMEONE YOU LOVED -- Lewis Capaldi (Vertigo/Capitol) X X (Recommended 7/8) YOU’RE NOT ALONE -- NiaNell (Nianell/Universal S.A. LP) X X (Recommended 7/29) CHAMPIONS -- James Blunt (Atlantic) X X (Recommended 1/3) IN THE CAR -- Chase Rice (BrokenBow) X X (Recommended 2/17) TO DIE FOR -- Sam Smith “clean version” ONLY] (Capitol) X X (Recommended 3/2) TOMORROW -- Jack Curley (Parlophone UK) X X (Recommended 4/13) HIGH ON LOVE -- Roachford (Columbia) X X (Recommended 4/13) HIGH ROAD -- Young Bombs, feat. Robinson (Astralwerks) X X (Recommended 4/20) DO IT -- Toni Braxton (Island) X X (Recommended 4/27) THE BONES -- Maren Morris (Columbia Nashville) X X (Recommended 4/27) STUCK IN THE RAIN -- Mabes (OtherSongs) X X (Recommended 5/18) THE MAN -- Taylor Swift (Republic) X X (Recommended 5/18) THE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC RESEARCH LETTER June 1, 2020 -- Page 3

Borderline (“X-1/2”) songs, in our testing -- watch, but not now “Recommended” Tested previously to the songs in the list below, but still being tracked (alphabetical by title)

ADORE YOU -- Harry Styles (Syco/Columbia) BEFORE YOU GO -- Lewis Capaldi (Vertigo/Capitol) BLINDING LIGHTS -- The Weeknd (Republic) LOSE YOU TO LOVE ME -- (Interscope) DON’T START NOW -- Dua Lupa (WB) SENORITA -- Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello (Republic) STUPID LOVE -- (Interscope) 10,000 HOURS -- Dan + Shay, and Justin Bieber (WB/DefJam/WAR) YUMMY -- Justin Bieber (DefJam)

Recent Borderline songs -- watch them, but they’re not yet “Recommended”

ARE YOU THERE -- Bathsheba (Universal) VILLA IN IBIZA -- Lucas Estrada, feat. Stevie Appleton (OneSeven) FOREVER -- Fletcher (Capitol) BLACK AND WHITE -- Niall Horan (Capitol) HOW TO BE LONELY -- Rita Ora (Atlantic UK) SEDONA ANGEL -- Primal Sky, feat. Can Skylark & Shekina Rose (SedonaMusicGroup) BUMMER -- RenForShort (Geffen) JEALOUS -- Lennon Stella (Columbia) THE OTHER GIRL -- Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey (BlackRiver) LOVE SITUATION -- Kaz Ballerini (K B Music) REFRIGERATOR DOOR -- Luke Combs (Columbia Nashville) ACTIONS -- John Legend (Columbia) KEEPING THE NOISE DOWN -- Mabes (OtherSongs) THE WAY THAT I LOVE YOU -- Passenger (Nettwerk) FRIDAY -- Thomas Rex (OneSeven) IN YOUR EYES -- The Weeknd (Republic) HOLD ME CLOSE -- Sam Feldt, feat. Ella Henderson (Heartfeldt) WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU -- Lady Antebellum (BMLG) BREAK MY HEART -- Dua Lipa (WB) BETTER DAYS -- OneRepublic (Interscope) BE A LIGHT -- Thomas Rhett, feat. Reba McEntire, Hilary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban (Valory) I LOVE YOUS -- Hailee Steinfeld (Republic) COLORS -- Black Pumas (AMB) I CHOOSE -- (DefJam) I’LL WAIT -- Kygo, feat. Sasha Sloan (Universal) LOVE AGAIN -- Dua Lipa (WB) FALSE ILLUSIONS -- Sarah Silva (BlackRabbit) ISOLATION -- Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp FALLING FOR YOU -- Charlotte OC (PsychoJohn) HOLD YOU TONIGHT -- Gryffin and Chris Lane (Darkroom/Interscope) NEW BEGINNINGS -- Neffex (12 Tone) INTO THE DAYLIGHT -- [Ms.] Tyne Nymann (Artpop) HYPNOTIZED -- Purple Disco Machine & Sophie and the Giants (Positiva) LEVEL OF CONCERN -- Twenty One Pilots (FueledByRamen) THE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC RESEARCH LETTER June 1, 2020 -- Page 4

Borderline (“X-1/2”) songs, in our testing -- watch, but not yet “Recommended” Continued from previous page

THE GREATEST -- James Blunt (Atlantic) GABRIELLE -- Brett Eldredge (Warner Nashville) ONE OF US -- Flynn (Jive) CHAMPAGNE NIGHT -- Lady Antebellum (BMLG) LOOK FOR THE GOOD -- Jason Mraz (BMG) STRANGERS -- Andrew Reed (Artists International) CHASING -- Twinnie (BMG) CATCH -- Brett Young (BMLG) EVERYDAY HEROES -- Jim Brickman, with Richie McDonald (Brickhouse) SAVIORS OF THE CITY -- Jake Bugg (RCA) COME AWAY -- Celestal & Angle A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE -- Rick Fusion (SirRic) RESCUE ME -- James Gillespie (Operator Records) GOOD JOB -- Alicia Keys (RCA) WEIRD! -- The Killers (Locomotion/Interscope) LOVE TO COPE -- Robert Gugliuzza (SanderefordSound) LONLINESS FOR LOVE -- LovelyTheBand (TheOrchard) BE KIND -- Marshmello and Halsey (Astralwerks/Capitol) I’VE GOT YOU -- Jay Smith (JaySmith) REPLAY -- Alex VanTrue (Coast) LOVE STORIES -- Dawn Marie (JD) STUCK WITH U -- Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber (DefJam/Republic) HONEY IN THE SUMMER -- Public (Island/Republic) X -- Jonas Brothers, featuring Karol G (Republic) WATERMELON SUGAR -- Harry Styles (Syco/Columbia)

Notes

We mus t remind o ur readers that playing SESA C-lic ens ed s o ngs requires a SESA C lic ens e; SESA C was develo ped by lawyers and is no w o wned by an investment c o mpany -- they s ubs c ribe to airplay mo nito ring s ervic es, and you WILL be s uc c ess fully s ued fo r big buc k s fo r “ c o pyright vio latio n” if you play o f their s o ngs witho ut a lic ens e. The c o urt judgements have been extremely s evere -- exc eeding a millio n do llars ! No te that A LL s o ngs by bo th Neil Diamo nd and by Bo b Dylan are no w SESA C c o pyrights , o f what the reco rd label may s ho w. We c anno t guarantee we c an alert you to “ Reco mmended” s o ngs lic ens ed by SESA C, s inc e mus ic publis hing is us ually no t indic ated o n the trac k s we receive no wadays -- s o if you do n’t have a SESA C lic ens e, PLEA SE do the necess ary researc h to mak e s ure no SESA C lic ens ing is invo lved, fo r A LL your adds ! To o btain Jim Bric k man s ingles, o r to get a letter fro m Bric k man waiving a SESA C lic ens e fo r s o ngs o n whic h he is the c o mpo s er, in o rder to play his s o ngs witho ut a SESA C lic ens e, c all Bric k man Mus ic : 2 1 6 / 3 7 8 -3 6 2 4 ; FA X 2 1 6 / 3 7 8 -7 1 9 8 .

A dditio nally, Irving A zo ff’s “ Glo bal Mus ic Rights ” is us ing SESA C s trategy in lic ens ing mus ic -- Smo k ey Ro bins o n, Taylo r Swift, Bruc e Springsteen, and are amo ng its many represented s o ngwriters , with mo re to c o me. A tempo rary lic ens e is available, per the RMLC; you fac e millio n-do llar c o pyright vio latio n laws uits fo r playing their c o ntrac ted s o ngwriters ’ s o ngs if you do n’t have o ne. See: www.glo balmus ic rights .c o m. You c an als o c heck the latest lis t o f s o ngwriters (“ c lients ” ) they c laim to represent there, to o . THE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC RESEARCH LETTER June 1, 2020 -- Page 5 Notes

by Pink starts with 8 seconds of a weird sound repeated once, which the AC core listener just . The version we recommend is one in which this is removed, to make a cold start. We can provide it, or you can edit it yourself. To play on the air song composed in full or in part by John Lennon, or many other stars, you’ll now need a GMR license: http://globalmusicrights.com. See more about this on Page 4 in “NOTES”.

DROP WHEN YOU’RE READY; DO USE AS A RECURRENT; DO PUT IN YOUR PERMANENT LIBRARY YOU SAY -- Lauren Daigle (Centricity/WB) DROP WHEN YOU’RE READY; OK TO USE AS A RECURRENT; NOT FOR YOUR PERMANENT LIBRARY [ None this week ] COMMENT Our purpose in publishing our w eekly new sletter for over 36 years now , is – and has alw ays been – to provide programmers in the Mainstream Adult Contemporary format w ith a tool to make the most prominent element of the AC format – its music – a formidable programming w eapon in building dominance in the market. We began our programming career doing that w ith music in Top 40 radio, using carefully tabulated record sales and listener requests, combined w ith the most accurate audience music preference information w e ever found, in Bill Gavin’s “Gavin Report”, to build a formidable audience.

When w e then moved up to programming Adult Contemporary in Los Angeles at KMPC, w e w anted to do the same – but found that all the tools that had w orked so w ell in Top 40 fail to w ork the same w ay in AC – mainly, because the audience is now grow n up, and not as personally responsive to radio stations. They grew up w ith radio that w as musically exciting, and still do want the same thing – from their own adult perspective – but they seldom respond in measurable ways. Bill Gavininvented the term “Adult Contemporary” – but even he struggled to find a w ay to provide compellingly useful music information for AC radio, because his reliable station reporters had no idea themselves w hat new and current music their audience liked!

And that’s pretty much still true today, for the trade charts. They only can report w hat the stations areplaying , rather than w hat the audience likes, because they and the AC programmers really don’t know that for sure. And, w hat adult pop radio used to do before Bill invented the name for the format – play the “acceptable” new songs from Top 40 for in AC – is rather close to w hat the format still does, if there are any current songs in the playlist. And that still doesn’t w ork! So, these days, you are lucky to hear any new and current music on AC at all – it’s almost all recurrents and older music; music w hich hook-based testing finds acceptable to the audience. Alas, you can’t test new and current music w ith hook testing until after listeners know and recognize the songs, since only a piece of the song is played…and you’ll find, then, that many of the charted AC currents didn’tappeal to your listeners, back when you played them, what do you do? You don’tplay currents.

Yet, A C core listeners love the RIGHT new current music, and will be loyal listeners if you consistently give it to them in your mix. If you don’t, and become basically an oldies station, that is NOT what they are looking for in adult pop radio, and they won’t develop loyalty – so, they are easy to pick off by an interesting or more consistent actual oldies station. A C listeners are really not into nostalgia: They may listen to noncurrent- based A C “if there’s nothing else better”, but without enthusiasm or commitment.

We developed a unique research system for ourselves – w hich exposes music from the beginning, and plays it as long as the listener is interested – to obtain that information. And it w orked so w ell – as demonstrated in ratings, in listener response to the station and even its advertisers – that w e began publishing our w eekly research for subscribers! There’s STILL no other research-based reliable information of w hat the AC core listeners (w ho lean strongly female) really like, of the new and current music, other than w hat you find in the Music Letter. Subscribers w ho see the value of making their new and current music really responsive to the listeners, have prospered using it; and many have been w ith us for decades. We strive to be for Mainstream AC what the Gavin Report was to Top 40uniquely – accurate and helpful. Thanks for your support!