June 1, 2020 Volume 37, Number 25 ARTIST, Title, Label Neg. Neu. Wait RECOMMENDED BUFFETT, Jimmy – Down At The Lah De Dah (Good Company) X JONAS BROTHERS, feat. Karol G) – X (Republic) X-½ REVIVING DAYVID – On The Edge (NashTown) X STYLES, Harry – Watermelon Sugar (Syco/Columbia) X-½ DAWN MARIE – Love Stories (JD) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ GRANDE, Ariana, and Justin Bieber – Stuck With U (DefJam/Republic) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ LIPA, Dua – Don’t Start Now (WB) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ MARSHMELLO, and Halsey – Be Kind (Astrtalwerks/Capitol) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ PUBLIC – Honey In The Summer (Island/Republic) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ STYLES, Harry – Adore You (Syco/Columbia) PREVIOUS TEST: X-½ RE-TEST: X-½ WEEKND, The – Blinding Lights (Republic) 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 WOODS -- Jonathan Groff (WaltDisney) (1) X X (Recommended 1/20) 2. ALL I WANT -- Olivia Rodrigo (Disney) (2) X X (Recommended 2/10) 3. INTENTIONS -- Justin Bieber, feat. Quavo (DefJam) (3) X X (Recommended 2/24) 4. LOYAL BRAVE TRUE -- Christina Aguilera (WaltDisney) (4) X X (Recommended 3/23) 5. MEMORIES -- Maroon 5 (Interscope) (5) X X (Recommended 2/24) 6. KINGS & QUEENS -- Ava Max (Atlantic) (6) X X (Recommended 3/30) 7. DIDN’T I -- OneRepublic (Interscope) (9) X X (Recommended 3/30) 8. COULD I LOVE YOU ANY MORE -- Renee Dominique f/Jason Mraz (JMA) (7) X X (Recommended 2/17) 9. I DARE YOU -- Kelly Clarkson (Atlantic) (11) X X (Recommended 5/4) 10. GALILEO -- Olivia Rox (SongBird) (8) X X (Recommended 3/9) 11. SOUTH OF THE BORDER -- Ed Sheeran/Camila Cabello (Atl.) (10) X X (Recommended 1/3) 12. MORE HEARTS THAN MINE -- Franja Du Plessis (Juanita/Universal S.A.) (14) X X (Recommended 5/12) 13. HER -- Anne Marie (MajorTom/Asylum) (12) X X (Recommended 4/13) 14. I JUST WANNA SHINE -- Fitz and The Tantrums (Elektra) (13) X X (Recommended 1/20) (Recommended 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 -- Selena Gomez (Interscope) DON’T START NOW -- Dua Lupa (WB) SENORITA -- Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello (Republic) STUPID LOVE -- Lady Gaga (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 -- Alessia Cara (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 must remind our readers that playing SESAC-licensed songs requires a SESAC license; SESAC was developed by lawyers and is now owned by an investment company -- they subscribe to airplay monitoring services, and you WILL be successfully sued for big bucks for “copyright violation” if you play of their songs without a license. The court judgements have been extremely severe -- exceeding a million dollars! Note that ALL songs by both Neil Diamond and by Bob Dylan are now SESAC copyrights, of what the record label may show. We cannot guarantee we can alert you to “Recommended” songs licensed by SESAC, since music publishing is usually not indicated on the tracks we receive nowadays -- so if you don’t have a SESAC license, PLEASE do the necessary research to make sure no SESAC licensing is involved, for ALL your adds! To obtain Jim Brickman singles, or to get a letter from Brickman waiving a SESAC license for songs on which he is the composer, in order to play his songs without a SESAC license, call Brickman Music: 216/378-3624; FAX 216/378-7198. Additionally, Irving Azoff’s “Global Music Rights” is using SESAC strategy in licensing music -- Smokey Robinson, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and are among its many represented songwriters, with more to come. A temporary license is available, per the RMLC; you face million-dollar copyright violation lawsuits for playing their contracted songwriters’ songs if you don’t have one. See: www.globalmusicrights.com. You can also check the latest list of songwriters (“clients”) they claim to represent there, too. 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 weekly newsletter for over 36 years now, is – and has always been – to provide programmers in the Mainstream Adult Contemporary format with a tool to make the most prominent element of the AC format – its music – a formidable programming weapon in building dominance in the market. We began our programming career doing that with music in Top 40 radio, using carefully tabulated record sales and listener requests, combined with the most accurate audience music preference information we ever found, in Bill Gavin’s “Gavin Report”, to build a formidable audience. When we then moved up to programming Adult Contemporary in Los Angeles at KMPC, we wanted to do the same – but found that all the tools that had worked so well in Top 40 fail to work the same way in AC – mainly, because the audience is now grown up, and not as personally responsive to radio stations.