Radio Ready: the biggest pop release week of 2020 is here

In recent years the record biz has placed greater emphasis on big Friday drops.

With priorities around release schedules increasingly geared towards landing on Spotify’s New Music Friday or Apple’s New Music Daily, it’s all about making a big impression.

As usual, releases tend to quieten down over Christmas, save for a few big tracks from Justin Bieber, Khalid and Sam Smith, the last two months have been soft at best.

That’s all about to change this week, with several major labels including Sony and Universal welcoming back some of their biggest hitters.

Warner Music and Island Records also have releases from rising stars.

Each week TMN publishes a tip sheet for programmers, but this week we’re jumping the gun.

Here are the biggest pop singles already out this week, and some we’re predicting big things from over the coming months.

Honourable mentions go to releases including Mabel’s new cut ‘Boyfriend’ and Madison Beer’s ‘Good In Goodbye’, and keep an eye out for new gear from Martin Garrix.

SZA & Justin Timberlake – ‘The Other Side (from Trolls World Tour)’

JT is back with a bang, teaming up with global sensation SZA for ‘The Other Side’, a tune co-written by our very own Sarah Aarons!

His last record came in 2018 with Man Of The Woods, and while we won’t be getting a new solo album, Timberlake is back with a track lifted from the forthcoming soundtrack for Trolls World Tour, in which Timberlake will revive his role as the voice of the lead character.

This isn’t just another movie soundtrack single. If you cast your mind back to 2016, JT released a single as part of the original Trolls soundtrack. A little ditty called ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’.

The track spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, hitting the top spot in May, 2016. The tune was massive in Australia too, and just last week re-entered the TMN Hot 100 powered by Radio Monitor at #56. It’s now spent 144 weeks on the chart, with a peak position of #1.

TMN is tipping bass-drive pop-funk number ‘The Other Side’ to follow in its footsteps. Once again its an insanely catchy effort from the former NSYNC member, who’s lost none of his classic pop sensibilities, which will also appear to SZA’s growing global fanbase.

Lady Gaga – ‘Stupid Love’

Lady Gaga’s first single since her work on the soundtrack for A Star Is Born, which won her an Oscar by the way, is titled ‘Stupid Love’.

The cut will be out on Friday, with billboards and Gaga’s socials teasing the track with album artwork that is a big pair of pink lips

If that’s not a sign this is going to be a return to Gaga’s powerhouse pop past then I don’t know what is.

It will be the first single from a forthcoming sixth studio album, thus far known as #LG6, and the first album from her since 2016’s Joanne.

Lady Gaga is also one of the best-performing acts at Australian radio, with three #1s on the TMN Hot 100 Airplay Chart including 2018’s ‘Shallow’ with Bradley Cooper.

Gaga also previously held the longest run inside the ARIA Singles Chart Top 100, with ‘Poker Face’ spending 106 weeks on the chart.

“STUPID LOVE”
THE NEW SINGLE BY LADY GAGA
OUT FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT ET #LG6 pic.twitter.com/lu4zDqlepm

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 25, 2020

Miiesha – ‘Twisting Words’

It’s not all about megastars this week, and as always, TMN loves to shine the spotlight on new music by rising artists. We’re tipping big things from Aussie singer-songwriter Miiesha.

A proud Pitjantjatjara/Torres Strait Islander woman, Miiesha’s latest release is a eclectic mash of pop and RnB vibes called ‘Twisting Words’.

The release is lifted from a forthcoming collection of songs called ‘Nyaaringu’, out in May, which ties through common themes of her life, her community and her people.

Miiesha was triple j Uneathed’s feature artists in 2019 and she’s toured with the likes of Thelma Plum and Baker Boy. Miiesha is definitely one to watch in 2020.

JXN ft. Allday & Fossa Beats – ‘Outta Space’

The latest release from one of pop’s rising local starlets sees Allday and Fossa Beats team up with JXN for ‘Outta Space’.

It’s been a big couple of years for JXN, also known as Jacko Brazier, who released his debut single ‘Solitude’ in 2018.

Over the past few years his music has made a serious impression on fans, accumulating 9.3 million streams worldwide across tracks featuring the likes of A$AP Twelvy, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.

After a few years of making his own beats, JXN finally debuted his live show recently as a support for Allday, Mallrat and E^ST on an East Coast tour.

We’ve been waiting for a bona fide airplay hit from JXN, and this team-up will prove to be just the ticket.