Case Study: Timmy Trumpet’s dual US chart debut

Sydney-based artist Timmy Trumpet debuted on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart last week with his single Freaks.

3x Platinum here in Australia, the collaboration with New Zealand rapper Savage debuted at #36 on the Dance chart last week and at #9 on the Billboard + Twitter Emerging Artists chart – which calculates the most shared songs from up-and-coming acts on Twitter every 24 hours.

In a way, Timmy Trumpet can attribute his international success to Brisbane father and son Russ and Toby Bauer. The pair uploaded a clip to Vine titled ‘When mama isn’t home’ – a father plays Freaks on a trombone whilst his son slams the oven door repeatedly. The Vine has received over 26 million loops, 201,800 Likes and 158,200 Revines.

“Consumers engage with music in more ways now than ever before, and the hook in Freaks was just crying out for a great creative execution,” Tim McGee, CEO ofMinistry of Sound Australia told TMN. “This one nailed it!”

Speaking to TMN, Timmy added: “It's a new and powerful form of media that record labels and artists take for granted. Some of my favourite videos are the ones my fans made themselves. You never think of this stuff in the studio when you're making music, but it's truly an honour to see people sharing your work in ways you never imagined.

There had been traction in the US prior to Freaks charting however, The Buzz,Timmy’s collaboration with DJ/producer duo New World Sound, reached #2 on the Beatport main chart earlier this month and the instrumental for Freaks hit the chart’s Top 10.

“Building Timmy’s name in the US was always going to start with DJs and those two records really set things up perfectly,” said McGee. “He’s also been such a big name in our market for such a long time that there’s been a solid level of industry awareness about him in the US for some time.

“Getting Savage on board to add his vocals to the track took it to a whole new level and got a great response from commercial radio in Australia where it’s now reached triple Platinum sales,” McGee continued. “Timmy has also just got back from a huge 46-date ‘Bounce Bus’ US tour alongside Will Sparks and Joel Fletcher.”

Freaks is currently #65 on the worldwide Shazam chart and has been licensed to Benelux, France, Poland and Scandinavia with deals just about to be signed off in the UK, Russia and Spain. Freaks charted inside the Top 40 on iTunes in France, and was played on air in the country by NRJ and Fun Radio (the #1 & #2 networks). Today, Freaks reached #2 in Holland’s Most Wanted Top 5 daily chart, created by national radio station Slam FM Holland, and is #52 on the US iTunes Dance chart today, while the instrumental has charted inside the Top 200. Freaks is also getting spins on Virgin Radio Dubai.

“To have my record played on commercial radio in Australia is amazing, but to hear of its success overseas in Europe and America is beyond my wildest dreams,” Timmy said.

While the debuts are a first for Timmy,Savage charted in the US with his twice-remixed track Swing peaked at #13 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs Chart, #20 on its Hot Rap Songs chart and #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008, selling over one million copies and reaching Platinum certification. The track was re-recorded again in 2013 with Melbourne producer Joel Fletcher; the remix peaked at #2 and is certified 2x Platinum.

McGee told TMN Ministry Of Sound is currently in talks with US labels.