from Billboard.com "ask Billboard".....


SO SORRY

Hi Keith,

If Madonna's new single "Sorry" is dominating the charts overseas then how come I haven't heard about it in the United States? It's not on the charts (except on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Radio Airplay lists), and it's not being played on the radio. The only place I find it playing is on MTV. How come U.S. radio stations are not playing it?

Thank you!

Shant Megerdichian
Glendale, Calif.



Hello Shant,

"Sorry," the second single from Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor," is indeed a huge hit across Europe. It debuted at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart where it is the diva's 12th titled to top the chart. That's more than any other female. "Sorry" also dominates the radio airwaves in Europe and is inescapable on music video channels.

So why hasn't "Sorry" exploded in America? Chalk it up to different tastes.

Right now, hip-hop and rhythmic songs dominate American radio. A big dance track like "Sorry" has an uphill battle. Couple that with the fact that some radio programmers may perceive Madonna as too old for their listeners, and you have two strikes against the song.

Don't write off "Sorry" just yet though. It's still gaining at radio, but just not at a very fast pace.

"Hung Up," the album's first single, was a moderate hit on the radio. But with its healthy digital and physical single sales, it climbed all the way to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Because of growing digital sales and radio play for "Sorry," I expect it will debut on the Hot 100 this week. It may also see a spike next week once the Feb. 28 release of the CD maxi and 12" vinyl singles impact the chart.

One can take solace in the fact that "Sorry" recently reached No. 1 on MTV's daily viewer-voted countdown show "TRL."

newpower99 said:

I can see it being really bug in UK because it looks like it appeals to that genere of music. But the urban tunes are what is happenin here. The gay charts and clubs may hit this one up to #1 though but thats all i can see.

I love the video though. And I hope Push or Get Together are the next singles

paisleypark4 said:

It'll probably be Jump. I just don't get it. It's a really good song. Radio just doesn't play that kind of music anymore here.

superspaceboy said:

and it's lame

I've heard "Don't Tell Me" 4 times in the past 2 days on MPLS radio! Why can't they just give Sorry a try?

bastids

Well i'm glad they wrote this article for the sake of those claiming she's a big flop. At least it puts things into perspective and shows she's performed incredibly given the circumstances.

i was lookin at the airplay charts and it seems to already have lost momentum and it has about 1/10th the audience hung up had at its peak

asg said:

How can it lose momentum if it never had momentum in the first place.

jayaredee said:

sad, but true!

is there an extended mix/ 12" for that song

"Sorry" is a KILLAH and it deserves to be a hit here in the U.S. America needs more dance music on the Hot 100!

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[Edited 3/2/06 2:19am]

lilgish said:

I think the singles with the remixes just hit the store last week...

endorphin74 said:

that song makes me feel happy.

lilgish said:

me too!

I wish stores in MPLS still sold singles, I really don't think any do. I know I can get the remixes from Itunes, but I want the package...

I really dig seeing Sorry. Seeing that video and Black Sweat has made watching MTV and VH1 a little bit less painful, It deserves to be a hit. And for those who aren't hearing it on the radio, come here to NYC. They play Sorry all the time on KTU. It just came out so lets see what happens.

Sorry is a great single. Im assuming it should be doing better with airplay slowly picking up and the single being released commercially

If its not a hit, we might have to realize that Madonna has gone the veteran artist route of Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and David Bowie. They all make great albums still, yet when exactly was there last true hit single? At least Madonna would have the benefit of having her album sell over a million copies. None of the prior three even hit gold status with there last release(a shame really, especially with Pauls last album which was excellent)

But then again, I hope Sorry picks up

is it doing better than hung up overall? Not here...but over there?


BTW...I Just have to say the SOrry Remixes on Hung Up mixes.

I like "Sorry," but I called this awhile ago. It's so out of step with US radio right now. She really should've released "Jump" here.

But, kudos to her for realizing where her real market is.

superspaceboy said:

The Pet Shop Boys & Man With Guitar mixes are material.

Just found out: Sorry debuted on the Hot 100 at number 70. Still not that great, but it's at least something, not to mention that it shows that the song is not completely ignored

JANFAN4L said:

oooh! I'm excited!

I have an idea that "Sorry" will be the second and last major American single....I think that Warners won't put much of a push out there for more American singles...they might release maxis and videos, just like with "American Life", but that's about it. Kind of sucks.

jayaredee said:

Madonna is doing incredibly well when you consider these factors...

***She's 47 years old
***Her album isn't R&B and hip-hop,it's mostly Europop/disco
***She's been around for more than 20 years


Her album is on it's way to double platinum status in the States."Sorry" has been Number One on TRL for the past five days.Her upcoming tour is gonna be huge.Oh,and "Sorry" has just reached Number One in the U.K. (her 12th UK Number One).She's still enjoying tremendous success around the world,even if her singles don't get alot of airplay in the States.

Well at least she made it onto the Hot 100, unlike the other singles from AL.
I think 70 is a great debut. It will probably take a leap next week with the maxi released this week.

jayaredee said:

Is the maxi-single any good? I haven't picked up my copy yet.

DavidEye said:

Compared to HU it's amazing.

The best mixes as JANFAN said, PSB and Man with Guitar mixes.
It also has that Let it Will be mix she used at the KOKO show.

jayaredee said:

Sounds great,I'm gonna pick it up this weekend

endorphin74 said:

have you heard them yet?

jayaredee said:

iTunes does not have Let it will be and the PSB mix is the edit. AMazon has it and if you have Virgin records near you...I hate them...BUT they carry singles still (I got SST there) and vinyl Maxi's...at least mine here does.

and yes the remixes are very very good.

superspaceboy said:

nope

I sadly may have to make myself enter a Sam Goody this weekend as they are SERIOUSLY the only store I know of in the area that stocks sinlges...

endorphin74 said:

Or there is amazon, which is starting to be my music retailer of choice.