HRD Radio Report – Week Ending 2/16/19

HRD Radio Report – Week Ending 2/16/19

Each week on HardRockDaddy.com.  The HRD Radio Report digs deeper into the weekly Active Rock charts, providing commentary, reviews, recommendations and predictions.  It also features opinion pieces on chart action and the music business in general. The following is the Active Rock Mediabase Chart for the week ending 2/16/19. All exclusive HRD content is featured below the chart:

CHART	CHART	ARTIST	SONG TITLE	RADIO
POSITION	POSITION			SPINS
THIS WEEK	LAST WEEK
1	1	GHOST	“Dance Macabre”	1864
2	2	THE GLORIOUS SONS	“S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun)”	1676
3	3	FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH	“When The Seasons Change”	1586
4	5	GRETA VAN FLEET	“You’re The One”	1517
5	6	RIVAL SONS	“Do Your Worst”	1509
6	7	THREE DAYS GRACE	“Right Left Wrong”	1299
7	9	DISTURBED	“A Reason To Fight”	1242
8	10	HALESTORM	“Do Not Disturb”	1048
9	4	PAPA ROACH	“Who Do You Trust?”	973
10	11	POP EVIL	“Be Legendary”	961
11	15	BADFLOWER	“Heroin (2018)”	895
12	13	NOTHING MORE	“Let Em Burn”	879
13	12	MARK MORTON (f. CHESTER BENNINGTON)	“Cross Off”	876
14	14	METALLICA	“Halo on Fire”	846
15	16	ATREYU	“The Time Is Now”	730
16	17	BREAKING BENJAMIN	“Tourniquet”	674
17	18	MUSE	“Pressure”	651
18	21	BAD WOLVES	“Remember When”	649
19	19	DIAMANTE	“Haunted”	598
20	20	MEMPHIS MAY FIRE	“The Old Me”	575
21	23	THRICE	“Hold Up A Light”	441
22	32	CAGE THE ELEPHANT	“Ready To Let Go”	422
23	22	P.O.D.	“Listening for The Silence”	392
24	24	PALAYE ROYALE	“You’ll Be Fine”	361
25	35	PAPA ROACH	“Elevate”	306
26	31	SLASH (f. MYLES KENNEDY)	“Mind Your Manners”	305
27	25	LIKE A STORM	“Complicated (Stitches & Scars)”	281
28	30	ICE NINE KILLS	“A Grave Mistake”	274
29	28	DOROTHY	“Who Do You Love”	254
30	29	BRING ME THE HORIZON (f. DANI FILTH)	“Wonderful Life”	227
31	27	CHEVELLE	“Sleep Walking Elite”	226
32	39	ASKING ALEXANDRIA	“Vultures”	224
33	26	SLIPKNOT	“All Out Life”	202
34	34	DOSE	“Vervain”	201
35	33	ROYAL TUSK	“Aftermath”	176
36	36	CALL ME KARIZMA	“Monster (Under My Bed)”	168
37	42	ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE	“Late”	145
38	40	LIGHT THE TORCH	“The Safety Of Disbelief”	139
39	41	SHIM	“Crucified”	135
40	38	SUNFLOWER DEAD	“Victim”	124
41	49	ALL THAT REMAINS	“Everything’s Wrong”	82
42	44	SHVPES	“Afterlife”	77
43	43	BUCKCHERRY	“Bent”	74
44	58	SEVENDUST	“Risen”	71
45	53	PALISADES	“Erase The Pain”	69
46	48	BOSTON MANOR	“Halo”	65
47	46	SAVAGE AFTER MIDNIGHT	“10 Feet Tall”	65
48	54	MADAME MAYHEM	“Broken”	56
49	45	RACONTEURS	“Sunday Driver”	55
50	57	AMITY AFFLICTION	“Drag The Lake”	53

 

 

PUBLISHER’S PICK OF THE WEEK (By Adam Waldman)

BLACKTOP MOJO – “Prodigal”

Some people are born in a small town, and are destined to stay there for their entire lives.  They are the embodiment of John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.”  Then there are those who want to spread their wings and fly, leave their small town for parts unknown and see the world.  When discussing the meaning behind “Prodigal,” Blacktop Mojo frontman, Matt James, has stated that “the song is sort of autobiographical.  It’s about the experience of growing up in a small town and always talking about ‘getting out’ one day.  No matter where you are, or how far you go though, you always have a little bit of where you came from that you take with you.”  Back in 2005, Bon Jovi gave life to this concept with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

Blacktop Mojo doesn’t have much in common with either of the aforementioned artists musically, but they do have a way of telling a story with their songs that stirs the emotions of the listener.  Although the band has started gaining more traction over the past few years, they still remain somewhat under the radar, especially James who is one of the most underrated singers in modern rock.  There is a deep, rich, soulfulness to his voice that you don’t hear too often in Active Rock.  Some notable exceptions are Corey Taylor and Brent Smith.  James is worthy of being mentioned alongside two of the best vocalists of this generation.  Like Taylor and Smith, James showcases a vulnerable side of himself.

Power ballads aren’t too common anymore, but when they were, the lyrics mostly focused on romantic breakups, not self-awareness.  “Prodigal” begins with subdued, emotional verses before building up to a crescendo.  Blacktop Mojo offers a wide range of influences with their music, from grunge to modern rock to Southern rock.  It’s all outstanding, but for my money, they shine the brightest when their Southern rock influences take center stage.  Ryan Kiefer delivers that Southern influence with his leads on “Prodigal,” and infuses it with an ’80s metal flair.  It’s tempting to say that this song is reminiscent of classic Lynyrd Skynyrd, but for me, it conjures up memories of an emotional favorite…“Brickyard Road” by Johnny Van Zant.

 

 

PUBLISHER’S PREDICTIONS (By Adam Waldman)

Ghost has a decent chance to end the month in the #1 position, but it is highly unlikely that their run will extend into March.  It’s possible that they could be dethroned as soon as next week if Five Finger Death Punch continues the momentum from this week and Ghost has a big drop in spins.  Both are possible.  Regardless of what happens next week, the real intrigue will begin soon with FFDP, Greta Van Fleet, and Rival Sons all climbing and within 75 spins of each other.
 

 

HRD SPIN CONTROL (by Adam Waldman and Jon Loveless)

Each week, we will share the songs that we think should be added to rotations, alongside the songs that we feel should be dropped from rotations, either because they are a bad fit for the format, or because they have run their course and it’s time for a new single from the artist.

SPIN IT…

BLACKTOP MOJO – “Prodigal”

TAKE THE DAY – “Song For The Broken”

DEMON HUNTER – “On My Side”

MESSER – “Simple Man”

TREMONTI – “Throw Them To The Lions”

SAUL – “Brother”

DEAD GIRLS ACADEMY – “Everything”

HINDER – “Halo”

 

DROP IT…

Call Me Karizma – “Monster (Under My Bed)”

Cage The Elephant – “Ready To Let Go”

Raconteurs – “Sunday Driver”

Muse – “Pressure”

Palaye Royale – “You’ll Be Fine”

Glorious Sons – “S.O.S.”

Asking Alexandria – “Vultures”

Papa Roach – “Who Do You Trust?”

 

 

THE BREAKDOWN (by Jon Loveless)

NOTABLE CHART MOVEMENT

Pop Evil is the latest format staple to reach the Top 10…

New to the Top 20 this week is the current track from Bad Wolves…

Three songs break into the Top 30 including the new single from Papa Roach and the latest from Slash (f. Myles Kennedy)…

Altitudes & Attitude and Shim both have new Top 40 songs…

Four songs debut in the Top 50 this week including rock veterans Sevendust and newcomers Madame Mayhem.
 

 

THREE UP & THREE DOWN

RISING
Five Finger Death Punch – “When The Seasons Change”
Cage The Elephant – “Ready To Let Go”
Asking Alexandria – “Vultures”

 

FALLING
Glorious Sons – “S.O.S.”
Papa Roach – “Who Do You Trust?”
Slipknot – “All Out Life”
 

 

TRENDS & OBSERVATIONS

The four songs debuting on the published chart this week might arguably be the most enjoyable set of premieres in a while, but they’ve definitely taken different routes to get there.  Both Palisades and Amity Affliction’s early support comes primarily from SiriusXM Octane, while Sevendust has gotten help from both satellite and terrestrial radio.  Madame Mayhem has been slowly picking up spins from traditional radio across the country for the past several weeks.