Kings of A&R on Timberlake and Thicke: The Dirty Tactics of Video Streams
Kings of A&R have posted an interesting article about video streaming. They criticize the dirty tactics used by famous artists like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke to break click records since Billboard considers paid-for streams when compiling their Billboard Hot 100:
It’s been an interesting few weeks for thirtysomething men making R&B-infused pop. On Monday, the ban on Justin Timberlake’s video for Tunnel Vision was lifted, just days after it was prohibited by YouTube owing to its sexual content. […]
Robin Thicke’s video for Blurred Lines wasn’t granted the same level of forgiveness, but that doesn’t seem to have hindered the success of the track, which is now the second-biggest-selling single of 2013. Blurred Lines has been the subject of much controversy in recent weeks as the video, featuring numb-looking models strutting across the screen in flesh-coloured G-strings, was taken down from YouTube. […]
In the case of both singles, more than 1m views were achieved just days after they were uploaded. Whether viewers were revelling in their laddish audacity or fuming about the objectification of women, the clips led to a frenzy of social media debates, news bulletins and views. Based on their success, it’s likely that similar dirty tactics could be used to gain attention for future new releases. Ever since Billboard announced that it would take paid-for streams into account when compiling its Hot 100 chart, online videos have become an increasingly vital tool for artists operating in the US market.
Read the full article HERE
