Another Direction: Liam Payne’s debut the latest to dominate radio

In a rather stagnant week across the Australian Singles Report, we turn our attention to the Most Added chart to see just how much influence a name can have over radio. 

Over the past month or so, each week has seen a new smash hit swoop in and matchlessly crush all competition at radio the following week.

It all started with Shawn Mendes’ There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back, which dropped at the end of April. Radio networks scrambled to get the track on the airwaves – it was added across the board to commercial and regional Hit stations, both KIIS stations, Ash London LIVE and the Nova Network, leaving all other candidates in the dust. 

We’ve seen this trend play out more recently with Katy Perry’s Bon Appetit, Niall Horan’s Slow Hands and, this week, Miley Cyrus’ Malibu. 

Miley’s first single in some time predictably smashed it at radio. Easily taking Most Added with 78 additions across every major network and commercial station last week, there was no stopping Malibu.

“It’s been week after week of a big hit dominating radio each time,” affirms TMN Charts Editor Daniel Respall. Next week will be no different, according to Respall, with Liam Payne’s debut single Strip That Down set to get similar treatment from radio.

“On top of all the hype, it’s a strong single and ought to smash it with no difficulty,” Respall said of the track, which is this week’s #1 New Single Release. The Quavo feature is also a savvy addition. Migos appear in vogue this month, featuring on a host of high-charting singles.

On the Hot 100 this week, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee’s Despacito (Remix) featuring Justin Bieber has officially cracked the Top 10. It’s the first Hot 100 single for both Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, and undeniably the largest Latin crossover hit to make the Hot 100 in quite some time.

Meanwhile, it’s easy to see why The Chainsmokers & Coldplay’s Something Just Like This has been at #1 for four weeks straight, and six weeks overall. While KIIS may be spinning it more than any other track, all of the major networks are still well and truly behind the potent collab, remaining at #2 at both Nova and Hit. 

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