During this special time of year there are always those Summer songs that break at radio and stay with you throughout time. New Music Weekly is on a search for songs from both the major and independent arena that could become the Summer Songs for 2015. If you are an artist or band that may have one of those songs please reach out to NMW as they get set for a very special annual Summer Music Preview. NMW will spotlight the best artists and bands which have that special Summer song and information about those artists will also be provided. There are some special Ad rates with solid placement available on a first come – first serve basis. Please contact New Music Weekly soon as space is limited.

From The Editor’s Desk: A SPECIAL SUMMER ISSUE:  A look back

Throughout our lives it seems that we always antiquate Summer with the music that we listened to in a particular year. Music seems to have the ability to put a stamp on any year and we can always seem to document our lives by looking back at the hit songs we remember. It’s the vacation times of our lives and the fact that the weather is hot and good (for most parts of the country) that helps to build those amazing summers in our minds. In later years we will hear an old song come on the radio and drift back to one of our best Summer’s ever, the power of music prevails during these special memories.

For many bands and recording artists, they look towards Summer as their time to shine. Again with the weather being at its best, it makes for the very best time for travel and touring. The fact that the kids are out of school and its vacation time for many also opens up the opportunity for concerts from outdoor arenas to those fabulous concerts in the park. Whether you’re a top name artist or band or if you’re just a hard working independent artist, it’s your time to take your music on the road and play for the fans. Nothing is better than a great outdoor (or indoor) Summer concert series.

Record labels also look towards this time of year to put out the right track for their artists. For many it’s about leaving the ballad behind and keeping the up-tempo tracks out there to keep pace with the excitement and energy of this very special season. Some experts tell us to hold the ballads for the winter time when the weather is cold and the ballads help keep us warm. There are always exceptions to the rule and some that dare to put a ballad out in the Summer can sink or swim. We’ll examine a few of those situations.

Remember newcomer Sam Smith took no fear in his release “Stay With Me” that became an instant smash hit back in Summer 2014. The fact that there were so few ballads in Summer 2014 also opened up opportunities for Sam to fill slots that were open for that type of a song. Summer anthems were also red hot back in 2014 for those that planned ahead. In Country, the Jake Owen song “Beachin’” became that type of record to mark the Country Summer of 2014 and it didn’t take Kenny Chesney too long to make his mark with “American Kids”. That song exploded on the charts and hit the top of Country charts from coast to coast in record time.

In the world of Top40 and Hot AC, nobody made a better plan than Calvin Harris in 2014. His single of “Summer” was actually released months before the season but gave it enough time to become a Top 5 Hit just as the Summer months started. No duo released a better Summer record in 2014 than Nico & Vinz. Their “Am I Wrong”  was an instant Summer hit  The biggest winner of the Summer in 2014, however, belonged to Magic. This band hit the mark with “Rude” and their biggest problem has only been with a follow-up.

For many artists it may be too late to take advantage of the Summer opportunities but it’s a good time to make your plans for the next one. Use the examples of good weather conditions and up-tempo relevant songs to set your sight for a year from now. For the smart ones all of the planning should be set in motion by next Spring so that you hit your mark just in time. You can’t go too early with a plan nor can you afford to strike too late. It’s really all about the timing so early planning is the key to having a successful Summer in music. New Music Weekly will continue to offer the best “tools of the trade” for much of this so reach out to us in plenty of time for us to help you name for a very memorable Summer