Mongrel Sniffs It Out, 2015

21 December 2015 - Press release

RotD's weekly magazine column Mongrel has been uncovering stories all year – check out this year’s revelations below and pay close attention in 2016

May 29 2014

“Delays have hampered the production of the Mercury biopic with Ben Whishaw, who is said to have replaced Sacha Baron-Cohen in the lead role. But we hear it should be back on track in a few months, once Whishaw finishes filming on the new James Bond movie.”

Revealed: So, it took over a year following Mongrel’s news but in late November 2015, Whishaw was announced to play Freddie Mercury in the biopic expected June 2016. 

Jan 15

“Two big future dance anthems to watch out for, both released in March and both likely to set the top end of the chart alight are: So Freakin’ Tight by Tough Love, which samples an old Jodeci smash from the ‘90s and Can’t Stop Playing from Dr Kucho! & Gregor Salto on Ministry Of Sound.”

Revealed: So Freakin’ Tight was eventually released March 28 and spent 14 weeks on the Official Chart, peaking at 11. Can’t Stop Playing also caught the attention of the national and has clocked up an impressive 16m plays on YouTube.

Jan 22

“Mongrel has advised you in the past to keep a close eye on the Australian singles chart if you’re looking for future UK smashes and this week is no exception. Top 3 down under and currently No.1 on Shazam there, try this from Omi titled Cheerleader and expect it to be the soundtrack to the spring over here. Sony has it scheduled for UK release on March 15 and we confidently say it’ll be up there with the brilliant Atlantic release Runaway (U & I) by Galantis that week, pretty near the top of the singles chart for a long run.”

Revealed: Cheerleader hit No.1 on May 9 and remained there for four weeks propelling Omi to star status and kicked off what is potentially a lucrative career for him. Galantis’s track went straight in at No.4 when it was release on May 23 and stayed in the top 40 for the following 17 weeks. 

Jan 29

“No one will give us official word, but we’ve heard a rumour Emeli Sande recently changed management from Decisive.”

Revealed: On November 28 Emeli Sande announced via Facebook that she and Ruth Titmarsh had set up Jupiter Management, a joint venture with Roc Nation.

“An intriguing sale offer appeared online this week, for a “UK based Music Magazine Publishing Company”. We’re going out on a limb, and guessing at Songlines. Sadly, though, there are a few magazines this could apply to.”

Revealed: Guardian Feb 10: Songlines music magazine bought by Gramophone publisher.

Feb 19

“Mongrel understands that the industry push towards a Global Release Date is still very much on the cards with an announcement imminent. Don’t be surprised if Friday is the chosen day for new releases and July is the likely launch month, just in time for the annual Q4 fun and games.”

Revealed: February 26 marked the day that IFPI announced the new Global Release day as Friday, it then came into play on July 10. 

“June seems to be the date that most industry analysts we’ve spoken to this week now expect Apple to launch their streaming service, with a huge exclusive comeback album for instant newsworthy impact.”

Revealed: Almost four months later, on June 8, Apple revealed Apple Music and Beats1 to the world.

“Expect the official Comic Relief track for 2015 to be announced at the charity’s press conference in the next few days. We can’t say too much just yet but we’re delighted that it’s a great British talent who we’ve supported since long before they were signed and is one of the biggest acts in the world right now. SS...sssssh.”

Revealed: Several week later, on March 12, Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down was re-released in honour of the charity.

“No great surprise, but we understand NME is becoming a freesheet, and have been in touch with all the promoters and others about advertising.”

Revealed: A whole five months after our announcement, NME revealed a major ‘brand transformation’ – including the magazine losing its price tag.  

“It seems like we can strike Hozier from the list of potential BRIT Award winners next week. Although he’s nominated in the Best International Male category, he’s deep into his US tour right now so won’t be at the O2 in person this coming Wednesday, nor has he yet been asked to do a video acceptance speech, we hear. So it looks like Pharrell has that one in the bag now.”

Revealed: Perhaps not undeservedly, but February 25’s awards show did indeed see Pharrell take the International Male title.

Feb 26

“In last Thursday’s daily email (Feb 19) we took a punt, and suggested it was Blur who were going to announce a new album and live shows. We were indeed correct, and are happy to have them back, even if the Hyde Park show has been done before.”

Revealed: Blur to release first new album for 12 years, 'The Magic Whip (NME) 

March 12

“We hear two females are leaving separate trade organisations shortly.”

Revealed: On March 30 Lynne McDowell, Head of PR at BPI, was announced to leave while Dot Levine left UK Music for Vevo in late April.

April 2

“We believe Music Week may move its publication back to Monday when the Global Release Date comes into effect in July. Apparently it initially moved to a Thursday as printing was cheaper, but with the charts to be announced on a Friday, it would make sense to publish as soon as possible.”

Revealed: Two months later, on June 5, Music Week announced that it would indeed be moving its print date to Mondays from July.

April 16

“We’re keeping close tabs on the huge US hit Somebody from Natalie La Rose. It feels like a UK No.1 when it’s released on May 31 and we’re noticing a definite move back to American rap/R&B influenced tracks making big impact globally this spring and summer, rather than UK talent ruling to roost as it did last year. Another biggie that’s been in the Shazam Future Hits 20 week in, week out for some time now is 99 Souls track The Girl Is Mine. We hear that Jason Iley and the team at Sony are currently sorting through the potential sample clearances on the track although several re-sings may be required. However, expect an official release date from the label soon and watch it rapidly become one of 2015’s biggest hits not long after.”

Revealed: OK, so Somebody peaked at No.2 on the June 7 chart, beaten by Jason Derulo’s Want To Want Me – which, in our defensive, is still inline with “a definite move back to American rap/R&B influenced tracks”. The Girl Is Mine has no doubt made an impact at commercial radio, but so far peaked at No.23.

April 23

“Popbitch has published a rumour that Chris Moyles will be the Xfm Breakfast Show host from September.”

Revealed: OK, OK, it wasn’t exactly Mongrel’s news, but we helped spread the gossip and on September 7, the ‘Saviour of Radio 1’ was announced as the breakfast show host on the XFM rebrand, Radio X. 

April 30

“The Sunday night Glastonbury headline slot will be announced once the group have sold out another forthcoming show.”

Revealed: Six days after Mongrel hinted at the news, The Who confirmed that they would be headlining Glastonbury – shortly after their British Summer Time Hyde Park gig.

May 5 – Daily

“RotD understands the annual iTunes Festival will run for two weeks, not the usual whole month of September.”

Revealed: The former iTunes Festival became the Apple Music Festival this year and indeed shrank from a whole month down to, not two weeks, but just seven days.

May 20

“Farewell Nigel Harding from Radio 1. We understand it’ll be his last couple of playlist meetings next week on Tuesday and Wednesday after the station’s Big Weekend event this Bank Holiday in Norwich.”

Revealed: Five days later his voluntary redundancy was made public.

June 4

“Big worldwide album alert from a top British act – September 25. The album title is the same name as a desert wild cat but we can’t disclose any more just yet.”

Revealed: Disclosure’s Caracal was eventually released October 2 and hit No.1 in the UK as well as Top 10 in a host of other countries.

June 11

“Still no official word yet on Capital’s Vodafone Big Top 40 show, by the way. Ofcom won’t allow station’s to network output during drive-time hours. So we suspect their chart will remain on Sunday teatime from 4 until 7. And probably still clean up audience-wise.”

Revealed: It’s still there!

July 2

“Expect big festival slots for Coldplay (back with a new brand album before Christmas), Foo Fighters of course, Iron Maiden, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol and Pearl Jam amongst others. Oh, can it really be true that huge arena slots are already being blocked off and tentatively held for none-other than Adele at the start of 2016?”

Revealed: Coldplay and Foo Fighters were tipped just last week to be headlining Glastonbury next year. Iron Maiden are confirmed to headline Download. Red Hot Chili Peppers are taking the top slot at Reading and Leeds. Pearl Jam have confirmed a tour next year to celebrate 25 years as a band, and stay tuned for Snow Patrol news. Also, little known fact, but Adele quietly announced an arena tour last month, which will kick off next February.

“Reports of a senior pop A&R joining Infectious are circulating.”

Revealed: It took another four weeks but on August 17 Jamie Nelson was announced as BMG’s new Director of A&R. 

July 30

“Having heard from a couple of industry people over time, we weren’t left in much doubt Sam Smith had recorded a song for the James Bond film, so were a bit surprised with all the fuss over betting odds this week. Maybe they were wrong. Maybe Ellie Goulding will record one too. We understood she was at Abbey Road for another session.”

Revealed: After months of denying it and Ellie Goulding hinting at her own involvement, September 8 saw the official announcement that Sam Smith was indeed the voice on the title’s soundtrack and future No.1, Writing's on the Wall.

August 13

“Mongrel was treated this week to a sneaky listen to an unfinished mix of a dancefloor banger that sounded like an absolute smash to us. Production was from a UK DJ and remixer who had a number one single and several more Top 10 hits as an artist in his own right. The track itself was a reworking of an old Mike Oldfield tune, which was also successfully covered by another act many moons ago. The featured vocalist was a current popular UK TV presenter who now seems to be having cold feet about the whole project, sadly. Anyhow, if it does materialise, it sounds like a Christmas party”

Revealed: Hold tight, it’s coming… 

August 19 – Daily

“RotD understands the second BBC Music Awards will be held on 10 December in Birmingham. A full announcement is expected shortly.”

Revealed: The press release didn’t come for another two months but in late October the confirmation was finally out there. 

October 10 – Daily

“RotD understands the BBC are preparing a Graham Norton TV special for transmission this November featuring Adele performing ten songs. Five new songs will come from her forthcoming album and five other classics will include her first-ever UK TV performance of Skyfall.”

Revealed: Six weeks after we ran the news (November 20), Adele at the BBC was shown on BBC 1 and received five star critical acclaim.

October 15

“Mongrel’s heard that one label maverick with a red hot new single intends to tear up the rule book by putting a preview ‘clip’ of potentially two-minutes duration onto social media sites, ahead of the track being played on radio. Their argument is that it’s not breaking any OAOS agreements, as it isn’t the full track that’s being made available this way. We’re wondering though, who’ll be the first station to rip that audio and get an ‘exclusive’ over their rivals?”

Revealed: Fleur East’s Sax became the soundtrack to Asda ’s TV Christmas commercial, running a full week before the song was serviced to radio

“Frances, Jack Garratt and Billie Marten seem favourites to do well in the BBC Sound of 2016 poll and and/or the Brits Critics Choice award. Mongrel votes in both, so feel free to plug away.”

Revealed: The longlist arrived little over a month later with: Frances, Jack Garratt and Billie Marten all in there.  

Nov 5

“The tracklisting for the forthcoming Now! 92 album (out November 20) has just been released and Mongrel notices track 18 on disc 1 is still TBC. Three options are Hello by Adele (not very likely as they would’ve made that track 1, and it’s unlikely the label have offered it up for compilation on an album that’s out on exactly the same day as hers), the forthcoming new Coldplay track (again, we’ll write that one off as it won’t really fit the context of the Birdy and Ed Sheeran song either side of it) and, most likely of all, it’s the Aurora cover of the Oasis song Half the World Away from the new John Lewis ad that launches online tomorrow.”

Revealed: Two days later Half the World Away took its immortal spot at track 18.

“Another track on the Now! album that’s yet to get a full UK push is You Don’t Own Me by Grace featuring G-Eazy. The 17-year old Aussie singer and songwriter is about to see that track get a massive Christmas TV sync. We do know who it’s for, but have been told it is Highly cOnFidential for the moment, so will have to keep schtum.”

Revealed: The House Of Fraser ad hit our screens 13 days later and the track has now held the No.5 spot on the Official Chart for the last two weeks.

Nov 19

“Mongrel sloped along to the Soho Hotel on Wednesday morning to watch a press screening of the Adele At The BBC special, which goes out on BBC1 tomorrow (Friday November 20)…Watch out for the word ‘Jenny’ trending worldwide at about 9pm on Friday night, but we’re not allowed to say why just yet. You may have a tear in your eye though.”

Revealed: After the TV special was aired, the aforementioned Jenny clip broke the record for BBC's most viewed video on YouTube. 

“So, how are your Adele album sales predictions coming along? Mongrel’s going large. Let’s say 500k UK sales (including pre-orders) on day one, when the Saturday sales flashes are revealed that lunchtime. After the Norton special, shove another 250k on top of that for Saturday sales alone. All in all, a very easy million units by the end of the chart week next Thursday (November 26). Everyone else we’ve mentioned this to thinks we’re insane. Let’s see.”

Revealed: OK, so she actually took three whole days to hit the magic 500k mark and 10 days to hit a million in the UK, but we didn’t see any other pundits more accurately predicting those impressively rapid sales tallies a week before release.

“Justin Bieber is on course to become the first male solo artist to achieve three simultaneous UK Top 10 hits since John Lennon turned the same trick on this chart, almost 35 years ago.”

Revealed: He actually took three of the Top 5 places, and still has that trio in this week’s Top 10 midweek chart, including the No.1 and No.2 track for a third week running.

November 26

“We’re predicting at least three BRIT wins in February for Adele (Best Album, Best Female, maybe Best Single) to send sales skywards yet again.”

TBC…

December 3

“Are the Glastonbury headliners Foo Fighters, Coldplay and Muse?”

Revealed: A piece in the Standard on Friday December 11 claims: “Muse ‘sign deal’ to headline Glastonbury 2016 alongside Coldplay and Foo Fighters.” As always, we’ll have a few months worth of waiting before we get any official announcement