For your central Jersey real estate needs: JudyNJHomes.com
Well it seems that Love Story is a hit in at least South Africa! It is currently ranked at #1 on Station K-FM in Cape Town according to YES. On Highveld-Stereo she is #14 On Heart-FM she is #5 On 5-FM she is #11 She is still getting lots of play for Over It as well. These stations are national stations that broadcast remotely over the entire country is seems and are based in both Cape Town and Johanessburg! So Kat starts off 2008 with another #1 ranking!!! This time for Love Story!!
Remember how hot "Over It" was on Asia MTV for months? I don't understand why Kat gets the recognition she deserves in other parts of the world but here she doesn't.
There's a very specific reason why some other countries latch onto the good singers: They don't have the American corporate system of brainwash. Well, I think that's starting to spread (unfortunately) on a worldwide scale...but South Africa seems basically untainted at the moment. I'm thinking that part of the world may be some of the most pristine in ways of ethics, quality and probably how government runs. We know it's highly unspoiled in the way of the environment. The natural beauty of SA is incredible.
I don't want to sound like sour grapes against my own home country. But there's plenty of evidence that the big corporate structure who run the music industry make sure what THEY want gets played...and subsequently purchased by the willing consumer (namely the coveted teen demographic). We've already seen depressing evidence of how American radio stations are run nowadays and how music directors get the orders from up in the corporate towers of what to play and what not to play. It's a shame Kat's been a victim of that--but it's a reality that she can overcome.
That's why I've said that Kat nurturing her international audience is important. The sooner RCA (or Foster Kids Records ) gets Kat overseas for international promotions, the better. It was a little disappointing that she canceled her trips to the UK and Australia earlier this year. I don't know how well her album sold in those two places, but I hope sales weren't a factor in the cancellation. The best thing is to go and visit the countries where she's a big hit. I know Kat would love it in South Africa--and they like a lot of artists there that America perplexingly doesn't as the result of corporate marketing.
If you can nurture an international market--then you can still have a singing career by catering to them when America turns fickle or the corporate structure doesn't market you any longer. A lot of American singers have had to do that--and they still have a healthy career traveling down to places such as Japan, Australia or South Africa where they have sellouts and huge record sales for years.
South Africa, LS update:
#11 Highveld Stereo
#4 K-FM
#10 HEART-FM
#12 5-FM
Top 12 on four major stations in South Africa. Go Love Story! I wonder if we'll get a third single in South Africa! Everywhere I Go would make the most sense.
#1 is where she belongs
Katharine McPhee fans around the world