First Look At "HIAM" Music Video
Britney Spears finished filming her "Hold It Against Me" music video on Sunday (Jan. 23), and she's already letting her fans take a peek at the results.
Just as shooting wrapped, Spears posted an image from the "Hold It Against Me" clip on Twitter that revealed the pop star sporting bangs and long, wavy locks and encircled by a cluster of microphones. The image, which appears to be taken from a screen playing rough footage of the video, was tweeted with a brief note from Spears: "Day 2 is a wrap! #HIAM video coming soon."
The "Hold It Against Me" video is being directed by Jonas Akerlund, who has helmed such iconic visuals for female pop stars as Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" and "Telephone," Madonna's "Ray of Light" and "Music," and Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful." On the first day of filming, Spears' tweeted that making the video with Akerlund was "such an incredible experience. I think this will be one of the best videos I have ever done." Spears' longtime choreographer Brian Friedman -- who created the dance moves for Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Toxic," "Me Against the Music" and "Boys" videos -- is also on board.
"Hold It Against Me" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week, marking just the second time an artist has debuted multiple songs atop the chart in its 52-year history. The album is still slated for a March release.
Songwriter Claude Kelly, who worked on several tracks for the set under co-executive producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin, told People.com that the album is "way more edgy" than 2008's "Circus," and "more in the vein of the album before [2007's "Blackout"]. It has a heavier bass line and it's much harder, more urgent, more club," Kelly said.
Source: Billboard.com
24 January 2011
The Year In Music Ahead By Billboard
Lady Gaga, take note. With "Hold It Against Me" debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this issue-and every conceivable rumor regarding her next album being subjected to WikiLeaks levels of scrutiny-Britney Spears has made it clear that she won't be relieved of her pop princess title that easily.
After a week of release, "Hold It Against Me" debuted on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 Songs chart at No. 16 with 4,071 plays, the highest detections total by a debuting title in the chart's 18-year history. Perhaps even more impressive was the hype that preceded its release, which included a leaked demo and the song's co-producer, pop hitmaker Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, stoking the speculative flames on Twitter ("The first word of the Britney song is 'hey'... the 24th word is 'song,' " he wrote.)
For Spears' (officially) still-untitled seventh studio album, Gottwald and Max Martin have signed on as co-executive producers (as they did for Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream") and signaled a continued embrace of the dance-pop that was ahead of the curve on Spears' most recent albums (2007's "Blackout" and 2008's "Circus") but is now inescapable. Will this be to their detriment?
Gottwald doesn't think so. "Everything is in cycles, and it will change, but I don't think [2011] is necessarily that year," he says. He adds, however, that the intent with Spears' album is to push the sound forward. "Hopefully you'll hear a progression," he says, "while keeping great songs."
There's proof beyond the early success of "Hold It Against Me'" that Spears can still mobilize millions of fans, commanding as much attention with a photographed Starbucks run as with a cryptic tweet. And until more music is available, teasing will have to suffice. "Britney's 2nd single is gonna be fire!!!!!!" Gottwald tweeted Jan. 16. "Watch out!!!!!!"
Source: Billboard.com
22 January 2011
"Hold It Against Me" Debuts At #1
Britney's Record-Breaking Song "Hold It Against Me" Debuts In The Number One Position in U.S. And 19 Other Countries
Trendsetting Artist Sets Precedent For Future Releases Worldwide
New York, NY - Britney Spears continues to break records with her newest trailblazing hit, "Hold It Against Me." This week, "Hold It Against Me" debuts at Number One on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, selling 411K digital singles in the U.S. within just one week of its exclusive release on iTunes. This is the biggest first week track number for a female artist, the record was previously held by Taylor Swift. According to Billboard she's the second artist in the trade magazine's 52-history to "debut multiple songs at No. 1," and she "joining Mariah Carey as the only acts to arrive at No. 1 more than once."
Outside of the United States, the single debuted at Number One in nineteen other countries including Australia, Belgium, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, France, Ireland and more. The iconic superstar is the first artist to simultaneously commercially release her single as the song was made available to radio stations worldwide. The UK released the single this week, just as the popular Britney/Britany Season two GLEE episode featuring five Britney songs airs in the U.K.
Last week Spears made history with "Hold It Against Me" when she shattered all previous records for obtaining the most number of spins for a first or one-day at Mediabase and BDS.
The tremendous success of the first single from Britney Spears' forthcoming album attests to her broad and loyal fan base, the popularity of the Max Martin, Dr. Luke collaboration and her enduring popularity as one of the world's premiere trend-setting talents. The new album is set for release in March 2011.
Source: Jive Records
19 January 2011
"HIAM" #1 On The Billboard Hot 100
Britney Spears becomes just the second artist in the Billboard Hot 100's 52-year history to debut multiple songs at No. 1, as "Hold It Against Me" blasts in at the summit.
Spears previously launched at the apex with "3" the week of Oct. 24, 2009. She joins Mariah Carey as the only acts to arrive at No. 1 more than once. Carey made such grand entrances with "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" in 1995 and "Honey" in 1997. (All charts will be refreshed tomorrow (Jan. 20) on Billboard.com).
"Hold It Against Me" is the 18th song to debut at No. 1 and the first since Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" the week of Nov. 13, 2010.
The track is Spears' fourth No. 1 on the Hot 100. Prior to "3," she reigned with her debut single "...Baby One More Time" (two weeks, 1999) and "Womanizer" (one week, 2008).
"Hold It Against Me" starts atop Digital Songs with 411,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. As previously reported, the sum marks the highest debut frame by a lead female artist, besting the 325,000 shifted by Taylor Swift's "Today Was a Fairytale" the week of Feb. 6, 2010.
On Radio Songs, "Hold It Against Me" begins at No. 23 with 45 million first-week audience impressions, according to Nielsen BDS. The song's No. 23 entrance is the chart's best since Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" began at the same rank the week of March 1, 2008.
Source: Billboard.com
19 January 2011
"HIAM" Soars Onto Pop Songs Chart
As forecast after its massive first-day airplay, Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" roars to a record-setting debut on Billboard's Pop Songs chart.
The first single from Spears' forthcoming ninth album storms the survey at No. 16 with 4,071 plays, the highest detections total by a debuting title in the chart's 18-year history.
"Hold It Against Me" also ties Madonna's "Frozen" (No. 16, March 7, 1998) for second-highest launch in the list's archives. Only Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover" began at a higher rank, having rocketed in at No. 12 the week of Aug. 14, 1993.
The Pop Songs chart lists the most-played songs on 130 mainstream top 40 radio stations, according to Nielsen BDS.
"Hold It Against Me" received airplay on all 130 reporting stations in the chart's tracking week (Jan. 10-16). The song's first-week airplay translates to 36.4 million listener impressions, the week's 10th-highest mainstream top 40 audience total.
KHOP (@95-1)/Modesto, Calif., led all pop reporters with 104 opening-week plays.
"Over the last decade, Britney Spears has had her ups and downs. But, every time she drops new music, it is an event for the format," says KHOP program director MoJoe Roberts.
"We often tend to wait for audience research to come back strong to power up certain hits. This, however, is one of those rare tracks, like Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' or P!nk's 'Raise Your Glass,' that I put right into power rotation after one listen.
"Audience reaction to her new single has been nothing short of amazing. This is another pure pop smash from Ms. Spears."
The cut concurrently debuts on Dance Airplay at No. 24, Rhythmic (No. 37) and Adult Pop Songs (No. 40).
"Hold It Against Me" is likely to make further historic headlines this week when it's expected to become just the 18th song to debut at No. 1 since the Billboard Hot 100 began in 1958. As previously reported, the song is projected to exceed 400,000 in first-week download sales, according to industry sources.
Highlights of the Hot 100 - including the No. 1 title - will be released on Billboard.com Wednesday (Jan. 19).
All charts will be refreshed on Billboard.com Thursday (Jan. 20).Source: Billboard.com
17 January 2011
"HIAM" Breaks Mediabase Records
All Access and Mediabase send congrats to Britney Spears and the entire Jive Label Group staff on setting new Mediabase records in the Published Chart:
* Britney Spears lands an enormous debut at 22* with "Hold It Against Me"
* Britney Spears also shatters the one-week spincrease record at 3,866 spins
* Britney Spears has the biggest one week audience debut of 33,237,000
And, in today's Mediabase Building Chart, Spears prints with an amazing debut at 15*
Source: All Access Music Group
17 January 2011
Britney Spears' Career Sales
Billboard.com has been Spears Central this week, following the scorching radio debut of "Hold It Against Me." As previously reported, the song is expected to exceed 400,000 in first-week download sales, as well, according to industry sources, and blast in atop next week's Billboard Hot 100.
In the meantime, here is a look at Spears' U.S. album sales to-date, according to Nielsen SoundScan:
Sales, Title, Release Year
10,555,000, "...Baby One More Time," 1999
9,199,000, "Oops!...I Did It Again," 2000
4,342,000, "Britney," 2001
2,991,000, "In the Zone," 2003
1,667,000, "Circus," 2008
1,395,000, "Greatest Hits: My Prerogative," 2004
991,000, "Blackout," 2007
172,000, "The Singles Collection," 2009
105,000, "B in the Mix: the Remixes," 2005
With 31.6 million albums sold, Spears ranks as the 16th-best-selling album artist since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.
In that span, Spears places fourth among women, trailing only Mariah Carey (53.2 million), Celine Dion (51.1 million) and Shania Twain (34 million).
Spears has sold 2.9 physical singles and 21 million digital tracks.
Source: Billboard.com
15 January 2011
Britney Taking Risks For "HIAM" Video
In Britney Spears' "For the Record" documentary, the pop icon stressed the importance of dance in her life, even saying that she'd be "dead" without it. And on the heels of a new era in music, the singer is ready to take her signature dance skills to a whole new level in the music video for her latest single, "Hold It Against Me," according to choreographer Brian Friedman.
Speaking with MTV's "The Seven," Friedman dished details on rehearsal time, his take on the new tune and his longtime partnership with the entertainer.
"This is a dance video. Rehearsals can get pretty rough," the choreographer said. "We're playing it safe, we're not trying to kill ourselves yet, but as the video comes closer and closer, we'll definitely be hurting our backs. There was a moment while we were rehearsing where I showed Britney a section and it was something I really wanted her to do, and she freaked out. It's crazy when you first see something like that, how overwhelming it can be, especially when you haven't been in the [dance] studio for a year."
Despite Ms. Spears' early hesitation, the dance mastermind said it was probably the wrong section of the routine to show her first, revealing that the pop superstar has learned the moves and is "killing it now."
Reports of a new Britney music video leaked in December when a fansite posted a notice for auditions. "It's been the biggest buzz, you know?" he continued. "There's been a lot of speculation as to when the actual project started and it's been blowing up on my Twitter. People have been asking, 'Are you in rehearsals? Are you in auditions?' and that's the mystery that should be unknown. What we do know is we're in rehearsal studios right now and the video's coming."
How exactly does "Hold It Against Me" fare in comparison to the slew of other dance tunes under Britney's belt? Calling the iTunes chart topper "the hardest dance track that she's ever put out," Friedman said, "It's infectious. The beat gets inside of you, and just when you think you know it, it takes a turn. The song, in particular, is one of my favorite songs I've heard off the bat. I'm really excited about choreographing it."
Spears and Friedman have a long-standing professional relationship, including working together on the pop singer's 2002 dance heavy "Overprotected (Remix)" music video. Later on in his chat with "The Seven," the Illinois native recalled his first encounter with the then-teenager through a mutual friend who was dancing for her at the time. After meeting with the singer, Brian teamed up with her for her Grammy performance.
"From then on, we became friends and she is fun to work with," he gushed. "She's a Southern girl - she's all about having fun and laughing and cracking jokes. I think you can expect the unexpected from Britney. She is taking risks when it comes to fashion, when it comes to choreography, when it comes to this music - she's grown up so much, and she's pushing 30 years old soon, so she's a strong independent woman and I think she wants to show that."
Source: MTV News
14 January 2011
"Hold It Against Me" Shatters Record
Sets New One-Day Precedent As Single Tops Charts Within Hours Of Its Release
New York, NY - Perhaps USA Today sums it up best, "Spears' new single delivers enough dizzying dance-pop ecstasy to ensure another chart-topping ride..."
Following the digital release of "Hold It Against Me" on Monday, 1/10/11, Britney Spears shatters all previous records for the most number of spins for a first or one-day at both Mediabase and BDS, according to one of the radio industry's top analysts Kevin McCabe, founding principal of Musicrunch.
"Top 40 outlets across the country immediately put 'Hold It Against Me' in rotation and received instant-reaction airplay at America's most-influential stations including Z100 and WXRK in New York and KIIS and KAMP in Los Angeles," states McCabe.
Sharon Dastur, program director for New York's Z100, one of the top influential pop radio stations in the country says, "Ever since we played it yesterday, the reaction has been phenomenal. The audience loves it!"
In addition to the overwhelming fan response at radio, the sales story is also impressive; in less than a day of its release, "Hold It Against Me" is the #1 Song on iTunes.
Britney had 619 spins at Mediabase in what was only a partial day of spins for Monday, 1/10/11. At BDS, Britney had 595 first or one-day spins - also on a partial day's worth of airplay. Britney's big one-day powered her onto the BDS one-day building chart at 16* and perhaps even more impressive was her audience debut at 7*.
As expected, Spears is also a trending topic on twitter worldwide.Source: Jive Records
11 January 2011
Britney Thanks Fans For Their Support
Fans are certainly excited that Britney Spears decided to release her new single, "Hold It Against Me," early. On Monday, Spears surprised her fans by releasing the tune to radio before the song officially hit iTunes. And Spears wants her fans to know how thankful she is for their support.
"Seriously, I have the best fans ever. I love you all so much!!" she wrote on Twitter. "Everything I do is for you! xoxo Brit."
The singer, who is set to release her new album in March, explained why she decided to release the song hours earlier than expected. "Don't #HOLDITAGAINSTME for coming out early. I couldn't wait any longer. Hope you don't mind....." she teased. "Anybody staying up late to get #HoldItAgainstMe on iTunes? I know I'll be awake..." The singer also reacted to fans' positive reviews of the track.
Spears' manager, Adam Leber, also took to Twitter on Monday to share some news about the video for the dance track. "Going to bed people. Have to wake up early and get back to work on the HIAM video. News on that coming soon ..." he revealed. "And HIAM is a trending topic worldwide!! Britney's Fans = Unstoppable"
It seemed that Team Britney was out in full force as the song quickly made its way around the world, with one-half of the tunes's production team, Dr. Luke, also reacting to its release. "So u like the new brit single 'hold it against me' ???" he wrote. "holy f--- !!!! hold it against me is a trending topic... #HIAM."
Source: MTV News
11 January 2011
Britney's Lead Singles Track-By-Track
As "Hold It Against Me" previews Britney Spears' forthcoming album, Chart Beat looks back at the Billboard Hot 100 performances of the first singles from each of her prior collections.
Five of the lead cuts from Spears' eight sets (including two best-of releases), have reached the top 10. All three of her Hot 100 No. 1s have led off new projects.
Spears is hoping to extend her streak of first singles from albums commanding the Hot 100 to three. "Womanizer" and "3," which introduced "Circus" (2008) and "The Greatest Hits" (2009), respectively, each ruled the list.
"Womanizer" debuted at No. 96 and rocketed to the summit the next week following its digital arrival. "3" became just the 16th song in the Hot 100's history to debut at the apex.
With "Hold It Against Me" set to impact a host of Billboard charts next week, here's a recap of Spears' impressive history ushering in new albums.
Song: "...Baby One More Time"
Album: "...Baby One More Time"
Debut date: Nov. 21, 1998
Debut position: 17
Peak position: 1, two weeks
Total chart weeks: 32
Digital sales to-date, according to Nielsen SoundScan: 386,000
(Physical sales to-date: 1.4 million)
Song: "Oops!...I Did It Again"
Album: "Oops!...I Did It Again"
Debut date: April 22, 2000
Debut position: 67
Peak position: 9
Total chart weeks: 20
Digital sales to-date: 369,000
(Physical sales to-date: 57,000)
Song: "I'm a Slave for You"
Album: "Britney"
Debut date: Oct. 20, 2001
Debut position: 68
Peak position: 27
Total chart weeks: 14
Digital sales to-date: 391,000
(Physical sales to-date: 32,000)
Song: "Me Against the Music" (featuring Madonna)
Album: "In the Zone"
Debut date: Oct. 25, 2003
Debut position: 50
Peak position: 35
Total chart weeks: 13
Digital sales to-date: 250,000
(Physical sales to-date: 60,000)
Song: "My Prerogative"
Album: "Greatest Hits: My Prerogative"
Did not chart on Hot 100; reached No. 22 on Pop Songs, Oct. 23, 2004
Digital sales to-date: 374,000
Song: "Gimme More"
Album: "Blackout"
Debut date: Sept. 22, 2007
Debut position: 85
Peak position: 3
Total chart weeks: 20
Digital sales to-date: 1.6 million
Song: "Womanizer"
Album: "Circus"
Debut date: Oct. 18, 2008
Debut position: 96
Peak position: 1, one week
Total chart weeks: 23
Digital sales to-date: 3.1 million (Spears' best-selling digital track)
Song: "3"
Album: "The Singles Collection"
Debut date: Oct. 24, 2009
Debut position: 1
Peak position: 1, one week
Total chart weeks: 20
Digital sales to-date: 2 million
Source: Billboard.com
10 January 2011
Rolling Stone Reviews "HIAM"
"Hold it Against Me" is prime Britney, packed with aggressive electro jitters, a Euro-cheese riff that's strangely close to AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," and a weird breakdown where Brit moans, blows kisses, and snaps her gum. The first single from her upcoming seventh album, the song (co-produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke) recalls the synth-gloom ambience of Britney's 2007 gem, Blackout, possibly the most influential pop album of the last five years. The lyrics head toward Austin Powers/Benny Hill territory: "If I said I want your body now/ Would you hold it against me?" It isn't hard to hear a tinge of desperation in Brit's digitally processed growl, especially in the line "You feel like paradise and I need a vacation tonight." But even so, "Hold it Against Me" promises great things for her album, aside from the overall jaw-drop factor that Britney has hung in there to make a seventh album at all.
Source: Rolling Stone
10 January 2011
"Hold It Against Me" Hits Internet
Fans who thought they had to wait until Tuesday to hear the final cut of Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" have gotten a pleasant surprise, as sneak peeks of the thumping dance track have been popping up all over various radio stations' websites.
The finished version of "Hold It Against Me" starts out almost exactly the same as the demo that leaked last week (which featured vocals from songwriter Bonnie McKee), with identical lyrics and instrumentation. But the new track includes some signature funky Britney touches.
"If I feel my heart was beating loud, if we could escape the crowd somehow/ If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?" Spears sings on the chorus. " 'Cause you feel like paradise, And I need a vacation tonight. So if I said I want your body now, Would you hold it against me?"
But after a second pass through the chorus of the Dr. Luke/ Max Martin produced track, off Britney's yet-untitled March album, a new breakdown emerges that features the pop star cooing about lusting for a boy on the dance floor as pulsing beats answer her call for love.
We hear Brit speak flirtatiously, telling her suitor, "If I said I want your body, would you hold it against me?" She then sings, "Give me something good, don't want to wait. I want it now. Drop it like a hood and show me how you work it out" as her voice comes in and out over staccato instrumentation before she breaks down the chorus.
Soon the song comes back in full force, with the beat changing up slightly to sound a bit more epic as she closes things out by repeating the chorus until the track just stops.
If streaming "Hold It Against Me" isn't enough for you, the song will be available on iTunes starting at midnight ET on Tuesday. It will remain an iTunes exclusive purchase for a week, until January 18.
Source: MTV News
10 January 2011
"Hold It Against Me" Press Release
Britney Spears Set To Release New Single "Hold It Against Me" On Tuesday, January 11th
Song Will Debut Simultaneously At Radio And On The U.S. iTunes Store At Midnight (EST) On January 11th
New York, NY - Britney Spears' new highly anticipated song "Hold It Against Me" will premiere simultaneously on radio stations and be available immediately in the U.S. exclusively on the iTunes store, Tuesday, January 11th at 12AM EST.
"Hold It Against Me" is produced by Britney's long-time collaborators Max Martin and Dr. Luke and is the official lead single from her forthcoming album. The as-yet-untitled seventh studio album is slated for release in March 2011 on Jive Records.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase the song exclusively on the iTunes store until 1/18.
During her 12-year career, Britney has had five albums debut in the No. 1 position on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, and she's had 24 Top 40 hits on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart. Globally, Britney Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the past decade, dominating charts with her albums, selling an astonishing 67 million albums worldwide. Her previous albums include: ...Baby One More Time (1999); Oops!...I Did It Again (2000); Britney (2001); In The Zone (2003); Blackout (2007); Circus (2008); and The Singles Collection (2009).
Source: Jive Records
07 January 2011
"I I I Wanna Go" To Be Another Single
It's been over two years since Britney released her sixth studio album Circus, and with the welcoming of 2011, the reigning princess of pop is set to take back the music scene. Tuesday, Spears is set to release her first single "Hold It Against Me" from her forthcoming album slated to hit stores and iTunes in March.
Spears' managers Larry Rudolph and Adam Leber gave Ryan a first listen to the high-energy single on Thursday, which blew away the demo that leaked online earlier that morning. Leber played the song off of his trusted iPod Classic in Ryan's radio studio. Britney's managing team also played a second song for Ryan, "I I I Wanna Go" another powerhouse single from the new album.
Rudolph and Leber explained to Ryan that the creative process for "Hold It Against Me" music video is well underway and are nothing short of spectacular. Spears has been rehearsing choreography for the video for a month now, and will shoot in two weeks.
Source: Ryan Seacrest.com
07 January 2011
"Hold It Against Me" Drops On Tuesday
After days of speculation and a churning rumor mill, Britney Spears has come forth to set the record straight about her upcoming single, "Hold It Against Me." Produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, the high-energy tune, a demo of which surfaced on the Internet on Thursday, is set to hit airwaves on Tuesday, she tweeted.
"Heard an early demo of my new single leaked. If u think that's good, wait til you hear the real one Tuesday," Spears wrote on Twitter Thursday night. She also posted the track's artwork, a close-up of the pop princess' face partially covered by her blond locks.
"Hold It Against Me" is the lead single from Britney's currently untitled new album, dropping in March.
In the leaked demo of the scorching club track, singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee sings Spears' part. She proclaims her lust for a person while surrounded by a crowd of people. "If I feel my heart was beating loud/ If we could escape the crowd somehow/ If I said I want your body now/ Would you hold it against me?/ 'Cause you feel like paradise/ And I need a vacation tonight/ If I said I want your body now/ Would you hold it against me?" she sings over a pulsating bass.
The track's producer cautioned that the demo is a very early version of the song. "That version of hold it against me is really really old... it don't sound like that anymore... it's WAY better :-p," Dr. Luke tweeted.
Source: MTV News
07 January 2011