When it comes to the alternative radio format, Lorde might be closer to royalty than her breakthrough hit suggested.
After scoring smashes with “Royals” and “Team” last year, the singer-songwriter is off to a great start with new single “Yellow Flicker Beat.”
The alternative Mediabase panel’s most-added song for two weeks in a row (it received 30 adds in week one and 22 in week two), “Beat” is also making an immediate–and significant–impression on the format’s airplay charts.
The song, which is the lead single from the Lorde-curated “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” soundtrack, debuted at #16 on the Mediabase airplay chart and #17 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
That #17 bow on Billboard is the format’s best debut for a solo female effort since Juliana Hatfield’s “Universal Heart-Beat” launched at the same spot in March 1995. Prior to that, PJ Harvey’s “Down By the Water” opened at #15 in February 1995.
Both songs were released before Lorde was born.
— In addition to Alternative Songs, “Yellow Flicker Beat” also lands at #19 on Adult Alternative Songs and #15 on Rock Airplay.