Per Mediabase Callout Research, Ne-Yo’s “She Knows (featuring Juicy J)” is one of the worst-scoring songs at pop radio. Its “net positive” reaction score of 17.8 is one of the pop format’s four lowest marks; among active songs, only Usher’s “I Don’t Mind (featuring Juicy J)” (17.6), Imagine Dragons’ “I Bet My Life” (17.0) and Nicki Minaj’s “Truffle Butter (featuring Drake and Lil Wayne)” (15.0) possess weaker ones.
Label Capitol Records does not, however, believe callout research represents the end-all, be-all determinant of what works for listeners. And in the case of Ne-Yo’s crossover single, it believes its success on other metrics makes it a “HIT worth fighting for.”
In a letter issued to radio programmers (and distributed via the promotionalemail list for the All Access trade journal), Capitol Music Group makes the case for “She Knows.”
The label’s radio team argues that the song’s “growing downloads, growing streaming numbers” and presence in the Top 15 on Shazam are also tantamount to valuable research.
Capitol also rhetorically wonders if the fact that the song is in the Top 5 at rhythmic and urban radio and Top 20 at pop radio represent “good indications it’s working.”
Regarding potential reliance on callout data as a sole determinant of a song’s viability, Capitol asks, “Why believe just one option when many others should be heard?”
That question is of particular relevance given the label’s concern: “can callout research be flawed?”
