Billboard: 'Suit & Tie' Will Slay & You Will All Deal!

 

I kept reading tweets explaining that Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" was only doing well on radio because of the radio deal and on iTunes because of the hype surrounding his comeback. Radio directors from all over the country disagree. Check out this article from Billboard about  the impending slayage.

A sampling of radio programmers shows almost consensus early approval for "Suit."
"Over the years, we've come to expect the unexpected with Justin's music, which I think is fantastic," Pop Songs panelist WHTZ New York program director Sharon Dastur says. "'Suit & Tie' doesn't sound like anything else out in pop music right now and we can certainly use those kinds of songs. For some people, it'll be a slow build, while others love it after the first listen, including myself. We welcome Justin back with open arms."
"I love it," Pop Songs reporter KIIS Los Angeles assistant PD Julie Pilat concurs. "Just like Justin brought Pharrell and Timbaland's beats to the mainstream in 2002, R&B has been having a huge resurgence in the underground with Frank Ocean, the Weeknd and Miguel. I think Justin will bring that movement to the mainstream in 2013. I couldn't be more excited that he's back and from the look of social media posts and hallway chatter, many fans are feeling the same way."
Clearly, female PDs are factoring the appeal of Timberlake to fellow women, who aren't likely to complain that Timberlake (even as a newlywed, to Jessica Biel) has brought his sexy self back.
"What woman over the age of 25 doesn't love Justin Timberlake?" asks Charese Fruge, PD of Adult Pop Songs panelist KMXB Las Vegas. "As for whether this song is a long-term hit? I guess we'll find out."
"I think 'Suit & Tie' is very different and I feared that his time away from the music industry would produce an out-of-touch single, like Mariah Carey's last year ['Triumphant (Get 'Em)," which stalled at No. 53 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]," Pattie Moreno, PD of Pop Songs reporter KHHM Sacramento, Calif., says. "However, he managed to bring a very sexy record to the table. Jay-Z adds grown-man credibility and Timberlake's R&B touch and Robin Thicke-esque vocals add a smooth edge."

Male PDs likewise value the 'event' status that Timberlake provides. "Anytime a huge artist releases a song, the audience expects to hear it on their local contemporary pop station," says Chase Murphy, PD of Pop Songs contributor KXXM San Antonio, Texas. "In this case, Timberlake hadn't dropped a single in more than five years, so there's at least a curiosity with both the audience and the radio community. We're expected to expose the audience to ('Suit'). It's what we do.
"Personally, I like it and think it will be a hit. I think it's different and might be a sign of the times on where the format and texture of music is headed," Murphy muses. "It serves as a relief from a lot of the adult, folk-rock sounds that seem to be gaining a lot of momentum." That, says Murphy, is a good thing. "The format flourishes when we have many different styles from which to choose."
Of PDs contacted by Billboard today, only the gatekeepers at Pop Songs panelist WBBM Chicago seem more than slightly concerned about the viability of "Suit" at the format. Even then, they feel that the song will ultimately be embraced. Seemingly worth remembering: a similar consensus reticence accompanied "SexyBack," which many programmers and fans deemed jarring before similar-sounding songs by the Black Eyed Peas arrived and the EDM movement blossomed. "(Suit) doesn't seem to be creating a ton of chatter with our listeners as of yet," says PD Todd Cavanah. "Still, it's Justin Timberlake. I would not bet against him. We'll let the audience decide."
"Suit" is generating "somewhat mixed opinions thus far," adds WBBM assistant PD/music director Erik Bradley. "I'd say it's 50/50. But, it's No. 1 on iTunes and still trending on Twitter. It's definitely going to get the chance to prove itself. Personally, I liked it after the first listen, liked it even more after the second and, once I heard it on the radio, I totally loved it. It's Justin and he typically comes with game-changing lead singles, so I'd expect the same in this case."
Clearly, the start of "Suit" could be just the start of pop radio's potentially strong bond with "The 20/20 Experience."
"Simply put, don't doubt JT," says Dylan Sprague, PD of Pop Songs reporter WXKS and Rhythmic panelist WJMN Boston. "He is always doing something different; in this case, an update on past R&B."

I love the song. It's refreshing. I can say the same for DC3's "Nuclear."