This week, there’s a battle between superstars for Most Added honors, and this won’t be the last one we have this year. There are a couple of really big weeks on the horizon. With so many superstar releases headed our way, there are bound to be causalities that should have been hits. Without massive momentum, though, they can’t survive the onslaught of “programmed spins” that will go the way of the superstars. Hang on; 2015’s Q4 is going to be a lot of fun. And speaking of fun, college football kicks off this week. Are you ready?? I know I am.

Well, this weekend’s MTV VMAs definitely had a strong Republic presence. CW, Spangler and Russell had a lot to smile about, as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Nick Jonas, Nicki Minaj and Demi Lovato all gave great performances. Swift and Minaj even got to take home some of those newly designed Moonman awards, as well. And we hear that was one rocking afterparty! The Weeknd had quite the weekend himself; the streaming and sales numbers are stacking up, as he sits on top of the Pop chart for a fourth week in a row with “Can’t Feel My Face.” Follow-up “The Hills,” meanwhile, climbed inside the Top 25; it’s perfect timing to drive those albums numbers next week. Fall Out Boy’s “Uma Thurman” (DCD2/Island) is perched and ready to move Top 10 this week. Hailee Steinfeld’s “Love Myself” moved Top 20, as did Shawn Mendes’ “Stitches” (Island). Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” (Big Machine) looks like it’s about to be #1 Most Added, and with just a few days of early airplay, it’s ready to move Top 20. After just one week, Nick Jonas charted with “Levels” (Safehouse/Island), which will end up Top 30 on next week’s chart.

Demi Lovato delivered a terrific performance at the VMAs’ Hollywood Stage, and “Cool for the Summer” (Safehouse/Island/Hollywood) moved Top 5 this week with the Staffs of Republic and Hollywood driving the increases. Speaking of Hollywood, Finck, Smith and Ennis are launching ZZ Ward’s “3X” this week; WZPL, WNFN and KMXV are already on the board, as they launch a unique campaign with audience videos in all of her touring markets.

Scot Finck, Ryan Seacrest, Demi Lovato

RCA’s Riccitelli, JR, Daddio, Cooper & Strazza jumped R. City f/Adam Levine’s “Locked Away” all the way up to #8 this week. The track’s also #1 on Shazam’s U.S. chart and #5 worldwide. With all the increases coming in, it should be Top 5 at radio soon. Meanwhile, Kygo’s “Firestone” charted with big supporters, including WPOI, WFLZ, Z100 and KTU. Elle King’s “Ex’s & Oh’s” is off to a great start, as it charted last week and already has 65+ stations on board.

Capitol’s Reese, Rainey, Youngblood & Siciliano moved 5 Seconds of Summer’s “She’s Kinda Hot” Top 15 with big increases this week from KSLZ, WITH, KUDD and WNOK. Disclosure f/Sam Smith’s “Omen” is now Top 30, after pulling in airplay from nine new stations, including KZZP, WXKB, XHOT and WNFN. If you haven’t listed to Audien’s “Something Better” yet, do yourself a favor and get familiar with it, because this one is next up.

At Columbia, Leipsner, Borris & Vaughan have Little Mix’s “Black Magic” (SYCO) in the Top 25, pulling in big adds from Z100, WNRW and KZHT last week. One Direction’s “Drag Me Down” (SYCO) is Top 15 and climbing quickly. With the good research stories starting to come in, this one should keep moving up. Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” is still climbing and pulling in spin increases each week, as it continues to post big sales numbers. Calvin Harris & Disciples’ “How Deep Is Your Love” got big increases this week from WODS, KIIS and WKSC, among others. OMI’s new single, “Hula Hoop,” landed on desks last Friday and is impacting this week.

Def Jam’s Sackheim, Rothschild & Farag have to be excited about Justin Bieber’s performance on the VMAs. He really did knock it out of the park, showing off some smooth dance moves and belting out his new single, “What Do You Mean?” There are 130 Stations confirmed for this week already, and after only three days of spins, the track was this week’s Greatest Gainer, debuting at #27 and selling 157k singles in two days. Alessia Cara’s “Here” moved Top 30 this week; new stations include KZZP, WRVQ and WAKS. Afrojack’s “SummerThing!” is now on over 100 stations, including KAMP, Y100 and WZMP.


Artbeatz/Red’s Buch, Halpern & Weil should chart Daya’s “Hide Away,” as the track continues to pull in believers; KZZP, WWMX and WPOI are all new. This track is selling and Shazaming in every airplay market. The Chainsmokers f/Rozes’ “Roses” is starting to pull in a very nice list of stations for early airplay. KAMP, KMVQ, KZON and WODS are all in this week.

Chainsmokers' Alex Pall, 97.1 Amp Radio's McCabe, Weil, Amp's Chris Booker, Chainsmokers' Drew Taggart

Epic’s Team Glassman is shouting from the rooftops about the research that’s piling up on Meghan Trainor f/John Legend’s “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” There’s also some great research and sales numbers starting to pop up on A Great Big World’s “Hold Each Other” (Black Magnetic), as WKSC, WZFT, WRVQ and KMXV all join the other 125 stations already on board. Fifth Harmony’s “I’m in Love With a Monster” (SYCO) pulled in 40+ stations. They also whipped out a killer VMA performance.

Warner Bros.’ Gray, Dyer, Reich & Shih saw Macklemore & Ryan Lewis light up the VMAs with their new “official” single, “Downtown,” which has raced up the chart to #27. It will be one of the Most Added this week and will definitely land in the Greatest Gainer category as well. Adam Lambert’s “Ghost Town” should see a big increase this week, as the callout gods are smiling down on it. Nico & Vinz f/B.Rexha’s “That’s How You Know” is building a nice list of supporters and should chart soon. Echosmith’s “Let’s Love” is also off and running, with 30+ stations on board, including KDIS, KUDD, WNCI and WNOH.

MUSIC WE LOVE: Andy Grammer’s “Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)” (S-Curve/Hollywood), OMI’s “Hula Hoop” (Ultra/Columbia).