Linkin Park returned more than a month ago with a new single titled “Friendly Fire,” which dropped in late February. The track previews their forthcoming compilation Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000–2023), which is set to arrive later this month. Ahead of that project’s street date, the band is trying out a common marketing tactic in today’s music industry to get the song to rise on the charts.
On Friday (March 29), Linkin Park shared two new versions of “Friendly Fire.” The band dropped both an a cappella and an instrumental of the cut, with the two immediately being made widely available for both purchase and streaming.
While these two versions of the single likely don’t add much to the song, it makes sense for Linkin Park to share them. Many major stars in the music world these days will provide superfans with several takes of a new tune, giving them options for streaming buying. Those who are dedicated to the group and their success on the charts will stream and buy all the available copies.
Billboard lumps consumption of all versions of one song title into a single charting entity. That means that all streams, sales, and airplay of all editions of “Friendly Fire”–the original, as well as the a cappella and instrumental–will help the title potentially climb on the Billboard charts.
At the moment, “Friendly Fire” is performing very well across a variety of rock radio formats. The tune is up to a new high of No. 2 on the Alternative Airplay chart. It’s steady at its No. 4 peak on the Mainstream Rock Airplay list. Last week, the cut sat atop the Rock & Alternative Airplay ranking, though this frame it’s been kicked down to the runner-up rung by Green Day’s “Dilemma,” which hits No. 1 for the first time.
If “Friendly Fire” can continue to perform well on rock radio stations across the country, and its sales and streams increase–thanks to the tune’s popularity, but also these new releases–Linkin Park could see the track rise on a number of important lists. It’s falling on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (from No. 29 to No. 38 this frame), but it could reverse course in only a few days.
Linkin Park’s compilation would benefit from its lead single performing well at the time it drops. The set is surely going to be a favorite among die-hard lovers of the largely defunct band, but reaching beyond only that group of people will help the album perform as well as is possible on a number of important Billboard lists later this month.
By Forbes