Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé scored a huge hit in the U.S. a few weeks ago when “II Most Wanted” debuted on the Hot 100. The track opened at No. 6 on the chart the week when Bey’s new album Cowboy Carter launched on the Billboard 200 at No. 1.
“II Most Wanted” was a smash across a number of Billboard charts, reaching the top 10 on several lists. About a month later, the track is quickly falling down a few rosters…but radio may be its saving grace, as the cut is improving on several airplay tallies.
This week, “II Most Wanted” grows on two of Billboard’s radio charts. The track jumps from No. 31 to No. 27 on the Pop Airplay list in its third frame. Over on the Adult Contemporary ranking, it’s up from No. 39 to No. 33 in its second stint on the roster.
Radio attention can turn a falling track–perhaps one that debuted high on the charts–around and help it hold on. Continued support across a variety of stations may let “II Most Wanted” slow its decline, and perhaps push it back up the Hot 100 in the coming weeks as more and more DJs and programmers put it into rotation.
As it begins to pick up steam at pop radio in the U.S., “II Most Wanted” is not turning out to be the smash that some predicted it would have become. Yes, it launched in a lofty position on the Hot 100, but that was thanks to the celebrity power of both Cyrus and Beyoncé. Keeping it going is harder for them than earning a lofty beginning.
This week, “II Most Wanted” falls 37 spaces on the Hot 100. Ordinarily, that would be seen as a truly terrible sign of future performance, but this frame is different. More than 30 tracks–almost entirely from Taylor Swift’s new album–debut above “II Most Wanted,” and that deluge is largely responsible for the backtracking.
But Swift is not entirely to blame for the downward spiral of “II Most Wanted.” The track is also falling on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Streaming Songs charts. On the former, it slips outside the top 10 to No. 13, while on the latter, it dips 10 spaces to No. 23. Swift doesn’t appear on either of those rosters, so Cyrus and Beyoncé can’t blame her.
“II Most Wanted” is the current single from Cowboy Carter, taking over as “Texas Hold ‘Em” begins to fade. If this superstar collaboration can’t manage to become a sturdy smash, it’s possible that promotion of the album may slow, or perhaps even stop, prematurely.
