Beyonce & Justin Timberlake?

Speaking of Beyonce, in a very unlikely pairing she will be featured on the remix for Justin Timberlake's "Until The End Of Time." It seems that if you're Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, or Nelly Furtado every track on your album is going to be a single whether it be in the States or overseas. Via Billboard a reader wrote into the website inquiring about Justin's track:

****Dear Fred,

I am a huge fan and never miss your column.

This week, 'Until the End of Time" by Justin Timberlake spends its second week in the top 10 of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. To the best of my knowledge this song is yet to be released as a single, as "LoveStoned" is still making the rounds on the Hot 100. Also, before their official releases, both "Upgrade U" and "Get Me Bodied" by Beyonce appeared on the same chart based solely on airplay. Do you think this arbitrary airplay by radio stations ruins the chances of the songs achieving a higher position or performing better on the charts when released at a later date? "Get Me Bodied" is a case in point.

Thanks.

James Obi
Abuja, Nigeria


Dear James,

Glad you like Chart Beat Chat, and thanks for letting me know!

The airplay on Justin Timberlake's "Until the End of Time" is more deliberate than arbitrary - at least, it is now.

I checked with Billboard's Raphael George, who manages the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. He tells me that WGCI in Chicago started playing "Until the End of Time" from Justin's album, which inspired his label, Jive, to promote the song at urban radio. That's why it is doing so much better on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Raphael adds that a remix, with Beyonce, is coming in about two weeks. Hmm, wonder if that will help the song cross over to top 40 radio!

To answer your question about early airplay on songs that later become singles, there's no one result that is always the same. It can hurt a song's chances, but it can also help.****

"Until The End Of Time", my favorite track from Future Sex/ Love Sounds, is one of those classic Timbaland ballads. Justin really killed the vocals and together they created one of the best tracks of 2006/2007 in my opinion. I am interested to see how Beyonce will fit into the track especially with Justin's vocals. We'll keep you posted in the next couple of weeks with the progress of the song.