US Radio Corruption, no words
In August 2019, a Zap text to one station said, “This week kill Panic and Ed Sheeran and put Shawn super power for #1 … Republic sweating me already.” On the previous week’s chart, Sheeran’s “I Don’t Care” was Number One, Shawn Mendes’ “If I Can’t Have You” was Number Three — Republic Records was promoting the single — and Panic! at the Disco’s “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” was Number Four.
As the chart’s tracking week neared its end, the station told Zap that Mendes’ single was set to play every half hour. But then Zap fired off another text: “It is too close and we haven’t jumped Ed yet. After 8 pm. Can we do every 15 min. No one will even notice. No one listens to the radio unless in car.”