Maroon 5 Breaks Digital Sales Record for a Group, Besting Black Eyed Peas; New Album Out June 26th

Released on iTunes April 17th (June 18th in the UK) "Payphone" is the new Wiz Khalifa-assisted Maroon 5 single.  The LA-based fivesome debuted the song live on the hit NBC reality series The Voice prior to the single release the next day.  Following the song's release, "Payphone" debuted at #1 on the Digital Songs chart.  With nearly 500,000 downloads, "Payphone" broke the Black Eyed Peas previous record for digital sales by a group.  In addition to landing a #1 on Billboard's Digital Songs Chart, the single also managed a #3 debut on the Hot 100 chart. That's INSANE!

All in all, "Payphone" is a fairly standard Maroon 5 pop/rock ballad, with the only real "surprise" element being Wiz Khalifa's unnecessary rent-a-rapper interlude.  Levine hits his vocal sweet pot with the chorus, drifting seamlessly into that trademark falsetto we all know and love.  As is the case with most Maroon 5 pop/rock ballads ("She Will Be Loved," "Sunday Morning"), "Payphone" is infectiously catchy and extremely radio friendly.  While, in this day and age, "radio friendly" can either be a good thing or a bad thing - for Maroon 5 it's definitely a positive more so than a negative.  Sure, Indie artists who release something considered "radio friendly" are  lampooned and called "sell outs," whereas a band like Maroon 5 is expected to release something that fits right into that mainstream, Top 40 bubble.  Considering the band is about to release its fourth album, I think it's safe to say that the band know what its doing. Honestly, at this point it would be more unexpected if the band were to release something that wasn't radio friendly. Carry on boys. Carry on.

Since joining the show in it's inaugural season of The Voice last year, Coach Adam Levine and the rest of the Maroon 5 boys (Michael Madden, James Valentine, Matt Flynn, PJ Morton) have been riding a tidal wave of success that the show's other judges (Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton) could only dream of.  2011's "Moves Like Jagger" was the EpiPen to the  band's (mostly) DOA third album, Hands All Over.  Prior to the Christina Aguilera-assisted "Moves Like Jagger," Hands All Over had really failed to produce a hit, the closest being lead single, "Misery," which peaked at #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.  Unfortunately, follow up singles, "Give A Little More," and "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" didn't do any better, with the former peaking at #86 and the latter at #55.  Not only was "Moves Like Jagger" the highest charting single off of the album, but it became Maroon 5's first #1 since 2007's "Makes Me Wonder!"  Serving as the lead single off of their upcoming fourth studio album, Overexposed, "Payphone" appears to see the band continuing on that same upward trajectory.  Nice to have you back, boys.

Due out worldwide June 26th via A&M/Octone, Overexposed was executive produced by Max Martin (Britney Spears, P!nk) with additional tracks produced by Benny Blanco (Katy Perry, Ke$ha) and OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis).  The band started writing and recording the album during their most recent world tour, creating the eventual 12-song track list.  Lead single, "Payphone" was co-written by Adam Levine alongside Benny Blanco, Ammar Malik (B.o.B., Gym Class Heroes), Shellback (Adam Lambert, Robyn), Dan Omelio (Gym Class Heroes) and Wiz Khalifa, with production by Shellback and Blanco.

Pre-order the album online (iTunes US) today and snag "Payphone" while you're at it.  While we're waiting on the official music video to come out, check out the fabulous Lyric Video BELOW.  Also look out for a special re-release of Maroon 5's 2002 debut, Songs About Jane, which celebrates 10 years this coming June 25th.  The Special Edition album, due June 5th, will feature demos, unreleased material, videos and more.

iTunes US

iTunes UK

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