Camila Cabello
How Camila Cabello Used Data to Pick ‘Havana’ as the Lead Single for Her Debut Album

Camila Cabello (Photo credit: Jason Roman)
On Aug. 3, Camilla Cabello and Epic Records released two tracks from her upcoming debut solo album: the Young Thug-featured “Havana” and the Quavo-assisted “OMG.” Although DJcity’s subscribers gravitated towards “Havana,” both Spotify and iTunes championed “OMG,” giving it premium coverage on Spotify’s “New Music Fridays” and iTunes’ “Hot Tracks” lists.
Despite the priority given to “OMG,” a week later, both tracks reached around 37 million followers via official Spotify playlists and third party playlists, including DJcity Essentials.
By Aug. 19, a leader had emerged. “Havana” appeared on playlists followed by 60 million, while the audience for “OMG” dropped to 30 million. (“Havana” had been added to more playlists while “OMG” had been dropped by some playlists.)


A week later, “OMG” dropped out of Spotify’s weekly United States Viral 50 chart, while “Havana” stood at No. 15, with its reach expanded to 68 million followers. Within just days, Cabello announced on Twitter that “Havana” would be the album’s lead single.
and that's why…. we are making it a single!!!!!!!! thank u so much for the love and support for a song that's so close to my heart ???????????? https://t.co/vJXJIYdCYb
— camila (@Camila_Cabello) August 30, 2017
“OMG” was eventually removed from Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits playlist, and on Oct. 3, “Havana” began being serviced to U.S. top 40 radio (“Havana” is currently No. 7 on Today’s Top Hits). Cabello released the official video for “Havana” on Oct. 24, and the single currently sits at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ultimately, fans preferred “Havana” over “OMG” and the data reflected how listeners worldwide engaged with it. As real-time insights become more available, artists and labels can make better-informed marketing decisions.
This article was written by Matt Downey and edited by Anthony Polis.
Related: Major Lazer Drops Interactive ‘Know No Better’ Video
Watch Camila Cabello’s ‘Havana’ Video Feat. Young Thug
Camila Cabello has released a humorous mini-movie as the music video for her hit single “Havana” featuring Young Thug. Cabello, who was born in Havana, Cuba, plays three different roles throughout the visual.
The track, which was co-produced by Pharrell, is currently No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was DJcity’s 37th most-downloaded track of October. It serves as the lead single off Cabello’s forthcoming solo debut album, The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving.
Watch the video above and download “Havana” on DJcity.
Major Lazer Drops Interactive ‘Know No Better’ Video
Major Lazer is famous for making innovative music, but it’s also creative with its marketing.
On Thursday, the group released a new version of its video for “Know No Better,” featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo. However, unlike the previous visual, this one is interactive.
Directed by Philip Andelman and hosted by Eko, the clip enables viewers to toggle between a young boy’s real life and dream world. As Billboard puts it, “This is the kind of the music video you can get lost in.”
Watch it above and download the track on DJcity.
Related: Watch Major Lazer’s ‘Know No Better’ Video Ft. Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo
Watch Major Lazer’s ‘Know No Better’ Video Ft. Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo
Major Lazer has released a video for “Know No Better,” their new collaboration with Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo.
The visual goes back and forth between a boy’s mundane life and his fantasy of being Major Lazer’s backup dancer. Quavo doesn’t make an appearance, but the other featured artists along with Diplo and Walshy Fire do.
The single, which appears on Major Lazer’s Know No Better EP, was DJcity’s most downloaded track of June.
Watch the video above and download the single on DJcity.
Related: Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire Talks All Things Dancehall
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