After picking up the Tui for International Achievement at this year’s New Zealand Music Awards, Universal Republic Records, Universal Music New Zealand, and Dawn Raid Music are pleased to announce that Savage has reached the coveted Platinum milestone in digital/mobile single sales in the US for his hit ‘Swing.’
The 1.1 million sales (so far) are made up of more than 800,000 in digital singles and well over 300,000 in mobile singles. Sales of ‘Swing’ have now surpassed US-released singles by Crowded House and OMC, and as sales of the track increase week to week it’s shaping as the highest selling single by a New Zealand artist in the United States ever! This week alone has seen a 20% increase in sales from last week, and ‘Swing’ is currently enjoying its highest position on the Billboard Pop chart at #35.
Groomed as New Zealand’s #1 selling Hip Hop artist by local independent label Dawn Raid Music, Savage has gained unprecedented traction in the U.S., inking his deal with Universal Republic Records (home to the likes of Nelly, Jack Johnson and Amy Winehouse) only 5 months ago and continuing the grassroots ascension by winning over both hip hop and mainstream audiences. Already a Platinum and multi award winning artist down under, Savage made his presence known even prior to his U.S. radio debut by leaping from #77 to #17 in one day on the influential iTunes Hip Hop chart where it is now sitting pretty at #10!
Savage soared to the upper tier of the iTunes chart (reaching #6) and the Rhythm Crossover radio chart (where ‘Swing’ became the number one most added) on the back of his infectious remix with energetic hip hop stylist Soulja Boy.
More than 400 fan-generated videos for the frenetic hit have swept popular online video destination YouTube. The fun-filled party clip was directed by Kai Crawford, who helmed the video for Savage’s previous international hit featuring Akon, ‘Moonshine.’
The Samoan star, who hails from South Auckland, began to garner cult-hit status as ‘Swing’ won over music and movie fans thanks to its placement in the pivotal bar scene in the 2007 hit movie Knocked Up.
Savage powers a popular MySpace site which has also passed the three million views milestone recently. Cited as one of the few hip hop exports whose original style and quirky Kiwi roots have resonated with US hip hop fans, his upcoming album is considered one of the more savoury US hip hop debuts of 2008.
‘Swing’ is the first official single from Savage’s upcoming album, Savage Island, which will be released on 26 January 2009.
The album Savage Island is available 26 January 2009.