Talk:Message in a Bottle (Taylor Swift song)

Single status
Wanted to check here - have just seen Billboard describe this song as "the current radio single from Red [Taylor’s Version"] - should we change its status from song to single accordingly? --LivelyRatification (talk) 19:35, 29 November 2021 (UTC)


 * That's interesting; but do we have a radio impact date? Ronherry (talk) 03:28, 30 November 2021 (UTC)


 * I think we really should consider this song as a single. The same thing happened with the article for "Way 2 Sexy" that had a source from Billboard saying it impacted radio but did not mention a date, and yet it is still considered a single because the article said so. 192.157.111.166 (talk) 03:39, 1 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I'm not all that knowledgeable about single requirements, but it does seem logical to me that if the song has impacted radio as a single, it should be considered a single. --LivelyRatification (talk) 03:48, 1 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I don't know much about singles and radio either, but I think we should wait till AllAccess gives us a radio impact date. We can't turn its song infobox into a single infobox without adding a radio release date. Billboard will for sure post a separate article about the song's radio if it's an actual single serviced by Republic Records, just like they published an article on Folklore's and Evermore's singles on various radio formats. Ronherry (talk) 07:08, 1 December 2021 (UTC)

An Update! Billboard has called the song a radio single again in a new tweet, but makes no mention of an impact date. Technically, it's a single that hasn't impacted yet. I don't understand this LOL. Ronherry (talk) 12:27, 9 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I think it is at best a promotional single; at Template:Infobox song, album tracks that receive airplay should use the album release date. Apparently Swift's team is not actively promoting this to radio, but rather radio stations themselves playlist the track due to high demand, so it is not an official release. Ippantekina (talk) 11:16, 11 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes, I concur. But why would Billboard call it an official single (twice) if it's not serviced by the label? Hmm. My mind so divided about its single status. Ronherry (talk) 16:18, 11 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I guess since AllAccess notes album releases on their "Future releases" tabs, it means all of the songs are eligible to receive airplay, even without a distinct release. And also it is a common practice amongst country artists to release a promotional radio singles from what I have seen, and I know that now Taylor is not only a country artists, and neither "Message in a Bottle" is a country song, but I guess the rule applies here, so we should rather call it a promotional single with a release date, the same as the album's. inf sai  ( talkie?  UwU) 23:44, 15 December 2021 (UTC)
 * ,, : We can always use the date provided by AllAccess' "Cool New Music" tab, which is November 12, 2021, which technically would make "Message in a Bottle" the first single of Red (Taylor's Version). And yes, I would count it as a single release, even though it does not have "Single" marker on it (like "The Joker and The Queen"), hence Billboard called it a "current radio single". What do you think? And yes, I know this tab is not exactly the best source, since e.g. it lists "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" and "Cardigan" release dates to be one day off, that's why I'm bringing it up here. inf sai  ( talkie?  UwU) 23:33, 2 March 2022 (UTC)

Release date
There is no clear impact date for "Message in a Bottle", and the fact that Billboard reffered to "Message in a Bottle" as a "current radio single" in late November doesn't give us any detail when the song was officially released. I mean, my deduction is that since album releases are shown on All Access, it means that all of the album songs are knowable to airplay, so maybe that's why there is no clear release date for this song, even though "I Bet You Think About Me" has one. So we could keep "November 2021" as a release date, or as it was suggested in previous edits, stick to the remix release date. inf sai ( talkie?  UwU) 01:14, 23 January 2022 (UTC)


 * I understand you, but according to WP:SINGLESCRIT, radio impact date is the measure for single status, not a remix date. So I don't know how we should go by. I'm divided. But I'll be okay with "November 12, 2021" as suggested by you in the preceding talk discussion.  ℛonherry  ☘  06:46, 3 March 2022 (UTC)
 * With the link I provided? Is it okay to use "Cool New Music" tab of AllAccess? inf sai  ( talkie?  UwU) 21:42, 3 March 2022 (UTC)


 * I would personally be okay with it. But we need to consult other editors.  ℛonherry  ☘  04:01, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I'm good with using AllAccess for the single date per WP:SINGLESCRIT. Were any other songs released on All Access under "Cool New Music" with the release of the album (other than "I Bet You")? TheCartoonEditor(he/him/they) (talk) (contribs) 13:06, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" is stated to be released on November 11. :v But it does not have the "single" marker, so it is still considered as a promo single (like in "Hallucinate"). inf sai  ( talkie?  UwU) 21:13, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I think we need a larger discussion about the "Cool New Music" page of AllAccess. Are we sticking to impact days and only using the "Cool New Music" dates when there isn't one? Are these format releases being listed twice in release history sections? Many songs don't have the "single" marker but are still singles. I don't like this difference of impact dates = single and "Cool New Music" download availability date = promo single. It's confusing for editors and readers alike. I think we should just stick to single, and list either impact day or download availability day, with priority for the impact day. Heartfox (talk) 05:45, 8 March 2022 (UTC)
 * I agree.  ℛonherry  ☘  15:29, 8 March 2022 (UTC)

A proper single release date on this track needs to be settled. “November 2021” feels insufficient. If anything, I propose using the January 21, 2022 Italian airplay release date. Angelwazza (talk) 18:23, 28 December 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Media and Culture Theory - MDC 254
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