Ushering in a new hit? Oh, ‘Yeah’

Will “Yeah” usher Usher back to the top of the charts? It’s looking good so far.

The first single from the R&B; singer’s forthcoming album is a collaboration with rappers Ludacris and Lil Jon, and it’s quickly stirring things up at R&B;, urban and pop radio stations.

It’s at or near the top of this week’s Radio & Records listings of songs with most increased plays and the most adds to playlists at varying radio formats, rather than starting out R&B; and then crossing over to pop after a steady build.

That’s good news for the album as well. It’s been more than 2 1/2 years since Usher’s “8701” album came out, becoming his second collection -- along with 1997’s “My Way” -- to top the 4 million sales mark, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

But as performers from Britney Spears to Michael Jackson have discovered, past multi-platinum success doesn’t guarantee future performance.

That makes the buzz from the “Yeah” single all the more encouraging for those watching the Tennesse-born, Atlanta-reared Usher’s return to the pop spotlight. and his maturation into a full-fledged pop star.

“With all the consolidation [in the record and radio industries], in some ways it’s easier to pick a hit now,” says Bob Feterl, Tower Records Southwest region director. “More things may fall through the cracks, but when radio does start playing a single or video stations jump on a clip, you can predict a hit easier. And I hear everyone talking about this one.”