N.A. Radio Play by Format, Billboard, & Video charts for Week 22

[beLIEve]

Several Radio Charts have updated today and it looks like Sometimes is on the move up the charts again. This song has had a very odd run on the charts, but all in all, it is still gaining airplay here and there each week. First, here are the Net Music Countdown Figures:

Alternative:
Sometimes falls 1 spot to #8

Hot AC
Sometimes holds at #4

Album Sales
HTDAAB is up 1 to #5

***************************************************

MGB Top 40 (Midwest radio)

TW LW 2W Single by Artist {Weeks Top 40, Top 10, @ #1} Peak
30. 33. 36. Be The Girl - Aslyn {3} #30
29. 31. 33. Sometimes You Can't Make It... - U2 {4} #29
28. 18. 17. It's Like That - Mariah Carey {12, 2} #9

***************************************************

Mediabase.com updates it's radio play charts daily...and Sometimes has made a turnaround in the last 7 days that's pretty impressive.

Hot AC
Sometimes up two spots to #16 with a bullet...after dropping in plays last week, it's up 100+ in the last 7 days, up to 3:00 PM today.

Mainstream Rock
Sometimes is up to #22 w/bullet after falling as low as 26 with significant decrease in plays 5-8 days ago.

Triple A
Sometimes holds steady at #2 with a trend moving towards increased plays.

Alternative
Sometimes drops at least 6 places, as it's out of the Top 30 now, which is all Mediabase shows to non-members.

***************************************************

Mediaguide.com has just updated and seems to support the trends on mediabase.com, but it's broken down into more formats and tracks more stations...and also has Top 50 to 100 chart positions. Airplay figures through Sunday, April 24:

Adult Contemporary
Sometimes up 5 spots to 44 w/bullet with 2nd biggest increase in positions on this normally slow-moving chart. This is a large format, though, so if Sometimes takes off on AC, it will rise on BB Hot 100

Alternative
Sometimes falls from 34 to 43 and appears to be done on this format (half the size of AC, however)

College Singles
Sometime re-enters the Top 100 with a bullet at #77

Hot AC
Sometimes falls from 18 to 20 w/o losing plays but not gaining enough to hold off Mr. Brightside (Killers) & American Baby (Dave Matthews). Vertigo climbs from 42 to 39 w/bullet and significant increase in airplay.

Mainstream Rock
ABOY falls 3 spots to 35, pushing Vertigo down 1 spot to 36. Sometimes actually reverses it's free-fall and rises from 47 to 45 w/bullet and significant increase in airplay.

Triple A
Sometimes holds at #3 but now has a bullet as it's gaining plays again and is very close to passing Jack Johnson and even Dave Matthews to take back the #1 spot it held for several weeks.

Vertigo slides 4 spots back to 44 three weeks after it's re-entry.

As for Total Plays/Album, U2 holds at 45 for the 3rd straight week after it's re-entry into the Top 50. ABOY is losing plays as fast as Sometimes is gaining, while Vertigo finds a way to stay steady for the most part. To give you an idea of the gaps in radio play between album positions, I have the total plays for the #1, #10, #20, #30, and U2's radio play.

National 100

#1 24032 plays 50 Cent-The Massacre

#10 12967 plays Frankie J-The One

#20 9436 plays Mariah Carey-The Emancipation of Mimi

#30 8044 plays Andy Griggs-This I gotta see

#45 6555 plays U2-HTDAAB

The disparity between the Top 3 and the rest of the albums is amazing. Green Day has been on this chart for 36 straight weeks, and spent many weeks at #1. It's still #3 with almost 21,000 plays for last week. With this kind of radio play, it's no wonder 50 cent and Green Day have sold so many albums. It's imperative to get on the radio, and U2 peaked at #16 but has been on the chart for 30 weeks, as Vertigo's heavy radio play pushed HTDAAB onto this chart before it's release date. #16 is respectable, but as you can see, there's less than 3000 plays difference between #20 and #45, while there's 11,000 plays difference between #10 and #1. A number 1 single really does wonders for an album...multiple #1's is just that much better. I hope that one of U2's remaining singles of HTDAAB can at least crack the BB Hot 100 Top 20, but that is hard to do for U2 these days.

 

[solar]

Thank you very much for this info!

 

[beLIEve]

Thank-you!

Thank you very much for this info!

Your welcome! Thanks for saying thanks. I tend to get into the details as I have too much time on my hands at the moment, but that should end soon as I hope to be able to finally return to work after 2 back surgeries in just over 3 months.

I have learned a lot about charts, radio play, album sales, etc. while I've been laid up. While I still am disgusted by the manufactured music and other crap on the airwaves these days, I've also seen a shift back towards Modern Rock and the re-emergence of traditional 4-5 member rock bands following in the steps of U2.

Finally, I won't be leaving Interference, as I've been hear since 2000 (had to change monikers from U24me to beLIEve), and I like it here much more than the zoo at U2.com. I need a place to go where most people have at least a love for U2's music in common. As for all the chart info, that takes a lot of time, but I asked once about whether it was too much and got several responses asking for the information to keep coming. My job, however, is very time consuming, as I work as the Operations Manager at a John Deere facility, which is very large and I have over 1200 people to keep up with. It's easy to get lost in such a large building, though...sometimes for 10 to 15 minutes. Hmm...that's just enough time to post U2's N.A. chart data, with an extra minute or two for a sense of humor. Could it be possible to continue posting the N.A. chart data even after I return to work?

 

[beLIEve]

Canadian Airplay Charts have updated for April 28.

Sometimes rises 1 spot to #5
ABOY falls off the chart
Vertigo, at 100 last week, climbs back up to 92!

Radio and Records Airplay charts and BB updates coming soon.

 

[Soldatti]

Soundscan
Issue Date: May 7, 2005

Position/Artist/Album/This Week/Last Week/Total
44 U2 HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOM 18,856 19,935 2,671,259

 

[Soldatti]

US Summary to date:
from 15/11/2004 to 21/11/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 04/12/2004 - Week 00 - B200: -- / Sales: 3,206
from 22/11/2004 to 28/11/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 11/12/2004 - Week 01 - B200: 1 / Sales: 839,724
from 29/11/2004 to 05/12/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 18/12/2004 - Week 02 - B200: 2 / Sales: 288,466
from 06/12/2004 to 12/12/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 25/12/2004 - Week 03 - B200: 2 / Sales: 280,332
from 13/12/2004 to 19/12/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 01/01/2005 - Week 04 - B200: 5 / Sales: 299,645
from 20/12/2004 to 26/12/2004 - ISSUE DATE: 08/01/2005 - Week 05 - B200: 3 / Sales: 350,013
from 27/12/2004 to 02/01/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 15/01/2005 - Week 06 - B200: 14 / Sales: 94,815
from 03/01/2005 to 09/01/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 22/01/2005 - Week 07 - B200: 12 / Sales: 59,233
from 10/01/2005 to 16/01/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 29/01/2005 - Week 08 - B200: 13 / Sales: 48,557
from 17/01/2005 to 23/01/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 05/02/2005 - Week 09 - B200: 22 / Sales: 35,907
from 24/01/2005 to 30/01/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 12/02/2005 - Week 10 - B200: 28 / Sales: 34,370
from 31/01/2005 to 06/02/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 19/02/2005 - Week 11 - B200: 31 / Sales: 35,052
from 07/02/2005 to 13/02/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 26/02/2005 - Week 12 - B200: 34 / Sales: 39,648
from 14/02/2005 to 20/02/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 05/03/2005 - Week 13 - B200: 20 / Sales: 56,692
from 21/02/2005 to 27/02/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 12/03/2005 - Week 14 - B200: 41 / Sales: 26,532
from 28/02/2005 to 06/03/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 19/03/2005 - Week 15 - B200: 48 / Sales: 23,367
from 07/03/2005 to 13/03/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 26/03/2005 - Week 16 - B200: 54 / Sales: 18,882
from 14/03/2005 to 20/03/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 02/04/2005 - Week 17 - B200: 39 / Sales: 23,644
from 21/03/2005 to 27/03/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 09/04/2005 - Week 18 - B200: 34 / Sales: 34,227
from 28/03/2005 to 03/04/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 16/04/2005 - Week 19 - B200: 44 / Sales: 20,919
from 04/04/2005 to 10/04/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 23/04/2005 - Week 20 - B200: 39 / Sales: 19,386
from 11/04/2005 to 17/04/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 30/04/2005 - Week 21 - B200: 39 / Sales: 19,935
from 18/04/2005 to 24/04/2005 - ISSUE DATE: 07/05/2005 - Week 22 - B200: 44 / Sales: 18,856

Total: 2,671,259

 

[beLIEve]

Sometimes continues to cross over into mainstream

It seems like Sometimes has gotten it's "3rd wind" on the charts, as it's surging up several big formats while it has peaked on the Alternative and Triple A format. I expect it to rise several spots on the Hot 100 tomorrow, unless it's not making a "net gain" in radio plays. We'll see.

The American Radio Charts, mostly a Pop/Rock format, has Sometimes rising 3 spots this week:

TW LW 2W
25 32 40 Don't Phunk With My Heart Black Eyed Peas 3 25
24 27 29 Sometimes You Can't Make It...U2 6 24
23 16 17 O Omarion 8 16
22 11 7 Goin' Crazy Natalie 12 7
21 15 10 Lonely No More Rob Thomas 12 7

****************************************************
On Radio and Records Radio Airplay Charts for U.S.:

Pop Format
Sometimes debuts at #50 on the Top 50 w/bullet

Hot AC Format
Sometimes rises one spot to 16 w/bullet

Alternative Format
Sometimes falls from 31 to 38

Rock Format
Sometimes rises one spot to 28 w/bullet

Triple A Format
Sometimes falls from 1 to 2; just 5 plays behind D. Matthews

****************************************************
On Radio and Records Radio Airplay Charts for Canada:

Hot AC Format
Sometimes up 1 spot to 6 w/bullet

Rock Format
Sometimes jumps from 16 to 10 w/bullet
Sometimes #5 on "most increased plays" Top 5
ABOY falls from 11 to 20

AC Format
Sometimes up 1 to 23 w/bullet
Sometimes #1 for most stations added

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Vertigo, at 100 last week, climbs back up to 92!

Moved up because the boys are headed to Vancouver (as we speak they're there right now....)..........once again, thanks for putting up all of this info, it makes it a lot easier for the rest of us.

 

[beLIEve]

BB chart numbers

Billboard HAS to have some manipulation to it...but the bottom line is that Sometimes drastic fall on Modern Rock, and disappearance from the Pop 100, resulted in a net loss of airplay this week, which in turn dropped Sometimes out of the Hot 100.

Hot 100 Singles
Sometimes drops out after rising to 97 last week w/bullet

Pop 100 Singles
Sometimes drops out after rising from 98 to 87 last week
Vertigo slips 3 spots to 99

Modern Rock
Sometimes falls from 30 to 39

Adult Top 40
Sometimes rises 2 spots to 16 w/bullet

Billboard Comprehensive Top 200 albums
HTDAAB falls from 39 to 44
Best of 80's falls 5 spots to 163

Pop Catalog
Best of 80's falls 1 spot to 16
Joshua Tree falls 2 spots to 42

Internet Album Sales
HTDAAB falls from 11 to 14
***************************************************
Canadian Singles Sales Chart
Virtually identical to last week...Sometimes at #1, ABOY, #2, Vertigo Max & Single in Top 10

Canadian Album Chart
HTDAAB rises 1 spot to 24

Sometimes dropped significantly in all 3 radio airplay charts on the Modern Rock Format last week, as well as Billboard. I don't understand it's drop from the Pop 100 when it's clearly rising on the Pop Radio Airplay Charts. The song is rising slowly on the Adult Top 40, with Airplay and BB matching up perfectly. On two radio airplay charts, Sometimes has cracked the Top 50 on the AC format, but not the Top 40, which is consistent with Billboard. The bottom line is that if Sometimes is about to disappear from Modern Rock & Pop Radio, it's presence on the Adult Top 40, where it gains 1 spot per week at best, and it's entry into Adult Contemporary, will not be enough to get the song back onto the BB Hot 100. From here, I think the song may have several weeks left on the "Adult" formats, but that's it.

Sometimes was a pretty big radio hit, however, and it's a big video hit. It's not the ideal single, but I had higher hopes for it. Regardless, the R.O.W. and U.S. needs a new single NOW, so I wish they would release COBL soon. Canada, of course, is the exception, and Sometimes is doing well in several South American Countries, too. Still, we can't wait another month for the next single, so I hope COBL gets radio release ASAP and then has a CD single and download single w/good b-sides and some hype for the 25th anniversary thing in May.

 

[edge3]

Yes, they should release COBL within the next month. At least 'the bomb' rises 1 place in Canada though (good result). I think it should now stay in the Mediatraffic top 20 tomarrow with overall sales passing 7.5M.

Thanx for all this info again & I hope your back is OK.

 

[bsp77]

Thanks for the update. I don't remember you ever telling us that Sometimes reached 97 last week, I was about to die last week from lack of an update, but it's all good now.

How do you have access to the complete Billboard charts?

BTW, Coldplay debuted at #8 overall based on #2 Digital Sales, #8 Modern Rock and #31 Adult Top 40. It is becoming increasingly clear that Vertigo would not have just been a Top 10 hit if Digital Sales had been included a few months ago, it might have been Top 3 when it was #1 Digital sales and #1 Modern Rock at the same time. Oh well, it is just a number that does not affect airplay or sales.

 

[ybird3k]

i can't believe Colplay are #8 on the Hot 100. shows how important the Digital Sales are, if only they had counted for Vertigo.

We Need COBL NOW!!

 

[beLIEve]

Big turnaround in 1 week

Thanks for the update. I don't remember you ever telling us that Sometimes reached 97 last week, I was about to die last week from lack of an update, but it's all good now.

How do you have access to the complete Billboard charts?

BTW, Coldplay debuted at #8 overall based on #2 Digital Sales, #8 Modern Rock and #31 Adult Top 40. It is becoming increasingly clear that Vertigo would not have just been a Top 10 hit if Digital Sales had been included a few months ago, it might have been Top 3 when it was #1 Digital sales and #1 Modern Rock at the same time. Oh well, it is just a number that does not affect airplay or sales.

Here is an excerpt from what I posted for Week 21:

BB Hot 100 (Combined Airplay from all Formats + Sales)
Sometimes up to 97 w/bullet
Vertigo drops 9 spots to 30 on "Hot 100 recurrent singles"

BB Pop 100 Format (Airplay + Sales)
Vertigo up 1 to 78 (29th week; peaked at #10 on this chart)
Sometimes up from 98 to 87

It was all good last week, IMO, and radio play increased this week on all formats except Modern Rock. I just cannot believe that Sometimes disappeared from the "PoP 100, which requires a 14 place drop a week after it shot up 11 spots to 87. No digital sales or CD sales = tough challenge on the charts, and Modern Rock is a much bigger format than I realized. Sometimes was at 29 and 30, respectively, during it's brief breakthrough on the Hot 100. It's freefall to 39 and minimal movement up on the Adult Top 40 killed it.

Now, Sometimes rose 5 spots on Adult Contemporary...from 49 to 44. This format is fairly large. However, what has doomed Sometimes from the start is that it peaked on different formats at very different times, so I think it will peak on the Adult Top 40 soon followed by a Peak on Adult Contemporary. It's a very popular video, however, those charts ARE MANIPULATED, and if Sometimes falls off radio, it will fall off video charts and video airtime quickly.

The one thing that's been consistent with Sometimes is that the song's performance on the charts has been anything BUT consistent or predictable. The "American Radio Chart" has Sometimes moving up steadily again this week, as do all several radio play formats. Mediabase.com, which monitors radio play and updates daily, has shown Sometimes drop in plays in the last 8-10 days but has it rising again for the last 3-4 days. You never know with this song, but I still say bring on COBL.

 

[beLIEve]

Strange as well

BB just updated the European Top 100 albums and singles. I am still puzzled by Sometimes disappearance from the BB Pop 100, but this is really bizarre. First, here was last week's performance:

BB has updated their Top 100 Singles & Top 100 Albums charts for Europe Week 21:

HTDAAB holds steady at #17

Sometimes surges ahead 19 positions to #57

HTDAAB basically stayed where it's been for a while. Sometimes rose 19 spots and several people attributed this to downloads being included in the UK charts. OK, I buy that. But this week, it has to fall AT LEAST 44 POSITIONS, AS IT HAS DISAPPEARED FROM THE TOP 100.

HTDAAB has dropped to #22 from 17.

I predict Sometimes will take a freefall on the Global Chart tomorrow, and HTDAAB will come in around 23-25. I hope I'm wrong.

I do recall that when it was determined that Sometimes was going to be released in the U.S., ABOY just disappeared from all Billboard and Video charts. It DID not disappear from radio play, though, as I remember wondering how ABOY could so abruptly disappear just as Sometimes started to chart.

Now, I'm not into conspiracy theories, but I do believe both BB and the MTV/VH1 video channels are manipulated by record companies. If the video freefalls on both charts this week, where it was at 8 and 7, respectively, last week, then I will wonder if the slate is being cleared for an all new, big-hyped single.

 

[ybird3k]

Is there a 'big-hype' for COBL then?
will it be able to better in the US than sometimes?
and also more importantly will it increase album sales in the US, and not just short term sales on the week of release?

 

[beLIEve]

COBL video

From @U2.com. Maybe COBL will be a live video, and it will be released as a single for sale with other live performances as part of a CD or DVD collection. It would make sense to package a double disc (CD & DVD) for the 25th anniversary single, which has been the format used on several recent high-profile singles. Here are the two articles about COBL video:

NEW @U2 THEY DID THE HOKEY POKEY...
April 27, 2005
posted by: m2

@U2 staff were on hand tonight for the "City of Blinding Lights" video shoot at General Motors Place and will soon file a report about a long and difficult day to the @U2 Blog. For now, here's the setlist as we've posted it on U2tours.com:

City of Blinding Lights
City of Blinding Lights
Hokey Pokey
City of Blinding Lights
City of Blinding Lights
City of Blinding Lights
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
All Because of You
Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own (encore)

***************************************************

U2 Video Shoot Attracts a Crowd

CBC, April 27, 2005

VANCOUVER – Thousands of U2 fans lined up at Vancouver's GM Place on Wednesday to be part of the hugely popular band's latest music video.

Bono and the band had put out a call for help, looking for 4,000 people for the video shoot -– just a day before they take the stage for Thursday night's concert.

Some fans say they had an inside scoop, while others heard it first on the radio.

Paula Martin and 12 co-workers were first in line, arriving at GM Place at 6:30 a.m. -– ditching work for the day to secure a place in the production.

Martin says nothing could have kept her away from her favourite band, telling CBC's CanadaNow, "I love them."

Another fan says he risked his marriage to be in line, and had a message for his wife. "I stood up to my wife. I love you honey."

Many in line already have tickets for one of the band's two upcoming Vancouver shows, which they say will be the biggest concerts here this year.

© CBC, 2005.

 

[edge3]

Re: Strange as well

BB just updated the European Top 100 albums and singles. I am still puzzled by Sometimes disappearance from the BB Pop 100, but this is really bizarre. First, here was last week's performance:

BB has updated their Top 100 Singles & Top 100 Albums charts for Europe Week 21:

HTDAAB holds steady at #17

Sometimes surges ahead 19 positions to #57

HTDAAB basically stayed where it's been for a while. Sometimes rose 19 spots and several people attributed this to downloads being included in the UK charts. OK, I buy that. But this week, it has to fall AT LEAST 44 POSITIONS, AS IT HAS DISAPPEARED FROM THE TOP 100.

HTDAAB has dropped to #22 from 17.

I predict Sometimes will take a freefall on the Global Chart tomorrow, and HTDAAB will come in around 23-25. I hope I'm wrong.

I do recall that when it was determined that Sometimes was going to be released in the U.S., ABOY just disappeared from all Billboard and Video charts. It DID not disappear from radio play, though, as I remember wondering how ABOY could so abruptly disappear just as Sometimes started to chart.

Now, I'm not into conspiracy theories, but I do believe both BB and the MTV/VH1 video channels are manipulated by record companies. If the video freefalls on both charts this week, where it was at 8 and 7, respectively, last week, then I will wonder if the slate is being cleared for an all new, big-hyped single.

....Shame about HTDAAB & 'sometimes' falling so much in Europe - quite surprising as well although 'sometimes' did fall out of the UK top 75 this week (down at least 15 places). Also, its not even in the top 100 in France & it fell 19 places in Italy. I now fear that your predictions for Mediatraffic/Global Chart tomarrow will be spot on. I just hope you're right about the conspiracy theory!

BTW - I was wrong about downloads being responsible for 'sometimes' re-entering the top 75 in UK. It actually re-entered on sales alone - despite downloads being counted for the first time during that week.

 

[beLIEve]

SURPRISE...

What a surprise...after 5 weeks of steadily moving up on VH1, Sometimes takes quite a fall on today's new chart, down from 7 to 15. It will be out of the Top 20 next week and off the playlist in two weeks when the new COBL video comes out.

With the need to get the 25th anniversary single released on time, wth AT LEAST two weeks of airplay/video play before putting it on sale, they had to pull the plug on Sometimes.

IF COBL incudes live material as b-sides, it should sell well. They need to make any live stuff available for download, too. Finally, I hope they don't butcher the album cut to make a 3 minute single.

Personally, with MD under 4 minutes and OOT's being close, I think these two songs will be the best options for the next two singles. I hope COBL is done right. I'd easily pay a couple bucks to download a live version of say COBL, L&POE, and Yahweh, and so would a lot of other U2 fans. Europe would put the song with these b-sides at the top of the charts, especially with the tour coming soon. Canada always puts U2 at the top as well. The song has a fighting chance in the U.S. if there is some good promo and a CD for sale and/or download available. Again, I hope they get this one right.

 

[bsp77]

Re: SURPRISE...

The song has a fighting chance in the U.S. if there is some good promo and a CD for sale and/or download available. Again, I hope they get this one right.

Seriously, just put the single out with some live cuts on iTunes and charge like $3 or $4. It would take off on iTunes.

 

[beLIEve]

Re: SURPRISE...

What a surprise...after 5 weeks of steadily moving up on VH1, Sometimes takes quite a fall on today's new chart, down from 7 to 15. It will be out of the Top 20 next week and off the playlist in two weeks when the new COBL video comes out.

Sometimes hangs on at #9 on MTV Top 20, down just 1 spot
Sometimes rises from 17 to 13 on Much Music Top 20
Sometimes rises from 13 to 10 on Much More Music Top 20

The song may be done in the U.S., but it's still rising in Canada. I am surprised it came in at #15 on the World Chart, but in reality, all we really know is that Sometimes dropped at least 4 spots on the BB Hot 100, 14 spots on BB Pop 100, and 9 spots on Modern Rock. On the radio play only charts, Sometimes appeared to make a net gain last week, but I guess not.

****************************************************

MediaGuide has a running total of spins for all it's formats YTD, Top 50 only. It's not totally accurate since it only shows the Top 50. However, for the formats where U2 has made the Top 50, I thought this was an interesting breakdown:

2005 YTD Spins Vertigo

Hot AC 10788
Alternative 8001
Triple A Rock 3146
Mainstream Rock 5775

Vertigo Total Spins '05 27710
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 YTD Spins Sometimes

Hot AC 18885
Triple A Rock 4957

Sometimes Total Spins '05 23842
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 YTD Spins ABOY

Alternative 11684
Triple A Rock 4824
Mainstream Rock 4914

Total Spins '05 21422
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The other formats that play U2 songs tracked by Mediaguide are Pop and Active Rock, and none of the songs of HTDAAB made the Top 50 but they were played. My guess is that the total plays for Vertigo since it's release last fall exceed 60,000. Sometimes probably is at 30,000 plays since it's release, and ABOY may be at 27,000 plays.

****************************************************

How are U2 singles off of HTDAAB doing against ATYCLB? From the information I have, remarkably similar...

BD peaked at #2 on Global Singles chart for several weeks
Vertigo peaked at #2 on Global Singles chart for multiple weeks

BD won 3 grammies, including two big categories
Vertigo won 3 grammies, too, and did generate album & single sales

BD peaked higher than Vertigo on the BB Hot 100, but Vertigo would have peaked in the Top 10 had downloads been counted. Both songs turned out to be very good lead singles and had extremely similar chart runs on the Global Singles Chart, which is the best chart to use for comparison purposes, IMO.

ABOY was slipped out to N.A. radio, IMO, to help get an extra song on the radio before the start of the tour. I hope we don't see the "different singles/different countries" again, but perhaps the song served it's purpose. Interestingly, it's not listed as a single on U2.com and I doubt it ever will be...

Amazingly, U2's "official" release from HTDAAB, Sometimes, also had a very similar chart run on the Global Chart as Stuck. They both peaked at #9! Sometimes did not do as well on the BB Hot 100, but it did provide U2 with it's first "back to back" #1 singles in the UK ever. Once again, I think it's a draw.

So, at this point, the difference between sales of the two albums can really be traced to the huge opening week for HTDAAB. With industry album sales down AT LEAST 25% during HTDAAB's release versus ATYCLB's release, I think that the edge in album sales will go to HTDAAB no matter what the final figures are...and this tour will be longer, cover more ground, and there are still at least 3 singles left to be released. COBL, OOTS, and MD are a lock, IMO. That would be 5 releases of HTDAAB (six counting ABOY) versus 4 off of ATYCLB. Therefore, even without adjusting for the huge difference in overall Industry sales, I still think the Bomb will hit 13M shipped by this time next year or earlier.

One of the biggest wildcards may just be the Grammy Awards - If U2 wins "Album of the Year" and numerous single awards, the Bomb could rise back to #1 next Spring. With the Industry down, however, it's hard to tell just how much in sales can be gained after a record has been out for 1.5 years and can be downloaded by just about anyone.

Does anyone know how album sales are counted if they are downloaded, or even if the "Complete U2" is purchased? There was a lot of publicity about the point in time when Singles downloaded made it onto the charts...I've never read anything official about entire Album Downloads, although it is charted separately in BB and other Charts. Are all album downloads counted in total album sales in the U.S. and on the Global Chart? In other countries?

 

[beLIEve]

June 13 too long from now!

U2 get intimate
(Friday April 29, 2005 10:15 AM)

U2 have performed an exclusive set for fans on the set of their new video.

An estimate 3,500 fans in Vancouver, Canada responded to an announcement on the band's official website to show up at GM Place venue at 3pm yesterday [April 28].

RollingStone.com reports that the impromptu audience was then shown into the venue for a gig-style video shoot for U2's next single, "City of Blinding Lights".

In addition to playing the single several times, the band also performed "Vertigo" and "All Because of You", encoring with "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own".

RollingStone.com adds that Bono joked with The Edge that this shoot was in fact their "American Idol" audition, before they played the "Hokey Cokey" for the crowd.

"City of Blinding Lights" is expected to be released on June 13.

I thought the release date for the 25th anniversary single was going to be May 23rd or 25th...which makes perfect sense...allowing for 3-4 weeks of radio and video play before actually releasing it for sale.

Now this June 13 date comes up on Dot Music and Rolling Stone. Is that the release date for radio play or for sale? Sometimes is done in Europe...I can't believe the song won't be released well before the tour gets there. Anyone know the scoop on the COBL release date?

 

[Popmartijn]

Re: Re: SURPRISE...

Does anyone know how album sales are counted if they are downloaded, or even if the "Complete U2" is purchased? There was a lot of publicity about the point in time when Singles downloaded made it onto the charts...I've never read anything official about entire Album Downloads, although it is charted separately in BB and other Charts. Are all album downloads counted in total album sales in the U.S. and on the Global Chart? In other countries?

Album downloads are counted for the Billboard Top 200 chart, but only if they're downloaded as an album in whole (so not by individual track downloads). So HTDAAB is counted in that respect.
I don't think The Complete U2 counts. First, sales are probably too low to influence the charts. But more importantly, The Complete U2 is available only on iTunes. And to be eligible for the Billboard charts an album has to be available everywhere (i.e. not be exclusive to one outlet).

C ya!

Marty

 

[STING2]

I think when it comes to radio airplay, ATYCLB still has the edge on HTDAAB in the USA. BD made it to #21 while Vertigo peaked at #31. Yes, downloades could have made a difference for vertigo, but they also could have made a difference for BD if they had been available and counted back then.

ABOY failed to crack the USA HOT 100 just as WALK ON did back in 2001. But Sometimes did manage a brief two week entry on the HOT 100 at #99 and #97. Elevation, the third single from ATYCLB failed to crack the HOT 100. STUCK.... the last single from ATYCLB made it into the 50s on the HOT 100. It will be interesting to see how COBL does by comparison.

At the 22 week mark, here is the comparison between ATYCLB and HTDAAB:

HTDAAB: 2,671,259


ATYCLB: 2,288,000

In week 22 ATYCLB was at #40 with sales of 39,000. In week 22, HTDAAB is at #44 with sales of 18,856.

Clearly the album at this point is doing just as well as ATYCLB did at this point, the only difference being that album sales across the entire market have fallen dramatically over the past 4 years because of free downloading and file sharing. Right now, album sales for albums ranked in the 30s and 40s are half of what they were 4 years ago.

 

[beLIEve]

It's worse than a 25% drop then

STING2,

Week after week, I see statistics like what you showed...HTDAAB at the same, or sometimes slightly higher/lower than ATYCLB in sales for the comparable week in 2001. I've been trying to be conservative in saying that the industry has dropped in total sales by AT LEAST 25% since 2000/2001, thinking that the more accurate figure is about 35%.

However, whether it's U2 or any random artist, it seem like it is more likely for a 2005 chart position to have half in sales as the same chart position (and comparable week) to 2001. So it appears closer to 50%, as you say. I wrote an analysis on this using the 25% figure...but even if you stop at 40% to again be as conservative as possible, HTDAAB is outselling ATYCLB by nearly 2-1 in "annually adjusted for the state of indsutry sales" figures.

Do you think that is a fair statement? Also, after going to Allmusic.com, I realize that U2 singles from PoP, Zooropa, and AB have done better than U2's singles off of the last 2 albums. I guess I'm coming to the conclusion that album sales are based off of album quality now more than ever, as anyone can get a download of a single, so the importance of a hit single is not so significant anymore, other than the lead single for the very first impression on buyers who may not already be fans. The support that a modest hit single gives to an album, while still relevant, is diminishing at an alarming pace. Unless you can get to #1, like U2 can in the UK, Canada, and other countries, why put much effort into a single in the U.S.? Maybe that's why Sometimes just gradually got airplay with no promotion or announcement from U2 or Interscope.

Comparing HTDAAB sales to ATYCLB sales...do you think you have to give HTDAAB a factor of, say, 1.4 to get a good idea of how well HTDAAB is really doing? Is it fair to say U2's 2.5M in HTDAAB sales at this point are equal to sales of 3.5M in 2001 sales at this same point in time after it's release?

 

[WHYWHY]

I'd like to think that you could give HTDAAB a factor of 1.4, but I still think that might be a bit generous. Don't forget a lot more people bought in the first week of HTDAAB compared to ATYCLB because it was running off a really good previous album (in the eyes of the public/media).

I'd say 1.25 is more acceptable, so that that the 2001 equivalent of HTDAAB sales is closer to 3.34M, which is still quite high!
Over time that factor would increase, because the longer HTDAAB is out, the decline in overall sales will have a greater impact on its sales over time.

 

[STING2]

Re: It's worse than a 25% drop then

STING2,

Week after week, I see statistics like what you showed...HTDAAB at the same, or sometimes slightly higher/lower than ATYCLB in sales for the comparable week in 2001. I've been trying to be conservative in saying that the industry has dropped in total sales by AT LEAST 25% since 2000/2001, thinking that the more accurate figure is about 35%.

However, whether it's U2 or any random artist, it seem like it is more likely for a 2005 chart position to have half in sales as the same chart position (and comparable week) to 2001. So it appears closer to 50%, as you say. I wrote an analysis on this using the 25% figure...but even if you stop at 40% to again be as conservative as possible, HTDAAB is outselling ATYCLB by nearly 2-1 in "annually adjusted for the state of indsutry sales" figures.

Do you think that is a fair statement? Also, after going to Allmusic.com, I realize that U2 singles from PoP, Zooropa, and AB have done better than U2's singles off of the last 2 albums. I guess I'm coming to the conclusion that album sales are based off of album quality now more than ever, as anyone can get a download of a single, so the importance of a hit single is not so significant anymore, other than the lead single for the very first impression on buyers who may not already be fans. The support that a modest hit single gives to an album, while still relevant, is diminishing at an alarming pace. Unless you can get to #1, like U2 can in the UK, Canada, and other countries, why put much effort into a single in the U.S.? Maybe that's why Sometimes just gradually got airplay with no promotion or announcement from U2 or Interscope.

Comparing HTDAAB sales to ATYCLB sales...do you think you have to give HTDAAB a factor of, say, 1.4 to get a good idea of how well HTDAAB is really doing? Is it fair to say U2's 2.5M in HTDAAB sales at this point are equal to sales of 3.5M in 2001 sales at this same point in time after it's release?

I would agree with that. If this was the 2001 market and the band had the same number of sales relative to the rest of the industry that they are having now in 2005, their sales would be far ahead of the current 2.7 milllion figure. I would say it would be at about 3.8 million in sales right now. When it comes to chart position, this album has matched ATYCLB easily, and its first 6 weeks of sales were just amazing, especially considering the music market these days compared to what it was four years ago.

Another interesting chart will be Billboard magazines year end album chart. The cut off for this chart is the last week in November. So, BOMB's first week will be included on this year end chart, while Eminems first two weeks will not, nor will the 9 weeks of sales Green Day's album had before that point.

50 Cent will probably be #1 still followed by Eminem, but its likely that BOMB will be the #3 album here in the USA for Billboards 2005 year end chart which will be released in December of this year. Green Day could still come out ahead of U2 on that chart, but its going to be hard for them to make up for the first 9 weeks of sales which will not be included.

 

[edge3]

Well, here's the list of the top 100 best selling albums in US so far. U2 are at #25 with 609,962 sales for Bomb - not too bad at all :

BIGGEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2005 YTD

According to Soundscan sales (chart dates 15/1/2005 thru 7/5/2005).
compiled by Hanboo.
(rank, 2005 sales, chart peak, weeks on chart, current pos, artist - title, overall peak/weeks on chart, [upward movement since last weeks sofar chart]Code:
rk totalsofr hp wk cur
01 3,247,178 1 8 5 50 Cent - The Massacre
02 1,892,146 1 14 28 The Game - The Documentary
03 1,692,650 1 17 8 Green Day - American Idiot #1/31
04 1,175,683 1 17 35 Eminem - Encore #1/24
05 1,101,531 6 17 13 Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway #3/21 [UP 1]
06 1,098,890 4 17 26 John Legend - Get Lifted
07 1,013,846 1 17 51 Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company #1/34
08 974,662 5 17 37 Usher - Confessions #1/57
09 904,997 2 6 9 Various Artists - Now 18 [UP 1]
10 895,996 7 17 7 The Killers - Hot Fuss #7/45 [UP 1]
11 871,293 6 17 6 Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby #6/22 [UP 2]
12 868,785 3 17 60 Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - Crunk Juice #3/24
13 834,299 11 17 16 Ciara - Goodies #3/30 [UP 2]
14 829,924 1 13 53 Kenny Chesney - Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair
15 820,078 5 17 25 Ludacris - The Red Light District #1/20
16 760,717 2 8 12 Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
17 724,367 3 17 52 Shania Twain - Greatest Hits #2/24
18 717,389 1 11 29 3 Doors Down - Seventeen Days [UP 1]
19 706,267 6 17 59 Destiny's Child - Destiny Fulfilled #2/24
20 704,248 12 17 40 Fantasia - Free Yourself #8/22
21 679,189 9 17 92 Various Artists - Now 17 #1/25
22 658,035 20 17 30 Rascal Flatts - Feels Like Today #1/30 [UP 1]
23 654,245 9 17 46 Maroon5 - Songs About Jane #6/102
24 631,374 1 2 2 Mariah Carey - The Emancipation Of Mimi [UP 19]
25 609,962 12 17 44 U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb #1/22
26 599,258 19 17 34 Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party #2/50
27 596,495 15 17 64 Mario - Turning Point #13/20
28 577,286 12 17 78 Ray Charles - Ray (Soundtrack) #9/27
29 575,776 4 17 135 Jay-Z / Linkin Park - Collision Course #1/21
30 570,819 2 8 43 Jennifer Lopez - Rebirth
31 556,279 23 17 41 T.I. - Urban Legend #7/21
32 553,952 11 17 81 Snoop Dogg - R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece #5/23
33 523,610 15 17 38 Jesse McCartney - Beautiful Soul #15/30
34 519,547 17 17 142 Nelly - Suit #1/32
35 495,504 12 17 70 Toby Keith - Greatest Hits 2 #3/24
36 465,526 2 12 99 Tina Turner - All The Best
37 460,323 8 17 105 2Pac - Loyal To The Game #1/19
38 454,225 30 17 47 Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying #1/35
39 452,762 1 9 58 Omarion - O [UP 1]
40 451,239 4 12 155 Various Artists - Grammy Nominees 2005
41 445,240 24 17 77 George Strait - 50 Number Ones #1/29
42 443,462 16 17 139 Soundtrack - The Phantom Of The Opera #16/20
43 433,166 21 17 87 Soundtrack - Garden State #20/35
44 408,565 19 17 83 John Mayer - Heavier Things #1/79
45 393,861 40 17 48 Guns N' Roses - Greatest Hits #3/57 [UP 1]
46 389,524 11 17 71 Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys #1/73
47 381,156 5 11 49 Various Artists - Totally Country Vol. 4
48 365,592 33 17 65 Big & Rich - Horse Of A Different Color #6/51
49 359,606 7 11 33 Michael Buble - It's Time [UP 1]
50 349,398 16 17 186 Ashanti - Concrete Rose #7/19
51 349,189 43 17 50 Kenny Chesney - When The Sun Goes Down #1/64
52 348,976 26 17 39 Daddy Yankee - Barrio Fino #26/21
53 348,259 2 4 15 Beck - Guero [UP 5]
54 335,611 25 17 72 Simple Plan - Still Not Getting Any... #3/26
55 332,749 41 17 45 Crossfade - Crossfade #41/41 [UP 1]
56 328,632 6 12 103 Motley Crue - Red, White & Crue
57 328,270 22 17 119 Los Lonely Boys - Los Lonely Boys #9/60
58 317,682 45 17 56 My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge #45/31
59 317,223 3 5 23 Frankie J - The One [UP 4]
60 314,520 18 17 27 Joss Stone - Mind Body & Soul #11/30 [UP 2]
61 304,434 30 17 129 Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin #1/48
62 297,237 18 17 18 Akon - Trouble #18/39 [UP 12]
63 294,720 32 17 185 Creed - Greatest Hits #15/22
64 294,082 45 17 94 Brad Paisley - Mud On The Tires #8/92
65 293,772 3 12 0 Leann Rimes - This Woman
66 288,630 30 17 85 Josh Groban - Closer #1/76
67 287,259 4 8 76 The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
68 281,083 45 17 95 Keane - Hopes And Fears #45/39
69 280,686 58 17 74 Trick Daddy - Thug Matrimony: Married To The Streets #2/26
70 276,923 40 17 190 Ashlee Simpson - Autobiography #1/40
71 272,126 7 9 73 Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 7 [UP 1]
72 271,395 22 16 193 Lindsay Lohan - Speak #4/19
73 268,087 4 11 181 Brian McKnight - Gemini
74 267,889 27 17 32 Keith Urban - Be Here #3/31 [UP 6]
75 265,312 2 3 17 Faith Evans - The First Lady [UP 14]
76 264,384 37 17 131 Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown #16/109
77 264,159 55 17 55 Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder #17/34
78 260,499122 13 136 Hawthorne Heights - The Silence In Black And White
79 256,731 46 17 126 Velvet Revolver - Contraband #1/46
80 256,698 12 11 112 Lee Ann Womack - There's More Where That Came From
81 256,603 58 17 68 Breaking Benjamin - We Are Not Alone #20/43
82 255,307 6 4 14 Will Smith - Lost And Found [UP 14]
83 254,627 3 4 31 Beanie Sigel - The B. Coming [UP 1]
84 252,147 1 1 1 Rob Thomas - ...Something To Be
85 249,467 4 4 22 112 - Pleasure & Pain [UP 6]
86 248,803 48 17 176 Rod Stewart - Stardust:The Great American Songbook Vol III #1/27
87 243,727 42 17 184 Korn - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 #4/29
88 241,423 53 17 102 Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk #14/96
89 237,949 34 17 192 Good Charlotte - The Chronicles Of Life And Death #3/29
90 236,968 42 13 42 Sugarland - Twice The Speed Of Life
91 231,707 10 13 174 Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
92 229,901 38 17 189 Alison Krauss & Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways #29/22
93 228,320 71 9 75 Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
94 228,276 50 17 157 Norah Jones - Feels Like Home #1/63
95 228,248 31 17 156 Britney Spears - Greatest Hits - My Prerogative #4/24
96 228,140 54 17 100 Ray Charles - The Very Best Of Ray Charles #54/38
97 222,155 65 17 97 Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002) #1/165
98 217,233 7 4 21 Larry The Cable Guy - The Right To Bare Arms [UP 9]
99 215,749 59 15 0 Ryan Cabrera - Take It All Away #8/34
100 214,746 70 17 118 Various Artists - WOW Hits 2005 #39/29

25 606,962 12 17 44 U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb #1/22