starvinmarvin said:
All of this data is fascinating, but has nothing to do with my original statement. I did not say that The Stones were selling more records or concert tickets in 2005. My point is that The Stones are doing remarkably well considering the fact that they are over 60 years of age. If U2 can still draw the crowds into their 60's and sell modest amounts of records in the year 2020, then I will be very impressed (and happy). Until then, I think the ignorant (mostly young) U2 fans who dismiss the Stones simply because they're old, or constantly compare them to a band that is almost 20 yrs their senior should SHUT THE BLEEP UP. To maintain that level of success for 43 years is astounding.
As for the Stones not selling albums, that is rubbish. Your assertion that Tattoo You was their last hit album is flat out wrong (it sold 7 million though). When I was 13 years old, Steel Wheels (1989) was a massive worldwide hit. It sold over 9 million copies worldwide. It spawned a huge hit, Mixed Emotions, which was as ubiquitous as Vertigo was in 2004, and many kids my age became fans for the first time. The tour was also massive, and if memory serves me correctly was the 4th biggest grossing tour of all time. I guess my basic point is that in 1989 the Stones had been together for 27 years, which is roughly the same age as U2 is right now as we speak. You say HTDAAB has sold 10 million. Well, Steel Weels sold 9 million. Not a big difference, if you ask me.
Fast forward to 1994, when the Stones released Voodoo Lounge. It sold 8 million copies worldwide. Love Is Strong was only a minor hit, yes, but the tour remains the BIGGEST GROSSING TOUR OF ALL TIME. The live album souvineer from the tour, Stripped, sold an astounding 3.5 million copies in 1998 (which is amazing for a live album). So, I guess that if U2 put out an album in 2010 and match the Voodoo Lounge tour in terms of gross then U2 will have kept up to the Stones. It will be tough. I don't know if they will do it.
Next came Bridges To Babylon in 97. This is when the Stones really dipped in terms of record sales. Still, 3 million units is still very respectable for a bunch of 55 year olds, who are supposedly washed up. The tour is was also one of the highest grossing tours of all time......I could go on, but I've already proven my point, which is that U2 still has a way to go to keep up to the Stones in terms of longevity. This is not a dig at U2. I'm sure that Bono and the boys know this too.
First off, your album sales totals for Steel Wheels and Voodoo Lounge are Grossly inaccurate.
Neither album topped 5 million in sales and I have confirmed sources which show this.
For Voodoo Lounge:
This album sold 2 million copies in the United States as certified by RIAA. Go to
www.riaa.com The United States is 1/3 of the global market and the Stones typically sell half of the albums in the United States and the other half outside the United States.
Next, Europe accounts for another 1/3 of the entire global market where albums are sold. Here Voodoo Lounge only sold 1 million copies. IFPI certifies album sales since 1996 in Europe and albums released from January 1994 on are eligible for certification. Go to
www.ifpi.org and you will see that Voodoo Lounge only sold 1 million copies in Europe.
Canada, a tiny market compared to the United States and Europe, still accounts for 3.5% of the global market. Here Voodoo Lounge did better relative to its sales in Europe and the USA, selling 300,000 copies. The CRIA certifies album sales in Canada. Go to
www.cria.ca .
So with 70% of the worldmarket covered, Voodoo Lounge has total sales of 3,300,000 copies. The remaining 30% of the world involves primarily third world countries that have small markets for album sales. At most your looking at another 1 million copies for a total of 4.3 million worldwide for Voodoo Lounge.
Steel Wheels:
In the United States, Steel Wheels sold 2 million copies. (
www.riaa.com ) .
In Europe the IFPI did not yet exist, so I don't actually have a certified total for sales there. But as an accurate gauge to use in its place, take a look at the sales of Steel Wheels in the Rolling Stones home country, the United Kingdom. BPI certifies album sales in the United Kingdom. Go to
www.bpi.co.uk . Here you will see that Steel Wheels is certified GOLD for 100,000 in sales. Voodoo Lounge is also certified GOLD for 100,000 copies sold. So it is reasonable to assume that sales of Steel Wheels in Europe were similar to sales of Voodoo Lounge in Europe based on this. This puts sales in Europe at 1 million.
In Canada once again, this album like Voodoo Lounge is certified for selling 300,000 copies.
www.cria.ca .
Again, we arrive at the same total of 3,300,000 copies sold in Europe, United States and Canada, 70% of the global market. Adding a generous 1 million copies for the remain 30% of the planet, brings the total to 4,300,000 copies.
So once again, the Stones have not had a major hit album since Tattoo You and this fact was recently brought up on CNN when they were discussing the Stones new "political" song.
This is NOT to dismiss selling 4,300,000 copies or even 3 million copies or 2 million copies. But these are not top 10 superstar figures for total global sales.
By the way, if you add the figures from the "No Security Tour" to the Bridges Of Babylon tour, Bridges To Babylon is the highest Grossing tour of all time at around 350 million. But U2 could easily surpass that on the Vertigo tour, although they may decide not to tour long enough to do so. U2 has already out Grossed the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels, Voodoo Lounge, and Bridges To Babylon tours in Europe with just 32 Vertigo tour dates.
