Apart from artistic reasons, an early 2009 release also makes sense commercially. And not only that, it could also help boost U2's status.
(I started writing this yesterday, even before the 2009 news was official.)
This is not about artistic reasons. I have no reason not to believe Bono's comments. It's just that I was thinking that commercially early 2009 doesn't look too bad to me.
* Sales
January is still a good month. Sales draw consumers to stores who also pick up non discounted items. People come in to change gifts (double or unwanted cd's) etc. and come to spend their gift money / vouchers.
Hardcore fans will buy the album right away anyway, regardless of month. Q4 sales may compensate for the rest of the year, but that is for the total amount of the sales, not for every individual item. In November they're last in line and casual fans will already have spent their cd-dedicated money anyway by then. Even if they choose last minute, there is a lot to coose from.
Album sales may still be important according to Paul McGuinness, but they're nowhere near the ticket income they generate.
No new album by Xmas means that many who are looking for U2-related gifts for themsleves or someone else will buy one of the remasters or some merchandise.
The band seem to have a new contract with Live Nation beginning January 2009. Recording is not included, but merchandise and website are. Maybe this is a better deal than they had, who knows?
* Charts
A November release will have all fans run to the store in a short period of time. This will result in just a few weeks in the charts and then it's gone.
In January the harcore fans will still run to the shops. In January there will be no competition from other new releases. This will guarantee a top chart position even for a relatively low number of sales.
More casual fans and new audiences will not immediately run to the stores so the sales will be spread over several weeks/months. This means the album will stay much longer in the charts or even on top of the charts. Longer in the charts leads to more publicity which leads to more sales and will help sell the tour. Longer in the charts is also very ego/status boosting.
OK, I'm curious to hear what you think of this!
(I started writing this yesterday, even before the 2009 news was official.)
This is not about artistic reasons. I have no reason not to believe Bono's comments. It's just that I was thinking that commercially early 2009 doesn't look too bad to me.
* Sales
January is still a good month. Sales draw consumers to stores who also pick up non discounted items. People come in to change gifts (double or unwanted cd's) etc. and come to spend their gift money / vouchers.
Hardcore fans will buy the album right away anyway, regardless of month. Q4 sales may compensate for the rest of the year, but that is for the total amount of the sales, not for every individual item. In November they're last in line and casual fans will already have spent their cd-dedicated money anyway by then. Even if they choose last minute, there is a lot to coose from.
Album sales may still be important according to Paul McGuinness, but they're nowhere near the ticket income they generate.
No new album by Xmas means that many who are looking for U2-related gifts for themsleves or someone else will buy one of the remasters or some merchandise.
The band seem to have a new contract with Live Nation beginning January 2009. Recording is not included, but merchandise and website are. Maybe this is a better deal than they had, who knows?
* Charts
A November release will have all fans run to the store in a short period of time. This will result in just a few weeks in the charts and then it's gone.
In January the harcore fans will still run to the shops. In January there will be no competition from other new releases. This will guarantee a top chart position even for a relatively low number of sales.
More casual fans and new audiences will not immediately run to the stores so the sales will be spread over several weeks/months. This means the album will stay much longer in the charts or even on top of the charts. Longer in the charts leads to more publicity which leads to more sales and will help sell the tour. Longer in the charts is also very ego/status boosting.
OK, I'm curious to hear what you think of this!
