Here's a thorough update regarding U2 and the Billboard charts for week 10, including MTV and VH-1 chart positions.
MTV - ABOY rises from #20 to #17 on weekly "Top 20 videos", even though it shows as a debut. ABOY added plays; Vertigo not on playlist
VH-1 - ABOY falls from 11 to 12 on weekly "Top 20 videos". ABOY added plays; Vertigo added plays (???)
Billboard:
HTDAAB
- falls from #22 to #28 on The Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
- falls from #2 to #5 on The Top 20 Internet Album Sales Chart
(Best of 1980-1990 holds at #27 on Pop Catalog Chart)
Vertigo
- rises from #61 to #44 on Hot 100 Singles Chart due to inclusion of downloads as sales; previous shown position of 32 incorrect
- holds steady at #32 on Modern Rock Chart
- falls from #22 to #25 on Mainstream Rock Chart
- falls from #11 to #12 on Adult Top 40 Chart
- falls from 35 to 49 on Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart
- holds steady at #19 on Top 50 Digital Tracks
ABOY
- rises from #9 to #1 on "Bubbling Under" Singles Chart, basically making it #101 on the Singles Chart and strong indicater that it will debut on Hot 100 Singles Chart next week
- hold steady at #6 on Modern Rock Chart
- rises from #23 to #20 on Mainstream Rock Chart; "AIRPOWER" designation
Some observations (made by others as well):
Downloads have now been added as "sales" for singles, and considering the i-pod campaign and known Vertigo downloads, it's quite possible U2 could have had their first Top 10 hit since Discotheque on Billboard. Regardless, Vertigo did more than expected as a lead single, crossing over in multiple formats and it STILL is holding steady or just slowly falling. The Grammy performance, coupled with a win or two, might cause Vertigo to rise back up the charts 5 months after it's debut!
ABOY is a solid Top 10 hit on the Modern Rock Charts, but it may not rise any higher than it's current position of #6. As I think Dr. Who said, it's more of a straight rocker than an "alternative" song, and this may bode well for it's potential on the Mainstream Rock Charts. The video generated some good publicity, too, and it's getting a decent amount of time on the music video channels.
I think that all in all, HTDAAB is holding up well in spite of a very soft market and a tour that's been delayed and been tagged with negative publicity due to the presale.
As for recent comments about U2 maximizing revenues, I agree that they have been in this mode since 1998. Personally, knowing how the band put everything they had into the ZooTV and POPMART tours only to break even or do slightly better, I don't blame them for "cashing in", so to speak.
With two "Best Of" albums since 1998 selling 17M combined, ATYCLB selling 12M, the incredibly successful Elevation tour, and now HTDAAB with already 8.5M shipped (i.e., "sold" for U2) and another worldwide tour, U2 are undoubtedly getting richer. I remember reading an article after POPMART about how despite U2's success, they were simply "modestly wealthy" at best due to the two tours mentioned above. I'm sure their state of wealth today is much greater, and I have no problem with that whatsoever.
I believe Bono when he said "Thanks for giving us a great life...and paying our your hard-earned cash on a rock show". I have been a fan since 1984, seen a dozen shows, and yes, I've helped make them rich. That was MY CHOICE, and I'd do it all over again. I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD BECOMING RICH BECAUSE THEY PUT OUT A GREAT PRODUCT THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BUY.
Not sure where I'm going with all this...I'm just tired of the complaining, whining, accusations, etc. being leveled at U2 these days. Criticism has been there all along from certain critics and circles, but fans have a choice. They can follow some other band and forget about U2. Sometimes I wish they would.
End of random ranting.
MTV - ABOY rises from #20 to #17 on weekly "Top 20 videos", even though it shows as a debut. ABOY added plays; Vertigo not on playlist
VH-1 - ABOY falls from 11 to 12 on weekly "Top 20 videos". ABOY added plays; Vertigo added plays (???)
Billboard:
HTDAAB
- falls from #22 to #28 on The Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
- falls from #2 to #5 on The Top 20 Internet Album Sales Chart
(Best of 1980-1990 holds at #27 on Pop Catalog Chart)
Vertigo
- rises from #61 to #44 on Hot 100 Singles Chart due to inclusion of downloads as sales; previous shown position of 32 incorrect
- holds steady at #32 on Modern Rock Chart
- falls from #22 to #25 on Mainstream Rock Chart
- falls from #11 to #12 on Adult Top 40 Chart
- falls from 35 to 49 on Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart
- holds steady at #19 on Top 50 Digital Tracks
ABOY
- rises from #9 to #1 on "Bubbling Under" Singles Chart, basically making it #101 on the Singles Chart and strong indicater that it will debut on Hot 100 Singles Chart next week
- hold steady at #6 on Modern Rock Chart
- rises from #23 to #20 on Mainstream Rock Chart; "AIRPOWER" designation
Some observations (made by others as well):
Downloads have now been added as "sales" for singles, and considering the i-pod campaign and known Vertigo downloads, it's quite possible U2 could have had their first Top 10 hit since Discotheque on Billboard. Regardless, Vertigo did more than expected as a lead single, crossing over in multiple formats and it STILL is holding steady or just slowly falling. The Grammy performance, coupled with a win or two, might cause Vertigo to rise back up the charts 5 months after it's debut!
ABOY is a solid Top 10 hit on the Modern Rock Charts, but it may not rise any higher than it's current position of #6. As I think Dr. Who said, it's more of a straight rocker than an "alternative" song, and this may bode well for it's potential on the Mainstream Rock Charts. The video generated some good publicity, too, and it's getting a decent amount of time on the music video channels.
I think that all in all, HTDAAB is holding up well in spite of a very soft market and a tour that's been delayed and been tagged with negative publicity due to the presale.
As for recent comments about U2 maximizing revenues, I agree that they have been in this mode since 1998. Personally, knowing how the band put everything they had into the ZooTV and POPMART tours only to break even or do slightly better, I don't blame them for "cashing in", so to speak.
With two "Best Of" albums since 1998 selling 17M combined, ATYCLB selling 12M, the incredibly successful Elevation tour, and now HTDAAB with already 8.5M shipped (i.e., "sold" for U2) and another worldwide tour, U2 are undoubtedly getting richer. I remember reading an article after POPMART about how despite U2's success, they were simply "modestly wealthy" at best due to the two tours mentioned above. I'm sure their state of wealth today is much greater, and I have no problem with that whatsoever.
I believe Bono when he said "Thanks for giving us a great life...and paying our your hard-earned cash on a rock show". I have been a fan since 1984, seen a dozen shows, and yes, I've helped make them rich. That was MY CHOICE, and I'd do it all over again. I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD BECOMING RICH BECAUSE THEY PUT OUT A GREAT PRODUCT THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BUY.
Not sure where I'm going with all this...I'm just tired of the complaining, whining, accusations, etc. being leveled at U2 these days. Criticism has been there all along from certain critics and circles, but fans have a choice. They can follow some other band and forget about U2. Sometimes I wish they would.
End of random ranting.