Can 1st week sales of new Coldplay album (X&Y) match those of HTDAAB?

[edge3]

I just thought this might be quite interesting considering U2 & Coldplay seem to be so close in terms of popularity & credibility. So can Coldplay's new album (X&Y) outsell HTDAAB in it's 1st week? Remember HTDAAB sold 840K in US + 200K in UK - 1900M worldwide (in 1st week).

I don't think they will but I think they'll come close : 500K in US (#1) + 320K in UK (#1) - 1500M worldwide.

What do you think?

[fitz]

What is the worldwide sales of the last Coldplay-albums? I have no idea!

[ybird3k]

last coldplay album over 8 million.

i think they'll be lucky to get anywhere near HTDAAB, 1.2 million at most
depends on 1st single which i havent heard.

[edge3]

About 18M :

I think Parachutes has sold about 8M to date - it is currently 2xPlat in US, 2xPlat IFPI Europe & 7xPlat in UK.

For A Rush Of Blood To The Head I would say sales stand at around 10M. This is the figure that I've heard being quoted most often. For example only 2 weeks ago Musicweek said it had sold 9.8M. Mediatraffic's figure of 7.9M is, rather like HTDAAB's, well under and I wouldn't believe the reviewer at Amazon.co.uk who reckons its sold 16M! - It is currently 3xPlat in US, 3xPlat IFPI Europe & 7xPlat in UK.

AROBTTH debuted at #1 in UK with sales of 278K. I believe they debuted at #5 in US (140K?). Right now they must be one of the 3 biggest bands in world (U2 & Green Day being the other 2).

[edge3]

Originally posted by ybird3k

.....i think they'll be lucky to get anywhere near HTDAAB, 1.2 million at most
depends on 1st single which i havent heard.

Interesting.... I think you may be right but I still think it would be great if they can get to 1500M in 1st week.

[STING2]

Originally posted by edge3
About 18M :

I think Parachutes has sold about 8M to date - it is currently 2xPlat in US, 2xPlat IFPI Europe & 7xPlat in UK.

For A Rush Of Blood To The Head I would say sales stand at around 10M. This is the figure that I've heard being quoted most often. For example only 2 weeks ago Musicweek said it had sold 9.8M. Mediatraffic's figure of 7.9M is, rather like HTDAAB's, well under and I wouldn't believe the reviewer at Amazon.co.uk who reckons its sold 16M! - It is currently 3xPlat in US, 3xPlat IFPI Europe & 7xPlat in UK.

AROBTTH debuted at #1 in UK with sales of 278K. I believe they debuted at #5 in US (140K?). Right now they must be one of the 3 biggest bands in world (U2 & Green Day being the other 2).

Remember, Mediatraffic does not track album sales for albums that drop out of its top 40. The 8 million figure from Mediatraffic only includes the weeks where the album was selling enough to be in the global top 40. I would say "For A Rush Of Blood To The Head" has sold about 9 million copies worldwide. 3 million in the USA, 3 million in Europe and 3 million in the ROW(Rest Of The World).

Coldplay are huge in the United Kingdom and almost all of their sales in Europe are from sales in the United Kingdom. Parchutes is certified for 2 million+ sales in Europe, but we know that the album has already sold 2.1 million in the UK, which means most of their sales in Europe come from the UK alone.

Coldplay is still a developing band from a commercial point of view in many area's. I'm not sure if their ready to do a full scale Arena tour of the USA at a strong market price. I would put their opening weeks sales figure in the USA at about 300,000 , and I think they might hit the 1 million mark in the first week worldwide, but not more than that.

I don't consider Coldplay and Green Day to be on the same level of U2 in commercial terms, because they are so far behind U2 as concert selling artist. Their most recent albums of course are nearly on par with U2's latest in sales, but thats only 50% of the equation for determining overall popularity. How well you do on the concert selling side is the other half.

It will be interesting to hear the new Coldplay album and see how it does on the charts this summer. Should be a great tour as well.

[ybird3k]

what about the success for singles?

how have coldplays singles done in the USA billboard charts?

here are the charts positions of their singles in the UK.

#35 Shiver
#4 Yellow
#10 Trouble
#2 In My Place
#10 The Scientist
#9 Clocks

nowhere nears U2
U2's last few singles in UK -

#1 beautiful day
#2 stuck in a moment....
#3 elevation
#5 Walk on
#5 electrical storm
#1 Vertigo
#1 sometimes you cant....

Originally posted by ybird3k
what about the success for singles?

how have coldplays singles done in the USA billboard charts?

here are the charts positions of their singles in the UK.

#35 Shiver
#4 Yellow
#10 Trouble
#2 In My Place
#10 The Scientist
#9 Clocks

nowhere nears U2
U2's last few singles in UK -

#1 beautiful day
#2 stuck in a moment....
#3 elevation
#5 Walk on
#5 electrical storm
#1 Vertigo
#1 sometimes you cant....

On the Hot 100

Yellow # 48
Clocks # 29

[STING2]

The singles are there to sell the album, but are not a real indicator of true popularity. The single is vital to achieve album sales, but the sell of albums + concert tickets is what determines true popularity.

[ybird3k]

Originally posted by STING2
The singles are there to sell the album, but are not a real indicator of true popularity. The single is vital to achieve album sales, but the sell of albums + concert tickets is what determines true popularity.

ye i know, just wondering

[edge3]

It is still amazing how U2 can have their last 7 singles all enter in the top 5 (inc. 3 #1's) - just shows how much of a loyal, dedicated (and sizeable) fan base we are. I hope Coldplay's new single will get to #1 in UK.

[Tallarico]

I think that Coldplay's last album will start very hard on the charts in Europe and Usa....but i think that expecially in the Usa they aren't so popular like u2...my prevision is near 1.500 000 in a week in world chart.

[financeguy]

Originally posted by edge3
....considering U2 & Coldplay seem to be so close in terms of popularity & credibility.

Not in my eyes my friend.

[edge3]

How so?

[ajax]

coldplay will also have to overcome white stripe's new album which will be released the same week.

[financeguy]

Originally posted by edge3
How so?

'Cos coldplay are boring middle class college boys with no passion in their music. That's how so.

If, at some hypothetical point in the future, they cease to suck, I will happily listen to their music. But the idea of putting them on the same credibility level as U2 after only two albums, ain't gonna wash.

[Zoovation]

There's also a new Oasis album that will do well in UK.

[edge3]

Here's my prediction for 1st week of new Oasis album in UK : #1 - 250K

Originally posted by ajax
coldplay will also have to overcome white stripe's new album which will be released the same week.

Yes - this will be interesting, but Coldplay will win. The result (in UK) will be : Coldplay #1 - 300K, White Stripe's #2 - 150K (sorry Jack & Meg)

[fitz]

I think, it will be difficult for Coldplay to break the 1m-border in the first week (worldwide).

[Needle_Chill]

Originally posted by financeguy


'Cos coldplay are boring middle class college boys with no passion in their music. That's how so.

If, at some hypothetical point in the future, they cease to suck, I will happily listen to their music. But the idea of putting them on the same credibility level as U2 after only two albums, ain't gonna wash.

What?

I totally disagree with this. Coldplay are a very good, young band, and if you've seen them live you know they put ALOT into their music, and are very passionate performers for their fans.

So what if they've only released two albums... how does that effect if someone's credible or not? Are you saying that a band with only two major releases doesn't care about their music, or is bound to never live up to U2?

I hate when people are so closed minded... no wonder so many bands get swallowed up so quickly these days, nobody gives them time to evolve and develop.

Coldplay is following along the same lines as U2, and frankly I'm fucking pumped to see where they'll go!

Look at all they've done in two albums. They have their own sound, a devoted group of fans, a charity cause they are devoted to, Make Trade Fair(which I think adds to their credibility...), and they have their dignity still intact.

Plus they worship U2.

I couldn't think of a better bunch of guys to hand things over to when U2 is done.