Incidentally, U2 played Comic Relief (annual charity broadcast seen by around 10m people on TV) tonight. They performed GOYB, missing a nice opportunity to start promoting Magnificent.
I don't think there is anyway to "defend" the second-week performance - it is poor. This album is massively front-loaded as with a typical summer movie blockbuster.
Look at the Kings of Leon - their performance is phenomenal in the UK. They have hit singles, but it amazes me that they are sustaining sales based on that.
Please somebody tell me how AC/DC sold 784.000 copies of their latest album "Black Ice" back in October 2008 ...look I have a few AC/DC's older albums and Ihave seen them in concert but I'm calling shenanigans on the whole "exclusive to Walmart" it wasn't sold anywhere else or online except again for Walmart...ok some mobile AC/DCs
stores were set up in NYC AND LA where there are no Walmart stores but their last album in 2000 "Stiff Upper Lip" sold just 14,000 copies in it's intial week
call me a conspiracy theorist but I think Walmart fudged those #'s I also find it interesting that at a Walmart store near me on Thursday 3/5/09 2 days after the release of NLOTH when their website said they were selling the new CD for $9.99
the store was actually selling the CD in stores for $13.99
UK charts are among the most fickle and unpredictable in the world. There is absolutely no bar to judge in relation to that place- there may be no other place on Earth where radio play dictates sales more (for better or worse, considering their chart system). And that says it all, really.
It is shocking, to me, that sales have dropped this much for ALL records. Think about this- it is taking more than 26 weeks for albums to go PLATINUM in the U.S., and a 52-week double platinum record was considered a pretty standard benchmark from 1975-2005. Since then, however, gold is a new standard and platinum is exceptional. The whole thing is backwards, and broken. That said, I think it will take a good 3-5 years to judge the total "fiscal success" of this album. The industry is that messed up at the minute. I've argued before- whereas contracts used to be obligated on records produced and perked by chart position and touring, I suspect it will now be dictated largely by singles sales, tour numbers, and length of contract.
Not good for those of us who love albums.....
Another factor that shows how depressed the music industry is, is when a single department store has a better success rate at selling an album that is only released in that store than one that is released everywhere it can be. With that exclusive deal though comes HUGE extra in store promotion for the album. Its on display everywhere in a store that nearly all Americans shop at for virtually everything they need and want. AC/DC.com also sold the album through the website and Sams Club, owned by Walmart, was selling the album in bulk quantities.
Remember also that it was the 4th quarter Christmas season when the album was released.
Another factor that shows how depressed the music industry is, is when a single department store has a better success rate at selling an album that is only released in that store than one that is released everywhere it can be. With that exclusive deal though comes HUGE extra in store promotion for the album. Its on display everywhere in a store that nearly all Americans shop at for virtually everything they need and want. AC/DC.com also sold the album through the website and Sams Club, owned by Walmart, was selling the album in bulk quantities.
Remember also that it was the 4th quarter Christmas season when the album was released.
unfortunately theres alot of clueless weirdo's who'll buy any old crap......just take a look at the chartsi dont see how ACDC managed that amount of sales, i cant see them having had a hit single at all tbh. theyre even bigger has beens than the rolling stones, without being unfair to them.
What are you doing here dude ?, Happy trolling...
I'm sick of this new breed of "fans".
U2 remain #1 in the UK beating off 2 new entries, Annie Lennox coming in at #2, with Kelly clarkson coming in at #3.
Bloody great news
2nd week at #1
Ireland
Holland
UK
Poland
Australia
...so far
Some people (here and other places) are going to look at the sales drops and point to that as a "disappointment" but thats not accurate. We are in different sales times. You cannot compare U2 2009 to U2 2004 or any artist in the past for that matter. Compare U2 to other artists in 2009 and you will see that the UK #1 is impressive. Regardless of their sales, they sold the MOST albums in the UK last week. Australia is impressive as well but the UK #1 is really nice. In the USA, they will drop to #2 but the real test is how they play out over time (stay in top 10...20...30...ect...). Its not about how much they sell compared to Bomb and ATYCLB but rather how much they sell compared to the rest of 2009. I think this album will have legs...I really do.
U2 remain #1 in the UK beating off 2 new entries, Annie Lennox coming in at #2, with Kelly clarkson coming in at #3.
Bloody great news
What albums are released next week ?
March 16
March 17
- My Soul Sings by Delirious?
- Resurrection Macabre by Pestilence
March 23
- Beware by Bonnie "Prince" Billy
- Cult of Static by Static-X
- Don't Feed Da Animals by Gorilla Zoe
- Fist of God by MSTRKRFT
- BoA by BoA
March 24
- Crooked Timber by Therapy?
- In the Cold Wind We Smile by The Xcerts
- Junior by Röyksopp
- Take My Breath Away by Gui Boratto
- Yes by Pet Shop Boys
March 31
- 13 Japanese Birds Vol. 3 by Merzbow
- 3 Balloons by Stephen Lynch
- Approaching Normal by Blue October
- Begone Dull Care by Junior Boys
- Blitz by KMFDM
- Born Like This by MF DOOM
- Boss of all Bosses by Slim Thug
- Bromst by Dan Deacon
- Crack the Skye by Mastodon
- Fangs by Falling Up
- The Fixtape Vol. 2 One Mo Hit by Krayzie Bone
- Hannah Montana: The Movie (soundtrack) by Hannah Montana
- The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists
- Hymn to the Immortal Wind by Mono
- In a Perfect World... by Keri Hilson
- Metamorphosis by Papa Roach
- On the Cover II by MxPx
- Para Olvidarte De Mí by RBD
- Pray IV Reign by Jim Jones
- Shine by Martina McBride
- Son of a Preacher Man by John Rich
- Ten Re-release by Pearl Jam
- Three by Joel Plaskett
Unspecified Date
- 4 Life by UGK
- A Shipwreck in the Sand by Silverstein
- American Soldier by Queensryche
- Burn Halo by Burn Halo
- Defying Gravity by Keith Urban
- Everyday Demons by The Answer
- Gangsta Grillz The Album II by DJ Drama
- Living Thing by Peter Bjorn and John
- Lost Channels by Great Lake Swimmers
- New Jack City Part 2 by Bow Wow
- Quiet Nights by Diana Krall
- R.O.O.T.S. by Flo Rida
- The Soundstage Sessions by Stevie Nicks
- Unexpectedness by "Cronic Lataus"
- The Very Best Things (1995-2008) by Filter
- Yes! by k-os
- Before I Self Destruct by 50 Cent
- Street Hop by Royce Da 5'9"
Boots down to 50 in the UK
Definitely time for the next single
great for NLOTH at UK #1, kelly clarkson only at #3 that really shocked me.
with no big forthcoming releases. U2 should be on course for another few weeks at the top spot.
@Maoilbheannacht
So that's a 65,8% sales drop in week 1-2. That's interesting to compare with, not?