It’s random what gets a pass and what doesn’t. This game is so strategic and crafty now.
I’m sure someone over at Billboard would look the other way if this was Madonna masterminding this plan! Why is it ok to purchase in advance radio rotation with clear channel for a single boost, but you can’t do the same with album sales. 99 special and Madonna’s secret bundles allowed them to earn their last Billboard #1 albums. Yea, Jay is respected as a mogul, but he doesn’t get the same chart love that say, Eminem would. I must say that this is pretty fair, but I hate how things seem to backfire once it’s someone other than one of industry darlings looking to be given a green light to cut corners.
Shouldn’t the music industry stop obsessing about charts? Rita Ora, Azaela Banks, and Iggy Azaela make money thru modeling.īon Jovi did not even sell 110,000 first week for last album but the are a STADIUM act. I think this new era is all about touring, social media, and endorsement deals, etc.ĮXAmple : BRANDY’s album did not do very well but she was able to tour b/c of her loyal fanbase she has built over the yrs and thru social media.īrandy is also able to act and has new acting gigs now Why should any URBAN act care about the “CHARTS”? They had r&b/ hip hop charts for ys as if hip hop and r&b are the same genre. They SHOULD also do what Prince did in order to get new music out. This is a smart business deal for established and aging artists like Bon Jovi, Jayz for example.īon Jovi still tours but the albums sales are way down. Prince went multipatinum b.c he is a BIG touring act and decided to do a big tour that year. In 2004 Prince gave fans CDs at his shows… the charge for the CD was included as a percentage of the concert ticket. The discrepancy will not, however, change the key outcomes: the sales figure will earn “4:44” #1 on Billboard Top Album Sales, while the latter will be enough for a clear victory on the Billboard 200.This deal IS very similar to GaGa’s deal.īillboard changed the rules after the GaGa/ Amazon deal With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, it drove 277,601 total US consumption units.ĭue Sunday, Billboard’s more authoritative data will differ slightly. While the sales adjustment was a good call, the publication’s initial consumption projection was actually far closer.Īccording to actual weekly sales data from BuzzAngle and Hits, “4:44” sold approximately 175,441 pure US copies during the July 7-13 tracking week. It revised its projections at midweek, noting that the album was actually on pace to sell 170-180,000 copies but drive only 230-250,000 in total consumption. Last Saturday, Hits Daily Double projected that Jay-Z’s “4:44” would sell 150-175,000 pure US albums and generate 250-275,000 total US units during its first week of release. Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” holds at #3 with 54K, while DJ Khaled’s “Grateful” falls three spots to #4 with 50K.Įd Sheeran’s “Divide,” which generated another 36K consumption units this week, holds at #5 on the BB200. The unit figure is enough for a dominant #1 debut on the Billboard 200.Ĭredited with 77K first-week units, 21 Savage’s “Issa Album” debuts at #2 on the Billboard 200. With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, it generated 262K opening week units. It tops the former thanks to what Billboard reports as 174K pure US sales during its first week as a wide release. Update: It’s official – Jay-Z’s “4:44” debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales and Billboard 200 charts.