HITS 3/26: #1 Justin T. 950-975k

[NeRD]

Yes Justin! :o

[KeepDeanWeird]

Mar 22, 2013 8:15:59 GMT -5 Push The Button said:

Mar 21, 2013 23:59:13 GMT -5 KeepDeanWeird said:

Didn't Shania Twain's GH sell over 500K, but got trumped from #1 because Eminem's CD got moved from Monday to Friday because of leaks? I kind of remember that story.

#1. Encore - 710k
#2. Shania - 529k
#3. Toby Keith - 435k

Thank you!

[Ballroom Blitzed]

Is the relative weakness of album sales attributable to the advent of digital downloading (not necessarily illegal downloading) or does it reflect a more general decline in the economy?

[HolidayGuy]

^The option to buy individual tracks- not just singles, but album tracks, too- most likely has impacted album sales since iTunes/digital stores really took off. Sure, the decline in the economy also may be a factor, but the enormous sales numbers for digital tracks (which far outnumber physical singles sales at their peak) is evidence enough that album sales have been hindered.

[Deleted]

More people consume music now than ever before. Purchasing a CD is no longer the only means.
People do not even have to purchase anything (youtube, etc.)

Therefore album sales in the traditional sense will decline. Digital albums are on the rise but they are increasing slower than the fall of physical CDs

IMO all digital tracks are singles(since all are eigible to chart). There are radio promoted singles, non-single album cut singles. countdown singles, etc.

[HolidayGuy]

Yes, in the sense that album tracks can be purchased as single tracks, they would be "singles." :) In the digital age, the term "single" doesn't mean what it used to.

[ddlz]

JUSTIN TIME: After poring over the latest retail reports, reading the tea leaves and consulting their astrological guides, HITS’ numbers crunchers have once again revised the estimated first-week total for Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience to…drum roll…850-900k. Whoa. Can you say blockbuster? (3/22a)

www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumormill.cgi

[Push The Button]

Justin Timberlake's '20/20' Pushes Towards 900,000 for Debut Week

Make that "The 850/900 Experience"...

Industry sources now forecast that Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" could sell between 850,000 and 900,000 by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, March 24.

To bring you up to speed: On March 11 -- before the RCA Records album came out on March 19 -- Billboard first reported that the album was headed for at least 500,000. Then, once the album did drop, its sales projection jumped to 750,000 on the 20th, 800,000 on the 21st and now 850,000 to 900,000 today (22).

Could "20/20" go over 900,000? It's quite possible, if the set performs strongly over the weekend.

With its massive sales, "20/20" will instantly become the year's top selling album. It will eclipse Mumford & Sons' "Babel," which has sold 631,000 in 2013 according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Timberlake will also score his second No. 1 and his best-ever sales week with "20/20." His previous high came with the arrival of his last album, 2006's "FutureSex/LoveSounds," which bowed with 684,000 at No. 1.

To put Timberlake's monster sales in perspective, let's look at how infrequently an album sells this many copies in a single week.

Since SoundScan started tracking data in 1991, there have only been 31 instances where an album sold more than 850,000 copies in a single week. The all-time best-selling week was when Timberlake's former group, 'N Sync, saw its "No Strings Attached" album debut with 2.42 million at No. 1 on the April 8, 2000 Billboard 200 chart.

In the late '00s and into the '10s, enormous sales weeks became less frequent, as more people opted to stream albums or purchase digital tracks.

Thus, since 2005, there have just been eight weeks where an album did 850,000-plus. All seven of them did so in their debut frames: 50 Cent's "The Massacre" (1.14 million; March 19, 2005), Kanye West's "Late Registration" (860,000; Sept. 17, 2005), West's "Graduation" (957,000; Sept. 29, 2007), Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (1.01 million; June 28, 2008), Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" (1.05 million; Nov. 13, 2010), Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (1.11 million, June 11, 2011), Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" (964,000; Sept. 17, 2011) and Swift's "Red" (1.21 million; Nov. 10, 2012).

Sources say Apple's iTunes Store is leading the way in terms of sales of "20/20," with Target the No. 2-seller of the set. The latter was the only retailer with an exclusive version of the album. Target's deluxe CD edition includes two bonus songs unavailable anywhere else: "Dress On" and "Body Count."

"Initial sales for 'The 20/20 Experience' at Target are exceeding our expectations and put it in a position to be one of our best-selling albums in the last 10 years," Anne Stanchfield, Target's divisional merchandise manager of entertainment, tells Billboard.

"For the launch of the album, Target focused on bringing our guests more of what they love about Justin. Our two broadcast spots served up some surprises, and Monday night’s release party gave fans a chance to be a part of an intimate performance through an innovative partnership with Clear Channel and the CW."

While iTunes is selling "20/20" for $10.99 -- as is its main competitor, Amazon MP3 -- Target is offering its exclusive version for $9.99. Trumping all three is both Walmart and Amazon.com, which are selling the standard physical CD for only $7.

On SoundScan's Building chart (below), Timberlake is No. 1 while new country artist Kacey Musgraves is No. 2 with her just-released album "Same Trailer, Different Park." The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking -- reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week as reported by six major merchants.

As for the rest of the Building chart's top 10: Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox" is No. 3, followed by Luke Bryan's "Spring Break . . . Here to Party," P!nk's "The Truth About Love," Bon Jovi's "What About Now" and Imagine Dragons' "Night Visions" at Nos. 4-7, respectively. At No. 8 is Rihanna's "Unapologetic," with Mumford & Sons' "Babel" and the "Now 45" album at Nos. 9 and 10.

www.billboard.com/articles/news/1554312/justin-timberlakes-2020-pushes-towards-900000-for-debut-week

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

FLOP! *shrugs* LMAO!

[Envoirment]

Glad to see it completely smashed my prediction LOL. I underpredicted partly due to me over-predicting so many albums last year, but I should have been a bit kinder/had faith in JT. It's always nice to see such huge numbers! He's going to surpass the debut of his last album as well!

[Deleted]

My initial 250k prediction back in January is so embarrassing now, lol.

Bets on how close he comes to 1m? The trending upward is the same thing Speak Now did...

[Enigma.]

I wonder why it's selling so well.. It's not a pop album as his two previous were, in fact, it's very r&b/soul. Sounds kind of natural though.

Maybe because he's mixed together the r&b trend (Frank Ocean), entertainer trend (Bruno Mars) and his own background.

[Linnethia Monique]

It's selling because it's Justin Timberlake.

[Peaches. [Ch, r. is]]

Mar 23, 2013 3:32:18 GMT -5 Linnethia Monique said:

It's selling because it's Justin Timberlake.

The safe white person who is a "true artist". He has the same appeal as Taylor Swift, i wouldn't be surprised if this is his 3rd million+ debut.

[Deleted]

I think it's a list of things that is making this sell so well

-people are liking the music they are hearing/heard
-people enjoyed his performances
-he has had a great promo schedule
-he's taping both the pop and urban markets
-he's a huge star. His name sells. Like it or not his acting career actually has done pretty well and has helped his brand.
-Name value
-Comeback hype

Everything has lined up perfectly. At the end of the day promo and name will only go so far. I think having a great single do well at both pop and urban has helped a lot. Plus he's been killing his live performances(IMO).

I thought he'd get 500k max, but I'm so happy I was wrong. Also of note that he seems to be doing very well world wide too.
*insert mandatory haha haters post *

[Enigma.]

Mar 23, 2013 3:32:18 GMT -5 Linnethia Monique said:

It's selling because it's Justin Timberlake.

But why didn't FS/LS open this well?

I agree with jback, you just can't point out one or two things here.

[Linnethia Monique]

Ok. It's selling because it's Justin Timberlake and he currently has a multiple format radio smash. He snatched that Urban crowd right off the bat unlike FS/LS.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

His record company was smart to leverage all formats across the board rather than waiting so they can get more cash up front to fund future projects. Let this be a lesson...promote at all formats simultaneously.

[ItGirl]

It is an excellent album. He has performed and promoted it brilliantly.

He went away and gave people a chance to miss him.

He did not come back with some stale and lackluster material. And did not use the obligatory it producer or writer of th moment.

The talent in the industry is so watered down that it is good to see someone back with exceptional talent.

He has full support from his label.

[BadRomance]

Christina's team should take notes from Justin's.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2013 12:46:36 GMT -5 BadRomance said:

Christina's team should take notes from Justin's.

If Christina were to take a 7-year break now, I don't see that working out too well for her.

[Deleted]

Yes, one would have to leave on top in order for that to work

[BadRomance]

Mar 23, 2013 12:47:54 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

Mar 23, 2013 12:46:36 GMT -5 BadRomance said:

Christina's team should take notes from Justin's.

If Christina were to take a 7-year break now, I don't see that working out too well for her.

I meant in terms of promotion.

[DJ General]

Just because you have promotion doesn't mean you automatically will sell.

[Mack]

Mar 23, 2013 13:48:29 GMT -5 DJ General said:

Just because you have promotion doesn't mean you automatically will sell.

Exactly. Besides, Christina promoted the hell out of Bionic and it still under-performed, so I don't think lack of promotion is necessarily her main problem.

[BadRomance]

Of course that's not the only factor. The reason of Justin's comeback includes many factors; I just felt that with 'Suit & Tie', people were really mixed about this project, called it flop or whatever. His promotion/performances really help at the end but isn't the only factor of his comeback of course.
Christina and Justin have different situation, the lack of promotion I meant was for 'Lotus'.

[Deleted]

Justin's never had a flop album though and he kept his profile very high during his entire hiatus from music. Christina's dealing with a damaged brand right now.

[Agent Yoncé]

Xtina's career has more problems than the lack of promotion y'all are refering to. Her music, brand, time gaps, musical decisions & personality also plays a nice piece into why she's struggling to outperform "BIONIC" right now.

[chartfreak]

Is this whole thing allowing Justin Bieber to relax a bit more regarding his future...lol.

Anyways...this is great...curious to see week two now.

[survivorqt]

Mar 23, 2013 16:52:36 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

Is this whole thing allowing Justin Bieber to relax a bit more regarding his future...lol.

Anyways...this is great...curious to see week two now.

the dropoff shouldnt be too bad with the easter shopping sales week, im thinking 250k