Billboard 200: 4/21/12: Nicki Minaj No. 1- 253,00

[gracelessheart]

Apr 11, 2012 11:31:58 GMT -5 Rodze said:

www.billboard.com/#/news/madonna-tops-lady-gaga-for-biggest-2nd-week-1006725152.story

Here are the five largest second-week percentage drops for No. 1-debuting albums in the SoundScan era:

Chart Date - Artist - Title - % Decline - Debut Units - 2nd Week Units

1. April 21, 2012 - Madonna, "MDNA" - 86.70% (from 359,000 to 48,000 at No. 8)
2. June 18, 2011 - Lady Gaga, "Born This Way" - 84.28% (from 1.11 million to 147,000 at No. 1)
3. Dec. 3, 2011 - Mac Miller, "Blue Slide Park" - 82.54% (from 144,000 to 25,000 at No. 24)
4. Dec. 16, 2006 - Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come" - 79.42% (from 680,000 to 140,000 at No. 6)
5. Dec. 11, 2010 - Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - 78.14% (from 496,000 to 108,000 at No. 7)


And, the five largest second-week percentage drops for top 10-debuting albums in the SoundScan era:

Chart Date - Artist, Title - % Decline - Debut Units - 2nd Week Units

1. April 3, 2010 - Various Artists, "The Edge" - 87.19% (from 53,000 at No. 4 to 7,000 at No. 81)
2. April 21, 2012 - Madonna, "MDNA" - 86.70% (from 359,000 to 48,000 at No. 8)
3. June 18, 2011 - Lady Gaga, "Born This Way" - 84.28% (from 1.11 million to 147,000 at No. 1)
4. March 24, 2012 - WZRD, "WZRD" - 84.25% (from 70,000 at No. 3 to 10,000 at No. 34)
5. March 31, 2012 - Passion, "Passion: White Flag" - 83.71% (from 49,000 at No. 5 to 8,000 at No. 51)

If anything, this just says to me that album sales are becoming increasingly front-loaded, particularly those artists who are already well-established.

[manuaway]

Madonna Tops Lady Gaga for Biggest 2nd Week Sales Drop for a No. 1 Album[/size]

This week, Madonna's "MDNA" earns the distinction of the largest second-week percentage sales drop for a No. 1-debuting album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. The album slides from No. 1 to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with a 86.7% sales decline (falling from 359,000 to 48,000 according to SoundScan).

The percentage dip surpasses the record set by Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," when it fell 84.27% in its second week on the chart dated June 18, 2011. "Born This Way" bowed the previous frame at No. 1 with 1.11 million, and then sold 174,000 in its second week at the top of the chart. "Born This Way's" debut was amplified by Amazon MP3's decision to offer the set at 99 cents twice on two separate days during its premiere week.

"MDNA's" large fall was expected, as its debut was bolstered by sales gained from a concert ticket/album promotion as well as preorders from iTunes. Further, without a current hit single on our major airplay charts nor any substantial recent promotion on Madonna's part, the drop was bound to be significant.

Both "MDNA" and "Born This Way" would have not had such steep drops, had it not been for unusually enhanced first-week sales.

While "MDNA" has the biggest drop for a No. 1-debuting set in SoundScan history, it's actually the second-biggest fall for a top 10-bowing album. The largest second-week collapse for a top 10-debut was for the rock compilation titled "The Edge" on April 10, 2010. It sold 53,000 when it bowed at No. 4 and then fell by 87.2% to 7,000 (No. 81) in its second week. The Razor & Tie compilation saw its sizable first week sales generated by a direct-response TV ad campaign and preorders.

Most superstar albums that start at or near the top of the chart fall by 60% to 80% in their second week. And, high-debuting sets that are especially front-loaded by pre-orders, niche fanbases or unusual marketing campaigns take harder hits.

"MDNA's" lead single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (featuring Nicki Minaj & M.I.A.) peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- thanks to strong initial sales. However, on the Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart -- the diva's home radio format -- the single faltered at No. 24 and spent only five weeks on the list. The album's second single, "Girl Gone Wild," has yet to dent the Mainstream Top 40 tally.

In terms of recent promotion, Madonna has basically been off the radar, instead focusing her energy on rehearsals for her upcoming world tour. Since headlining the Feb. 5 Super Bowl halftime show, her only significant recent media appearances have been via a live Facebook chat with Jimmy Fallon (March 24) and a brief drop-in at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami the same night.

Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, tweeted in response to a fan's question last night, saying ". . . I wish we could have done TV last week but we were in rehearsals morning and night. 7 more weeks to show time . . . "




Here are the five largest second-week percentage drops for No. 1-debuting albums in the SoundScan era:

Chart Date - Artist - Title - % Decline - Debut Units - 2nd Week Units

1. April 21, 2012 - Madonna, "MDNA" - 86.70% (from 359,000 to 48,000 at No. 8)

2. June 18, 2011 - Lady Gaga, "Born This Way" - 84.28% (from 1.11 million to 147,000 at No. 1)

3. Dec. 3, 2011 - Mac Miller, "Blue Slide Park" - 82.54% (from 144,000 to 25,000 at No. 24)

4. Dec. 16, 2006 - Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come" - 79.42% (from 680,000 to 140,000 at No. 6)

5. Dec. 11, 2010 - Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - 78.14% (from 496,000 to 108,000 at No. 7)



And, the five largest second-week percentage drops for top 10-debuting albums in the SoundScan era:



Chart Date - Artist, Title - % Decline - Debut Units - 2nd Week Units

1. April 3, 2010 - Various Artists, "The Edge" - 87.19% (from 53,000 at No. 4 to 7,000 at No. 81)

2. April 21, 2012 - Madonna, "MDNA" - 86.70% (from 1.11 million to 147,000 at No. 1)

3. June 18, 2011 - Lady Gaga, "Born This Way" - 84.28% (from 1.11 million to 147,000 at No. 1)

4. March 24, 2012 - WZRD, "WZRD" - 84.25% (from 70,000 at No. 3 to 10,000 at No. 34)

5. March 31, 2012 - Passion, "Passion: White Flag" - 83.71% (from 49,000 at No. 5 to 8,000 at No. 51)

www.billboard.com/news/madonna-tops-lady-gaga-for-biggest-2nd-week-1006725152.story#/news/madonna-tops-lady-gaga-for-biggest-2nd-week-1006725152.story

[Enigma.]

Apr 11, 2012 10:39:17 GMT -5 @2m said:

What do you think 4Q sales would be for a Madonna album that was released during that time?

Probably 300k with a good release date. But she won't probably have Q4 release without a sure-fire hit in her hands a la Hung Up.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

Notice how all of the biggest drops happened post 2005.

[asg4]

Apr 11, 2012 11:51:34 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

Apr 11, 2012 10:39:17 GMT -5 @2m said:

What do you think 4Q sales would be for a Madonna album that was released during that time?

Probably 300k with a good release date. But she won't probably have Q4 release without a sure-fire hit in her hands a la Hung Up.

First week totals r never go up in the q4 at least not significantly maybe 10% yes. The same hardcore fans buy the album first week but the drop off is much less but u would still need strong radio support for that to happen.
1) without the superbowl pre-orders
2) without bundling
3) 3yrs away

high end is 170k with some radio support
low end is 110k

[spooky21]

Apr 11, 2012 11:57:41 GMT -5 Adonis the DemiGod! said:

Notice how all of the biggest drops happened post 2005.

It's desperation really. Artists and record companies know that sales aren't what they used to be so they are trying new tricks (mostly sad) to front load as much as possible before the album disappear off the tracks.

Whereas in the past, you counted on the album having legs sustained by singles, this era of pick/choose from Itunes ensures that you need the bang from your buck within the first few weeks.

An album having legs seems to be the anomaly nowadays.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

I also think that availability has something to do with it as well though. Before 2005, digital albums weren't as widely available and most people didn't have accounts on iTunes or whatever. Since then, iTunes, Amazon, and other digital sellers have developed their own following and are reputable sources for music so now people can buy music as soon as it comes out rather than whenever they happen to be able to get to a store.

Of course that's not to say that labels aren't doing the front-loaded goals because that seems to be the way things have been working as well.

[HolidayGuy]

The Billboard article on the drop is a good one- so much more informative and non-editorialized than those blogs.

Personally- and maybe this is odd- but I think it's exciting that MDNA broke this percentage decline- no such thing as bad publicity. I mean, it had fantastic opening numbers, regardless of the sales outlets- and now it's making headlines for the biggest second-week percentage decline. Would it be so talked-about if it were most any other act? The Queen. :'(

[closeyoureyes]

It was a stupid move to use this promotion and not have anything lined up to sustain it. Very sloppy and the price they're paying is huge, because an album littered with potential hits is now going the way of a flop. I swear sometimes I think I can manage some people's careers better than what actual managers or record companies do.

[chartfreak]

Guy comes across as very greedy now..he wants $$$$.

Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, tweeted in response to a fan's question last night, saying ". . . I wish we could have done TV last week but we were in rehearsals morning and night. 7 more weeks to show time . . . "

Hey Guy..she didn't have to do just TV last week. Some radio promo and an amazing song at AC and Hot AC could have helped.

[Enigma.]

Apr 11, 2012 12:02:47 GMT -5 asg4 said:

Apr 11, 2012 11:51:34 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

Probably 300k with a good release date. But she won't probably have Q4 release without a sure-fire hit in her hands a la Hung Up.

First week totals r never go up in the q4 at least not significantly maybe 10% yes. The same hardcore fans buy the album first week but the drop off is much less but u would still need strong radio support for that to happen.
1) without the superbowl pre-orders
2) without bundling
3) 3yrs away

high end is 170k with some radio support
low end is 110k

I want your crystal ball.

[slw84]

Apr 11, 2012 8:45:16 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^That clever man. :)

Some Current Albums rankings from Hip Hop DX:

1. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: 253,000 (254,000)

26. Drake, Take Care: 17,000 (1.669 million)

36. Tyga, Careless World: Rise Of The Last King: 12,000 (181,000)

....)

SO you finally show Nicki some love and add her album to the list?

I love it.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Apr 11, 2012 13:53:01 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Would it be so talked-about if it were most any other act? The Queen. :'(

It was when it happened last year. Also The Queen? ;)

[closeyoureyes]

Apr 11, 2012 14:10:19 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

Apr 11, 2012 12:02:47 GMT -5 asg4 said:

First week totals r never go up in the q4 at least not significantly maybe 10% yes. The same hardcore fans buy the album first week but the drop off is much less but u would still need strong radio support for that to happen.
1) without the superbowl pre-orders
2) without bundling
3) 3yrs away

high end is 170k with some radio support
low end is 110k

I want your crystal ball.

Why bother, lol. Every post he makes is like a remake of the last one. Hot asg4 remake!

[HolidayGuy]

Max, why I said "most any other act." ;)

slw, this is Nicki's debut week- and it was listed at Hip Hop DX. So why wouldn't I "show it some love"? :) I also posted that I hoped the album would top 250K with final SoundScan figures.

[Oprah]

I think Nicki's consistent trend upwards over the week plus the fact that Starships has yet to really hit its stride bodes well for the album's longevity. It could've been doing significantly better if it had been promoted properly, though.

[Deleted]

Apr 11, 2012 13:12:58 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

I also think that availability has something to do with it as well though. Before 2005, digital albums weren't as widely available and most people didn't have accounts on iTunes or whatever. Since then, iTunes, Amazon, and other digital sellers have developed their own following and are reputable sources for music so now people can buy music as soon as it comes out rather than whenever they happen to be able to get to a store.

Of course that's not to say that labels aren't doing the front-loaded goals because that seems to be the way things have been working as well.

I agree. Prior to the mid-late 90s albums were rarely debuting at their peak either. I think the Internet is the reason most high profile albums seem to hit their peak in the first week of release. It's easier for people to purchase music now. It's easier for people to find news about release dates. It's easier for people to learn about an artist's upcoming album before it hits stores. The list goes on...

[asg4]

Apr 11, 2012 14:17:25 GMT -5 closeyoureyes said:

Apr 11, 2012 14:10:19 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

I want your crystal ball.

Why bother, lol. Every post he makes is like a remake of the last one. Hot asg4 remake!

i put a number to the drop at exactly 87% go back and look. This is about the time u predicted 90k

[asg4]

Apr 11, 2012 14:22:11 GMT -5 Oprah said:

I think Nicki's consistent trend upwards over the week plus the fact that Starships has yet to really hit its stride bodes well for the album's longevity. It could've been doing significantly better if it had been promoted properly, though.

Nicki did a major screw up by abandoning urban she had it all to her self and she put out a pop record now. It doesn't bode well for her

[closeyoureyes]

Apr 11, 2012 14:44:48 GMT -5 asg4 said:

Apr 11, 2012 14:17:25 GMT -5 closeyoureyes said:

Why bother, lol. Every post he makes is like a remake of the last one. Hot asg4 remake!

i put a number to the drop at exactly 87% go back and look. This is about the time u predicted 90k

Oh, would you like a cookie?

[asg4]

Apr 11, 2012 14:53:49 GMT -5 closeyoureyes said:

Apr 11, 2012 14:44:48 GMT -5 asg4 said:

i put a number to the drop at exactly 87% go back and look. This is about the time u predicted 90k

Oh, would you like a cookie?

keep the cookie u r so sad today

[Deleted]

LOL that is at least the 2nd or 3rd time he has boasted about it

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Apr 11, 2012 14:19:54 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Max, why I said "most any other act." ;)
.

Haha I know. I was just playin with ya

[maria4hitz]

Top 10 Country Albums for This Week with Six Notable Albums (SoundScan Top 200 Current Albums Chart Placement)*

#3 - Rascal Flatts - Changed 130k (130,000)
#4 - Lionel Richie – Tuskegee 95k (294,000)
#7 - The Hunger Games - Original Soundtrack 50k (289,000)
#11 – Luke Bryan – tailgates & tanlines 36k (928,000)
#17 – Lady Antebellum – Own The Night 22k (1,555,000)
#19 – Eric Church – Chief 21k (705,000)
#20 – Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party 21k (2,500,000)
#22 – Scotty McCreery – Clear As Day 20k (1,016,000)
#23 – Miranda Lambert – Four The Record 19k (506,000)
#28 – The Band Perry – The Band Perry 16k (1,246,000)
#34 – Blake Shelton – Red River Blue 13k (631,000)
#64 – Taylor Swift – Speak Now 13k (4,067,000)
#49 – Toby Keith – Clancy’s Tavern 9k (488,000)
#87 – The Lacs - 190 Proof 7k (7,000)
#128 – Eli Young Band – Life At Best 5K (195,000)

www.roughstock.com/blog/chart-news-for-april-11-2012-acm-awards-lead-to-strong-sales

[spooky21]

The saddest part about the whole Madonna drop story is that the 2 second blurb about the record second week drop on most of the major news sites makes it seem like she cheated her way to number 1 last week.

If the album wasn't already dead before from singles not catching on, this will surely kill whatever last bit interest that may have been left.

I'm calling 600K max by the end of its run. And that's being generous.

[HolidayGuy]

^If people would pay attention to actual news outlets like Billboard and not blogs with an agenda, they wouldn't get that impression- but, that's asking a lot of Net surfers, some who thrive on negative stories (unfortunately). And then on the flip side, there are some who pay not mind to online gibberish, who will make their own judgments.

Guy O. says they have a performance in mind sometime in the next few weeks,m but are making no promises. Perhaps Idol? Jimmy Iovine is the chairman of Interscope, after all.

[closeyoureyes]

Apr 11, 2012 17:22:08 GMT -5 spooky21 said:

The saddest part about the whole Madonna drop story is that the 2 second blurb about the record second week drop on most of the major news sites makes it seem like she cheated her way to number 1 last week.

If the album wasn't already dead before from singles not catching on, this will surely kill whatever last bit interest that may have been left.

I'm calling 600K max by the end of its run. And that's being generous.

I didn't kill Lady Gaga's album. And that was just as huge of a story. She had numerous well-charting singles to keep it afloat. Something Madonna hasn't had in a long time.

What's going to ultimately kill this album is the complete lack of effort to give it legs, and no hit singles.

600k for a Madonna album in 2012 isn't all that shabby though, IMO. Hard Candy only did 100k more than that.

[someguy]

When I saw that there were 56 replies, I was sure the numbers had leaked already. Disappointing to see that it's just because of continued bickering.

[chartfreak]

Unless there is true promotion, albums can not sell. She has to get in front of the masses. Hopefully Guy and Interscope have opened their eyes and realize the embarassment of the drop and what that has done. I'm not saying that she has anything to prove, but I would think the record company would still want to sell a decent amount of albums. No tv performance, no tv interview, of course the drop was going to be significant. People gloating about it, I don't understand.

[Deleted]

14 pages of the HITS thread and 2 pages so far here of basically the same topic