👑 Eloquent ™
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Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ on Aug 19, 2014 12:35:08 GMT -5
Sometimes, as an artist, it isn't about how many units you move, but about following your gut and heart. One can't say whether or not she made the "right" move without knowing whether or not it is self-expression or commercial success that is ultimately most important to her.
For instance: If 1989 fails commercially, she may still have made the right decision for her, regardless of repercussions. Think My December by Kelly Clarkson.
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pancakes
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Post by pancakes on Aug 19, 2014 12:36:30 GMT -5
Already red in Kworb's updates.
This is definitely not surpassing WANEGBT's first week sales.
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irice22
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Post by irice22 on Aug 19, 2014 12:39:48 GMT -5
For instance: If 1989 fails commercially, she may still have made the right decision for her, regardless of repercussions. Think My December by Kelly Clarkson. was the right decision for no one. |
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👑 Eloquent ™
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Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ on Aug 19, 2014 12:41:32 GMT -5
For instance: If 1989 fails commercially, she may still have made the right decision for her, regardless of repercussions. Think My December by Kelly Clarkson. was the right decision for no one. It was the right decision for Kelly. :) |
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limjorino
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Post by limjorino on Aug 19, 2014 12:44:58 GMT -5
It's like an awful pop interpretation of Vampire Weekend - Diane Young. The bridge is made of secondhand embarrassment. My fiancee said the same thing when she first heard it, and honestly I don't hear it that much. However I agree, the bridge of this song makes me cringe. |
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dbhmr
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Post by dbhmr on Aug 19, 2014 12:47:36 GMT -5
Everyone remembers Red for the pop transition and the pop singles (aside from the core fans who recognize all that "All Too Well" has to offer). A full-on pop album is the next logical step given what she's put out there and where her heart/interests seem to be. If it sells less, it won't be a sign of failure, it will be a sign of the genre. Will she lose some country fans--and, consequently, some numbers and awards? Probably, but does it matter if she's doing what she wants to do?
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👑 Eloquent ™
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Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ on Aug 19, 2014 12:48:48 GMT -5
Everyone remembers Red for the pop transition and the pop singles (aside from the core fans who recognize all that "All Too Well" has to offer). A full-on pop album is the next logical step given what she's put out there and where her heart/interests seem to be. If it sells less, it won't be a sign of failure, it will be a sign of the genre. Will she lose some country fans--and, consequently, some numbers and awards? Probably, but does it matter if she's doing what she wants to do? Yassss! Exactly this. All this. |
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Aug 19, 2014 12:49:49 GMT -5
If it's huge they'll build on it with an even bigger Pop album thereafter. If it aint, the "Country album" will be out asap.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2014 12:56:00 GMT -5
I wish people would just shut the f**k up about cultural appropriation, its getting old now. I'm reading or better said, skimming through this article on Billboard that deals with how this is offensive and it's in the similar appropriation vein to Miley and Katy, bla bla bla... bla It is definitely getting olddddd-uh. |
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Clauss
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Post by Clauss on Aug 19, 2014 13:00:32 GMT -5
Lead over #2 is 0.3696
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2014 13:06:37 GMT -5
OMG that lead is amazing. And in the UK it's also doing great, as it has also improved considerably from this morning. I think it could surpass David Guetta this evening.
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Clauss
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Post by Clauss on Aug 19, 2014 13:11:36 GMT -5
AATB by Kworb says it will sell 250k.. Taylor is selling more than twice, then if she stays this way or grow up more it could easily top 500k and more (hope 600k)
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jjose712
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Post by jjose712 on Aug 19, 2014 13:14:08 GMT -5
I think most people are thinking too much in the USA market, and right now she is thinking way more abroad. Country is big in USA and Canada, but apart of the casual hit (need you now) it doesn't move any units outside those countries.
It's nothing rare to explore outside your genre, unfortunately country seems too conservative to want her back. Even big names have some trouble when their sound is different from the same tired formula, you only need to see Eric Church's the outsiders run on country radio. And women had a tough time on country right now (with very few exceptions) it seems they only want the same type of songs by the same type of male artist with the same type of lyrics.
Anyway, having a Begin again on the album, or something that could fit in both formats could help her to not neglect her core fans (to be fair, she crossover to pop from the very beginning of her career)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2014 13:15:21 GMT -5
Everyone remembers Red for the pop transition and the pop singles (aside from the core fans who recognize all that "All Too Well" has to offer). A full-on pop album is the next logical step given what she's put out there and where her heart/interests seem to be. If it sells less, it won't be a sign of failure, it will be a sign of the genre. Will she lose some country fans--and, consequently, some numbers and awards? Probably, but does it matter if she's doing what she wants to do? This, exactly. Taylor only sent one single to Country during the "Red," era, and she hasn't exactly swept their awards shows lately, either. Frankly, a little less visibility isn't going to hurt her at all. No matter what she sells this era, it's silly to compare it to her past efforts and assume it's because of a failure. I'm not a Taylor fan, but I respect her more for this change,because that takes a lot of guts, and this is clearly where she's most comfortable as an artist. If she's happy with the switch and that's what she wants, the other factors shouldn't matter. Artists should be free to be who they want, so good for her. |
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Bhad Bill
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Post by Bhad Bill on Aug 19, 2014 13:15:34 GMT -5
I could always be very wrong, but I don't think her "switch" to full pop will drastically kill her sales. I haven't associated Taylor with true country music for awhile now.
Her core base (and the ones actually making purchases) is not country fans, it's children. Children are ride or dies. (Justin, One Direction, Ariana) They determine who is successful commercially.
It's not like the truest, most traditional country fans listen to Taylor to get their country fix anyway. She sings about boys, not tailgates, outdoors, and drinking.
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Post by Love Plastic Love on Aug 19, 2014 13:21:05 GMT -5
I think she will sell less "losing" the country crowd. Country fans have a huge disposable income, still buy cds, and are fiercely loyal...unless you piss them off and then they pretend you don't exist at all. I think she will lose a bit of her sales because she is moving on from country completely.
However, I do agree that it is a natural progression and that it may be the right decision for her even if she makes slightly less money or only sells 3 million instead of 4. I know we are a chart-based forum so we think the ONLY thing that matters is units sold and cash made, but Taylor is absolutely ungodly rich and has a fierce core fanbase. Maybe other things are mattering to her right now than just selling units. Maybe this is the cd she wanted to make. Maybe she doesn't want to cater to a crowd that she no longer feels anymore. It is ok for actual musicians to occasionally consider something other than sales and cash and Taylor is in the position to do so since she really could retire now and never hurt for money again.
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kanimal
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Post by kanimal on Aug 19, 2014 13:24:56 GMT -5
AATB by Kworb says it will sell 250k.. Taylor is selling more than twice, then if she stays this way or grow up more it could easily top 500k and more (hope 600k) The assumption - and why I said that it needs to sell something like 250K+ *today* - is that sales will cool in the coming days. It will probably hold onto #1 through the weekend, and the constant airplay + buzz will prevent it from declining too hard, but it won't maintain the same margin on AATB all week. |
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jma
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Post by jma on Aug 19, 2014 13:34:12 GMT -5
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YourFaveIsAFlop
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Aug 19, 2014 13:38:08 GMT -5
I could always be very wrong, but I don't think her "switch" to full pop will drastically kill her sales. I haven't associated Taylor with true country music for awhile now. Her core base (and the ones actually making purchases) is not country fans, it's children. Children are ride or dies. (Justin, One Direction, Ariana) They determine who is successful commercially. It's not like the truest, most traditional country fans listen to Taylor to get their country fix anyway. She sings about boys, not tailgates, outdoors, and drinking. You don't sell a million plus copies in one week because your primary market is children. You sell a million copies in a week because you have cross-genre support. And it's just not going to be there for this release. But it tells me all I need to know that you think country music is only about tailgating and drinking. |
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👑 Eloquent ™
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Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ on Aug 19, 2014 13:38:28 GMT -5
AATB by Kworb says it will sell 250k.. Taylor is selling more than twice, then if she stays this way or grow up more it could easily top 500k and more (hope 600k) The assumption - and why I said that it needs to sell something like 250K+ *today* - is that sales will cool in the coming days. It will probably hold onto #1 through the weekend, and the constant airplay + buzz will prevent it from declining too hard, but it won't maintain the same margin on AATB all week. How many huge debut singles do hold their abnormally large initial margin for a solid week though? I mean the fact that it won't maintain the same lead all week is essentially a given (aka obvious). |
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Post by Love Plastic Love on Aug 19, 2014 13:41:32 GMT -5
I am calling a 400-600K opening for 1989 which will be a fabulous total for 2014 and someone's fifth cd after being the business for nearly 10 years, but everyone will call it a "shocking failure" because it didn't sell a million again. For the record, no I don't think that would be a flop for anyone even Taylor Swift. She can't help that she set an impossibly high bar  |
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kanimal
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Post by kanimal on Aug 19, 2014 13:45:05 GMT -5
I am calling a 400-600K opening for 1989 which will be a fabulous total for 2014 and someone's fifth cd after being the business for nearly 10 years, but everyone will call it a "shocking failure" because it didn't sell a million again. For the record, no I don't think that would be a flop for anyone even Taylor Swift. She can't help that she set an impossibly high bar  Less than Red isn't necessarily a flop (although it WILL, fair or not, make people question the strategy). 400-600K for a Taylor Swift album in an era in which she is actually a pop radio superstar is a disaster. |
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YourFaveIsAFlop
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Aug 19, 2014 13:45:40 GMT -5
I am calling a 400-600K opening for 1989 which will be a fabulous total for 2014 and someone's fifth cd after being the business for nearly 10 years, but everyone will call it a "shocking failure" because it didn't sell a million again. For the record, no I don't think that would be a flop for anyone even Taylor Swift. She can't help that she set an impossibly high bar I agree, its going to sell and sell a lot. Alot more than almost anybody else this year. But in comparison to herself (and let's be honest, who else is in her league right now?) it's going to be seen as a commercial failure. Releasing it in Q4 will get it across the million mark with holiday sales though. |
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jjose712
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Post by jjose712 on Aug 19, 2014 13:55:04 GMT -5
I could always be very wrong, but I don't think her "switch" to full pop will drastically kill her sales. I haven't associated Taylor with true country music for awhile now. Her core base (and the ones actually making purchases) is not country fans, it's children. Children are ride or dies. (Justin, One Direction, Ariana) They determine who is successful commercially. It's not like the truest, most traditional country fans listen to Taylor to get their country fix anyway. She sings about boys, not tailgates, outdoors, and drinking. You don't sell a million plus copies in one week because your primary market is children. You sell a million copies in a week because you have cross-genre support. And it's just not going to be there for this release. But it tells me all I need to know that you think country music is only about tailgating and drinking. Well, half of the country songs that are getting more success are about drinking right now, but of course there's other themes, like trucks, tractors, love stories (compared with beer or whiskey) and of course the classic my girl is so country. If you put all number ones of airplay country together you will find that half of them have the same type of lyrics and even the same type of cover for the single. An i protest a lot when radio refuse to play a song people clearly like (Human by Christina Perri is a good example) but country radio do that all time if the song doesn't fit exactly the mold, we have recent examples like Merry go round or 19 you + me tha sold really well, and one could expect that country would love having new artist doing well on itunes, but no, barely top 10 and thank you. Wanted needed to sell a lot during a lot of time to become the country hit that it was, and Hunter was probably the most hyped new artist in a good while. Payola works full time on country chart, and right now it's a clear tendency in the type of songs that get success there |
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Post by Love Plastic Love on Aug 19, 2014 13:56:05 GMT -5
Yeah I guess it depends when she releases-a prime holiday time will get her more than 400-600K. Not sure I think a million opening is happening this time around, but I wouldn't be surprised to see 750-950K with the right hits and release time. People will still probably call that a failure.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Aug 19, 2014 13:57:29 GMT -5
400-600K for a Taylor Swift album in an era in which she is actually a pop radio superstar is a disaster. LMAO. 400-600k for any artist in any genre in this day and age is not a disaster. Stop being over dramatic. |
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👑 Eloquent ™
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Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ on Aug 19, 2014 14:07:09 GMT -5
Anything short of seven figures will be a disappointment for most people, but Taylor has nothing left to prove at this point. After four multi-platinum albums with multiple hits she has already solidified herself as a staple in the music industry. To expect her to open with over one million copies sold every album is an unrealistic expectation anyway.
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Clauss
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Post by Clauss on Aug 19, 2014 14:08:23 GMT -5
Lead is little bigger
#2 0.3668
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Post by KeepDeanWeird on Aug 19, 2014 14:10:16 GMT -5
Ugh I'm Black myself but I'm getting tired as well of everyone always making a big deal over every little thing, it IS getting old, Taylor obviously didn't mean anything bad by it and some people really need to chill. Back on topic, it's nothing groundbreaking but I like this and i can see it being a big global hit. I really can't believe she's completely ditching country though, I don't think that's a wise move. While I think the conversation about appropriation. I didn't get that vibe here quite frankly and I don't even like the video. I don't think it's wise to ditch country either. i'm not sure what her record company is thinking. I liked that her sounds sounded like a blend of country and pop. I would've rather her keep her country in her songs and maybe go for the country hiphop sound. A couple of weeks ago, I suggest that Taylor take the same approach as Shania did with "Up"- release two versions (in Shania's three) - one pop and one country. Shania took it further by using different musicians for each disc. With FGL, Aldean's latest, Luke Bryant, etc., Taylor could balance the two genres well. However, there is the bigger is at Country radio, which is that they don't play female artists - so Taylor could be 'out' or diminished at format in favor of perceived 'pure country' for those rare slots. I'd love Taylor to pull a "surpise" country version of 1989 - there's plenty of time to do it. No way are they going to risk this not being a huge seller, which is why pre-orders went up on same day as single and "pop" announcement. |
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JamaicaFunk²
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Post by JamaicaFunk² on Aug 19, 2014 14:11:56 GMT -5
I see this opening around 525k . Also I wouldn't be surprised if Taylor snuck in one country released single this era released in Early October or something . I don't think the album will open as big as red but it still has a good chance to open with over a million It won't. You can't brush off your core format and expect people to buy it. It sounds fake. Take a lesson from Usher. I'm not sure why Taylor is artificially killing off her career. This is a self induced mistake to cut out the country that we love in her songs. Taylor's last two albums (Red and the impeccable Speak Now) were almost a side-thought to country radio. While men on the format would score one lame hit after another, Taylor's songs frequently struggled to garner the attention that the biggest star in the world (country OR pop) should've received at the format. While CHR has treated her like the pop princess she is. (Example: Billboard year-end Country charts for 2012 AND 2013 (the entire RED era), Taylor had ONE song in the top 40 on the list. "Ours" clocked in at #37 for 2012) I, however, think she'll be pulling some sort of Shania Twain twist and have a country album of some sorts accompanying 1989. |
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