Effect of Distribution

[Ragin]

I've been thinking about this for a while, and I think this has a huge influence on well a record sells. For instance, Outkast's success with their latest album is far more impressive to me since Walmart and Sam's do not carry this album. This would also apply to Eminem's success with the Eminem Show.

I think that's the reason you occassionally see a Josh Groban, or Dido sell a lot of records in that they are available literally everywhere.

Furthermore, it seems an unknown really has a tough time getting known on an indie label that doesn't get them into these stores. I wanted to check out a new artist by the name of Ricky Warwick and could not find his album Tattoos and Alibis in Best Buy, Walmart, or even the local mall record stores. His failure to gain an audience in the states seems directly related to distribution to me.

What do you all think? Does anyone know if there is a formula that record companies follow for different distribution patterns?

[JCMF3]

I think that a reason for high selling rap records (besides the fact that rap has invaded pop radio) is that record companies are offering edited versions of the album too. Hence, you are opening up your market even more by also allowing younger ages to purchase the album.

[Zander]

JCMF3 said:

I think that a reason for high selling rap records (besides the fact that rap has invaded pop radio) is that record companies are offering edited versions of the album too. Hence, you are opening up your market even more by also allowing younger ages to purchase the album.

But all that does is put those rap albums on even footing with everyone else.

[tico]

As far as Ricky Warwick is concerned, that's probably a failure on the part of his record company. I never heard of the guy and probably millions of others here haven't either. I'm not sure what the process involves in getting stores to carry an artist's CDs, but one thing that would definitely help is a radio single and some video airplay.

I don't know how all record stores do it, but I used to work at Sam Goody in the mid 90s and hip-hop/rap records sold the best at our store, so it was wise that most of our records consisted of hip-hop and rap.

[Ragin]

JCMF3 said:

I think that a reason for high selling rap records (besides the fact that rap has invaded pop radio) is that record companies are offering edited versions of the album too. Hence, you are opening up your market even more by also allowing younger ages to purchase the album.

Except in the case of Outkast and Eminem if there were edited versions (which I never saw) they are still not being distibuted by The largest retail chain in America. Yet they still sell well. Imagine if they WERE carried by Walmart!

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

All the Wal*Marts I know of carry only albums by well known artists in respective formats. I've seen Eminem's CD in Wal*Mart (with a HUGE parental advisory stick on the front). They carry lots of country and AC CDs too. I don't always see Chantal in Wal*Mart and never Martina. I find their selection VERY restricted and never shop for CDs there.

[jimmy74747]

I've seen edited rap CD's including Eminem in Wal-Mart. Maybe certain Wal-Mart's don't carry him, but the company policy states they can carry edited versions. Just nothing with the parental advisory label.

[Radical347]

Rob64's said:

All the Wal*Marts I know of carry only albums by well known artists in respective formats. I've seen Eminem's CD in Wal*Mart (with a HUGE parental advisory stick on the front). They carry lots of country and AC CDs too. I don't always see Chantal in Wal*Mart and never Martina. I find their selection VERY restricted and never shop for CDs there.

Really? Most of the Wal-Marts I've been to have among the largest selection of CDs as any Wal-Mart/Target/K-Mart-type department store. I've seen CDs by artists as obscure as Kathleen Edwards, Damien Rice, Marah, Keiko Matsui, and others. Many I've been to even have decent-sized new age and Christian music sections.

[George Tropicana]

My Wal-Marts and K-Marts (and some Targets) are so messy I hate digging through them.

This topic conjures up a sad memory. When "Angela Ammons" debuted in stores September 25, 2001, I rushed into Best Buys -- there was literally only ONE copy hidden in the "A" section. I was devasted. I was promoting her so much at school and telling everyone to buy it and they only had ONE copy. I was expecting to see tons of copies in the "New Release" section.

Hello! Angela was on the GOLD selling soundtrack to "American Pie 2." I was stunned at the limited supplies (to be fair, Tower Records carried five copies). I asked Angela if Universal was expecting to sell much and she answered honestly they were not.

What a shame.

However, later on in the year, her dad told me they were happy that "Angela Ammons" was finally available in stores such as Target and K-Mart! Yah!