Why weren't Beyonce's sales spectacular?

[freekaleek]

Looking at all those soundscan numbers in the music forum, i think i was shocked when i saw that Beyonce's album "Dangerously In Love" had sold 3.6 million copies. Okay i know those numbers are supposed to be good. They are good, but am i the only one who thinks she should've sold more? Selling almost 4 million is great for artists like Avril Lavigne, Jessica Simpson, Britney, Christina, Justin, etc. But Beyonce recieved so much attention this last year that i think she should've outsold them all by a lot, but her album sold just as much as them.

Why didn't her album sell on a Norah Jones, 50 Cent, Outkast, Usher level? I don't get it. She won 5 Grammies, she had 4 HUGE singles, and recieved so much praise and attention from the media. Why couldn't she even reach 4 million? Do her sales prove that she is overhyped by the media and the music industry and that the general public doesn't really like her as much as everyone thinks? I think that might be it. There are a lot of people that don't like her because they think she is stuck up because she's always taking the spotlight from the other members of the group.

Alicia Keys' album is on it's way to outselling Beyonce's, yet why does Beyonce always get top billing over Alicia Keys? Is Beyonce overhyped?

[Love Plastic Love]

1. I honestly think that Justin, Christina, and ESPECIALLY Britney gets just as much publicity as Beyonce...maybe not QUITE as much airplay but massive airplay as well. So I dont see why 2-3 is fine and ok for them but 3.6 and still selling is a massive shame for Beyonce.
2. Alicia Keys...is more reactive. She gets more sales and she is a more talented MUSICIAN. However Beyonce is flash and hotness. She is stunning and she is more of a performer. More often than not flashy performers get more attention...its just the way things are. (Oh and I do think Beyonce is talented-I just mean that Alicia is like..the songwriting piano playing goddess while Beyonce is more of the diva )

After saying that I will admit that I thought her sales would be higher. But...I also do not think her sales horrendous either. Something just didnt react enough or something. Sometimes its hard to explain why one artist will sell more than another.

[allow that]

I agree that Beyonce is overhyped, and also was surprised to find out she "only" sold 3.6. That's still enough to make her one the past year's most popular artists, but I agree with the fact that she had more media coverage than even Usher, 1 MEGA hit (CIL) and 2 HUGE hits after it (BB, NG) with another big hit in between those 2 (MM&I), etc. she should've sold more on the level of Confessions.

[freekaleek]

I would consider "Baby Boy" as a mega hit like CIL, didn't it spend like 10 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100? MM&I and NG are even. Even though MM&I didn't recieve much attention on Pop, it was a surprise hit on Urban. I think NG is the only song off of that album didn't hit #1 on any format.

So you have two songs at one point that reached an audience impression of almost 200 million, and 2 other ones that had an audience impression of around 125-140 million at their peaks. Sorry, but i do think she should've sold more. Not just 500,000 or 1 million more, i'm thinking like 2 million more.

[bluenote]

Beyonce appeals to females.....she doesnt have as wide of an audience as others. and alot of people really dislike Beyonce, her attitude and her presence.

[Sean]

She's more of a singles artist. Her album had a few great songs but the rest sucked.... so it wouldn't have got good word of mouth in that way. Also, a lot of people like to watch her (thus she generates huge media attention - she's hot!) but they couldn't care less about actually buying her album. Plus, other people find her attitude to be bad.... personally I like some of her music but I don't care about her as a person.

[tidetoit]

Just more proof the Hot 100 is not a good barometer of what is really popular--popular enough to buy.

[j]

Nonsense. Singles and Albums are two very different things. Beyonce's album wasn't strong apart from the singles. I doubt "Macarena: The Album" and the Donna Lewis album sold a lot either - does that mean that neither song deserved its Top 2 Hot 100 placing for months and months?

Besides, need I really remind everyone that there are many other factors that goes into album sales?

[Keith3000]

j said:

Nonsense. Singles and Albums are two very different things. Beyonce's album wasn't strong apart from the singles. I doubt "Macarena: The Album" and the Donna Lewis album sold a lot either - does that mean that neither song deserved its Top 2 Hot 100 placing for months and months?

Excellent point.

[bluenote]

3.6 million is excellent in todays market.

[Pet Shop Boy]

Because her material was mediocre, style over substance rubbish apart from CIL.

[tidetoit]

MandyfanUK said:

Because her material was mediocre, style over substance rubbish apart from CIL.

Exactly. O-V-E-R-H-Y-P-E!! Destinys Childs "Lose My Breath" is also all style and no substance.

[Ragin]

j said:

Nonsense. Singles and Albums are two very different things. Beyonce's album wasn't strong apart from the singles. I doubt "Macarena: The Album" and the Donna Lewis album sold a lot either - does that mean that neither song deserved its Top 2 Hot 100 placing for months and months?

Besides, need I really remind everyone that there are many other factors that goes into album sales?

I totally agree with this. Aside from the singles, Beyonces album was NOT good. The album usually has to have some substance to sell well. There are a few exceptions where hype is enough, as in the case of 50 Cent, but more often than not, it's the album of their career that sells that well, Shaggy's Hotshot, Eminem's two big sellers, Norah Jones, etc. These are just great albums with solid tracks from beginning to end.

[Pet Shop Boy]

Los Del Rio's Macarena non-stop album actually sold 4 million copies in America. More than Beyonce.

[Evergreen]

3.6 is huge these days. There are only about 6 or 7 people who can sell more records than that. I don't think a record label could ask for a bigger success than "DIL"

[Bob]

first, you're really underplaying what it takes to sell 3.6 million. second, YES beyoncé is way over hyped... her actual status is blown up by extensive marketing, not just her music but endorsements and such.

[NORTHCOAST]

I agree that most artists would kill for 3.6 Million in sales.  But, I have to say I don't even like Beyonce's singles.  Just not my type of music I guess.  I would really like to hear her SING a song a la Whitney or Mariah.  It sounds like the back up singers have just as much of an impact on the song as Beyonce, IMO.   I just don't think she has gotten a good song to wrap that voice around yet.   I also kind of picture her as an empty head.  She has that Stepford Wife look about her eyes sometimes.  I assume that the producers have more to say about her albums than she does.  Don't know if that is accurate at all, but that's the impression I get from her.  That she isn't an artist laboring over her art,  but a commodity.  And I'm turned off by her videos!  She tries to come off like little miss innocent in her interviews and then struts her stuff like a pro in her videos.  Just doesn't compute. 

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Maybe the people that bought Beyounce's CD were loudmouthes compared to people that bought Alicia Keys, for example, who were probably quiet people that listened alone in their attic bedroom.

[Pink Champagne Ricochet]

I agree that 3.6 mil is not bad at all, but it's really pathetic that, for example, Clay Aiken can get within one million of her sales with 1/100th the airplay and less time in stores. While i'm sick as hell of seeing and hearing Usher everywhere, his album sales at least back up the hype somewhat. I actually bought Dangerously in Love and it's not bad at all, but the singles ARE the best tracks on there.

How well did the singles do on iTunes and other online music stores? That would be another indication. "Crazy In Love" was probably one of, if not the, top downloads. I guess it isn't 2000 any more. Record companies would prefer getting the royalties off 99 cents than losing it all to file sharing.

[j]

splitchick59 said:

it's really pathetic that, for example, Clay Aiken can get within one million of her sales with 1/100th the airplay and less time in stores.

You really can't use an artist who has built a fan base out of the most popular TV show out there and compare that person to other artists. Obviously, Clay Aiken is an outlier, an anomaly, the exception rather than the rule. Come on.

[krazymack]

It just amazes me how Beyonce works hard for every penny that she gets. Even if 3.6 million isn't that impressive for an artist of her stature. I admire her dedication, commitment, and diligent work ethic for putting out enjoyable, entertaining, and radio friendly music for her fans.

It is easy for huge artists to be so remote from their fans and not give a crap about them once they hit big. But the girl attends every venue and event there is. This to me, exemplifies an an artist who stays true to their fans no matter what. I find this to be an admirable quality more than any significant amount of money can buy.

You go Beyonce. I truly appreciate what you do!

[Deleted]

krazymack said:

It just amazes me how Beyonce works hard for every penny that she gets.  Even if 3.6 million isn't that impressive for an artist of her stature.  I admire her dedication, commitment, and diligent work ethic for  putting out enjoyable, entertaining, and radio friendly music for her fans.

It is easy for huge artists to be so remote from their fans and not give a crap about them once they hit big.  But the girl attends every venue and event there is. This to me, exemplifies an an artist who stays true to their fans no matter what.  I find this to be an admirable quality more than any significant amount of money can buy.

You go Beyonce.  I truly appreciate what you do!

I'll never understand how you praise Beyonce's every move and call Britney a trashy ho when both of them do the same thing. I think your hate is racially motivated, but whatever.

[Love Plastic Love]

The said:

I'll never understand how you praise Beyonce's every move and call Britney a trashy ho when both of them do the same thing.  I think your hate is racially motivated, but whatever.

I really dont think they do the same thing. I think Beyonce is 10 times the hard worker that Britney is (well...lately-I think britney has lost her "hunger" for the past year or so while Beyonce has not)
And Beyonce just seems more...classy. I know I will be jumped on for that and I cant even describe WHY. Maybe its because Britney has hundreds of pictures of her running around where she looks like she just rolled out of a dumpster and not showered for a week. Im not sure.
A person in one of my classes one time said that they wanted to buy Beyonce's cd because she had catchy fun music and seemed different from the other pop sluts.
Now I know that Beyonce has done stuff just like Britney and Christina...but I think she has a quality about her that I cant put my finger on that makes her seem more classy than them even if they are doing the same exact thing.

[krazymack]

The said:

I'll never understand how you praise Beyonce's every move and call Britney a trashy ho when both of them do the same thing.  I think your hate is racially motivated, but whatever.

Ouch, I'm sorry if you think I am racially motivated.  I was never called a racist in my life.   :o  Thanks for pulling the race card on me.  In fact, my own great grandfather was a white man and my grandmother is half white and half-indian. 

Britney Spears is far more racier IMO than Beyonce.  I personally think she crosses the line.  Beyonce in my opinion, knows when to stop. 

I happen to like many Caucasian female pop artists: Hillary Duff, Jessica Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, etc...

So you can think I'm a racist, that's totally fine.... But, I know what I am. 

[Deleted]

I'm not saying you don't like Britney because she's white. I'm saying that you seem to like Beyonce more because she's a "strong hard working black woman" but when a white woman does the same thing, it's expected.

[krazymack]

The said:

I'm not saying you don't like Britney because she's white.  I'm saying that you seem to like Beyonce more because she's a "strong hard working black woman" but when a white woman does the same thing, it's expected.

Did I even say that?  Is putting words in my mouth a rule around here????  I'm really sorry that you feel that way.

I will say this to you.  I admire the way that Britney Spears have worked in the past.  In fact, I loved Britney Spears when she started out.  With hits like "Baby One More Time..." and "Sometimes," she showed some "skin" per se, but she knew how to stop.  Nowadays, Britney just seems so bimboish, extremely sexual, and racy to me.  It's not about having classy fun any more.  That's my opinion and I'm sorry that you think I implied otherwise.

[tidetoit]

Heres the view of a complete amateur (me) and new member of this forum:

I think some artists hype takes on a life of its own that eclipses their music--and Beyonce is one of those artists.  Beyonce is a great singer and dancer but shes not as good as her hype--noone is.  She does seem to work very hard and present herself well but she doesn't sell anywhere near as many CDs as her hype would suggest.  Beyonce is "The" african american female entry into the world music scene at the moment and a united african american community has provided her with the--ultra-hype--furious racial passion that exists in music today.  It doesn't really reflect what is most popular--only how biased, one dimensional, and loud one group can be.  Beyonces posse and built in racial fanbase seem to feel she is entitled to some strange royal african american title like HRH "Princess of All Hip-Hop music" and maybe she is--but I don't--and after buying her album--listening to it for a week I was tired of it and have not listened to it again. 

IMO there is no deep beauty or unforgettable emotion in her music--just sex--unnatractive, unromantic, crude rap/hip-hop style sex.  The driving beats, animalistic sexy breathy vocals, and ever present pimp rapper sitting on his throne make it all seem dirty, in your face racial, and unappealing.  I think a lot of people don't buy her CDs for these reasons.

[Evergreen]

I don't see any similarities between Britney and Beyonce. Beyonce is always more classy than Britney. I love Britney, but she is really trailer. Beyonce carries herself so much better.

[WhySoSerious?]

LOL at this whole argument.

[krazymack]

TCorey said:

LOL at this whole argument.

I'm going to LOL with you TCorey.  I really didn't want to bring Britney Spears into this conversation.  But one of your folks took it upon himself to mention her and implied that I was a RACIST when I was simply voicing my opinion about Beyonce.  I feel absolutely violated here at PMB to be honest!!!!!! I never intended to compare Beyonce with any artist specifically.