2009 YTD sales

[Deleted]

According to someone on ukmix, an album is tracked separately by the RIAA if it has less than 75% original content (by time) - again excluding remixes

I haven't verified that yet but if 'Forever & Always (Piano Version)' is a new recording, rather than a remix of the original track than this is a separate album from an RIAA standpoint (and Billboard)

[areyoureadytojump]

news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091005/music_nm/us_sales

Jackson, Beatles bring "Help" to music business

Ed Christman – Sun Oct 4

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Renewed interest in the Beatles and Michael Jackson slowed the decline of U.S. album sales in the third quarter, although the industry is still on track to fall for the eighth time in nine years.

Sales were off 11.1% compared with the same period in 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan. After the second quarter, sales were down 14.7% compared with the first half of 2008.

So far album sales are down 13.9% this year. Total album sales fell 14 percent in 2008.

Music retailers are hoping that the continued performance of Jackson and Beatles albums and a strong fourth-quarter release schedule will continue to make up lost ground.

During the quarter, Jackson's June 25 death fueled sales of about 5 million units, and the September 9 re-release of the Beatles catalog has sold 1.3 million units so far.

So far this year 11 albums have topped the 1 million-unit mark, the same number as in 2008. In 2008, the top seller was Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III," at 2.5 million units; this year's top seller is Jackson's "Number Ones," at 1.8 million units.

In terms of genre sales, the Latin category leads the decliners so far this year, with a 35.1% slump to 12.6 million units. Rock sales dropped 11.5% to 88.1 million units. R&B (which includes rap) fell 6.6% to 51.4 million units. Country was off just 1.7% to 30.3 million units

(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)

[Choco]

I was expecting the Beatles number to be higher, but they're still impressive.

[Deleted]

2 weeks away (maybe even one) from the year's first 2 million seller

[fridayteenage]

I certainly hope Taylor moves ahead into becoming the year's #2 album seller as opposed to her semi-bff.

[yosafbridge]

With the re-release of Fearless Platinum Edition,there's a good chance Taylor will reclaim the #1 spot.

[Deleted]

Nope

[Deleted]

Feareless - original release will likely disappear from the chart

Fearless platinum edition though should get healthy sales

[#LisaRinna]

^ Are they going to count as separate albums? That's stupid of the label!
And so is Lady GaGa's right?

[Deleted]

According to somoene familiar with RIAA rules on ukmix. Fearless - platinum edition will be tracked as a separate release,since it is significantly longer, by time, than the original.

Unless Billboard/Soundscan comes up with some quirky exception to their rules, this would also mean it wll be traked separately here too

[Glambertize]

Thanks, 2m.

[yosafbridge]

Oct 19, 2009 8:49:19 GMT -5 @2m said:

According to somoene familiar with RIAA rules on ukmix. Fearless - platinum edition will be tracked as a separate release,since it is significantly longer, by time, than the original.

Unless Billboard/Soundscan comes up with some quirky exception to their rules, this would also mean it wll be traked separately here too

I guess we'll only know for sure when Billboard comes out with their BB200.

[#LisaRinna]

Billboard said the new Taylor Swift and GaGa re-releases are going to be merged with the original albums.

[Deleted]

yes, that came out yesterday

Chart runs will be combined

[areyoureadytojump]

Oct 31, 2009 13:49:08 GMT -5 #LisaRinna said:

Billboard said the new Taylor Swift and GaGa re-releases are going to be merged with the original albums.

I figured as much. Thanks.

[nyjoliebebe]

thanks for the info guys

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2009 22:41:41 GMT -5 @2m said:

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Hi Gary,

My question is in regard to album re-releases. We have seen that a fair number of albums, hugely successful or not, get re-released in some way or another. What is the new-song limit that Billboard has when counting an album as a re-release or not?

I remember Rihanna's album "Good Girl Gone Bad" was 're-loaded' with three new tracks last year, but the chart life of the album was combined with its first version. Will the Nov. 23 re-release of Lady Gaga's debut collection, re-entitled "The Fame Monster," be considered a re-release or a new album? It will contain not three or four new songs, but eight, which is even more than those on a standard EP or Taylor Swift's "Platinum Edition" of "Fearless," which contains six new songs.

Thank you,

Juan Croussett
Tampa, Florida


Hi Juan,

For the clearest explanation as to how Billboard will chart the releases you mention, I asked Billboard 200 chart manager Keith Caulfield. Here is his response:

"Billboard has many guidelines about the merging of so-called special edition albums with their original parent albums. Generally speaking, two or more versions of an album will not be merged if the title of the special edition version is substantially different from the original. For Lady Gaga's 'The Fame' and 'The Fame Monster,' we feel that the change was in line with what we've allowed in the past (a la Rihanna's 'Good Girl Gone Bad' and 'Good Girl Gone Bad Reloaded').

"Additionally, for our chart purposes, there is no limit as to how many audio tracks or songs can be added to an original album, as long as the additional audio content does not extend beyond one additional CD (or digital equivalent) and the content of the standard edition remains intact.

"Thus, the reissue of Lady Gaga's 'The Fame' in a deluxe version ('The Fame Monster') with additional songs will have its sales combined with the original 'Fame' album. The same goes for the 'Platinum Edition' of Taylor Swift's 'Fearless'."

[Deleted]

I posted this is the Chart procedures thread a couple days ago.

I guess it belongs here

A different procedure than they used to have, for sure. A couple years ago they had a track limit

[Young Money]

who was doubting they wouldn't be counted anyways? I knew they would be lol

[when the pawn...]

So is Fearless now a lock to be #1 of 09 with the special edition sales?

[Young Money]

Yes, and it would have been #1 without the special edition anyways.

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2009 15:08:33 GMT -5 Young Money said:

Yes, and it would have been #1 without the special edition anyways.

LOL - a statement that can't be proven now that the chart runs are going to be combined.


So - OK

[Legoman]

Sure.. Im interested :)

[Young Money]

Nov 1, 2009 15:59:50 GMT -5 @2m said:

Nov 1, 2009 14:36:11 GMT -5 Young Money said:

who was doubting they wouldn't be counted anyways? I knew they would be lol

Congrats, you knew about the rule change before I did. RIAA is tracking this as a separate album, usually Billboard follows suit. The only reason this is going this way is a previously un announced rule change

It was common knowledge. There was no way the label would allow Taylor to release something that would not be added to her previous total. The label knows what they were doing.

[Young Money]

Nov 1, 2009 16:00:44 GMT -5 @2m said:

Nov 1, 2009 15:08:33 GMT -5 Young Money said:

Yes, and it would have been #1 without the special edition anyways.

LOL - a statement that can't be proven now that the chart runs are going to be combined.


So - OK

The statement can easily be proved. The album is still selling a ton of copies. There is Thanksgiving/Black Friday and Christmas sales. Plus, Grammy nominations.

MJ will get a boost as well, but even before the re-release Taylor was getting closer and closer to MJ. While it may not be a 100% thing, it was most likely certain Taylor would have pulled ahead.

[nyjoliebebe]

thanks for the info guys can't wait to see how it goes this week when the hdd charts start up again in a few hours

[Young Money]

That is not what I am saying. What I am saying is I am sure the label found out what was allowed to be counted as one album. They know they have almost the biggest album of the year, and this re-release would for sure now push it over the top where as with just the regular album it would not be certain, just a very, very good chance.

[Young Money]

No one is saying anything about that......I am saying the label made sure the release would count with the original sales total. Anyone who thought different was foolish, I'm sorry. I respect everything you do for this board, but how could you possibly believe the biggest album of the year would be re-released and not count towards the original total?

[Young Money]

I never said a label dictated what the magazine does. I don't know why you keep saying that.

And the Fearless re-release only has 6 tracks on it...so I don't see what the problem is.

And not sure why you are getting so snappy at me...makes no sense.

[areyoureadytojump]

Nov 2, 2009 10:32:25 GMT -5 @2m said:

Nov 2, 2009 10:28:40 GMT -5 Young Money said:

The statement can easily be proved. The album is still selling a ton of copies. There is Thanksgiving/Black Friday and Christmas sales. Plus, Grammy nominations.

MJ will get a boost as well, but even before the re-release Taylor was getting closer and closer to MJ. While it may not be a 100% thing, it was most likely certain Taylor would have pulled ahead.

Since sales are going to be combined, and as you know this for sure, please post sales of the original edition in this thread, each week.

God, you are a snot.