Well Done James Blunt
Love him or hate him, OK just hate him, but did you know that James Blunt is the only person in Britain to hold 21st century 10x or greater platinum album? Leona Lewis fell just short with 9x. Its actually quite interesting to see how record sales have fallen away this century. Lady Gaga, the latest big thing, only 4x.
Whilst musing over this subject I landed on the ‘Best Selling Albums Worldwide’ wiki. Now before reading this, I knew MJ’s Thriller was the biggest selling of all time. What I didn’t appreciate is that it sold over twice as many as number two; Back in Black by AC/DC. 110 Million versus 49. Unbelievable.
Another one I was surprised about looking over the most platinum albums awarded in the States. Elvis #1, yip, The Beatles #2, yip, George Strait #3, WHO? Now I might be showing my ignorance but I honestly have never heard of this guy. A country singer apparently, worth 350-400 million dollars. Wild.
Anyway, another 2020 prediction. No-one will get a 10x or greater platinum in the UK between now and Jan 1 2020. Re-releases, charity albums, compilations don’t count. Single sourced, new material. I’ll update my original 2020 post if I remember.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Yes – Album sales are falling on their erse, but that is no big surprise given that you can download any song you choose (whether legally or illegally) instead of being forced to buy an entire album for 3 or 4 good songs out of the 10 to 12 songs you'll get on an album. Hence why they are album tracks in the first place since no one would buy them as singles.
The legal download of singles has never been stronger with the majority of sales of singles being download tracks now, and to think a few years ago downloads never even counted towards the singles chart!
Obviously the record companies and recording artists don't like the fact they are not making as much money from album sales but we all have to live in a world where trends affect us all, yet they complain that they can't buy enough Kristal Champagne, oh well, Moet will just have to do while the rest of us get by on a pint of lager and a packet of crisps!
February 16th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I did hear about some artist who had just turned to releasing singles citing that it was more lucrative. Fairly well known I think she was too. Wonder if the days of albums are dead of whether things like the iPad will be the resurrection of them. If you replaced album art with exclusive interviews and things, I think people would go back to them.
The other problem aswell these days is that music discovery sucks, the internet has certainly dissolved not on the record labels, but the 'word of mouth' effect aswell.