Idol Sales News – Week Ending 10/25/09

183 Responses to “Idol Sales News – Week Ending 10/25/09”

---

• Keel

  10/28/2009 at 10:02 pm

  Fanbases are going to behave the way they are going to behave. There’s no pattern there that’s predictable IMO. I recall last year that DC fans were surprised that DC sold only about 100K of LO and AI fanbases being what they are, they knew that this compared unfavorably to Crush’s 160K. So, of course, the expectation was that album sales were going to probably behave in the same way. Instead, Archie’s album opened about 80-90K (IIRC) less than Cook’s. (Not trying to resurrect a fan war, but just recounting events.)

  So it seems to me that’s it’s still quite possible that Adam’s (and Kris’) hardcore fanbase are waiting for the album rather than buying the first thing that pops up for sale on iTunes, just like it seems a good number of Cook fans did last year.

  Again, to reiterate, we’re talking here about the hardcore fanbase that will snap everything up the first week — none of which makes any difference as to the long term success of their Adam’s or Kris’ debut albums. In fact, it may well be the case that the marketing for Adam is what it is (i.e., more outside radio and more TV) because TPTB believe that he will break big outside of the AI bubble and, given his controversial nature, he is likely to lose a lot of his more conservative AI fanbase anyway. Just a thought.
• sma11ie

  10/28/2009 at 10:12 pm

  I would argue that ‘fans like this’  are one of the reasons that artists chose to go the AI route to start with. It’s very difficult in the current music environment to get attention for yourself and your music. A core dedicated fanbase that is buying your record early helps establish momentum, gets you placement on sales charts and on music store racks, and draws the attention of radio programming directors. A dedicated core fanbase also is typically requesting with local radio stations, filling out mediabase surveys and generally helping your songs gain visibility in a crowded music market. For sure in the long run you have to make music people like and want to listen to. No question. That’s the difference between an AI alum who sells a couple hundred thousand and one whose record goes gold or platinum. But that early boost from dedicated fans is a big help.

  Sorry for quoting the whole thing, but now THAT is the most articulate post on what AI can do for a new musician.

  TfM really is a movie song. But RCA has put incredible resources into Adam’s album ‘“ songs by Pink, Gaga, Muse, Dr. Luke. Top of the line producers.

  I agree that RCA is investing in the album based on what I’ve heard about producers and songwriters… what I don’t get is why Sony (whichever branch) put so many resources in TFM if they’re not gonna push it beyond the initial week’s iTunes banner and an ET segment? The music video was a big production, and directed by Wayne Isham, and the song was produced by Rob Cavallo. These people are not cheap. They put all that money on the vid, put it on myspace, showed clips on ET, and that’s it? I’m hearing the trailer before This Is It won’t even show part of this expensive video. What’s the rationale there? Will the vid be pushed after the movie comes out? If so, isn’t that right around when Adam’s real single should be gaining speed on radio, and when ideally the MV for that song should be debuting on VH1’s top 20 countdown? They wouldn’t wanna drop the TFM video to VH1 then to muddy the waters… so the expensive TFM vid just goes largely unused? Maybe it’ll be in more TFM commercials in November? I’m just confuzzled by what RCA was planning for with TFM.

  Again, to reiterate, we’re talking here about the hardcore fanbase that will snap everything up the first week

  Actually, I don’t know if DC’s 280K opening week comprised of only hardcore fans. Honestly, I buy a lot of albums from artists I like the week they drop simply because that’s when the promo is strongest, and I’m reminded of it. New albums usually get some nice placement at the store, or ads on iTunes, whatever it may be, enough so I’m reminded, and I snap it up. AI alum probably benefit from a lot of casual AI fans who see the album in stores, the ad on iTunes, or whatever and pick it up then. But yeah, good opening week numbers are great, but connecting with a wider fanbase is crucial second step to longevity.
• sma11ie

  10/28/2009 at 10:37 pm

  Post ho’ing some last thoughts. I think Adam, unlike DC, will be more of a singles artist. His Dr. Luke first single has the potential to be a bit hit off the bat, maybe even more so than Crush was. If that happens, it could open huge. And then Adam fans can rejoice about how he’s broken out of the bubble . Regardless if it takes off right away on radio, it’ll open much bigger than TFM.
• snlw

  10/29/2009 at 2:01 am

  Someone twittered this:

  RockinAllenFan NO WAY!?! Our bb Kris’s single LLWD is #5 on New Zealand’s Pop iTunes Chart!! People living there are KICK AWESOME!

  YAY for Kris!
• wiccagirl2009

  10/29/2009 at 8:46 am

  crush had an ai of 7.669 million the week it went for downloads, and that number increased steadily’ ¦ sales remained remarkably consistent week to week for the song, reaching and selling to an audience outside of the ‘ idol bubble’ ’ ¦it’s sitting now on the cusp of 2 million total downloads’ ¦ ai alums, to me, are no different in their quest for acceptance and credibility than other new artists when they leave idol and go out into the real music world’ ¦ there is always some barrier or ‘’stigma’  to be overcome ‘“ and it can be overcome’ ¦ it’s the quality and commercial appeal of what they produce after they leave idol that lends to that elusive ‘ cred’ ’ ¦ underwood did it, clarkson did it, daughtry did it, and there will be i’m sure others whose quality of music over the long haul will lend itself to those artists being taken

  The only barrier i see with archie is that he will always be this kid in the eyes of people. He might have a good voice but man can we stand seeing him as kid even if he is 25 or 30? mmm That’s the difference with Cook.
• wiccagirl2009

  10/29/2009 at 8:58 am

  Wow, impressive. Does Crush hold the title for best first week sales for an Idol single. Good for Archie’ ¦that little cutie pie.

  Archie is really cute. He is like my 10 year old kid brother who i like to tease. He is so like baby cute.
• jersey

  10/29/2009 at 9:30 am

  Well, this morning is the highest I’ve seen LLWD on itunes for the first thing in the morning. Usually it drops to the low 130’s overnight, I think. Admittedly, I haven’t been paying attention myself, just from comments here, I think that’s what I recall. Anyway, this morning it’s at 121 so maybe spins are starting to kick in a little. (or maybe there isn’t much difference between 139 and 121 in actual sales, who knows!)
• carolinacharms

  10/29/2009 at 4:51 pm

  Archuleta’s Crush never attained near the total airplay/spins/ai that TOML did, and yet Crush out-sold TOML by a considerable margin. Radio isn’t everything.

  Additionally, Crush debuted on Z100 on 1 August 2008 and was released to Itunes on 12 August 2008. That’s only 11 days, folks. There was barely any radio play, nationally, by the 12th, and so the argument that radio helped Archuleta to some “unfair” competitive advantage (for comparison purposes, only) over Adam or Kris is just flatly false.

  At this early date, it would appear the Davids each had a larger and more rabidly loyal core fanbase than either Kris or Adam.