http://www.billboard.com/.../bb200.jsp

Sharp downturn due to no concert sales. Down to #64 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Actually UP to #16 on the R&B chart (from #17). Don't know the actual sales numbers, though...

I wish people were actually buying this at retail more! Not his best disc but a good one, and certainly one worthy of hearing outside of a concert venue!

Actually for an album with no real big radio hits, it has done quite well .

The partial soundscan data I got on okayplayer.com (they post the top 20 then selected entries after that) shows #46 at 22,700 copies sold and #76 with 16,900. Based on that I would GUESS Musicology sold in the 18,000 's this week,

he played at some festival...there were 50,000 people in attendance, and correct me if im wrong, those numbers have never been factored in yet.

We all knew it would happen...the album would take a big drop at some point. I, for one, am still very impressed with the retail numbers. The number 50 album had, I think about 25 K in sales, which is what Prince had last week. He has been dropping 10-20% a week so he probaly was about 20,000-22,000 retail. He is well over the 600,000 in retail sales and should hit 700,000 in a month or two. When is the last time he released an album and it was still in the Top 100 after 12 weeks? No it's not a blockbuster from retail but considering that he has only gotten Urban AC radio on board so far it is still quite a feat.


I am kinda wondering if Columbia is going to put any more push with this album or if they are are happy with what was better sales than I am sure they expected. Will a pop single be released from this record and if it is will any pop station grow some cajones and play it?

47.5 million in concert sales with the number one tour of the year....that's good enough to earn "comeback of the year" honors even if the album doesn't sell that much more.

Once this tour hits Europe, the sales will increase big time! Sometimes I feel they appreciate his craft more than our own beloved US. Time will tell thou.

Klockpurple said:

Uh, Billboard doesn't count European sales figures. Only the U.S. The European will not help U.S. sales at all...

Here in Germany Musicology is @ #71 this week in the Top 100.
I don't think, that the US Concert giveaway CD's got anything 2 do with it,
so I think, that only the German retail sales count's !?!

Obviously, this is proof that Prince's "bundling" tactic works...when the numbers come in from this past week, he'll be back up. Clearly, the concert "give-aways" are what's keeping him up there.

I'm glad that music video channels are playing the "Call My Name" video, but until radio stations get on board, Prince will probably HAVE to rely on his concert sales for Billboard album recognition.

Either way, and whatever happens from here, you HAVE to call "Musicology" a success!

Keith/Kacey

Purple People- I wouldn't worry too much about Prince's record sales. The tour sales have taken care of everything. Besides remember when he used to have albums that never cracked the top 10 and #64 was considered a success? Musicology is a success in every aspect.

FunkyMan said:

Oh for crying out loud... Do you think that maybe Klockpurple was talking about sales "Outside" the USA?

Yes, that's right... I said OUTSIDE the USA. There is such a place you know. There are even parts of the world beyond the 50 states which are quite nice and don't need to be destroyed. Honest!

Think global.

misty2k said:

Believe it or not, some of us are actually FROM outside the U.S. Not sure about you, but I'm not American. This thread, however, was talking about the Billboard charts, not charts outside the U.S. - that's why I made the correction. Let's be honest - when it comes to Prince music, the U.S. charts are the most important. Sony France aren't the ones signing Prince for his next album!

No need to get nasty!

FunkyMan said:

Point taken.

Apologies... *blushes*

However, that said, who cares who signs Prince for his next album. Prince doesn't lol

Heh,during this same week 15 years ago, the Batman Album was number 1, up from number 7 the week before.

http://www.billboard.com/...ND_YEAR=15

In the words of P himself:

"Record sales and things like that, it really doesn't matter...Money is one thing, but soul is another"

FunkyMan said:

Who cares about "US sales, European sales?" The man is getting paid for "every sale." As for chart position, I'm not sure why this still makes it as a topic for discussion when it is clear that this is of no relevence.

Reece

Reece said:

Ok.. this is my first post. I am pretty sure the sales will spike back up next week and continuing thru August when he finally comes here to HOUSTON!!

camilleisfunky said:

Everyone at the Essence festival show received a copy of the CD though...so you would think those would have been counted.

Well, he's got the top tour, so I'm still gonna dance.

well, with no heavy rotation videos and airplay, we were expecting it would happen...
Solutions:
1) promote a new single (Call my name, Pimp or Cinnamon Girl)
2) do a 5 year TOUR

Just curious, guys - do you think this is where the album would be without the bundling?

Also, this drop is only because of the cancelled shows. I thought that the big tour stops would be counted this week, but aparently they'll be counted next week.

On another note, Prince himself has said that he wasn't out to change the world with this album, so if it falls like this don't be surprised. It's probably still sold at leat 10,000 copies, though, and it's gone platinum! I think this is pretty good.

On yet another note, I wonder if people are listening to Prince, with the idea in their mind that he's retiring from the biz. Ya'll know better than that. He's probably going to tone it down, tho - I guess his faith will have an effect.

Cinnamon Girl should be the next single, that would take it up the charts and keep it there.

He's gonna make a hundred million just from the US concerts, so let's not feel to sorry for the guy. He also has one of the best contracts in the biz.

This isn't actually as bad as i thought it was gonna be. Several other albums made comparable falls (like Rush's new release). Still at #64 after three months on the charts, even without the concert sales, is pretty impressive. And it'll make a spectacular rebound in the weeks to come. But I worry about September. If there's no radio hit or other promotion to keep it going, then the end of the US leg of the tour will cause it to plunge from the top 10 to below the top 150 in one week. That'll look pretty crappy, if Musicology winds up holding the record for the biggest drop in the album chart's history.
[This message was edited Thu Jul 15 14:10:16 2004 by renfield]

The cd is dropping because we don't hear much about it right now and the radio stations are not playing the songs like they play other artist. If we as fans really want to see this cd stay on top. we have to call the radio stations and ask them to play the songs. Request your favorit. Or request one they are already playing a little. If we don't they wont play them an people who did'nt already buy the cd will never here what they are missing.

Prince is an outsider. And he has 2 anti-war songs on his cd and u think that mainstream Radio is going 2play him. Look at what happens 2 any1 who says anything against the War or our current Dictator George Bush. Look what happened 2 Whoopie Goldberg & Politically Incorrect. P will not b played in heavy rotation so get used 2it bcuz he has, and he understands what needs 2b done 4him 2 survive!

He had a good run considering he was not that high on the charts since Diamonds & Pearls. Prince always seem to amaze ya so who knows maybe he'll climb back up in tha top 20. Who cares anyway his tour is definitely the biggest this year. $$$ ''ALL HAIL PRINCE THE NEW KING IN TOWN"

ELBOOGY said:

For one... I do not think there are any anti war songs on the CD. "Cinnamon Girl" seems to come pretty close...but it seems to be more about people getting along and no longer having a need or war.

What makes Bush a dictator? Are you saying it is a bad thing that we took Saddam out of power? Do you have no idea of what kinds of things were happing in Iraq? I know there are many other countries that have similar situations... and we (the free world) ought to do whatever it takes to bring freedom to them as well. The fact that an American Can say "Bush is a Dictator and a lier" with out fear of being killed speaks to just how diffrent things are here in the USA.

Now the "United States of Division" is a crock and quite contradictory:

First he sings:

"Why must I sing god bless America
but not the rest of the world (oh say can you see)
I love my country, but I love god more
every man woman boy and girl"

Which seems to mean that we want everyone in the word to be in the same situation, to not have to worry about being torcher and murdered just because you spoke out against the powers that be... keep in mind that under Saddam many men, woman, and children were murdered? Woman were rapped and murdered and children were gassed. And the world looked the other way... much like it did in start o the Holocaust. And that was wrong then and it is wrong now.

So later in the song prince in his ignorant bliss, blinded by his own wealth and power...

"What is this rush to declare war?"

Good question... he will have to ask Osama Bin Ladan and Saddam Hussein for the answer... but I have an idea... Osama just wants all non Muslims DEAD.

And the next line:

"What are we fighting for?"

To save lives, to protect ourselves and the world from those that would blow us up as we prayed at church.

As for Whoopie: she exercised he freedom of speech as well as poor judgment… and Slim Fast was well within its rights to fire her… Remember Prince to this day makes all employees agree that if the ever speak out against him they can be made to pay huge sums of money to Prince…

2 >talk2bill2 : STOP THE WAR!!!!!

talk2bill2 said:

WTF
we went to war not to save iraqis from saddam but becasue bush feels that his MFin daddy was defeated becoz of him!!

Saddam was such a big treat that he couldnt even shoot down a single plane in 12yrs!!!
Lets not forget we provided the chemical weapons to saddam to gas the ppl
We didnt look the other way but rather we told him how to gas the kurds!!!
U know mabuto the dictator in Zaire was even more lethal then saddam and thanks to us he was president for 30yrs. He was killin all the ppl and we told him go do what u want to do!!! WE were sending him billions in AID!!

When a country is so dubious and notorious then the US no wonder we r considered hypocrits!!!
Cheney made Sure Mandela was not goin to be released!!!!!

I think we need to eliminate Farm subsidies!! all the brain less ppl in the south dont need to get a freeride
[This message was edited Fri Jul 16 10:52:52 2004 by asg]