with the album now been certified double platinium in the usa..we are looking at over 3 million sales worldwide...i would imagine this would be more than all his albums since perhaps the symbol album in 1992(not counting hits collections). it would probably also mean that it has sold more worldwide than lovesexy who would have thought it possible 12 months ago...biggest earning music star on the planet in 2004...amazing.

Most sales don't count cuz concert goers had no choice in buying them. Just count the store sales.

EvilWhiteMale said:

No, no, no, Prince talked soundscan into counting them as sales. Soundscan now has a policy that this cannot happen again. As far as Musicology goes, every copy given at a concert was a sale. Pretty Crafty.

7lovesymbol7 said:

That's what I'm saying. People talk about what great sales Musicology got, but it's fucking bullshit. I bought a concert ticket, but I didn't want that shitty album.

Yeah, but it still sold a million in stores, discounting concert giveaways. When's the last time Prince sold that many copies of one album? back in '92?

Plus, talking about worldwide sales, all international sales of the album are 'over-the-counter,' since Prince didn't tour outside of the US. And even if he did, concert copies weren't guaranteed to count. the RIAA and soundscan have no jurisdiction outside of the US. that's why worldwide sales figures are always difficult to come up with, there isn't one firm tabulating them.

renfield said:

That's what marketing is all about. Hell, people used to buy pet rocks for God's sake. Then soon after they realized how worthless they were. Right now there are Musicology drink coasters across the world.

This coming from the same guy who said a year ago that the musicology concerts wouldn't sell out. EWM, Grow up.

Bull said:

Grow up? Why, because I have an opinion that differs from yours?

Because all u want 2 do is talk crap 2 get every1 all riled up.

Bull said:

Everyone has the right to ignore me. If they get riled up, perhapse the problem is with them.

Read my sig.

Whatever, as I'm sure you have heard a million times, grow up.

Bull said:

What's immature about my point of view?

People always want to discount Prince's sale because of the concert giveaway, but there are plenty of people who didn't bother to go to the store because they already knew they were getting one at the show, so they simply waited..... I would have definetly bought it at the store if that was my only source.

sdekm1 said:

I couldn't afford to go to the shows, but I managed to snag a free copy from a co-worker... and I also purchased Musicology over the counter -- oh, maybe a day or so after it hit the shelves. The free copy I ended up giving to a buddy of mine. All in all I think it was a very neat thing that Prince did, and it managed to generate a lot of good press.

He probably managed to move a couple of discs that wouldn't have sold otherwise (smile). Good for Prince.

It's too bad you couldn't make it to the show... but hopefully you get to see it if he releases a concert dvd.

sdekm1 said:

Yeah, cuz sometimes it's tough to fall asleep and we all could use a lil somethin to doze off to.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Oh c'mon. Be honest with this one. You did want that shitty album, because it at least because it was free. Everybody wants a free shitty album.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I think it's genius. Prince is the only person who could do what he has done since his split with WB. The CD giveaway thing is brilliant and he got sony to distribute the album for next to nothing...literally. Through all these years Prince has been attracting audiences to his live shows and blowing people away with his extraordinary talent. Now he's tricked the record companies into doing things his way. He is one of the last great musicians to be able to do things his way and make millions. Like I said...pretty crafty.

Prince said several years ago that he'd like to tour and include a CD in the price of the ticket. He did what he said he was going to do, so I give him props for that.

I went to four Musicology shows, plus the movie premiere, and I didn't hear or see one person who was upset about getting a CD. A lot of the people who attended these shows were there because it was "the place to be", and they probably hadn't bought a Prince CD in years. So now Prince has his music in the hands of people outside his ground roots fan base. That can't be a bad thing for any artist.

Finally, Prince made more money that any touring entertainer last year, so I guess he's doing something right.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I wonder if they included internet sells. I downloaded the album first then bought it from the wrecka sto'.

RodeoSchro said:

I'm not knocking his business strategy, I give him a lot of credit for that. But creatively, he's in the hole.

EvilWhiteMale said:

i have to admit, what you do - works

hilton02895 said:

internet downloads aren't counted i don't think. it would be interesting to see where musicology would have peaked if net downloads were counted. wonder how many it's done?

EvilWhiteMale said:

-----
This what we mean about immature comments or just out and out bullcrap.

You know no one was asleep at any of these shows. The tour rocked.

You know no the cd sold a million copies outside of the giveaway.

It is silly to keep saying the same old unture and silly statements when they are so far from reality.


-----
You did not like the CD or tour. Your opinion. Fine

Tour and CD unsuccessful Bullcrap. Accept it and get over it.

laurarichardson said:

Maybe you should get over ME already.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Actually, I liked Musicology--but it's a damend shame this fair-to-average Prince album had to be his comeback album.

The problem with Musicology sales is though impressive, becauase they where bundled with the concert fee, it was IMPOSSIBLE to denote that purchasing the album was due to actual buy INTEREST.

The abulm would have still been his biggest hit in years despite the concert sales, but the all-or-nothing sales technique that Prince employed made it impossible to distinguish who wanted the album, and who simply put up with the album to gain admission to the concert.

2 or 3 (whatever!) million sales for an artist in his mid 40's, 25 years into his career is still pretty good going. IMO.

softandwet said:

You are correct they don't count to the actual albums sales but they are counted as internet bought.