Is Prince concerned about album sales? Do you think this Headline would bother him?

The King of Pop Outsells a Prince

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: June 19, 2005
Michael Jackson avoided a potential prison term last week, but he cannot escape the passage of time, a sentence that befalls all pop stars. Or can he?

Even after he was acquitted of child molesting and conspiracy in a Santa Maria, Calif., courtroom last week, many people are asking whether Mr. Jackson, 46, will ever record music again. If so, he seems to stand little chance of connecting with the young fans who have flocked to fresh-faced stars who emulate him, including Usher and Justin Timberlake.

It is certainly true that Mr. Jackson's album sales - and his fortunes - have slipped a long way since the 1980's, when he released blockbusters like "Thriller" (certified sales of 26 million copies) and "Bad" (eight million copies).

But whose haven't? Indeed, the self-proclaimed King of Pop remains one of the only stars who defined their careers in 1980's pop who can still crack the Billboard charts.

In fact, compared with contemporaries like Madonna and Prince, Mr. Jackson still packs a hefty commercial punch, even though he hasn't played a concert tour in the United States in more than a decade, and arguably does much less to market his recordings (regular appearances in tabloids aside).

Mr. Jackson's last album of original material, "Invincible," which was released in 2001, has sold an estimated 2.1 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. Madonna's last one, "American Life," from 2003, has sold about 656,000 copies. Prince's "Musicology," released last year, has racked up about two million copies, but more than half of them were provided to fans as an add-on when they purchased a ticket to his best-selling tour.

Madonna still outpaces Mr. Jackson (and Prince) for overall commerce since the music industry began computerized tracking in 1991; her catalog in all has sold about 22.8 million albums since then, while Mr. Jackson's has registered about 17.7 million copies. Her most recent greatest-hits compilation also outsold his.

The relative success of Mr. Jackson's new music - particularly against a backdrop of scandal and bizarre behavior - is testament to the loyalty of his hard-core fans. So long as he commands such fealty, then, he may live longer as the king than some imagine. JEFF LEEDS
[Edited 6/19/05 23:06pm]

Funny how they didn't compare Prince's catalog to both Michael's and Madonna's. I believe he's right up there with them if not above them, seeing that Prince has released A LOT more materials. But no matter anyway -- can Mike or Madonna play?

i think he would say...when a corperation is behind you and everybody is getting a cut of the money...an artist will have success with an album...i think he would be happy knowing he could sell a third of what michael sells and still make more money....

No, I think Prince would be quite satisfied to have stayed relevant throughout the 90's in to the 21st century. What other artists have continuously made NEW music every single year, switching and changing genres so many times. Madonna releases stuff that sounds like it did in 1988, but prince has tried jazz, rap, hip-hop, blues, pop, and funk throughout the 90's and the 2000's -- They other artists can't say as much. While prince hasn't grossed as much, I think he's espoused himself as an artist not an entertainer or commercial item like madonna.

Well, given that this is a comparison article, interesting to you and I, it certainly would not make any difference to Maddie, Mike or P.

American Life only sold 656,000 copies.

Guess this means MJ can afford more little boys?!

lazycrockett said:

Next....

Its just rediculous for him to say MJ did it without marketing.

P albums are the least marketed of the 3. I remeber the concert MJ has rite b4 911 it was all over the place.
I am sure the marketin budget for invincible was 100 times as big as musicology.


lets not forget that invincible cost sony $51mil to make with all the best producers money can buy.

musicology i dont think even cost 1 mil.


The question is how much profit p makes compared to madonna and mj.

u invest 51mil and sell 2.1mil copies that zero profit

MJ is always over the top he might have the biggest grossin tour and still make very little money. he required a jet and a helicopter ready for him at all time
durin the tour.


he has hardcore fans but he cant profit from them because he has zero musical skills himself althought he is the best dancer u can have.


The same applies to madonna her albums dont come in cheap. but no where near 51mil.


ITS THE PROFIT STUPID!!!
[Edited 6/19/05 18:56pm]

Prince won't lose any sleep. Remember that Wilt Chamberlain holds more records than Micheal Jordan but every1 knows who's the best!

ELBOOGY said:

That's not really a good analogy, cause Wilt would destroy Michael in a one on one, plus he a had a big and got lots of , but I get the point

lilgish said:

Not if MJ got the ball 1st!

ELBOOGY said:

Yeah!

And ...I thought Wilt was dead? -- evenso, I think MJ would fare much better...I seen his shake Iverson, live.

P is the man-- most relevant of the three, and he knows it-- MJ and Madge have slipped a bit on a musical note. WHen MJ reunites with Quincy Jones, i'll be the first in line.

P plays his instruments, wears his little fabulous outfits, and doesnt give a shit.
Therefore he is the man.

lazycrockett said:

"PASS THE JESUS JUICE, Nigga!"

having musical abilites (i suppose u mean playing an instrument, right?) has nothing to do with making profit..mike can write, produce, and compose..but he can't profit cuz he's still under control of a label (remember prince, dude with great all around musical abilites, found this shit out the hard way). if mike was to go independent..he'd be doing as good as prince..and if he went back to making top notch music he might do even better than prince

cinnamonjo said:

Quote of the year!

and btw, I don't think Prince gives a damn. He's got more street
cred than Madonna,and Mike would standin on the streets of West Compton.

if he can write produce and compose then why does it cost him $51mil to hire ppl to do that for him. BTW MJ is no longer under any contract and i dont think he can do what prince is able to do without a contract. P shit with warner was his biggest mistake i think but atleast he can survive without a big record company

Moonwalkbjrain said:

lilgish said:

why what did it say?

the image didn't show.

cheers
Matt

http://www.nytimes.com/20...asics.html

The King of Pop Outsells a Prince

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By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: June 19, 2005
Michael Jackson avoided a potential prison term last week, but he cannot escape the passage of time, a sentence that befalls all pop stars. Or can he?

Even after he was acquitted of child molesting and conspiracy in a Santa Maria, Calif., courtroom last week, many people are asking whether Mr. Jackson, 46, will ever record music again. If so, he seems to stand little chance of connecting with the young fans who have flocked to fresh-faced stars who emulate him, including Usher and Justin Timberlake.

Skip to next paragraph

Livonian Spoken Here (for Now)It is certainly true that Mr. Jackson's album sales - and his fortunes - have slipped a long way since the 1980's, when he released blockbusters like "Thriller" (certified sales of 26 million copies) and "Bad" (eight million copies).

But whose haven't? Indeed, the self-proclaimed King of Pop remains one of the only stars who defined their careers in 1980's pop who can still crack the Billboard charts.

In fact, compared with contemporaries like Madonna and Prince, Mr. Jackson still packs a hefty commercial punch, even though he hasn't played a concert tour in the United States in more than a decade, and arguably does much less to market his recordings (regular appearances in tabloids aside).

Mr. Jackson's last album of original material, "Invincible," which was released in 2001, has sold an estimated 2.1 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. Madonna's last one, "American Life," from 2003, has sold about 656,000 copies. Prince's "Musicology," released last year, has racked up about two million copies, but more than half of them were provided to fans as an add-on when they purchased a ticket to his best-selling tour.

Madonna still outpaces Mr. Jackson (and Prince) for overall commerce since the music industry began computerized tracking in 1991; her catalog in all has sold about 22.8 million albums since then, while Mr. Jackson's has registered about 17.7 million copies. Her most recent greatest-hits compilation also outsold his.

The relative success of Mr. Jackson's new music - particularly against a backdrop of scandal and bizarre behavior - is testament to the loyalty of his hard-core fans. So long as he commands such fealty, then, he may live longer as the king than some imagine. JEFF LEEDS

thekidsgirl said:

what street are u thinkin' of

Why is there such a huge obsession with record sales? Ever since MJ was acquitted,I keep reading silly articles like this....."can he make a comeback"?...."will he ever sell alot of records again"?...blah blah blah.Considering everything he has just gone through,I would think that he has more important issuse to deal with.Fuck record sales! There are no artists who still sell the same way they did in their heyday.

Moonwalkbjrain said:

-----
But Mike is not going to go independent and I think everybody knows that. P has
a lot of guts to pull off some of the things he has in the last year many years from he is going to get the credit that he deserves and Mike is going to be remembered for that stupid trail and all the money he threw away.

New York Times could write an article about how crooked the music industry is or about some of the things that P is doing but the would rather tahe a swipe at him. Typical.

mattosgood said:

wonder why imageshack took the first one down?

DavidEye said:

Thank you,you have something they do not have,it called common sense.

What's with "Mr Jackson"?!
Also, although the media insist on calling MJ the 'selfproclaimed king-of-pop' am I the only one that remembers that it was Liz Taylor that said that originally?

MJ and Maddonna mostly always outsells P bcuz they strive 4 the commercial success and will do anything 4it.EX: work with the hottest producers of the moment and spend millions on marketing/videos etc.! Prince likes the success but it has 2b on his terms which normally means putting out an album that sounds nothing like the trend of the moment.Most Prince albums have 2 grow on U bcuz of his diverse style. He's not putting out the instant cookie cutter type of music that works so well in this generation's market place. Prince is and has always been an underground type of artist even at his commercial peak Prince was never trying 2b commercial!

[quote]

asg said:

this is why:

bellababie said:

Just curious...I wonder who has sold more albums total since, say, the beginning of 2001...MJ or Prince?

The more interesting number isn't how many copies Incincible sold...it will be how many copies his next original album sells.

lilgish said:

Michael Jordan: 6 championship rings

Wilt Chamberlain: 2 championship rings

That sounds like a damn good analogy to me!!!