The thing is that we should be glad that Prince is even mentioned in such articles. Remember there was a time when the industry wrote him off. This is why I also think record sales, the commerciality of it, matter...because ultimately, Prince wants to be listened to and we also want him to prosper.

There is no question as to who the true funkateer is between the 3 though (MJ, M and Prince).

Prince has proved on numerous occasions and in mo' ways than 1 that he doesn't (always) give a funk what the industry thinks about him.

I smell the MJ P.R. machine at work (and it smells like little boys drinking "jesus juice") to repair this career. I bet you this story was released by MJ's people...

By the way Soundscan numbers only apply to major label artists, and also Soundscan is often looked at as complete bullshit by most privately owned record retailers. Due to the fact there are alot of underhanded pay-offs, bloated numbers, and other ways to manipulate Soundscan numbers. For one: Soundscan numbers are mostly based on corporate record stores "buys". So if a major record store chain buys 30,000 or more records-Soundscan counts that as 30,000 sold. So it doesn't even matter if they sell 1 copy. That's how we have these inflated numbers with rap artists selling 2 million copys in a weekend or whatever. They have a strong new release day, and music buyers for corporate record stores order alot more...and there you go. So, soundscan is literally based on hype, and tricking music buyers for corporate stores. There are tons of ways labels manipulate soundscan numbers to work to there advantage. Remember the whole Clive Davis "loaning" Tower Records $$$ to pre-order Alicia Keys (so she would have better chart positioning). Person walks into the store and asks "what's hot right now?" dumb ass record store clerk says "this is our big title, it debuted number one..." or whatever.

So in a nutshell...soundscan is bullshit.

nero
(record store employee for 10 years, and owner of indie label)

neronava said:

Jeff Leeds writes for the L.A Times. I dunno know why he would be working for MJ's machine, just sounds like a timely article to me.

neronava said:

I always thought Soundscan records each album as a sale when it is scanned by cash registers in stores that have the Soundscan technology. And if Soundscan applies to major label artists only, then where does Billboard get its Soundscan data to compile its top Independent albums chart each week? It sounds to me like you are talking more about RIAA certifications which are based on record store buys and not what actually gets sold..

neronava said:

Thanx 4 droppin the knowledge bcuz i was so tired of people saying that Prince cheated a nd inflated his sales # by the Ticket/cd combo. Prince knows how crooked the industry is so i'm glad that he put 1 in they ass 4 1nce. It was pure genius! Prince even covers this in the 1st Tavis Smiley interview!
[Edited 6/23/05 15:17pm]

It's all mostly hype. If i tell u that a new record debuted at #1 with 1 million sold it makes Joe Public record buyer is going 2 think i've got 2 get this record bcuz it's #1! Or this cd won a grammy. That's y the awards shows r hyped so they can condition u and shape u 2 like or checkout certain records. If the Gold Experience or the COME cd was just nominated 4 a grammy the sales 4 those cd's would've probably tripled.

cinnamonjo said:

/////

Why was this article even published? Looks like they needed to fill a couple of column inches that's all.

It's no secret that MJ sells more records than Prince. Hell, N'Sync and Britney have been selling more records than Prince.
I'm just glad I don't base my idea of talent, class, and style on record sales.
Cause Prince is head and shoulders above MJ on all three.

so what's the point of this article? didn't we all know this already?

all i know is i'd rather be prince right now than micheal. i bet micheal wishes that he was prince right now.
[Edited 6/25/05 17:16pm]

ELBOOGY said:

That's exactly how I felt about Thriller at the time.
Was it really all that good or was it a hype.

sextonseven said:

-----
Record companies also have been known to pay to have CD' double scanned to drive up the chart positions. It is all a scam and Prince knows this if artist had a lick of sense they would start to do concert give away's.

So does anyone know Prince's overall catalog sales since this article onlys mentioned Madonna's (22.8 mil) and Michael's (17.7m).


I'm obsessed with completing this comparison and seeing if Prince is higher or lower...

laurarichardson said:

So then you agree Soundscan figures are based on sales scanned by registers?

Yes, "scan & track" as they call it is in the equation, but it's on a point system. How the point system works, I'm entirely sure. But hardly factors in-because in order to really make a dent in a soundscan chart on sales alone X amount would have to be bought just to supply the store/consumer. So in other words, actual "real" sales are cancelled out-becuase in order to make a mark you'd have to have a shit load on hand, and if you had a shit load on hand-it would mark high on Soundscan, dig? So they did so that buyers buying records are the number to watch. It's set up so that labels can see if there P.R., label field reps, shit load of promo money they dropped pays off and artists are effectively getting there CD into the public, and record store folk. Indie labels are also tracked by Soundscan if: (you are in a "eligible" market, you meet the "criterior, etc.). Usually to be "eligible" you have to have X amount pressed, and are distributed by a soundscan participating company. RIAA certifications are also BS, but really not applicable to all this jive.

NN
(worked ten years as record store nerd, 7 years as a buyer, and own a indie label)

Prince is more likely to be concerned about how much $$$ he kept from his album sales compared to MJ.