From USATODAY:

Disappointing numbers for Prince album
It's good news for The Plain White Ts, and bad news for Prince in this week's album sales arena. The Now 25 hits anthology, which had a lackluster sales week as last week’s Billboard No. 1 album, is strong enough to fend off Hairspray and Prince to take the top spot again, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Now 25 sold 149,000 copies, down from 222,000, while the Hairspray soundtrack increased from 72,000 to 101,000 to climb to No. 2. Prince’s Planet Earth enters at No. 3 with 96,000, about half of what last year’s No. 1 album, 3121, sold in its first week. The rest of the top 10 is occupied by Miley Cyrus, T.I., Fergie, the debut of Sum 41’s Underclass Hero, Linkin Park, Amy Winehouse, and Plain White T’s Every Second Counts, which finally reaches the top 10 in its 15th week. Surely, Delilah is thrilled.

I think thats good to be honest

paisleypark4 said:

Yes, it's very good!!!

That's really good and what is really irritating me is that so many critics are talking about how disappointing the sales are for this album and the album being a predictable flop. but they are missing the point that PE just came out domestically last week and P is trying to promote the album right now, so just give it a fair chance. In fact, I heard Future Baby Mama on the radio in my car today for the 100th time. I predict it's really going to be a hit on the urban charts and so is Mr. Goodnight, if he releases it as a single.

I know it's like .. dissapointing to whom?

A few factors to consider.

1) Album sales have been steadily decreasing and there are even less people buying them this year than last year.

2) "3121" had the benefit of airplay for "Black Sweat" on BET, VH1, MTV, even if the song was not a hit.

3) "3121" also had the gimmick of the golden ticket, which brought a lot of Prince fans to the record store the first week, hoping to get a private show.

4) "3121" came 2 years after "Musicology" creating a stronger desire for new material. By releasing "PE" a year after "3121", Prince has created a glut in the market of new material. There is not enough distance between "3121" and damn if the man still isn't spouting the number on the new CD.

Looks like Prince came in #1 to me, #1 and #2 are compilations, Prince came in #1 for individual artists, but do we really care about Billboard? Nope! Prince has more hits than all those artists on those complilations combined. Those numbers reflect the state of the music industry today so you cannot compare those numbers to last years numbers

Planet Earth is in More hands that 3121 was. I'd even say when all is said and done. PE will be in more hands than Musicology.

People are way too obsessed with the charts and what they "mean".

GottaLetitgo said:

Prince did not create a glut by releaseing PE one year after 3121. He's been releaseing an album a year pretty much through out history...except for a few times.

3121 was okay, but it died right after going #1.

This one has far greater pop appeal, and could actually spawn a hit or two, if marketed right.

so when did being in the top half of the top ten become the worst thing ever? jerks


but it does make me sad that the plain white t's are in the same chart-area-thing as him, I heard them for the first time today and almost barfed.
[Edited 8/2/07 19:41pm]

Any Cd sales at this point in Prince's career are great! I'm sure at this point in his life-he really don't give a damn! It's all about making great music and his money in other ways. He'll always have a fan base and he knows that.

superspaceboy said:

True enough. But the novelty of the "Prince comeback" has worn off for the casual fan and now it's back to just the hardcore. I have loved the prolific nature of Prince throughout his career and getting something new every year but I think the buzz of an artist of Prince's caliber coming back into public consciousness as he did in 2004 has dulled a bit.

In the end, Prince is crying all the way to the bank and I'm happy for him.