PRINCE TO BATTLE KEITH URBAN ON BILLBOARD: New albums on track to debut high next week.

(April 3, 2009) *Prince's new album "LotusFlow3r" is set for a first place showdown with the latest effort from country star Keith Urban when both artists make their debuts next week on the Billboard 200.

According to Billboard.com, each singer appears positioned to move some 150,000 copies. Industry prognosticators suggest Urban's "Defying Gravity" (Capitol Nashville) may shift somewhere in the range of 150,000-160,000 in its first week, while Prince's Target-exclusive "LotusFlow3r" (NPG) could sell between 140,000-150,000.

If Prince wins the battle for No. 1, it'll be the fifth chart-topping album of his career.

Prince and Urban respectively lead Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, which was released on April 1.


As posted on EURWeb.com

I would pay to see Prince and Keith Urban battle it out with guitars on stage. The two greatest guitar players I have ever seen live!!!! Just like Prince, Keith's guitar playing on studio tracks is nowhere near the electricity and passion of his live shows.

Keith Urban??? gimmme a damn break!!!!!

Even if Prince doesn't hit the #1 spot, it's still pretty impressive that his album(s) would come close, considering LotusFlow3r is only available at Target, yet I'm assuming the Urban album is available in all the regular retail outlets. It shows that enough people made the trip to Target to put Prince at the (perhaps almost) number one spot on the charts. Not bad!

This i ALREADY posted yesterday
TODAYS UPDATE IS
YOUR WEAKEND TOP 10 (OR 15) CHART PREVIEW: The race for the top remains very close, but we’re giving Keith Urban a slight lead over Prince for #1 going into the weekend. Once again, at least half of the Top 10 will be debuts. Based on midweek sales, here's how things are shaping up:
** Keith Urban (Capitol Nashville) 170-180k
** Prince (NPG) 160-170k
** Diana Krall (Verve) 95-105k
Now 30 (UMe) 90-100k
Twilight (Chop Shop/Atlantic) 75-80k
Hannah Montana: The Movie (Walt Disney) 75-80k
** UGk (Jive/JLG) 70-75k
** Flo Rida (Atlantic) 45-50k
Lady GaGa (Interscope) 45-50k
Keri Hilson (Interscope) 35-40k
Taylor Swift (Big Machine) 35-40k
** Rodney Atkins (Curb) 30-35k
Kelly Clarkson (RCA/RMG) 30-35k
U2 (Interscope) 30-35k
** Chris Botti (Columbia) 30-35k
** Denotes debut
(4/3a)
[Edited 4/3/09 10:01am]

If any kind USA orgers want an excuse to buy another copy and to help Prince get to #1 - and wouldn't mind posting a copy to the UK, I'd be happy to arrange something!

How does the charting even work for this 3-cd set? I guess soundscan only gives him credit for one sale even though there are 3 CDs in the release?

I ask this because double albums used to chart as 2 units moved - I wonder how all this plays out now?

Does anyone know?

Thanks...

Dayclear said:

EAT A PURPLE DICK KEITH URBAN... ITS ALL ABOUT THAT MUTHAFUKIN LOTUSFLOW3R!!!

cosmicslop said:

Yes , all freeleechers downloaders , buy the ORIGINAL Prince 3 cd set Lotusflow3r now!!!!!

Good to hear....Cool...

Dolphinking23 said:

Purple Rain
Around the World in a Day
Batman soundtrack
3121

can "LotusFlow3r" do it??

Dolphinking23 said:

Anxiety said:

Exactly!! That is awesome!

I'm going to go see Keith at the Staples center in July. I can't wait. I've never seen him. I hope he puts on a good show.

cosmicslop said:

I bought 8 and distributed the around the world.

Dolphinking23 said:

yeah baby!!! lol

Go Prince, beat out Keith Urban's CD! I hope Prince's CD wins!

Keith Urban? beat Prince on the charts? I dont think so, but maybe!

Prince has nothing to prove..this man has so much good music that a no.1 CD means nothing in a falling music industry..if anything is a MUSIC SAVIOUR to all artist with his innovative genius in how it makes and disturbation of his product...to me and many others he will always b no.1...fuck a chart

Anxiety said:

With its $12 for 3 CD's pricetag and brightly colored papersleeve packaging. lotusflow3r is priced and packaged to ship.
I haven't had the opportunity to visit a Target store, but I guess that they are positioning it as an impulse buy; some vertical display that suggests "volume" (lots of them) and "good value for money", positioned at highly trafficed paths, likely near cash registers.
This distribution model of bundling music with another purchase is fundamentally similar to what we've seen in the Musicology, Planet Earth and perhaps that photobook CD bundling.
It's therefor too early to conclude that everyone who purchased the CD's in week 1 made the trip to Target specifically for it. In the coming weeks, assuming fans in the loop have bought their copies already, we'll be able to see how well this version of the bundled music purchase concept works.

Dayclear said:

Exactly-I wish they would just wrap this up and give it to Prince already

nurseV said:

Me too. Keith Urban doesn't have anything on Prince (sorry, all you Keith fans).

nurseV said:

why would they just give it to Prince if he doesn't outsell him.

logic and reason on the org is pretty scarce.

I don't know why we can't like Prince and Keith Urban at the same time.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

But you are where?

I guess this means a trip back to Target!!!!!

dumbass said:

Don't go there He will outsell him even without ur help

psychodelicide said:

whether he is as good as Prince is irrelevant. someone could be a very talented musician in their own right with many deserved fans without being as talented as Prince. it isn't as if they are competing with one another and fans can only choose to buy one or the other. there is plenty of consumer dollars fdor both.

I find it ironic that Prince fans adore a guy who attempts to convey positivity and yet are so jealous and filled with anger of anyone else.

purplecam said: