I looked at the billboard top 200... Prince's album is off of the top 100 now. I don't get why he's not pushing this record..it's frustating being a fan. I've been a fan since 1984. I guess 400,000 in sales is about all that we can aspect now.....

expect.

Aspect is the ratio on your 16:9 HDTV.

This isnt the 80's. He can and will perform some of the jams later this year at festivals etc.

Why are Pince fans so unsopshisticated some times? You dont see Stones or U2 fans bemonaning friggin chart positions of the bands those pespective bands that have been around for 25-40 years.

Its so Teen-Beat behavior

xlr8r said:

Because Stones and U2 fans have accepted the truth. Prince fans haven't...yet.

rusty1 said:

Maybe he actually likes being underground? The way he was when he first started out.

Having now reached the heights of superstardom P more than most would be able to appreciate just how much effort maintaining the momentum and pushing an album takes...

Where as most artists push the same album for a couple of years, Prince has almost consistently created and pushed an album on a yearly basis.... noone is indestructible and that kind of constant exertion will take its toll eventually, mentally, physically or emotionally I honestly believe he's tired and rightly so (he never actually took the time out he said he was going to after the O2 run)...
couple that with my original thought that he may now be able to more appreciate being an underground artist and well IMHO we get the current situation.


I'm still listening to the LF set AND TRC which was a 'new' discovery for me a few months ago. Totally Loving em both

rusty1 said:

Why does it matter.? As long as you enjoy the album, what difference does it make that it sells a lot?

^ Exactly

I can't fathom why people seem so desperate for Prince to be charting. If people buy his music, then so be it. It seems as if some people believe their own taste in music is only truly vindicated or justified if other people purchase the same music.

Is an album withj more than 350000 sales and #2 at the charts that bad????

But why he didn`t release any singles to radio, remains a miracle to me.....

...And this frustrates u?
That's just sad man

xlr8r said:

THANK YOU! It's about time someone pointed that out. Bruce Springsteen's past few albums didn't stay that long on the charts either, despite impressive debuts, so it happens with every artist eventually. Prince is no exception.

ernestsewell said:

Prince fans are spoild and always want more...never satisfied

We want more...we want more

I've been an avid chart watcher for nearly 20 years; for me it's like sports fans following a certain team and knowing all the stats. I like watching the charts and tracking trends, etc. Some people do take it waaay too seriously, but let me try to explain my interest in it (and Prince's chart performance in particular) to those who don't get why anybody would care. And for those who care too much about it, here's a bigger picture perspective:

At this point, it's not about having another Purple Rain or burning up the radio with singles aimed at 15 year olds. I like following Prince's chart history now because he's not competing with the new artists, he's competing with the greats. Lotusflow3r was his 14th top ten album, putting him up there with a lot of the all-time most successful artists. He's at the point now where his new albums will reach the top ten with little promotion, and each one helps him climb the all-time list. It's just fun to watch.

His legacy is set, and his music will always be changing and evolving. That's what keeps me coming back, not how much his last album sold. I enjoy Lotusflow3r and if does well at all then that's just a bonus. Frankly, spending ten weeks in the top 100 is more than I expected. Chaos & Disorder only spent four weeks on the entire Billboard 200, so his commercial comeback the last 5 years has been impressive to me.

So to those freaking out about promotion or chart position...relax. Next year there will be another album and we'll do it all again. To those wondering why anybody cares...it's just fun, don't take it too seriously! 3121 reached number one, cool...Rainbow Children missed the top 100, it doesn't really matter. It's all gravy at this point.

langebleu said:

That's right...excellent point.

He's "above" that..meaning he's reached a certain status to where hitting numbers don't matter anymore.like the stones and springsteen..feel proud that your favorite artist can still crank them out and when ever he decides to tour, can still pack them in (musicology tour was in the top ten for that year, if u want numbers)..he doesn't have to and niether should his fans, have to worry about being in the top ten and for how long..and really.. those acts in the top ten now,where will they be when they're 51?....

400K is not bad considering that the album was only available at Target and Lotusflow3r. Also does the 400K count sales from his website?

linus4000 said:

Where I live he's getting air play on 1 station WHUR in DC.

I wish the bottom line was not how many, and how much, the music is enjoyable elation and that is the core, when you try to switch gears it loses momentum

renfield said:

Nice post.

langebleu said:

Most people don't buy the music anymore they just download it, that's why hes been selling crappy numbers.

All he has to do is go on some tours to rake in a load of cash, take the UK for example, they LOVE him there, his entire date list at the O2 not long ago sold out in a matter of minutes.

I really doesn't matter because he's not a newcomer he's been in industry for more than 30 years.

As said hes not a newcomer hes classed as an old has been just like the rest of them from the 80's era and considering this Lotusflower has done pretty well. Chart success doesnt matter as much as it use to be its about filling out concert halls and stadiums which he has no problem doing at all. Lotusflower is only 'done' in ur mind if u want it to be.

I guess Prince just hates to do promotion,

no wonder it may be sooo boring doing these interviews over and over and over and over...

He likes to create music, so that what he is doing (I hope) right now..

my view is that prince has reached his goal. music is his job, and
he knows when he's done the work in order to eat at the end of the
day. i am sure that he's set specific goals for himself in terms of
how many people he would like to reach with his new releases. in
addition, what he's doing now was un-thinkable not too long ago.
releasing a collection independently, little 'promotion' and then
still having it go platinum. he has truly moved beyond the psychological
stage where he labelled himself as 'slave.'

with a .com it works fine too...

langebleu said:

I cant understand it either Sometimes I think its because they want things to be like it was in the 80's for Prince...and sometimes due to the whole vindication issue. I came to terms a long time ago that very few people I kow are ever going to feel the way about Prince's music and his style the way I do and that is just fine by me
Charts are such a fickle thing anyway and artists often compromise their music just to be in the charts. Ive heard so many interviews where musicians have said they had to "modify" their sound or change it to stay in the charts. Im glad Prince dosent feel the need to do that

ernestsewell said:

So true.

langebleu said:

You just articulated EXACTLY what I was going to add. In fact, you usually do.