funksterr said:

linus4000 said:

I would like to know this, too....

And what about all the copies they sold in other countries as an import? Did they came from target or

Prince himself through an import store...?

I think 500 000 copies are quite good in these times...another gold album for Prince

Wow, guys... really? No need for excuses. The album is a major flop, even at giveaway prices. It failed to connect with the general public and casual Prince fans alike. Prince, to his credit, quickly recognized the failure and dropped a new album where he attempted to address some of the criticisms of Lotusflower. 2010 still sucks, but that's another topic. The average Orger probably has 3 copies of the album, which makes gold status all the more misleading, if not flat out embarrassing.

The Org is big...but not that big and not every one here lives in the states and /or bought 3 or more copies^^

it is a gold album and was #2 in the Billboard Top 200 albums and #1 in the Billboard R&B album charts...

Surely not a major success, but a success...

And for the public you need a hit single to be really visible ....something Prince didn`t had since 1993....unfortunately....

funkyhead said:

really pleased for him and hope that Bria takes a lot of comfort after some of the BS urled her way since she came on the scene.

Show of hands...how many people bought Lotusflow3r to get Elixer...?

*crickets*

linus4000 said:

funksterr said:

Wow, guys... really? No need for excuses. The album is a major flop, even at giveaway prices. It failed to connect with the general public and casual Prince fans alike. Prince, to his credit, quickly recognized the failure and dropped a new album where he attempted to address some of the criticisms of Lotusflower. 2010 still sucks, but that's another topic. The average Orger probably has 3 copies of the album, which makes gold status all the more misleading, if not flat out embarrassing.

The Org is big...but not that big and not every one here lives in the states and /or bought 3 or more copies^^

it is a gold album and was #2 in the Billboard Top 200 albums and #1 in the Billboard R&B album charts...

Surely not a major success, but a success...

And for the public you need a hit single to be really visible ....something Prince didn`t had since 1993....unfortunately....

Prince's questionable decisions are the only reason he has not had hits. Do not be mislead by chart poitioning, Prince's sales numbers will get you dropped from every major label out there. If the public had any real demand for the record, you would not see the incredibly low retail prices. Some less than the cost of manufacturing the discs. The album could not have been profitable for any of the parties involved.

linus4000 said:

funksterr said:

Wow, guys... really? No need for excuses. The album is a major flop, even at giveaway prices. It failed to connect with the general public and casual Prince fans alike. Prince, to his credit, quickly recognized the failure and dropped a new album where he attempted to address some of the criticisms of Lotusflower. 2010 still sucks, but that's another topic. The average Orger probably has 3 copies of the album, which makes gold status all the more misleading, if not flat out embarrassing.

The Org is big...but not that big and not every one here lives in the states and /or bought 3 or more copies^^

it is a gold album and was #2 in the Billboard Top 200 albums and #1 in the Billboard R&B album charts...

Surely not a major success, but a success...

And for the public you need a hit single to be really visible ....something Prince didn`t had since 1993....unfortunately....

If your diehard fans are buying multiple copies of the album, and you still need to slash the price, in order to squeak to gold, years after the release date... that ain't good. Hell, the fact that 2010 was FREE says all you need to know about how successful Lotus was.

I don't care what the naysayers have to say about how long it took to go gold. A year plus? So what!! It still went Gold! I'm sure Prince does'nt care how long it took either. He got paid a year ago & walked away like a fat dog!

asg said:

Billboard top 200

188 PRINCE LOTUS FLOW3R 6,775 71 3,961 500,251

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Wonderful. And it only took over a year and a half to do it, and that's with them practically giving them away for under $1.

For ur information. Most of the sells was made before the discount bargain price. So he earned this gold album troll.

Now congrats to Prince. This is unheard of in the music Industry an artist going gold on his own terms without a major record label backing him. I'm so proud and happy for Prince he deserves it. Lotusflow3r was a big success. Coming in @ #2 is not bad at all and still selling....

[Edited 1/31/11 20:17pm]

going gold these days is a good thing.most major new artists struggle to go platinum..example is eminem..who used to sell 6-8 times platinum now only sells platinum.again not a bad thing.the riaa used to do multi-discs set bye the number of discs depending on the running tim.example..emancipation sold like 800,000 copies but was certified 2 times platinum ..life after death bye the notorious b.i.g. 10 times platinum..only sold 5 million.

but if its a multi disc and is under the time limit it was counted bye units..1999 though a double album is there fore 4 times platinum because it actually sold 4 million copies.

the CURRENT STANDARD is the it goes bye ACTUAL UNITS SOLD.so 500,000 copies if an lp that had no radio play at all is fucking great.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Wonderful. And it only took over a year and a half to do it, and that's with them practically giving them away for under $1.

Lotusflow3r was a big success.

Just like his website of the same name, right?

A whole 20-21 months to go gold at - sometimes - $0.99 a pop, eh? When Prince takes a shit and wipes, do you stand and applaud because he wiped himself correctly too?

linus4000 said:

blackbob said:

most artists dont get anywhere near half a million sales in the america these days...and it was only available in one store i believe...so well done prince...wonder how many copies he sold online ?

I would like to know this, too....

And what about all the copies they sold in other countries as an import? Did they came from target or

Prince himself through an import store...?

I think 500 000 copies are quite good in these times...another gold album for Prince

I'm in Australia & I purchased the three cd set from a store called J.B HiFi, Don't know if it was available from the Target Stores here. I'm not sure how much I paid 4 it but was between $20.00 & $30.00 AU. I havn't listened 2 Elixar fully yet, don't know why, just havn't!!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Wonderful. And it only took over a year and a half to do it, and that's with them practically giving them away for under $1.

For ur information. Most of the sells was made before the discount bargain price. So he earned this gold album troll.

it's been on sale for $4.99 or $.99 for over a year now. MOST sales were made before that. but almost half were after.

500K on an indie label with very little promo is a success.

Haters GONNA HATE

minneapolisFunq said:

500K on an indie label with very little promo is a success.

Haters GONNA HATE

Prince is no indie act. He is one of the biggest names in global pop culture and his album was heavily promoted by a retail giant. Yet it's being sold for roughly the cost of manufacture just weeks after release and it still takes nearly two years for the album to limp to gold status. Not good news by any measure.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Lotusflow3r was a big success.

Just like his website of the same name, right?

A whole 20-21 months to go gold at - sometimes - $0.99 a pop, eh? When Prince takes a shit and wipes, do you stand and applaud because he wiped himself correctly too?

OUCH!

I'm just itching to know how many people on this board have bought 50+ copies? Come on now y'all, fess up!

funksterr said:

minneapolisFunq said:

500K on an indie label with very little promo is a success.

Haters GONNA HATE

Prince is no indie act. He is one of the biggest names in global pop culture and his album was heavily promoted by a retail giant. Yet it's being sold for roughly the cost of manufacture just weeks after release and it still takes nearly two years for the album to limp to gold status. Not good news by any measure.

People don't buy an album just because it has the name "Prince" on it. They stopped doing that, for the most part, after ATWIAD 25 years ago.

The average consumer is not going to go out of their way to buy this album when they've seen no real promotion for it in the way of singles, music videos, etc... Outside of the Target commercial, at the start, it's had nothing to keep it in the mind of people who might consider buying it UNLESS they're already standing in a Target check out lane and happen to see it... and even when priced at $1 unless someone is half-way convinced to buy it already, most won't pick it up (and the percentage of people predisposed to that out of all Target shoppers must be small).

Congrats 2 Prince 4 this achievement, no matter how long it took!!!!!!!!!!

[Edited 12/8/10 15:16pm]

jtfolden said:

funksterr said:

Prince is no indie act. He is one of the biggest names in global pop culture and his album was heavily promoted by a retail giant. Yet it's being sold for roughly the cost of manufacture just weeks after release and it still takes nearly two years for the album to limp to gold status. Not good news by any measure.

People don't buy an album just because it has the name "Prince" on it. They stopped doing that, for the most part, after ATWIAD 25 years ago.

The average consumer is not going to go out of their way to buy this album when they've seen no real promotion for it in the way of singles, music videos, etc... Outside of the Target commercial, at the start, it's had nothing to keep it in the mind of people who might consider buying it UNLESS they're already standing in a Target check out lane and happen to see it... and even when priced at $1 unless someone is half-way convinced to buy it already, most won't pick it up (and the percentage of people predisposed to that out of all Target shoppers must be small).

4Real

Prince is a has-been to most people, he isn't relevant to the masses anymore.

U R HATING WITH NO FOUNDATION 2 BASE YOUR OPINION ON! U BETTER COME CORRECT!

asg said:

Billboard top 200

188 PRINCE LOTUS FLOW3R 6,775 71 3,961 500,251

Whether or not people enjoyed the album, or how much money was gained, isn't as big a deal to me as that fact that the music got out to a large number of listeners. I just like the fact that half a million people were interested in a (relatively) new album from P. It's still 500K in this market. Thanks for posting asg.

I'm not nay sayin' or hatin' when I say it's took a year and a half since it's release for it to go gold. I'm just sayin' nobody should be making a big deal out of it or this thread for that matter, after all, it's been a year and a half, it should've gone gold at least by now. That's all.

You're hatin' on me for sayin' I'm hatin', stop hatin you nay sayers and look at it realistically.

minneapolisFunq said:

jtfolden said:

People don't buy an album just because it has the name "Prince" on it. They stopped doing that, for the most part, after ATWIAD 25 years ago.

The average consumer is not going to go out of their way to buy this album when they've seen no real promotion for it in the way of singles, music videos, etc... Outside of the Target commercial, at the start, it's had nothing to keep it in the mind of people who might consider buying it UNLESS they're already standing in a Target check out lane and happen to see it... and even when priced at $1 unless someone is half-way convinced to buy it already, most won't pick it up (and the percentage of people predisposed to that out of all Target shoppers must be small).

4Real

Prince is a has-been to most people, he isn't relevant to the masses anymore.

U R HATING WITH NO FOUNDATION 2 BASE YOUR OPINION ON! U BETTER COME CORRECT!

Guys...People picked up LotusFlower for one of two reasons: They are die hard fans or they saw "Prince" on the cover, remembered the 80's and were curious. None of those are bad reasons. Prince's hit making legacy is a good thing. His core fanbase is a good thing. The album, the final product was not very strong though. It did not connect enough with the public, word of mouth was not very good even with the hardcore Fams. I don't know why some of you feel the need to exaggerate Prince's failures into successes. Prince can take his lumps, but it's like you can't take the fact that the album sold poorly.

well done. i agree w/ every1 who reason about how did this independently.

what a huge inspiration to up and coming roots artists. it also shows that

people are prepared to make their own decisions as to what they want to

listen to, without hegemonic influence from large media companies, and the

radio

max respect Prince

funksterr said:

minneapolisFunq said:

4Real

Prince is a has-been to most people, he isn't relevant to the masses anymore.

U R HATING WITH NO FOUNDATION 2 BASE YOUR OPINION ON! U BETTER COME CORRECT!

Guys...People picked up LotusFlower for one of two reasons: They are die hard fans or they saw "Prince" on the cover, remembered the 80's and were curious. None of those are bad reasons. Prince's hit making legacy is a good thing. His core fanbase is a good thing. The album, the final product was not very strong though. It did not connect enough with the public, word of mouth was not very good even with the hardcore Fams. I don't know why some of you feel the need to exaggerate Prince's failures into successes. Prince can take his lumps, but it's like you can't take the fact that the album sold poorly.

You've hit the nail on the head here, but this site is full of folks that are allergic to reason and logic, so I wouldn't expect to many cosigners.

Congrats big p! However u did this!

funksterr said:

minneapolisFunq said:

4Real

Prince is a has-been to most people, he isn't relevant to the masses anymore.

U R HATING WITH NO FOUNDATION 2 BASE YOUR OPINION ON! U BETTER COME CORRECT!

Guys...People picked up LotusFlower for one of two reasons: They are die hard fans or they saw "Prince" on the cover, remembered the 80's and were curious. None of those are bad reasons. Prince's hit making legacy is a good thing. His core fanbase is a good thing. The album, the final product was not very strong though. It did not connect enough with the public, word of mouth was not very good even with the hardcore Fams. I don't know why some of you feel the need to exaggerate Prince's failures into successes. Prince can take his lumps, but it's like you can't take the fact that the album sold poorly.

Sorry but thats bullshit. The albums were stronger than some of his past ones that sold a lot better. Albums don't sell if people don't know they exist. The promotion for it was little to nothing, the radio play for it was little to nothing, Prince's touring for it was little to nothing. Of course it didn't sell well. Duuuh!

funksterr said:

It did not connect enough with the public

...because the public didn't know it existed. Do you seriously think even the casual fan is going to hunt down a Target just to find a Prince CD even if by some extremely remote chance a friend mentioned it to them over the water cooler at work?

The album did not go Gold just off of his name or from the die-hards. If that were the case, TRC would have gone gold and it received a LOT more promotion. Rave was a sales failure given the promotion. Planet Earth was a relative failure. These are all albums that were widely available, not the case with LotusFlow3r.

Prince has quite a few poorly selling albums under his belt. LF is not one of them, given its availability.

I stopped listening to that crap.

lezama said:

funksterr said:

Guys...People picked up LotusFlower for one of two reasons: They are die hard fans or they saw "Prince" on the cover, remembered the 80's and were curious. None of those are bad reasons. Prince's hit making legacy is a good thing. His core fanbase is a good thing. The album, the final product was not very strong though. It did not connect enough with the public, word of mouth was not very good even with the hardcore Fams. I don't know why some of you feel the need to exaggerate Prince's failures into successes. Prince can take his lumps, but it's like you can't take the fact that the album sold poorly.

Sorry but thats bullshit. The albums were stronger than some of his past ones that sold a lot better. Albums don't sell if people don't know they exist. The promotion for it was little to nothing, the radio play for it was little to nothing, Prince's touring for it was little to nothing. Of course it didn't sell well. Duuuh!

So you disagree about why it didn't perform, but agree that it didn't sell well? That's all I am saying. Gold status is bad news not good news. As far as promotion "little or next to nothing" is an overstatement. I think an endcap and in-store promotion at Target, television commercials, The Tonight Show, Target's weekly flyer is as good as you are going to get. It should have reached gold status in under 2 - 4 months if there was any kind of demand for it. And it should definitely never sell for less than the cost of a gallon of milk.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Lotusflow3r was a big success.

Just like his website of the same name, right?

A whole 20-21 months to go gold at - sometimes - $0.99 a pop, eh? When Prince takes a shit and wipes, do you stand and applaud because he wiped himself correctly too?

I agree with this. KCOOLMUZIQ's posts would be infuriating if they weren't so sad.

jtfolden said:

funksterr said:

It did not connect enough with the public

...because the public didn't know it existed. Do you seriously think even the casual fan is going to hunt down a Target just to find a Prince CD even if by some extremely remote chance a friend mentioned it to them over the water cooler at work?

The album did not go Gold just off of his name or from the die-hards. If that were the case, TRC would have gone gold and it received a LOT more promotion. Rave was a sales failure given the promotion. Planet Earth was a relative failure. These are all albums that were widely available, not the case with LotusFlow3r.

Prince has quite a few poorly selling albums under his belt. LF is not one of them, given its availability.

Target is no hard to find mom and pop chain. They are as bigtime as it gets (except for Wal-Mart) literally millions of people shop in Target stores everyday. And they promoted the hell out of LotusFlower from what I saw. The record was definitely easy to find. Promotion and availability are not the issues. Literally millions of people saw the record and decided NOT to buy it. Even at super-low discount prices. I wonder why that is.