Noodled24 said:

feeluupp said:

Those numbers are inflated... Batman at the time from 1989-1993 it was recorded it sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. To this date Batman sold 7 million.

As with Love Symbol album, from 1992-1994 it sold a total of 2.8 million worldwide. To this date sold over 3m.

I suspect the Batman album is around the 10/11 million mark. Purely off the Batman association. Type "Batman" into a music search and Prince's album will show up. Unless you have another source?

Also, you're using the current Madonna numbers (Erotica - 6M - Wikipedia). You can't compare Prince's sales over 3 years to Madonnas sales to date. Again, unless you have another source? Around the 5m mark seems about right for the album to date. I know it wasn't huge in the states, but it did well in the UK and europe. Sexy MF was a huge song.

[Edited 10/15/14 12:07pm]

[Edited 10/15/14 12:11pm]

No those are the total sales to date, i was just giving you an example of how many units Batman sold within 3 years which was 4.4m to date Batman has sold over 7m.

Same with Love Symbol, to date it sold over 3m but never passed the 5m mark, hence why the contract friction started after the Love Symbol album because it didn't pass the 5m mark which in the contract said it had to do in order to get the $10m per album.

That symbol album sucked. A few good tracks. "7" is a classic. The Ryde Divine special was decent though. I remember when that tour rolled around, it did not sell out. He played the entire album for the first half of the concert and bored the audience and then had to save it with his hits package. He won't dare do this with the new AOL/PlectrumBoreLectrum releases.

3rdeyedude said:

That symbol album sucked. A few good tracks. "7" is a classic. The Ryde Divine special was decent though. I remember when that tour rolled around, it did not sell out. He played the entire album for the first half of the concert and bored the audience and then had to save it with his hits package. He won't dare do this with the new AOL/PlectrumBoreLectrum releases.

If the Symbol album sucked, what does that make Plectrum Electrum...

feeluupp said:

Noodled24 said:

I suspect the Batman album is around the 10/11 million mark. Purely off the Batman association. Type "Batman" into a music search and Prince's album will show up. Unless you have another source?

Also, you're using the current Madonna numbers (Erotica - 6M - Wikipedia). You can't compare Prince's sales over 3 years to Madonnas sales to date. Again, unless you have another source? Around the 5m mark seems about right for the album to date. I know it wasn't huge in the states, but it did well in the UK and europe. Sexy MF was a huge song.

[Edited 10/15/14 12:07pm]

[Edited 10/15/14 12:11pm]

No those are the total sales to date, i was just giving you an example of how many units Batman sold within 3 years which was 4.4m to date Batman has sold over 7m.

Whats your source on the 7m?

Same with Love Symbol, to date it sold over 3m but never passed the 5m mark, hence why the contract friction started after the Love Symbol album because it didn't pass the 5m mark which in the contract said it had to do in order to get the $10m per album.

Back in '94 yeah. To date wikipedia says it's sold 5m. Whats your source that says 3m?

RIAA certification: Love symbol USA 2x Platinum.

Noodled24 said:

feeluupp said:

Whats your source on the 7m?

Same with Love Symbol, to date it sold over 3m but never passed the 5m mark, hence why the contract friction started after the Love Symbol album because it didn't pass the 5m mark which in the contract said it had to do in order to get the $10m per album.

Back in '94 yeah. To date wikipedia says it's sold 5m. Whats your source that says 3m?

BTW did u guys know that my mother played the part of Jabba the Hutt in "Return of the Jedi"?

Noodled24 said:

Around the 5m mark seems about right for the album to date.

.

No way. That would mean it has sold some 2 million copies over the past 20 years, and that is simply ridiculous.

BartVanHemelen said:

Noodled24 said:

Around the 5m mark seems about right for the album to date.

.

No way. That would mean it has sold some 2 million copies over the past 20 years, and that is simply ridiculous.

Exactly. Love symbol to this date sold a total of 3M. By 1994 it sold 2.8m worlwide.

3rdeyedude said:

That symbol album sucked.

It may not have been his most commercially successful album, but it was his best album of the 90s and the closest he got to his genius 80s output.

tobydavies said:

3rdeyedude said:

That symbol album sucked.

It may not have been his most commercially successful album, but it was his best album of the 90s and the closest he got to his genius 80s output.

Let's not forget TGE, even though it didn't sell well.

SoulAlive said:

The album does not "suck".This album and TGE are Prince's best albums of the 90s.

Exactly!!

feeluupp said:

RIAA certification: Love symbol USA 2x Platinum.

Ok... and the rest of the world?

feeluupp said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

No way. That would mean it has sold some 2 million copies over the past 20 years, and that is simply ridiculous.

Exactly. Love symbol to this date sold a total of 3M. By 1994 it sold 2.8m worlwide.

So whats the source of that figure? Other than the fact you've decided to add 200,000 to the '94 figure?

nosajd said:

tobydavies said:

It may not have been his most commercially successful album, but it was his best album of the 90s and the closest he got to his genius 80s output.

Let's not forget TGE, even though it didn't sell well.

I know TGE is popular on the org (and it is a decent album) but I'd listen to Love Symbol over TGE any day of the week.

Noodled24 said:

feeluupp said:

Exactly. Love symbol to this date sold a total of 3M. By 1994 it sold 2.8m worlwide.

So whats the source of that figure? Other than the fact you've decided to add 200,000 to the '94 figure?

Earlier in this thread you claimed that Batman had propbably sold 10-11 million by now ... and your pulling other people up on the source of their figures ?!?!?!

tobydavies said:

Noodled24 said:

So whats the source of that figure? Other than the fact you've decided to add 200,000 to the '94 figure?

Earlier in this thread you claimed that Batman had propbably sold 10-11 million by now ... and your pulling other people up on the source of their figures ?!?!?!

If you saw that then you should have also seen where I said thats the figure on wikipedia.

Also to answer your question. Yes.

I don't think Warners, nor Prince could have known that the music industry was going to change so radically in the 90s and new century. Also, the CD allowed musicians to record much longer albums than tape, which allowed 8 or 9 songs. When you have 8 or 9 songs, every song needs to be good. In early 1990 perhaps 5 million an albun seemed possible and sustainable, but pop culture is unforgiving. We have to remember that Arsenio ruled late night T.V. for a while too, but lasted only 1 season last year.

I do think that Prince has had a harder time coping with becoming just another musician commercially than he would lead on. Attempts and recapturing commercial success like Rave Un2 or the bundling of records with concert tickets during Musicology were successful, but Purple Rain looks to be the real Apex of his career commercially. I can only imagine Prince (and some of his fans) feeling that he deserves so much more.

This may be one of the reasons (perhaps) why instead of releasing the "500 experiences the Dawn hs to offer" never materialised. I mean, he could very easily make this albums available online, and his fans would immediately buy all of it--it's really not that difficult to setup an online website with albums to be purchased. However, he's opted not only to offer standard, unremarkable songs (ala Lov41a, NPGMC, LotusFlow3r, 3EG, etc.) that it makes me wonder if he really cares to have us hear any of his material at all, or not. I suspect he wants it to be heard, but only if it can be some kind of over-the-top successful adventure.

And, yes--I think all of this started with the Symbol album.

Here is someone trying to define the album sales numbers, rather than guess work. Sources on the link.

http://www.ukmix.org/foru...hp?t=34161

Legend

Worldwide estimated sales
USA estimated sales
International (outside US) estimated sales

The 70's + 80's

1978 For You 930,000 = 550,000 + 380,000
1979 Prince 1,950,000 = 1,500,000 + 450,000
1980 Dirty Mind 2,015,000 = 1,085,000 + 930,000
1981 Controversy 2,650,000 = 1,550,000 + 1,100,000
1982 1999 6,075,000 = 4,320,000 + 1,755,000
1984 Purple Rain 19,880,000 = 14,480,000 + 5,400,000
1985 Around The World In A Day 4,585,000 = 2,845,000 + 1,740,000
1986 Parade 4,155,000 = 2,105,000 + 2,050,000
1987 Sign Of The Times 4,025,000 = 1,840,000 + 2,185,000
1988 Lovesexy 2,825,000 = 960,000 + 1,865,000
1989 Batman (Soundtrack) 4,790,000 = 2,500,000 + 2,290,000

Total 70's + 80's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
53,880,000 = 33,735,000 + 20,145,000

The 90's

1990 Graffiti Bridge 2,305,000 = 980,000 + 1,325,000
1991 Diamonds & Pearls 6,450,000 = 2,780,000 + 3,670,000
1992 Symbol 2,700,000 = 1,100,000 + 1,600,000
1993 The Hits/The B-Sides 1,000,000 = 650,000 + 350,000
1993 The Hits 1 2,750,000 = 2,000,000 + 750,000
1993 The Hits 2 2,250,000 = 1,750,000 + 500,000
1994 Come 1,000,000 = 500,000 + 500,000
1994 The Black Album 575,000 = 275,000 + 300,000
1995 The Gold Experience 900,000 = 550,000 + 350,000
1996 Chaos & Disorder 350,000 = 150,000 + 200,000
1996 Emancipation 1,200,000 = 700,000 + 500,000
1998 Crystal Ball 275,000 = 125,000 + 150,000
1998 Newpower Soul 425,000 = 225,000 + 200,000
1999 The Vault 250,000 = 125,000 + 125,000
1999 Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 750,000 = 500,000 + 250,000

Total 90's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
23,180,000 = 12,410,000 + 10,770,000

The 00's

2001 The Very Best Of Prince 2,000,000 = 1,300,000 + 700,000
2001 The Rainbow Children 300,000 = 175,000 + 125,000
2004 Musicology 1,500,000 = 1,000,000 + 500,000

Total 00's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
3,800,000 = 2,475,000 + 1,325,000

Total (Estimated) Career All-Time Album Sales Worldwide:

80,860,000 = 48,620,000 + 32,240,000

SquirrelMeat said:

Here is someone trying to define the album sales numbers, rather than guess work. Sources on the link.

http://www.ukmix.org/foru...hp?t=34161

Legend

Worldwide estimated sales
USA estimated sales
International (outside US) estimated sales

The 70's + 80's

1978 For You 930,000 = 550,000 + 380,000
1979 Prince 1,950,000 = 1,500,000 + 450,000
1980 Dirty Mind 2,015,000 = 1,085,000 + 930,000
1981 Controversy 2,650,000 = 1,550,000 + 1,100,000
1982 1999 6,075,000 = 4,320,000 + 1,755,000
1984 Purple Rain 19,880,000 = 14,480,000 + 5,400,000
1985 Around The World In A Day 4,585,000 = 2,845,000 + 1,740,000
1986 Parade 4,155,000 = 2,105,000 + 2,050,000
1987 Sign Of The Times 4,025,000 = 1,840,000 + 2,185,000
1988 Lovesexy 2,825,000 = 960,000 + 1,865,000
1989 Batman (Soundtrack) 4,790,000 = 2,500,000 + 2,290,000

Total 70's + 80's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
53,880,000 = 33,735,000 + 20,145,000

The 90's

1990 Graffiti Bridge 2,305,000 = 980,000 + 1,325,000
1991 Diamonds & Pearls 6,450,000 = 2,780,000 + 3,670,000
1992 Symbol 2,700,000 = 1,100,000 + 1,600,000
1993 The Hits/The B-Sides 1,000,000 = 650,000 + 350,000
1993 The Hits 1 2,750,000 = 2,000,000 + 750,000
1993 The Hits 2 2,250,000 = 1,750,000 + 500,000
1994 Come 1,000,000 = 500,000 + 500,000
1994 The Black Album 575,000 = 275,000 + 300,000
1995 The Gold Experience 900,000 = 550,000 + 350,000
1996 Chaos & Disorder 350,000 = 150,000 + 200,000
1996 Emancipation 1,200,000 = 700,000 + 500,000
1998 Crystal Ball 275,000 = 125,000 + 150,000
1998 Newpower Soul 425,000 = 225,000 + 200,000
1999 The Vault 250,000 = 125,000 + 125,000
1999 Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 750,000 = 500,000 + 250,000

Total 90's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
23,180,000 = 12,410,000 + 10,770,000

The 00's

2001 The Very Best Of Prince 2,000,000 = 1,300,000 + 700,000
2001 The Rainbow Children 300,000 = 175,000 + 125,000
2004 Musicology 1,500,000 = 1,000,000 + 500,000

Total 00's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
3,800,000 = 2,475,000 + 1,325,000

Total (Estimated) Career All-Time Album Sales Worldwide:

80,860,000 = 48,620,000 + 32,240,000

This version is almost 9 years old... Here is the updated version:

Updated 2014 list of Prince's total world wide album sales.

1978 For You: 950,000

1979 Prince: 2,000,000
1980 Dirty Mind: 2,035,000
1981 Controversy: 2,680,000
1982 1999: 6,400,000
1984 Purple Rain: 21,000,000 (Highest selling Prince album)
1985 Around The World In A Day: 4,600,000
1986 Parade: 4,210,000
1987 Sign Of The Times: 4,225,000
1988 Lovesexy: 2,895,000
1989 Batman: 7,000,000

1990 Graffiti Bridge: 2,500,000
1991 Diamonds & Pearls: 6,750,000
1992 Symbol: 3,000,000
1993 The Hits 1,2/The B-Sides: 5,200,000
1994 Come: 1,300,000
1994 The Black Album: 590,000
1995 The Gold Experience: 920,000
1996 Chaos & Disorder: 360,000
1996 Emancipation: 1,250,000 (Certified 2x Platinum by RIAA for 3 disc set)
1998 Crystal Ball: 277,000
1998 Newpower Soul: 435,000
1999 The Vault: 265,000
1999 Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic: 765,000

2001 The Very Best Of Prince: 2,300,000
2001 The Rainbow Children: 320,000

2002 One Night Alone Live: N/A

2003 N.E.W.S.: 40,000 (Lowest selling Prince album)
2004 Musicology: 2,500,000
2006 3121: 1,000,000

2006 Ultimate Prince: 500,000

2007 Planet Earth: 300,000 (U.S. Sales only)

2009 LotusFlow3r: 544,700

2010 20Ten: (N/A)

2014 Art Official Age: 123,000 (World Wide sales)

2014 Plectrum Electrum: 70,000 (World Wide sales)

[Edited 10/17/14 12:20pm]

Did Emancipation do that well or are these numbers disc sales as opposed to album sales?

Rebeljuice said:

Did Emancipation do that well or are these numbers disc sales as opposed to album sales?

In the U.S. at the time from 96-97 Emanciaption sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone and since it was 3 disks the RIAA certified it 2x Platinum. To this day Emancipation has sold a total of 1.2 million worldwide.

feeluupp said:

Rebeljuice said:

Did Emancipation do that well or are these numbers disc sales as opposed to album sales?

In the U.S. at the time from 96-97 Emanciaption sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone and since it was 3 disks the RIAA certified it 2x Platinum. To this day Emancipation has sold a total of 1.2 million worldwide.

Yeah, but is that 1.2 million divided by 3 discs? So 400,000 albums sold in reality?

^ That guy has put in some work!

His work seems logical. Many of the figures are old but probably about accurate.

I still believe the Batman album must be higher. Purely from the Batman association.

Equally I think the album may be higher. The figures are sketchy. it was released Oct 92 and hit 1m sales by December 92 in the US alone. However it's then assumed that the album sold only 100k more despite a tour and several singles/videos and TV appearences. I'm not sure the sales flatlined so quickly.

Noodled24 said:

^ That guy has put in some work!

His work seems logical. Many of the figures are old but probably about accurate.

I still believe the Batman album must be higher. Purely from the Batman association.

Equally I think the album may be higher. The figures are sketchy. it was released Oct 92 and hit 1m sales by December 92 in the US alone. However it's then assumed that the album sold only 100k more despite a tour and several singles/videos and TV appearences. I'm not sure the sales flatlined so quickly.

The Batman album on Wikipedia stated it sold 11 million world wide. However by actuall RIAA certifications and Billboard numbers, Batman was 2x Platinum in 1989 and I believe a couple months after the film released sold an additional 2 million in the states alone... The worldwide calculations for Batman up to this day is over 7 million, but nothing confirmed about 11 million.

feeluupp said:

The Batman album on Wikipedia stated it sold 11 million world wide. However by actuall RIAA certifications and Billboard numbers, Batman was 2x Platinum in 1989 and I believe a couple months after the film released sold an additional 2 million in the states alone... The worldwide calculations for Batman up to this day is over 7 million, but nothing confirmed about 11 million.

Where on Wikipedia does it say 11 million Batman albums sold? I can't ind that figure on any of the pages I've viewed.

tobydavies said:

feeluupp said:

The Batman album on Wikipedia stated it sold 11 million world wide. However by actuall RIAA certifications and Billboard numbers, Batman was 2x Platinum in 1989 and I believe a couple months after the film released sold an additional 2 million in the states alone... The worldwide calculations for Batman up to this day is over 7 million, but nothing confirmed about 11 million.

Where on Wikipedia does it say 11 million Batman albums sold? I can't ind that figure on any of the pages I've viewed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28album%29

Top paragraph, last sentence.

In my opinion,these songs should have been the singles (in this order)...

"7"--I think we can all agree that this is one of the strongest tracks on the album.It did extremely well,reaching the Top 10.If it had been the first single,I bet it would have done even better...making reaching the Top 3.

"The Continental"

"And God Created Woman"---this is such an amazing,gorgeous song! Can you imagine what the video could have looked like?!

"Blue Light"

I like "Sexy MF" alot,but that wasn't single material,for obvious reasons I think the four songs that I chose had the best chance of being successful with the mainstream.

Noodled24 said:

tobydavies said:

Where on Wikipedia does it say 11 million Batman albums sold? I can't ind that figure on any of the pages I've viewed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28album%29

Top paragraph, last sentence.

Did you go edit that entry?