Don't know, don't care.

it would be incorrect to say his albums dont sell that well...purple rain is one of the biggest selling albums of all time...diamonds and pearls...1999 and batman all sold over 5 million worldwide...atwiad..parade...sign...lovesexy..symbol..all sold over 3 million copies..these aint small numbers..and the thing people forget is prince is one of the few music stars who sell albums all over the world..

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yes he didnt sell like michael jackson...u2 or pink floyd but prince was releasing an album near enough every year instead of leaving a gap of a 3 or 4 years like most big artists do and these other artists didnt release albums like around the world in a day which was released to distance himself from the massive success of purple rain..

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so he has had plenty of commercial success including having more hits than any other artist between 1980 and 2000..its just not the most important thing to him imo..

I never cared about charts, but let me speculate on why some stress over the charts so much.

It's not easy being a Prince fan for some, we fans get a lot of crap at times from ignorant folks that talk smack without being asked, People Without as Prince coined it. We have all received those looks like we must be crazy or gay to like Prince, not that their is anything wrong with either of those things. Prince being on the charts, and especially being high on the charts, is a validation for some folks, an I told you so to those who speak bad of what they do not know, understand, nor could ever comprehending in their lifetimes.

Just a theory

peace

Don't LIE:



we never cares about the charts when Prince is poor, placed low.

But we are ALL happy when we see Prince is at the top of the charts.

That's how it is - how it works, admit it,


to know Purple Rain was #1 for 24 weeks made us feel really great.

These days since many years, it isn't as exciting I agree.

For f's sake, he made it to number one spots with both albums--what's the commplaining about.

Getting a hit NEVER has had anything to do with Music..

$$$ from record companies for promotion & payola makes Hits!

When Prince does well on them, chart places are a badge of honour, when he performs poorly in the charts: "CHARTS DON'T MATTER!"

skywalker said:

I notice some fans seem really invested in how the new albums are doing on the charts. Do the charts really even have much meaning these days? The music industry is in the toilet. Even U2, arguably the biggest band in the world, is giving their stuff away for free. - Some of Prince's most beloved albums have been duds sales wise. Sign O' The Times, Parade, Lovesexy? Great albums but really weak sales numbers...especially for a megastar of the 80's. You could make a strong case that, in the USA, these albums were flops. Does that make you love them less? Do fans really care what numbers albums like Dirty mind and Controversy did or didn't reach on the charts? That kind of bs was reserved for Michael Jackson. - Rihanna and Katy Perry may sell a lot of albums (by today's standards) but, they cannot sell out an arena. That's where the livelihood and money is made in music today. The record business (as it was)is on it's last breath. Nowadays, your album is a just promo tool for your live performances. If fans really want a gauge how successful Prince is, they should pay attention to how much $$$ he makes touring. -

*

I agree with you one hundred percent, but I'll also be honest that I'm only happy to see AOA and PlecElec debut in the Top 10 because of so many of the folks on here who said that Prince could never have "another hit" or that "Prince could never be relevant again." And, yes, I'm being hypocritical, but these folks have been talkin' ish for years, since 3121, that "Prince is dead and should just lie in the grave," and now all they can say is, "well, it's still a shit album" or "look at the numbers...it's still not selling," which just shows what type of hypocrites they are. First they said he couldn't have a hit, and how that he's Top Ten that hit "ain't good enough".

*

I'm just glad that I still like Prince's work, that I've liked it over the past fourteen years, and that I can access it. But, yes, it's just funny as hell to me to see these people moonwalkin' their behinds off trying to come up with a reason to diss Prince after he has, once again, defied their bull. So, please, somebody post dem Top Ten numbers again so I can hear dem "haters" choke on that crow.

*

I now return you to the more humble and gracious part of our program.

Personally, I don't think charts mean anything anymore, because folks move just like the internet today, at lightening speed, caring about one thing one day, and a completely different thing the next. It truly really doesn't matter now a days, because people move on very fast. You can be hot today and despised the next. So I don't place much faith in anything by the world's standard anymore.

Because charts are not for the people who already care about the MUSIC but they are for the ones who want to know whats ranked high up. They will pay attention to it, explore it, listen to it, maybe buy it. It is promotion. Like going into a restaurant and saying "what's good here?" and buying the recommendation though you never tried it. People like orgers care because it's exciting to see Prince exposed to world. More people might notice his talents and connect to the joy he has given to so many through his music.

Prince will never have another hit single. Some fams can't deal

Gunsnhalen said:

Prince will never have another hit single. Some fams can't deal

*

Okay, so, like someone said above, my favorite Prince songs were rarely singles. But, I'm interested to know how your logic of Prince never having another hit single minimizes him having two Top Ten albums. I would think it's a bigger accomplishment to have two Top Ten albums with barely any promotion than having a hit single, which is all about promotion. So doesn't Prince having two Top Ten albums make the issue about him never having another hit single minimize your point? And, I'm not asking to be adversarial. I really don't understand your point given this recent success of this two albums.

NouveauDance said:

1725topp said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Prince will never have another hit single. Some fams can't deal

*

Okay, so, like someone said above, my favorite Prince songs were rarely singles. But, I'm interested to know how your logic of Prince never having another hit single minimizes him having two Top Ten albums. I would think it's a bigger accomplishment to have two Top Ten albums with barely any promotion than having a hit single, which is all about promotion. So doesn't Prince having two Top Ten albums make the issue about him never having another hit single minimize your point? And, I'm not asking to be adversarial. I really don't understand your point given this recent success of this two albums.

Prince will always have top 10 albums. But they are going to drop heavy in the next few weeks. And i doubt either will go platinum. So it's not like he's doing anything that special. Plus the albums themselves are average. So i don't care if they are top 10 or not.

People are just so obsessed with album & single sales on here. Prince was never ever a big seller. Even in his prime! the only album that did big was Purple Rain.

[Edited 10/17/14 18:31pm]

Gunsnhalen said:

1725topp said:

*

Okay, so, like someone said above, my favorite Prince songs were rarely singles. But, I'm interested to know how your logic of Prince never having another hit single minimizes him having two Top Ten albums. I would think it's a bigger accomplishment to have two Top Ten albums with barely any promotion than having a hit single, which is all about promotion. So doesn't Prince having two Top Ten albums make the issue about him never having another hit single minimize your point? And, I'm not asking to be adversarial. I really don't understand your point given this recent success of this two albums.

Prince will always have top 10 albums. But they are going to drop heavy in the next few weeks. And i doubt either will go platinum. So it's not like he's doing anything that special. Plus the albums themselves are average. So i don't care if they are top 10 or not.

People are just so obsessed with album & single sales on here. Prince was never ever a big seller. Even in his prime! the onyl album that did big was Purple Rain.

*

On the one hand, I agree that AOA and PlecElec may not go platinum, but that says more about the music business and how bootlegging is impacting sales than it does about Prince. I do disagree, however, regarding how special this accomplishment is. Prince has had four Top Ten albums twenty-six years after his first album and twenty years after his most commercially successful album. That's pretty special. Not one or two but four Top Ten albums twenty years after his "so called" prime--I can't name many people who have done that. And, anyone else who has done that is pretty special too. (I also disagree regarding the quality of the albums, but that's just my subjective tastes versus yours, and, as such, there is no need for us to belabor that point.)

*

And I will counter slightly to say that the obsession with album and single sales comes mostly from the people who've spent the last fourteen or so years saying "Prince has lost it" or "Prince will never have another hit." So, while I agree and have stated to those very same people that Dirty Mind and Controversy only achieved platinum after the success of 1999 and Purple Rain, it does seem a bit disingenuous that the very same people who have been stating that "Prince will never have another hit" or that "Prince will never be relevant again" are couching their words and hedging their bets now that Prince has had two more Top Ten albums. Two years ago, several people on this site were stating consistently and loudly that "Prince is done" and "he'll never have another hit," and now he has two Top Ten albums. Now, since I've been fortunate enough to enjoy Prince's journey since day one, I never cared if he had another hit so long as I could access the music. And maybe I should care if new, younger people discover Prince, but I really don't. And, I know that makes me a grumpy old man, but I don't like to see young people at Prince shows when I go. Young people make me nervous, which is why I want them to stay off my lawn.

*

Finally, I agree that both albums will in all likelihood drop heavily in the next two weeks unless there is a massive campaign, but I still would like for somebody to explain to me how his having two albums in the Top Ten doesn't minimize the notion/position that Prince will never have another hit. I know Prince has a loyal fan base, but I don't think that Prince.org has 50,000 members. And many of the Prince.org members have stated that they won't be purchasing one or both of the albums. I could be wrong, but at least 50,000 purchased both albums without any real promotion, especially without a "lead single," so that seems pretty special. Again, I'm not being adversarial; I really do want to know how having two albums in the Top Ten does not minimize the notion about Prince never having another hit? Aren't these two top-selling/charting albums based on what it takes to achieve Top Billboard status? This is not the case of Prince padding sales by including albums with tickets. The first two weeks the albums were available, more people purchased Prince's two albums than people who purchased albums that were below him on the charts. How is that not special? If the argument is that all current, top-selling/charting music is crap, then I can understand that argument. But that wasn't the positon of these people two years ago. It was "Prince won't have another hit" and "Prince is no longer relevant." So, again, is it not disingenuous to say that Prince will never have another hit, and, then, when he achieves two Top Ten albums say that his "hit" is inconsequential because records don't sell like they use to sell? But, the truth is that no one sells like they used to sell. It seems that some people want so badly to say that Prince has "lost it" because he no longer appeals to their subjective tastes (and my tastes are subjective also) that they will say anything, even use double-speak, to prove their point rather than just say "I don't like Prince's music anymore" and leave it at that. (I never have and never will like "I Wonder You," and I don't care that it's from the so-called Prince "Golden Years." That is the most boring song I have ever heard. Yet, I my dislike of that song has more to do with my subjective tastes than Prince's talent.) For some reason, these people want others not to like Prince's music as well to somehow justify their position, and, because they have used this barometer of "sales" and "hits," I find it hilarious that they now don't want to use the same barometer that they've been using for the past four years or so. To be clear--I have never used "sales" or "hits" to justify my love of Prince's work, but those who have wanted to declare that Prince is done/finished have used that barometer. And, now, it seems to be biting them in the butt.

*

So, the final question is: Can all of us (Fams, Haters, and Objectives) stop using "sales" and "hits" as a way to measure Prince's worth because even when he has a top charting album some will change their tune even though this is the song they've been singing for eight years?

Gunsnhalen said:

1725topp said:

*

Okay, so, like someone said above, my favorite Prince songs were rarely singles. But, I'm interested to know how your logic of Prince never having another hit single minimizes him having two Top Ten albums. I would think it's a bigger accomplishment to have two Top Ten albums with barely any promotion than having a hit single, which is all about promotion. So doesn't Prince having two Top Ten albums make the issue about him never having another hit single minimize your point? And, I'm not asking to be adversarial. I really don't understand your point given this recent success of this two albums.

Prince will always have top 10 albums. But they are going to drop heavy in the next few weeks. And i doubt either will go platinum. So it's not like he's doing anything that special. Plus the albums themselves are average. So i don't care if they are top 10 or not.

People are just so obsessed with album & single sales on here. Prince was never ever a big seller. Even in his prime! the only album that did big was Purple Rain.

[Edited 10/17/14 18:31pm]

Over 100 million albums sold worldwide isn't a big seller?

Purple Rain: 21M

Batman: 7M

1999: 6M

Diamonds & Pearls: 6M

40M copies with only 4 records... How many artists can accomplish that besides the obious ones we already know... How many new artists will ever accomplish sales like that with just 4 albums??

In 2001 Michael Jackson's Invincible sold 2M in the U.S. alone... In 2005 Musicology was certified 2x Platinum for U.S. sales as well...

To be honest I think LotusFlow3r might be his most intriguing underminded commercial success. The album went GOLD just being sold at Target in 2009... That's pretty spectacular.

So I believe Prince is indeed a big seller at an overall spectrum. Look how many acts in the 80's sold big and then dissapeared... Prince is still here today making albums. You can count the number of artists on one hand that still have the longevity Prince has.

[Edited 10/17/14 19:06pm]

feeluupp said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Prince will always have top 10 albums. But they are going to drop heavy in the next few weeks. And i doubt either will go platinum. So it's not like he's doing anything that special. Plus the albums themselves are average. So i don't care if they are top 10 or not.

People are just so obsessed with album & single sales on here. Prince was never ever a big seller. Even in his prime! the only album that did big was Purple Rain.

[Edited 10/17/14 18:31pm]

Over 100 million albums sold worldwide isn't a big seller?

Purple Rain: 21M

Batman: 7M

1999: 6M

Diamonds & Pearls: 6M

40M copies with only 4 records... How many artists can accomplish that besides the obious ones we already know... How many new artists will ever accomplish sales like that with just 4 albums??

In 2001 Michael Jackson's Invincible sold 2M in the U.S. alone... In 2005 Musicology was certified 2x Platinum for U.S. sales as well...

To be honest I think LotusFlow3r might be his most intriguing underminded commercial success. The album went GOLD just being sold at Target in 2009... That's pretty spectacular.

So I believe Prince is indeed a big seller at an overall spectrum. Look how many acts in the 80's sold big and then dissapeared... Prince is still here today making albums. You can count the number of artists on one hand that still have the longevity Prince has.

[Edited 10/17/14 19:06pm]

Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Lionel Richie, Sade, Def Leppard, Garth Brooks, John Mellencamp etc. Off the top of my head.. all of them had hits past the 80's. And still get top 10 or number 1 albums when released. And still sell out arenas! and those are from the 80's and more than i can count on my hand unless your an octupus.

Although Bruce got his start in the 70's... Mike too. But so did Prince i could name a bunch more who still have longevity. But it doesn't really matter.

Prince's other albums barely went platinum most of the time. And were seen as failures by WB when they weren't Purple Rain status.

Purple Rain is the only really huge seller. Other than that not so much.

Gunsnhalen said:

feeluupp said:

Over 100 million albums sold worldwide isn't a big seller?

Purple Rain: 21M

Batman: 7M

1999: 6M

Diamonds & Pearls: 6M

40M copies with only 4 records... How many artists can accomplish that besides the obious ones we already know... How many new artists will ever accomplish sales like that with just 4 albums??

In 2001 Michael Jackson's Invincible sold 2M in the U.S. alone... In 2005 Musicology was certified 2x Platinum for U.S. sales as well...

To be honest I think LotusFlow3r might be his most intriguing underminded commercial success. The album went GOLD just being sold at Target in 2009... That's pretty spectacular.

So I believe Prince is indeed a big seller at an overall spectrum. Look how many acts in the 80's sold big and then dissapeared... Prince is still here today making albums. You can count the number of artists on one hand that still have the longevity Prince has.

[Edited 10/17/14 19:06pm]

Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Lionel Richie, Sade, Def Leppard, Garth Brooks, John Mellencamp etc. Off the top of my head.. all of them had hits past the 80's. And still get top 10 or number 1 albums when released. And still sell out arenas! and those are from the 80's and more than i can count on my hand unless your an octupus.

Although Bruce got his start in the 70's... Mike too. But so did Prince i could name a bunch more who still have longevity. But it doesn't really matter.

Prince's other albums barely went platinum most of the time. And were seen as failures by WB when they weren't Purple Rain status.

Purple Rain is the only really huge seller. Other than that not so much.

how many of those artists named released an album like around the world in a day at the very height of their commercial success ?...prince turned his back on huge sales the day he released that album...he decided he wanted to do whatever he felt like...being the biggest selling pop act in the world wasn't something that interested him...as he said himself ...around the world in a day was his "fuck you" to the masses..

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he liked success and he liked having hits...but it was never the be all for him...unlike most of these other artists mentioned..

since 1982