laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

I'm only speaking about facts here. Number 15 on rnb charts ? Are you kidding, that means about 800 ex., not enough to appear on the BB 200.

There are 800 people that benefited from the black friday sales, AOA at 7 dollars. Waoh, what a way to make business.

If he has really lots of fans, why AOA doesn't reach the poor 100 k mark two months after release ?

He should have reach this mark during the first week already, if he had done things properly.

Why even on this board some fans doesn't buy the albums ?

Of course there is (almost) no promotion, but even RAINBOW CHILDREN sold 500 k worldwide.

-------' You have no respect for black music so I am not going to bother to address your nonsense reguarding the black RnB chart. James Brown had 99 top ten RnB hits but I guess in your eyes those songs did not rate!!!! No one is selling millions of CDs with t

You have no respect for true things you only inventing yourself some shit that never existed. Please learn how to read. I know about and love James Brown surely more than you do.

What is nonsense is you giving me lesson about what you don't know at all. Eveything I say can be proven, everything you say is only bullshits.

1. JB never had 99 hit or so on the top 10 rnb. This is silly, he had IIRC something like 55 top 10 rnb, and that's already huge.

2. What the rnb single chart of 1956/1975 (mostly the JB era) has to do with the rnb album charts of 2014 ? Like i said before, rnb singles charts are based on sales, airplay...Rnb album chart are not based at all on what afro american are buying. That's silly to think otherwise.

3. but I guess in your eyes those songs did not rate!!!! Are you on your period or something ? A little lesson of history : at that time some rnb songs never charted on pop charts, but in fact charted higher. Some JB songs that never went on top 10 BB reached the million mark. PLEASE PLEASE is supposed to have sold 2 millions in the US alone, without even charting. We are far from the Prince's situation today, aren't we ?

1725topp,

Despite a very (too) long post, you don't answer the simple question :

1. How in hell could Prince release an album in the future ? No need to write a novel by saing he already did it in the past. What i'd like to know is for now and next.

2. You like to talk about Controversy that didn't sell at the time, but you're completely wrong on this. In fact CONTROVERSY went GOLD only two months after release. By the time when PURPLE RAIN was released, CONTROVERSY surely reached the million mark. It was certified in january 1985, but that doesn't mean he wasn't already a million seller. As of today, the album sold about 1.6 millions in the USA, we are far from AOA + PE sales, figures and charts.

3. Prince is concerned by charts and sales, and records, especially nowadays. I've got so many examples...When he said that he wanted to make an audit in the US to prove that PURPLE RAIn outsold THRILLER, when he wanted to go on court when PLANET EARTH was not allowed to chart in the UK, when he went to Oprah, when he said that when learned that MJ did 50 gigs in London on 2009, he could have done more, etc.

AOA underperformed so badly that he surely lost interest in it. When he performed on SNl, the albums were not even named or shown.

RODSERLING said:

laurarichardson said:

-------' You have no respect for black music so I am not going to bother to address your nonsense reguarding the black RnB chart. James Brown had 99 top ten RnB hits but I guess in your eyes those songs did not rate!!!! No one is selling millions of CDs with t

You have no respect for true things you only inventing yourself some shit that never existed. Please learn how to read. I know about and love James Brown surely more than you do.

What is nonsense is you giving me lesson about what you don't know at all. Eveything I say can be proven, everything you say is only bullshits.

1. JB never had 99 hit or so on the top 10 rnb. This is silly, he had IIRC something like 55 top 10 rnb, and that's already huge.

2. What the rnb single chart of 1956/1975 (mostly the JB era) has to do with the rnb album charts of 2014 ? Like i said before, rnb singles charts are based on sales, airplay...Rnb album chart are not based at all on what afro american are buying. That's silly to think otherwise.

3. but I guess in your eyes those songs did not rate!!!! Are you on your period or something ? A little lesson of history : at that time some rnb songs never charted on pop charts, but in fact charted higher. Some JB songs that never went on top 10 BB reached the million mark. PLEASE PLEASE is supposed to have sold 2 millions in the US alone, without even charting. We are far from the Prince's situation today, aren't we ?

*

We all can agree that once Prince "crossedover" with the Purple Rain success he became an anomaly--that black artist--in which whites purchased his art more than blacks. In 1996 as an African-American male I was asked by a white female, while standing in line to purchase tickets for a Prince concert, "Why don't black people like Prince?" She continued, "Yesterday, I was at work all excited, telling my co-workers that I was going to stand in line early to get Prince tickets, and they just looked at me like I was crazy, as if they could care less. I said, 'Y'all this is Prince! He's a genius and a legend!' And, they looked at me like they could care less." So, from 1993 until about 2004, Prince was not considered an R&B act by anyone, which didn't cause problems because he wasn't selling enough records for anyone to be concerned about where or how he was ranked or categorized. Yet, now with AOA and PlecElec being his first albums in four years and so many people, mostly diehard Prince fans, wanting to define these albums as successes or failures, people are turning to the charts to justify whether or not these albums are successes or failures. Yet, even with empirical data, such as sales, nothing is ever just "black or white," especially when it comes to Prince.

*

So, let's begin where we all can agree. One, songs from AOA never obtained heavy rotation on any local or national R&B station. Two, no single from AOA charted. These two statements are true. But, can AOA be defined as anything other than a R&B record? It can't be defined as a Rock record, Funk songs are almost always categorized as R&B records when it comes to charting, and, while we debate it, pop means sales not genre. So, based on the musical construction of AO A, it will most likely be identified as or categorized as a R&B album. This means that people who purchased it and who like it will probably lean toward liking R&B. So, if we can define AOA as a R&B record, and it sales more than other albums defined as R&B albums, then it is a reflection of the R&B charts with the understanding that R&B charts or charting, in general, is not a "perfect" science because all charts can be manipulated. I don't know how many white people or black people purchased AOA, but Prince was clearly making a R&B/Funk record when he was crafting AOA as evidenced by how different PlecElec is. And, of course, neither is a "pure" anything record because Prince has never created a "pure" anything record. But since we know that R&B tends to sell less than rock and that there still exists the distinction of something being "too black" or "too white" for certain customers, then both R&B and Rock charts are significant because they continue to reflect that artistic tastes are driven by cultural sensibilities. To this, I'll add, again, that a number one R&B record is a great accomplishment because I've never needed the masses to justify what I like and this ranking reflects that a number of people who like music that can be defined as R&B, regardless of race, purchased enough copies to make it, for a period, the best-selling R&B/Funk record. And, for what it's worth, many critics are calling it one of the top records of the year.

*

Finally, the one point that you are missing, which exists but is difficult to quantify, is the gap that exists between to what African Americans between the ages of 15 and 25 are listening and enjoying in their communities versus what is being played (or purchased to be played/programed) on the radio. Now, I don't know if the same gap of what people like versus what's being played on the radio exists in the white community or if that gap exists to the extent that it does in the African-American community. But, this gap is real. As someone who has avoided radio because of the rise of rap music since 1988, I have, over the years, been constantly surprised by coming into contact with African-American youth through poetry readings, and I find that what that youth is enjoying in their neighborhoods is starkly different than what's on the radio. And, I'm not citing one or two cites. I citing twenty-five or more cities in which I've spent time over the past twenty years witnessing this "gap." So we must be measured in thinking that what's on "black radio" is reflective of what the black community is enjoying especially now that there are only two nationally owned radio stations, which means that the vast majority of African Americans don't even control what's piped into their community. In addition to this, based on the research done by C. Liegh McInnis for his article/review of AOA and PlecElec, ninety percent of the African Americans between the ages of 15 - 25 all rated "FunknRoll," "U KNow," and "Clouds" as "fair" or above, from a list of "Excellent," "Good," "Fair," "Poor," iirc. And, yet, none of them ever had the opportunity to hear these songs on their local radio stations. So, again, AOA is a R&B record that is liked a great deal by people who like R&B. While it may or may not be purchased mostly or exclusively by African Americans, it is reflective of the best of today's R&B. Now whether being reflective of the best of today's R&B is a positive or negative is debatable, but AOA is reflective of today's R&B, which, I would argue, is no worse than today's rock or pop. You can't tell me that there aren't albums on the BB top 200 chart that don't suck in relation to AOA.

*

Of course, your ultimate issue seems to be how the lack of sales of AOA and PlecElec will impact Prince's ability to offer/sell more albums, especially re-issues of old albums, and, as I've said before, I don't care about re-issues of old albums, and I don't think that the sales of AOA or PlecElec will impact one bit Prince's desire or ability to release new albums.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp,

Despite a very (too) long post, you don't answer the simple question :

1. How in hell could Prince release an album in the future ? No need to write a novel by saing he already did it in the past. What i'd like to know is for now and next.

2. You like to talk about Controversy that didn't sell at the time, but you're completely wrong on this. In fact CONTROVERSY went GOLD only two months after release. By the time when PURPLE RAIN was released, CONTROVERSY surely reached the million mark. It was certified in january 1985, but that doesn't mean he wasn't already a million seller. As of today, the album sold about 1.6 millions in the USA, we are far from AOA + PE sales, figures and charts.

3. Prince is concerned by charts and sales, and records, especially nowadays. I've got so many examples...When he said that he wanted to make an audit in the US to prove that PURPLE RAIn outsold THRILLER, when he wanted to go on court when PLANET EARTH was not allowed to chart in the UK, when he went to Oprah, when he said that when learned that MJ did 50 gigs in London on 2009, he could have done more, etc.

AOA underperformed so badly that he surely lost interest in it. When he performed on SNl, the albums were not even named or shown.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp,

Despite a very (too) long post, you don't answer the simple question :

1. How in hell could Prince release an album in the future ? No need to write a novel by saing he already did it in the past. What i'd like to know is for now and next.

2. You like to talk about Controversy that didn't sell at the time, but you're completely wrong on this. In fact CONTROVERSY went GOLD only two months after release. By the time when PURPLE RAIN was released, CONTROVERSY surely reached the million mark. It was certified in january 1985, but that doesn't mean he wasn't already a million seller. As of today, the album sold about 1.6 millions in the USA, we are far from AOA + PE sales, figures and charts.

3. Prince is concerned by charts and sales, and records, especially nowadays. I've got so many examples...When he said that he wanted to make an audit in the US to prove that PURPLE RAIn outsold THRILLER, when he wanted to go on court when PLANET EARTH was not allowed to chart in the UK, when he went to Oprah, when he said that when learned that MJ did 50 gigs in London on 2009, he could have done more, etc.

AOA underperformed so badly that he surely lost interest in it. When he performed on SNl, the albums were not even named or shown.

*

1. Prince can/will release a new album the same way that he released all those 2013 singles via his own website, via iTunes, via any damn way he so chooses. Do you think that iTunes would say, "We can't carry your stuff because AOA didn't sell"? I know two dudes who live around the corner from me who have albums on iTunes, and the last time I checked they hadn't cracked the BB 200. You can't be so ignorant not to understand this. Do you really think that Prince will not be able to compile ten songs and sell them via a website or iTunes or any damn way he so chooses? Good lawd, stop trying to make basic math into calculus. Prince will have a new album for sale by the end of 2016.

*

2. I noticed you didn't have anything to cite regarding Dirty Mind, which still proves my point. Also, as for charts, Controversy has one song to peak at 70 and another to peak at 104 on that all important BB 200, so its charting performance is still proving my point. It even had two other singles that never broke the BB 200. I know that a master of the charts, such as yourself, is not jumping up and down in glee about these numbers? Finally, could you send me the citation or link for when Controversy was certified gold. I'm not doubting you; I just want it for my records. But, your last point proves me right that just like Dirty Mind Controversy's sales got a major boost from Purple Rain because even as late as 1982 Prince was still considered a niche or R&B artist, which, according to you, being considered a R&B artist is being considered a niche artist. As late as 1983, mid-way of the 1999 Tour, Prince was still considered a niche artist until MTV finally began playing videos from 1999. Think about that. If Controversy was such a highly hailed (radio and chart)success, why was MTV still refusing to play his 1999 videos?--because he was still perceived as a R&B, niche, artist based on his charting and sales.

*

3. These points/examples are about money not charting. And, to be clear, I've never said that Prince wasn't about getting his money. But, Prince has always understood that charting or charting high is not the only way to earn money. When Brian Gumball asked Prince if he was disappointed about Emancipation falling off the charts so quickly--like you are bemoaning AOA falling off the charts so quickly--Prince stated, "No, I've already made my money." Remember, Prince's issue with Warner Bros has always been about two things: ownership of his masters and earning the lion's share of the profits. How do we know this?--because he said "lion's share of the profits" so much that for a while I thought it was the only metaphor he knew. So, the issue about dates in London has nothing to do with charts but everything to do with money. Of course, I need to see the article about Prince wanting to prove that Purple Rain sold more than Thriller because I don't quite remember it, but even so that's, again, about money for Prince. Because if the article was published when I think it was, that is when Prince was still discussing wanting the "lion's share" of the profits and how SoundScan didn't work in every neighborhood or how record companies could manipulate what is and isn't scanned for their own benefit. So, you seem wrong on at least two of your examples. The Planet Earth issue seemed more about Prince continuing to stick it to the industry or desiring to show that he could still get paid even while working outside the traditional system. Remember, he had already had this similar response to Musicology from BB and others adjusting how they ranked/charted albums after his ticket plan. So, do you really think that Prince didn't know or didn't anticipate the same reaction for the manner in which Planet Earth would be ranked or charted? You would have a point if Prince hadn't already had this experience with Musicology. Did he go to court?--of course not. What did he do? He collected his big ass check and went to the crib. So, all of these examples are about money not charting. Now, when I say that Prince doesn't care about charting, I mean that Prince cares more about creating and releasing the type of art that he desires than changing to fit some format: radio or charting. He's not going to say, "Hey, don't purchase my art because I don't want to chart." But, he's clearly, based on his history, not going to do certain things just to increase his sales or chart position. You do know/remember that even during the Purple Rain phenomenon critics and fans were complaining that he should do more interviews and appearances to promote his album. So, charting has it's place, but it's not seemingly as important as money and artistic satisfaction, and clearly Prince has proven that he can earn money and obtain artistic satisfaction without playing the game to chart high or as high as you desire him.

*

Ultimately, AOA has achieved number one status, and it's still on the charts with no video, no radio single, and no real promotion. Deal with it playa.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

You have no respect for true things you only inventing yourself some shit that never existed. Please learn how to read. I know about and love James Brown surely more than you do.

What is nonsense is you giving me lesson about what you don't know at all. Eveything I say can be proven, everything you say is only bullshits.

1. JB never had 99 hit or so on the top 10 rnb. This is silly, he had IIRC something like 55 top 10 rnb, and that's already huge.

2. What the rnb single chart of 1956/1975 (mostly the JB era) has to do with the rnb album charts of 2014 ? Like i said before, rnb singles charts are based on sales, airplay...Rnb album chart are not based at all on what afro american are buying. That's silly to think otherwise.

3. but I guess in your eyes those songs did not rate!!!! Are you on your period or something ? A little lesson of history : at that time some rnb songs never charted on pop charts, but in fact charted higher. Some JB songs that never went on top 10 BB reached the million mark. PLEASE PLEASE is supposed to have sold 2 millions in the US alone, without even charting. We are far from the Prince's situation today, aren't we ?

*

We all can agree that once Prince "crossedover" with the Purple Rain success he became an anomaly--that black artist--in which whites purchased his art more than blacks. In 1996 as an African-American male I was asked by a white female, while standing in line to purchase tickets for a Prince concert, "Why don't black people like Prince?" She continued, "Yesterday, I was at work all excited, telling my co-workers that I was going to stand in line early to get Prince tickets, and they just looked at me like I was crazy, as if they could care less. I said, 'Y'all this is Prince! He's a genius and a legend!' And, they looked at me like they could care less." So, from 1993 until about 2004, Prince was not considered an R&B act by anyone, which didn't cause problems because he wasn't selling enough records for anyone to be concerned about where or how he was ranked or categorized. Yet, now with AOA and PlecElec being his first albums in four years and so many people, mostly diehard Prince fans, wanting to define these albums as successes or failures, people are turning to the charts to justify whether or not these albums are successes or failures. Yet, even with empirical data, such as sales, nothing is ever just "black or white," especially when it comes to Prince.

*

So, let's begin where we all can agree. One, songs from AOA never obtained heavy rotation on any local or national R&B station. Two, no single from AOA charted. These two statements are true. But, can AOA be defined as anything other than a R&B record? It can't be defined as a Rock record, Funk songs are almost always categorized as R&B records when it comes to charting, and, while we debate it, pop means sales not genre. So, based on the musical construction of AO A, it will most likely be identified as or categorized as a R&B album. This means that people who purchased it and who like it will probably lean toward liking R&B. So, if we can define AOA as a R&B record, and it sales more than other albums defined as R&B albums, then it is a reflection of the R&B charts with the understanding that R&B charts or charting, in general, is not a "perfect" science because all charts can be manipulated. I don't know how many white people or black people purchased AOA, but Prince was clearly making a R&B/Funk record when he was crafting AOA as evidenced by how different PlecElec is. And, of course, neither is a "pure" anything record because Prince has never created a "pure" anything record. But since we know that R&B tends to sell less than rock and that there still exists the distinction of something being "too black" or "too white" for certain customers, then both R&B and Rock charts are significant because they continue to reflect that artistic tastes are driven by cultural sensibilities. To this, I'll add, again, that a number one R&B record is a great accomplishment because I've never needed the masses to justify what I like and this ranking reflects that a number of people who like music that can be defined as R&B, regardless of race, purchased enough copies to make it, for a period, the best-selling R&B/Funk record. And, for what it's worth, many critics are calling it one of the top records of the year.

*

Finally, the one point that you are missing, which exists but is difficult to quantify, is the gap that exists between to what African Americans between the ages of 15 and 25 are listening and enjoying in their communities versus what is being played (or purchased to be played/programed) on the radio. Now, I don't know if the same gap of what people like versus what's being played on the radio exists in the white community or if that gap exists to the extent that it does in the African-American community. But, this gap is real. As someone who has avoided radio because of the rise of rap music since 1988, I have, over the years, been constantly surprised by coming into contact with African-American youth through poetry readings, and I find that what that youth is enjoying in their neighborhoods is starkly different than what's on the radio. And, I'm not citing one or two cites. I citing twenty-five or more cities in which I've spent time over the past twenty years witnessing this "gap." So we must be measured in thinking that what's on "black radio" is reflective of what the black community is enjoying especially now that there are only two nationally owned radio stations, which means that the vast majority of African Americans don't even control what's piped into their community. In addition to this, based on the research done by C. Liegh McInnis for his article/review of AOA and PlecElec, ninety percent of the African Americans between the ages of 15 - 25 all rated "FunknRoll," "U KNow," and "Clouds" as "fair" or above, from a list of "Excellent," "Good," "Fair," "Poor," iirc. And, yet, none of them ever had the opportunity to hear these songs on their local radio stations. So, again, AOA is a R&B record that is liked a great deal by people who like R&B. While it may or may not be purchased mostly or exclusively by African Americans, it is reflective of the best of today's R&B. Now whether being reflective of the best of today's R&B is a positive or negative is debatable, but AOA is reflective of today's R&B, which, I would argue, is no worse than today's rock or pop. You can't tell me that there aren't albums on the BB top 200 chart that don't suck in relation to AOA.

*

Of course, your ultimate issue seems to be how the lack of sales of AOA and PlecElec will impact Prince's ability to offer/sell more albums, especially re-issues of old albums, and, as I've said before, I don't care about re-issues of old albums, and I don't think that the sales of AOA or PlecElec will impact one bit Prince's desire or ability to release new albums.

Of course AOA is a pure rnb record...That is not to be debated. But a rnb record that was a huge flop, both on radio and on album charts. If it was released independantly, it wouldn't have been a critical success, for sure. Thank you WB.

AOA is not the first success of Prince categorized as an rnb album since 1993. EMANCIPATION, GOLD, MUSICOLOGY and their respective singles, charted far better than AOA.

[Edited 12/18/14 2:41am]

laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

1725topp,

Despite a very (too) long post, you don't answer the simple question :

1. How in hell could Prince release an album in the future ? No need to write a novel by saing he already did it in the past. What i'd like to know is for now and next.

2. You like to talk about Controversy that didn't sell at the time, but you're completely wrong on this. In fact CONTROVERSY went GOLD only two months after release. By the time when PURPLE RAIN was released, CONTROVERSY surely reached the million mark. It was certified in january 1985, but that doesn't mean he wasn't already a million seller. As of today, the album sold about 1.6 millions in the USA, we are far from AOA + PE sales, figures and charts.

3. Prince is concerned by charts and sales, and records, especially nowadays. I've got so many examples...When he said that he wanted to make an audit in the US to prove that PURPLE RAIn outsold THRILLER, when he wanted to go on court when PLANET EARTH was not allowed to chart in the UK, when he went to Oprah, when he said that when learned that MJ did 50 gigs in London on 2009, he could have done more, etc.

AOA underperformed so badly that he surely lost interest in it. When he performed on SNl, the albums were not even named or shown.

Let’s take a step into reality. 1) Please see the link below JB has 110 RnB Charting hits. http://en.wikipedia.org/w...iscography 2) May point about bring up JB has to do with your idea (and this is what I am getting from your rants) that if CDs or singles chart on the R nB chart and do not fare well on the Billboard Pop 100 the music is not really selling that well and really does not matter. If you think that what would you make of an artist like James Brown who had many songs do better on the RnB charts then the pop charts? RnB charts today are based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Please read the response from 1725topp “Now, I don't know if the same gap of what people like versus what's being played on the radio exists in the white community or if that gap exists to the extent that it does in the African-American community. But, this gap is real. As someone who has avoided radio because of the rise of rap music since 1988, I have, over the years, been constantly surprised by coming into contact with African-American youth through poetry readings, and I find that what that youth is enjoying in their neighborhoods is starkly different than what's on the radio. And, I'm not citing one or two cites. I citing twenty-five or more cities in which I've spent time over the past twenty years witnessing this "gap." So we must be measured in thinking that what's on "black radio" is reflective of what the black community is enjoying especially now that there are only two nationally owned radio stations, which means that the vast majority of African Americans don't even control what's piped into their community. In addition to this, based on the research done by C. Liegh McInnis for his article/review of AOA and PlecElec, ninety percent of the African Americans between the ages of 15 - 25 all rated "FunknRoll," "U KNow," and "Clouds" as "fair" or above, from a list of "Excellent," "Good," "Fair," "Poor," iirc. And, yet, none of them ever had the opportunity to hear these songs on their local radio stations. So, again, AOA is a R&B record that is liked a great deal by people who like R&B. While it may or may not be purchased mostly or exclusively by African Americans, it is reflective of the best of today's R&B.” 3) The whole point is that if AOA is hanging on in the Top Twenty of the RnB chart people are buying it and this is being done with no radio airplay or promotion. I find this to be pretty fucking obvious and I am lost has to how you are seeing an RnB recording performing well on the RnB chart as a failure. Newsflash because you do not care for something does not make it a failure.

You don't even know how to read your own posts ? Plain stupidity or dishonesty?

1. You claimed yourself JB had 99 top ten rnb. I just corrected you, he had "only" 55 top ten rnb. How ludicrous you are, to even contradict yourself

I already explained you that when JB was at his top commercially (1956/1975), singles sales were huge, and some tracks that were million sellers were not even in the BB HOT 100. Some singles that didn't reach the top 20 were million sellers. Have I to speak in chinese for you to understand ?

2. RnB charts today are SURELY NOT based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Of course AOA is a rnb album, that is not to be debated. But most people who bought it are surely white, it charted #1 on rnb only because fans (black and white) bought an rnb album the first week.

AOA is surely the worst selling #1 rnb album of the decade, just like 3121 was one of the worst selling #1 album at the time of its release.

3) What is pretty obvious is that AOA was out of the top 200 after only seven fucking weeks, and after being on top 20 only one week (!!!). Selling 800 ex and being at #15 on rnb charts during the week eight is not a good performance at all. People were buying it because of the black friday sales, the album was such a flop that seven weeks after release it was already on sales:-D . Two months after release, your so-called "#1 album" didn't reach the poor 100 k mark yet. And you call that a success ?

The 20/20 EXPERIENCE from TIMBERLAKE stayed 10 weeks #1. Do you really think it was mostly bought by afro amercians ? That's silly.

[Edited 12/18/14 1:24am]

1725topp said:

*

Ultimately, AOA has achieved number one status, and it's still on the charts with no video, no radio single, and no real promotion. Deal with it playa.

AOA never went #1, for the hundred times. Can't you reaaally deal with it ? It only stayed one poor week on the top 20. It was out of the charts seven weeks after release.

Of course, there is no promotion, beside SNL and music critics. But many artist without a charting single (bob Dylan, Springsteen, Pink Floyd etc.) outsold what Prince sold in two months (100 k) during the first week of release, only by their name. Even fans here didn't bought AOA. The fanbase is decreasing dramatically, and that's not the case for other "old" acts.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

1725topp,

Despite a very (too) long post, you don't answer the simple question :

1. How in hell could Prince release an album in the future ? No need to write a novel by saing he already did it in the past. What i'd like to know is for now and next.

2. You like to talk about Controversy that didn't sell at the time, but you're completely wrong on this. In fact CONTROVERSY went GOLD only two months after release. By the time when PURPLE RAIN was released, CONTROVERSY surely reached the million mark. It was certified in january 1985, but that doesn't mean he wasn't already a million seller. As of today, the album sold about 1.6 millions in the USA, we are far from AOA + PE sales, figures and charts.

3. Prince is concerned by charts and sales, and records, especially nowadays. I've got so many examples...When he said that he wanted to make an audit in the US to prove that PURPLE RAIn outsold THRILLER, when he wanted to go on court when PLANET EARTH was not allowed to chart in the UK, when he went to Oprah, when he said that when learned that MJ did 50 gigs in London on 2009, he could have done more, etc.

AOA underperformed so badly that he surely lost interest in it. When he performed on SNl, the albums were not even named or shown.

*

1. Prince can/will release a new album the same way that he released all those 2013 singles via his own website, via iTunes, via any damn way he so chooses. Do you think that iTunes would say, "We can't carry your stuff because AOA didn't sell"? I know two dudes who live around the corner from me who have albums on iTunes, and the last time I checked they hadn't cracked the BB 200. You can't be so ignorant not to understand this. Do you really think that Prince will not be able to compile ten songs and sell them via a website or iTunes or any damn way he so chooses? Good lawd, stop trying to make basic math into calculus. Prince will have a new album for sale by the end of 2016.

*

2. I noticed you didn't have anything to cite regarding Dirty Mind, which still proves my point. Also, as for charts, Controversy has one song to peak at 70 and another to peak at 104 on that all important BB 200, so its charting performance is still proving my point. It even had two other singles that never broke the BB 200. I know that a master of the charts, such as yourself, is not jumping up and down in glee about these numbers? Finally, could you send me the citation or link for when Controversy was certified gold. I'm not doubting you; I just want it for my records. But, your last point proves me right that just like Dirty Mind Controversy's sales got a major boost from Purple Rain because even as late as 1982 Prince was still considered a niche or R&B artist, which, according to you, being considered a R&B artist is being considered a niche artist. As late as 1983, mid-way of the 1999 Tour, Prince was still considered a niche artist until MTV finally began playing videos from 1999. Think about that. If Controversy was such a highly hailed (radio and chart)success, why was MTV still refusing to play his 1999 videos?--because he was still perceived as a R&B, niche, artist based on his charting and sales.

*

3. These points/examples are about money not charting. And, to be clear, I've never said that Prince wasn't about getting his money. But, Prince has always understood that charting or charting high is not the only way to earn money. When Brian Gumball asked Prince if he was disappointed about Emancipation falling off the charts so quickly--like you are bemoaning AOA falling off the charts so quickly--Prince stated, "No, I've already made my money." Remember, Prince's issue with Warner Bros has always been about two things: ownership of his masters and earning the lion's share of the profits. How do we know this?--because he said "lion's share of the profits" so much that for a while I thought it was the only metaphor he knew. So, the issue about dates in London has nothing to do with charts but everything to do with money. Of course, I need to see the article about Prince wanting to prove that Purple Rain sold more than Thriller because I don't quite remember it, but even so that's, again, about money for Prince. Because if the article was published when I think it was, that is when Prince was still discussing wanting the "lion's share" of the profits and how SoundScan didn't work in every neighborhood or how record companies could manipulate what is and isn't scanned for their own benefit. So, you seem wrong on at least two of your examples. The Planet Earth issue seemed more about Prince continuing to stick it to the industry or desiring to show that he could still get paid even while working outside the traditional system. Remember, he had already had this similar response to Musicology from BB and others adjusting how they ranked/charted albums after his ticket plan. So, do you really think that Prince didn't know or didn't anticipate the same reaction for the manner in which Planet Earth would be ranked or charted? You would have a point if Prince hadn't already had this experience with Musicology. Did he go to court?--of course not. What did he do? He collected his big ass check and went to the crib. So, all of these examples are about money not charting. Now, when I say that Prince doesn't care about charting, I mean that Prince cares more about creating and releasing the type of art that he desires than changing to fit some format: radio or charting. He's not going to say, "Hey, don't purchase my art because I don't want to chart." But, he's clearly, based on his history, not going to do certain things just to increase his sales or chart position. You do know/remember that even during the Purple Rain phenomenon critics and fans were complaining that he should do more interviews and appearances to promote his album. So, charting has it's place, but it's not seemingly as important as money and artistic satisfaction, and clearly Prince has proven that he can earn money and obtain artistic satisfaction without playing the game to chart high or as high as you desire him.

*

Ultimately, AOA has achieved number one status, and it's still on the charts with no video, no radio single, and no real promotion. Deal with it playa.

Sorry, my bad I didn't see your entire post !

1. Oh yeah of course, he could do it digitally. I meant a physically album, with a commercial release. Prince already told when he was on Arsenio that he wanted only physical releases. A digital release from Prince, frankly, nobody would care except it's for free.

Let's take a bet : if prince doesn't have a new physical album by the end of 2016, will you leave this org ? IF he releases an album by 2016, I will leave this org. I already took some bets here, and I always won. But nobody respects the deal, honesty is not given to everybody, apparently.

2. You want to talk about DIRTY MINDS ? It was certified GOLD during during the PR era, and its current US sales are at about 1.1 million. What is the point with AOA ? It will never be certified gold. (You can check certifications date on the RIAA site, by the way, it's public)

CONTROVERSY was a chart success, it's not proving your point at all. Its sales are about those from Jackson's TRIUMPH, whose CAN YOU FEEL IT SINGLE reached only #77 on BB 100. CONTROVERSY had two singles on the top 100, that is two more than AOA. The difference is huge. CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MINDS were underground success, and this niche found out to be a large audience. Nothing to do with AOA that Nobody buys at all.

Remember that MTV only began in august 1981. It was a channel that was searching itself and its audience, and was primarily aimed to the people who could afford cable, white people. 1981 and 1982 were not great years for black music though, in term of hits. It would have been an odd move to aim it to black music, from the beginning.

3. No, the PLANET EARTH thing was about charting. Just like MUSICOLOGY. If Prince earns money from its contract with WB, good for him, but it has nothing to do with the sales of AOA that are really weak. He could win more money by promoting his albums.

RODSERLING said:

laurarichardson said:

Let’s take a step into reality. 1) Please see the link below JB has 110 RnB Charting hits. http://en.wikipedia.org/w...iscography 2) May point about bring up JB has to do with your idea (and this is what I am getting from your rants) that if CDs or singles chart on the R nB chart and do not fare well on the Billboard Pop 100 the music is not really selling that well and really does not matter. If you think that what would you make of an artist like James Brown who had many songs do better on the RnB charts then the pop charts? RnB charts today are based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Please read the response from 1725topp “Now, I don't know if the same gap of what people like versus what's being played on the radio exists in the white community or if that gap exists to the extent that it does in the African-American community. But, this gap is real. As someone who has avoided radio because of the rise of rap music since 1988, I have, over the years, been constantly surprised by coming into contact with African-American youth through poetry readings, and I find that what that youth is enjoying in their neighborhoods is starkly different than what's on the radio. And, I'm not citing one or two cites. I citing twenty-five or more cities in which I've spent time over the past twenty years witnessing this "gap." So we must be measured in thinking that what's on "black radio" is reflective of what the black community is enjoying especially now that there are only two nationally owned radio stations, which means that the vast majority of African Americans don't even control what's piped into their community. In addition to this, based on the research done by C. Liegh McInnis for his article/review of AOA and PlecElec, ninety percent of the African Americans between the ages of 15 - 25 all rated "FunknRoll," "U KNow," and "Clouds" as "fair" or above, from a list of "Excellent," "Good," "Fair," "Poor," iirc. And, yet, none of them ever had the opportunity to hear these songs on their local radio stations. So, again, AOA is a R&B record that is liked a great deal by people who like R&B. While it may or may not be purchased mostly or exclusively by African Americans, it is reflective of the best of today's R&B.” 3) The whole point is that if AOA is hanging on in the Top Twenty of the RnB chart people are buying it and this is being done with no radio airplay or promotion. I find this to be pretty fucking obvious and I am lost has to how you are seeing an RnB recording performing well on the RnB chart as a failure. Newsflash because you do not care for something does not make it a failure.

You don't even know how to read your own posts ? Plain stupidity or dishonesty?

1. You claimed yourself JB had 99 top ten rnb. I just corrected you, he had "only" 55 top ten rnb. How ludicrous you are, to even contradict yourself

I already explained you that when JB was at his top commercially (1956/1975), singles sales were huge, and some tracks that were million sellers were not even in the BB HOT 100. Some singles that didn't reach the top 20 were million sellers. Have I to speak in chinese for you to understand ?

2. RnB charts today are SURELY NOT based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Of course AOA is a rnb album, that is not to be debated. But most people who bought it are surely white, it charted #1 on rnb only because fans (black and white) bought an rnb album the first week.

AOA is surely the worst selling #1 rnb album of the decade, just like 3121 was one of the worst selling #1 album at the time of its release.

3) What is pretty obvious is that AOA was out of the top 200 after only seven fucking weeks, and after being on top 20 only one week (!!!). Selling 800 ex and being at #15 on rnb charts during the week eight is not a good performance at all. People were buying it because of the black friday sales, the album was such a flop that seven weeks after release it was already on sales:-D . Two months after release, your so-called "#1 album" didn't reach the poor 100 k mark yet. And you call that a success ?

The 20/20 EXPERIENCE from TIMBERLAKE stayed 10 weeks #1. Do you really think it was mostly bought by afro amercians ? That's silly.

[Edited 12/18/14 1:24am]

1)Yes, I do know how to read my own post. I was wrong about the number of Top Ten RnB hits James Brown had. I posted the correct number. You are so busy being arrogant you do not even notice a correction.

2) What does the market being single drive in the 50s and 60s have to do with you insistence that music that lands in the RnB Top Ten are not means nothing because you are continuing to ignore that AOA is still doing really well on the RnB chart and you consider it to be a failure because it was not as successful on the pop chart.

3) What fucking planet living on that you would think the vast majority of people being AOA are white? Are you one of those Blackexperts who foolishly believe you know what black people are listening to. All of the reasons that 1775Top gave about black radio and the black community are spot on. The first week or two I am sure white fans went out and obtained the CD but as of last week it was still sitting in the Top Ten 20 so I doubt if white fans are still buying it months later. Very silly and shows your ignorance.

Considering this year no RnB CDs have sold even sold a million copies and many have reached #1 with minimal sales Prince is in good company. Being at #15 after 8 weeks with no airplay or promotion is good performance it shows that he has a strong fan base but I kind of knew that when he sold out 50k seats at the SuperDome this summer. You dislike this music so much that you have taken anything good about the product and turned negative. If this shit is worrying you so much fall off the purple wagon. Prince will survive and I would bet money has moved on to the next project. As sure as the sun is going to come up tomorrow he will find a manner to distribute his next project and fans will continue to buy i.

I know a lot of young black people who like Justin so I do think a lot of African Americans purchased it. I am Black I know a little something about what is going on in my community.

RODSERLING said:

1725topp said:

*

1. Prince can/will release a new album the same way that he released all those 2013 singles via his own website, via iTunes, via any damn way he so chooses. Do you think that iTunes would say, "We can't carry your stuff because AOA didn't sell"? I know two dudes who live around the corner from me who have albums on iTunes, and the last time I checked they hadn't cracked the BB 200. You can't be so ignorant not to understand this. Do you really think that Prince will not be able to compile ten songs and sell them via a website or iTunes or any damn way he so chooses? Good lawd, stop trying to make basic math into calculus. Prince will have a new album for sale by the end of 2016.

*

2. I noticed you didn't have anything to cite regarding Dirty Mind, which still proves my point. Also, as for charts, Controversy has one song to peak at 70 and another to peak at 104 on that all important BB 200, so its charting performance is still proving my point. It even had two other singles that never broke the BB 200. I know that a master of the charts, such as yourself, is not jumping up and down in glee about these numbers? Finally, could you send me the citation or link for when Controversy was certified gold. I'm not doubting you; I just want it for my records. But, your last point proves me right that just like Dirty Mind Controversy's sales got a major boost from Purple Rain because even as late as 1982 Prince was still considered a niche or R&B artist, which, according to you, being considered a R&B artist is being considered a niche artist. As late as 1983, mid-way of the 1999 Tour, Prince was still considered a niche artist until MTV finally began playing videos from 1999. Think about that. If Controversy was such a highly hailed (radio and chart)success, why was MTV still refusing to play his 1999 videos?--because he was still perceived as a R&B, niche, artist based on his charting and sales.

*

3. These points/examples are about money not charting. And, to be clear, I've never said that Prince wasn't about getting his money. But, Prince has always understood that charting or charting high is not the only way to earn money. When Brian Gumball asked Prince if he was disappointed about Emancipation falling off the charts so quickly--like you are bemoaning AOA falling off the charts so quickly--Prince stated, "No, I've already made my money." Remember, Prince's issue with Warner Bros has always been about two things: ownership of his masters and earning the lion's share of the profits. How do we know this?--because he said "lion's share of the profits" so much that for a while I thought it was the only metaphor he knew. So, the issue about dates in London has nothing to do with charts but everything to do with money. Of course, I need to see the article about Prince wanting to prove that Purple Rain sold more than Thriller because I don't quite remember it, but even so that's, again, about money for Prince. Because if the article was published when I think it was, that is when Prince was still discussing wanting the "lion's share" of the profits and how SoundScan didn't work in every neighborhood or how record companies could manipulate what is and isn't scanned for their own benefit. So, you seem wrong on at least two of your examples. The Planet Earth issue seemed more about Prince continuing to stick it to the industry or desiring to show that he could still get paid even while working outside the traditional system. Remember, he had already had this similar response to Musicology from BB and others adjusting how they ranked/charted albums after his ticket plan. So, do you really think that Prince didn't know or didn't anticipate the same reaction for the manner in which Planet Earth would be ranked or charted? You would have a point if Prince hadn't already had this experience with Musicology. Did he go to court?--of course not. What did he do? He collected his big ass check and went to the crib. So, all of these examples are about money not charting. Now, when I say that Prince doesn't care about charting, I mean that Prince cares more about creating and releasing the type of art that he desires than changing to fit some format: radio or charting. He's not going to say, "Hey, don't purchase my art because I don't want to chart." But, he's clearly, based on his history, not going to do certain things just to increase his sales or chart position. You do know/remember that even during the Purple Rain phenomenon critics and fans were complaining that he should do more interviews and appearances to promote his album. So, charting has it's place, but it's not seemingly as important as money and artistic satisfaction, and clearly Prince has proven that he can earn money and obtain artistic satisfaction without playing the game to chart high or as high as you desire him.

*

Ultimately, AOA has achieved number one status, and it's still on the charts with no video, no radio single, and no real promotion. Deal with it playa.

Sorry, my bad I didn't see your entire post !

1. Oh yeah of course, he could do it digitally. I meant a physically album, with a commercial release. Prince already told when he was on Arsenio that he wanted only physical releases. A digital release from Prince, frankly, nobody would care except it's for free.

Let's take a bet : if prince doesn't have a new physical album by the end of 2016, will you leave this org ? IF he releases an album by 2016, I will leave this org. I already took some bets here, and I always won. But nobody respects the deal, honesty is not given to everybody, apparently.

2. You want to talk about DIRTY MINDS ? It was certified GOLD during during the PR era, and its current US sales are at about 1.1 million. What is the point with AOA ? It will never be certified gold. (You can check certifications date on the RIAA site, by the way, it's public)

CONTROVERSY was a chart success, it's not proving your point at all. Its sales are about those from Jackson's TRIUMPH, whose CAN YOU FEEL IT SINGLE reached only #77 on BB 100. CONTROVERSY had two singles on the top 100, that is two more than AOA. The difference is huge. CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MINDS were underground success, and this niche found out to be a large audience. Nothing to do with AOA that Nobody buys at all.

Remember that MTV only began in august 1981. It was a channel that was searching itself and its audience, and was primarily aimed to the people who could afford cable, white people. 1981 and 1982 were not great years for black music though, in term of hits. It would have been an odd move to aim it to black music, from the beginning.

3. No, the PLANET EARTH thing was about charting. Just like MUSICOLOGY. If Prince earns money from its contract with WB, good for him, but it has nothing to do with the sales of AOA that are really weak. He could win more money by promoting his albums.

*

Dude, we go 'round and 'round. But, we don't have to make a bet because I initiated the closure of my Org account last night. So, at about 7 or 8 pm my account will be closed. The racism and the general negativity of this site has become too much for me. But, y'all have a ball. Be easy playa.

laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

You don't even know how to read your own posts ? Plain stupidity or dishonesty?

1. You claimed yourself JB had 99 top ten rnb. I just corrected you, he had "only" 55 top ten rnb. How ludicrous you are, to even contradict yourself

I already explained you that when JB was at his top commercially (1956/1975), singles sales were huge, and some tracks that were million sellers were not even in the BB HOT 100. Some singles that didn't reach the top 20 were million sellers. Have I to speak in chinese for you to understand ?

2. RnB charts today are SURELY NOT based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Of course AOA is a rnb album, that is not to be debated. But most people who bought it are surely white, it charted #1 on rnb only because fans (black and white) bought an rnb album the first week.

AOA is surely the worst selling #1 rnb album of the decade, just like 3121 was one of the worst selling #1 album at the time of its release.

3) What is pretty obvious is that AOA was out of the top 200 after only seven fucking weeks, and after being on top 20 only one week (!!!). Selling 800 ex and being at #15 on rnb charts during the week eight is not a good performance at all. People were buying it because of the black friday sales, the album was such a flop that seven weeks after release it was already on sales:-D . Two months after release, your so-called "#1 album" didn't reach the poor 100 k mark yet. And you call that a success ?

The 20/20 EXPERIENCE from TIMBERLAKE stayed 10 weeks #1. Do you really think it was mostly bought by afro amercians ? That's silly.

[Edited 12/18/14 1:24am]

1)Yes, I do know how to read my own post. I was wrong about the number of Top Ten RnB hits James Brown had. I posted the correct number. You are so busy being arrogant you do not even notice a correction.

2) What does the market being single drive in the 50s and 60s have to do with you insistence that music that lands in the RnB Top Ten are not means nothing because you are continuing to ignore that AOA is still doing really well on the RnB chart and you consider it to be a failure because it was not as successful on the pop chart.

3) What fucking planet living on that you would think the vast majority of people being AOA are white? Are you one of those Blackexperts who foolishly believe you know what black people are listening to. All of the reasons that 1775Top gave about black radio and the black community are spot on. The first week or two I am sure white fans went out and obtained the CD but as of last week it was still sitting in the Top Ten 20 so I doubt if white fans are still buying it months later. Very silly and shows your ignorance.

Considering this year no RnB CDs have sold even sold a million copies and many have reached #1 with minimal sales Prince is in good company. Being at #15 after 8 weeks with no airplay or promotion is good performance it shows that he has a strong fan base but I kind of knew that when he sold out 50k seats at the SuperDome this summer. You dislike this music so much that you have taken anything good about the product and turned negative. If this shit is worrying you so much fall off the purple wagon. Prince will survive and I would bet money has moved on to the next project. As sure as the sun is going to come up tomorrow he will find a manner to distribute his next project and fans will continue to buy i.

I know a lot of young black people who like Justin so I do think a lot of African Americans purchased it. I am Black I know a little something about what is going on in my community.

*

I appreciate all the backup and knowledge that you have offered, but I'm done with this person and this site. What you are saying is on point, but it really doesn't matter here.

Charts schmarts. I am still wearing this album out and it has brought me more joy than anything I have heard from Prince in a very long time. Clouds, Way Back Home, Time are incredibly beautiful tracks and the rest are really damn good. Between this and D'Angelo's new album I am extremely grateful.

Sam Smith and Beyonce both sold in the millions and both certainly more RnB than the silly Hanna Barbera sound of AOA. People want to make excuses for it bombing, but the fact is people just dont like it. It was obvious from the get go that it would tank. Its a niche record for the ultra hard core who will buy anything he releases.

[Edited 12/18/14 12:01pm]

V10LETBLUES said:

Sam Smith and Beyonce both sold in the millions and both certainly more RnB than the silly Hanna Barbera sound of AOA. People want to make excuses for it bombing, but the fact is people just dont like it. It was obvious from the get go that it would tank. Its a niche record for the ultra hard core who will buy anything he releases.

[Edited 12/18/14 12:01pm]

I will give you Sam Smith but Beyonce is the very thing that is wrong with RnB and one of the reasons it is the worst selling genre of music.

AOA/ and some of Plectrum Electrum sounds like soul even the artificial stuff on AOA is not really that artificial ( and he is being sarcastic with the whole Artificial thing )

Radio and the music industry is trying to refashion soul music for masses by removing the soul from it. It will not work in the long run and sometimes it is better to leave a genre of music alone and let the core audience enjoy it instead of trying to change to make it more popular.

Something selling in the millions does not automatically make it good. By that measurement you think YMCA by Village People was good.

AOA is an RnB CD that is still stitting high on the RnB charts with no airplay what people on this board have an issue with has more to do with their own bad taste and not so much this CD.

2funkE said:

Charts schmarts. I am still wearing this album out and it has brought me more joy than anything I have heard from Prince in a very long time. Clouds, Way Back Home, Time are incredibly beautiful tracks and the rest are really damn good. Between this and D'Angelo's new album I am extremely grateful.

I am glad that keep the soul in their music and I think they are two of the best RnB CDs this year.

Beyonce will never be on the same level as these guys and time is going to prove it

laurarichardson said:

RODSERLING said:

You don't even know how to read your own posts ? Plain stupidity or dishonesty?

1. You claimed yourself JB had 99 top ten rnb. I just corrected you, he had "only" 55 top ten rnb. How ludicrous you are, to even contradict yourself

I already explained you that when JB was at his top commercially (1956/1975), singles sales were huge, and some tracks that were million sellers were not even in the BB HOT 100. Some singles that didn't reach the top 20 were million sellers. Have I to speak in chinese for you to understand ?

2. RnB charts today are SURELY NOT based exactly on what Afro-Americans are buying. Of course AOA is a rnb album, that is not to be debated. But most people who bought it are surely white, it charted #1 on rnb only because fans (black and white) bought an rnb album the first week.

AOA is surely the worst selling #1 rnb album of the decade, just like 3121 was one of the worst selling #1 album at the time of its release.

3) What is pretty obvious is that AOA was out of the top 200 after only seven fucking weeks, and after being on top 20 only one week (!!!). Selling 800 ex and being at #15 on rnb charts during the week eight is not a good performance at all. People were buying it because of the black friday sales, the album was such a flop that seven weeks after release it was already on sales:-D . Two months after release, your so-called "#1 album" didn't reach the poor 100 k mark yet. And you call that a success ?

The 20/20 EXPERIENCE from TIMBERLAKE stayed 10 weeks #1. Do you really think it was mostly bought by afro amercians ? That's silly.

[Edited 12/18/14 1:24am]

1)Yes, I do know how to read my own post. I was wrong about the number of Top Ten RnB hits James Brown had. I posted the correct number. You are so busy being arrogant you do not even notice a correction.

2) What does the market being single drive in the 50s and 60s have to do with you insistence that music that lands in the RnB Top Ten are not means nothing because you are continuing to ignore that AOA is still doing really well on the RnB chart and you consider it to be a failure because it was not as successful on the pop chart.

3) What fucking planet living on that you would think the vast majority of people being AOA are white? Are you one of those Blackexperts who foolishly believe you know what black people are listening to. All of the reasons that 1775Top gave about black radio and the black community are spot on. The first week or two I am sure white fans went out and obtained the CD but as of last week it was still sitting in the Top Ten 20 so I doubt if white fans are still buying it months later. Very silly and shows your ignorance.

Considering this year no RnB CDs have sold even sold a million copies and many have reached #1 with minimal sales Prince is in good company. Being at #15 after 8 weeks with no airplay or promotion is good performance it shows that he has a strong fan base but I kind of knew that when he sold out 50k seats at the SuperDome this summer. You dislike this music so much that you have taken anything good about the product and turned negative. If this shit is worrying you so much fall off the purple wagon. Prince will survive and I would bet money has moved on to the next project. As sure as the sun is going to come up tomorrow he will find a manner to distribute his next project and fans will continue to buy i.

I know a lot of young black people who like Justin so I do think a lot of African Americans purchased it. I am Black I know a little something about what is going on in my community.

1. That's incredible...Not only you corrected your post only once I pointed out to you, but you're the one who asserted so arrogantly I was wrong on the number of rnb hits of JB (which was not the case, which makes you more ridiculous) .

That's not a crime to be wrong on such a minor thing in life, but common, you're such an aggressive person. I'm pretty sure you don't know how dishonnest you are. Just because you belong to a community doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. I could do the same thing : I belong to the white community, so I know what I'm talking about, plus my girlfriend is black so...This is so ridiculous to think like that. I didn't think Prince's fan were racists ( if so, they didn't understand anything to his music) but you seem so angry about white people for nothing...You should be more funny, it's not the end of the world if AOA flopped badly.

2) In fact, you're, again, the one who brought up JB on the spotlight here. And JB's hits belong to the 50's/60's/70's era, so I can't do without ignoring that. You still don't see the difference between singles and albums charts, don't you ? I told you the exact contrary of what you understood. I told you that at the JB'era, some rnb hits sold much more than we'd think.

AOA is now out of the rnb chart. It's silly to consider that rnb albums reflect what black people buys. If they buy one Beatles album, that doesn't count on rnb charts.

It was a terrible mistake to keep on separating these charts in term of album. I say exactly the same thing for the "rock album chart" were PE ranked #1. And I love both rnb and rock music, but who cares ? What's matter is the complete chart. Sub charts are disconnected from what people really buys.

3) Are you one of those Blackexperts who foolishly believe you know what black people are listening to.

No, but you seems to be one of them ! :-D Listening #buying

Considering this year no RnB CDs have sold even sold a million copies and many have reached #1 with minimal sales Prince is in good company

Are you kidding ? Please, inform yourself.

Billboard has released the 200 best sellers of 2014, AOA is not in it. Worst : Billboard has also released the best sellers released in 2014 : AOA is still not in it !

he will find a manner to distribute his next project and fans will continue to buy it.

Fans already chose to not buy his two new albums. Sadly, I can't see how this situation will evolve positively. I'm the first who regret it.

laurarichardson said:

V10LETBLUES said:

Sam Smith and Beyonce both sold in the millions and both certainly more RnB than the silly Hanna Barbera sound of AOA. People want to make excuses for it bombing, but the fact is people just dont like it. It was obvious from the get go that it would tank. Its a niche record for the ultra hard core who will buy anything he releases.

[Edited 12/18/14 12:01pm]

I will give you Sam Smith but Beyonce is the very thing that is wrong with RnB and one of the reasons it is the worst selling genre of music.

AOA/ and some of Plectrum Electrum sounds like soul even the artificial stuff on AOA is not really that artificial ( and he is being sarcastic with the whole Artificial thing )

Radio and the music industry is trying to refashion soul music for masses by removing the soul from it. It will not work in the long run and sometimes it is better to leave a genre of music alone and let the core audience enjoy it instead of trying to change to make it more popular.

Something selling in the millions does not automatically make it good. By that measurement you think YMCA by Village People was good.

AOA is an RnB CD that is still stitting high on the RnB charts with no airplay what people on this board have an issue with has more to do with their own bad taste and not so much this CD.

Something selling in the millions does not automatically make it good

No kidding ? Of course sales # quality. But it's a topic about sales. Not about quality.

AOA is an RnB CD that is still stitting high on the RnB charts

AOA is out of the rnb charts. Last weeks it was sitting at #22 and #15...Not very high.

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

Sorry, my bad I didn't see your entire post !

1. Oh yeah of course, he could do it digitally. I meant a physically album, with a commercial release. Prince already told when he was on Arsenio that he wanted only physical releases. A digital release from Prince, frankly, nobody would care except it's for free.

Let's take a bet : if prince doesn't have a new physical album by the end of 2016, will you leave this org ? IF he releases an album by 2016, I will leave this org. I already took some bets here, and I always won. But nobody respects the deal, honesty is not given to everybody, apparently.

2. You want to talk about DIRTY MINDS ? It was certified GOLD during during the PR era, and its current US sales are at about 1.1 million. What is the point with AOA ? It will never be certified gold. (You can check certifications date on the RIAA site, by the way, it's public)

CONTROVERSY was a chart success, it's not proving your point at all. Its sales are about those from Jackson's TRIUMPH, whose CAN YOU FEEL IT SINGLE reached only #77 on BB 100. CONTROVERSY had two singles on the top 100, that is two more than AOA. The difference is huge. CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MINDS were underground success, and this niche found out to be a large audience. Nothing to do with AOA that Nobody buys at all.

Remember that MTV only began in august 1981. It was a channel that was searching itself and its audience, and was primarily aimed to the people who could afford cable, white people. 1981 and 1982 were not great years for black music though, in term of hits. It would have been an odd move to aim it to black music, from the beginning.

3. No, the PLANET EARTH thing was about charting. Just like MUSICOLOGY. If Prince earns money from its contract with WB, good for him, but it has nothing to do with the sales of AOA that are really weak. He could win more money by promoting his albums.

*

Dude, we go 'round and 'round. But, we don't have to make a bet because I initiated the closure of my Org account last night. So, at about 7 or 8 pm my account will be closed. The racism and the general negativity of this site has become too much for me. But, y'all have a ball. Be easy playa.

I wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year !

This album, I believe, just be a blink on the radar.

I still read from orgers , 'great album'

Great by what standard>

Certainly not great by the standard Prince himself has set in the past

Of course better than anything many COULD do

but not still, this album will fade in to the collection of obscure Prince albums which left little or no impact on the history of music.

I expect Prince to blow minds

Maybe he has became a boring and drab person, and that which he was does not dwell within him anymore.

hollywooddove said:

This album, I believe, just be a blink on the radar.

I still read from orgers , 'great album'

Great by what standard>

Certainly not great by the standard Prince himself has set in the past

Of course better than anything many COULD do

but not still, this album will fade in to the collection of obscure Prince albums which left little or no impact on the history of music.

I expect Prince to blow minds

Maybe he has became a boring and drab person, and that which he was does not dwell within him anymore.

Not to be a d!ck, but I think your signature pretty much sums up your post.

.

Great by what standards you ask? Great by our own dayum standards. We don't just listen to Prince here, we listen to all sorts of music, we all have differesnt tastes. I don't need sales charts, top album charts, critics or 'experts' on Prince.org to tell me what good music is to my ears, all I need are my ears alone. If you don't like it then fine, move on, if you do great, enjoy. I don't think it's a groundbreaking album but it isn't complete sh!t either, it's a solid album.

.

Prince is an artist, let the man do his thing, we're all passengers along for the ride, not his mechanics.

laurarichardson said:

1725topp said:

RODSERLING said:

Sorry, my bad I didn't see your entire post !

1. Oh yeah of course, he could do it digitally. I meant a physically album, with a commercial release. Prince already told when he was on Arsenio that he wanted only physical releases. A digital release from Prince, frankly, nobody would care except it's for free.

Let's take a bet : if prince doesn't have a new physical album by the end of 2016, will you leave this org ? IF he releases an album by 2016, I will leave this org. I already took some bets here, and I always won. But nobody respects the deal, honesty is not given to everybody, apparently.

2. You want to talk about DIRTY MINDS ? It was certified GOLD during during the PR era, and its current US sales are at about 1.1 million. What is the point with AOA ? It will never be certified gold. (You can check certifications date on the RIAA site, by the way, it's public)

CONTROVERSY was a chart success, it's not proving your point at all. Its sales are about those from Jackson's TRIUMPH, whose CAN YOU FEEL IT SINGLE reached only #77 on BB 100. CONTROVERSY had two singles on the top 100, that is two more than AOA. The difference is huge. CONTROVERSY and DIRTY MINDS were underground success, and this niche found out to be a large audience. Nothing to do with AOA that Nobody buys at all.

Remember that MTV only began in august 1981. It was a channel that was searching itself and its audience, and was primarily aimed to the people who could afford cable, white people. 1981 and 1982 were not great years for black music though, in term of hits. It would have been an odd move to aim it to black music, from the beginning.

3. No, the PLANET EARTH thing was about charting. Just like MUSICOLOGY. If Prince earns money from its contract with WB, good for him, but it has nothing to do with the sales of AOA that are really weak. He could win more money by promoting his albums.

*

Dude, we go 'round and 'round. But, we don't have to make a bet because I initiated the closure of my Org account last night. So, at about 7 or 8 pm my account will be closed. The racism and the general negativity of this site has become too much for me. But, y'all have a ball. Be easy playa.

I wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year !

It's sad to see how each topic related to sales and charts always end on a debate about the quality or not of an album.

Charts, airplay, sales have nothing to do with the quality of an album. Remember the time when Nsync and Britney Spears dominated the charts ? AOA could have been a hit if Prince promoted it properly, I have no doubt about it. We can say that about everything he released since Purple rain. Everything.

He lost many fans on the run, but he could have attracted a large audience in this project, especially if they had created an "hype" about the re-release of PR.

But when you say, quoting just actual sales and charts that "this album was a flop", people are acting mad, they talk to you about "it is a damn good album", "you are racist" or " the flop is well deserved".

What people love or hate about the album has nothing to do on a sales topic. Some people don't understand that. There is already threads here related to the album, or each tracks separately, or even several topics about ONE song.

RODSERLING said:

It's sad to see how each topic related to sales and charts always end on a debate about the quality or not of an album.

Charts, airplay, sales have nothing to do with the quality of an album. Remember the time when Nsync and Britney Spears dominated the charts ? AOA could have been a hit if Prince promoted it properly, I have no doubt about it. We can say that about everything he released since Purple rain. Everything.

He lost many fans on the run, but he could have attracted a large audience in this project, especially if they had created an "hype" about the re-release of PR.

But when you say, quoting just actual sales and charts that "this album was a flop", people are acting mad, they talk to you about "it is a damn good album", "you are racist" or " the flop is well deserved".

What people love or hate about the album has nothing to do on a sales topic. Some people don't understand that. There is already threads here related to the album, or each tracks separately, or even several topics about ONE song.

Plectrum was a flop, statistically, it's his SECOND LOWEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL TIME.

AOA is not a flop but not a success...

OK you're just repeating yourself man... What else do you want to say, you've been saying the same thing for the past 2 months here...

2funkE said:

Charts schmarts. I am still wearing this album out and it has brought me more joy than anything I have heard from Prince in a very long time. Clouds, Way Back Home, Time are incredibly beautiful tracks and the rest are really damn good. Between this and D'Angelo's new album I am extremely grateful.

I was totally prepared to hate Art Official Age before it was released (based on the "sneak peeks" Prince had already put out), but ended up with egg on my face. While I don't like everything on it (Funknroll can leave and take The Gold Standard with it), there are moments on the album that strike me to the core and redeem everything. And the whole thing hangs together surprisingly well. Me likes.

nosajd said:

hollywooddove said:

This album, I believe, just be a blink on the radar.

I still read from orgers , 'great album'

Great by what standard>

Certainly not great by the standard Prince himself has set in the past

Of course better than anything many COULD do

but not still, this album will fade in to the collection of obscure Prince albums which left little or no impact on the history of music.

I expect Prince to blow minds

Maybe he has became a boring and drab person, and that which he was does not dwell within him anymore.

Not to be a d!ck, but I think your signature pretty much sums up your post.

.

Great by what standards you ask? Great by our own dayum standards. We don't just listen to Prince here, we listen to all sorts of music, we all have differesnt tastes. I don't need sales charts, top album charts, critics or 'experts' on Prince.org to tell me what good music is to my ears, all I need are my ears alone. If you don't like it then fine, move on, if you do great, enjoy. I don't think it's a groundbreaking album but it isn't complete sh!t either, it's a solid album.

.

Prince is an artist, let the man do his thing, we're all passengers along for the ride, not his mechanics.

I don't think it's a groundbreaking album but it isn't complete sh!t either, it's a solid album.

I don't argue that this is not a solid album, but to my ear, and of course each ear being different, this is not what I expected after a four year no album break from the man.

Solid yes, and also forgettable.

(and lol, btw, hollywood is a nickname someone else came up for me, that has nothing to do with the place in LA, and was derived from a joke. I have been to that crap hole in LA, though, and it sucks.)