they're just mad cuz they aint think of it first.

I don't think that Prince "cheated" per se. I do however think his billboard sales shouldn't count. After all, people are not buying these tickets for the CDs. They're MOSTLY buying them to hear his old hits. This could be the worst CD ever released! It could be a CD of pure silence, and it would still be on the billboard charts, which indicates to me that the sales are not motivated by an interest in the CD, but by an interest in his live show.

that's all.

I don't get it. Billboard decided to count the CDs. People act like Prince begged for these CDs to be counted.

It could be a CD of pure silence, and it would still be on the billboard charts, which indicates to me that the sales are not motivated by an interest in the CD, but by an interest in his live show.

that's all.

Please tell me there are not fans who actually have a problem with this!

This is one of the best ways that I've ever heard of in getting music out to the people.

It was BILLBOARD'S doing that these CD's be counted NOT PRINCE.

Even if the album was optional how much could he have chrged. i mean i bought mine for $10 with the full packaging so he would chanrge maybe $5
since it is the bare CD and he has no marketing costs.

I am sure alteast 60% of the ppl would have added it
That means it could still be top 10.

Talking of the Cure Wanted it the same way without the option but now they changed the policy. so they changed too


He would have given it with the ticket regardless becasue he wanted more to hear him!! But i remeber b4 the CD came out everyone was saying the sales r goin to be poor becasue ppl will get it from the concert!! so they wont buy!!

why billboard agreed to it:
1> Who thought prince could play to 1.5million ppl
2> The cost of a bare CD(~$5) is only 10% or lower then the ticket.
3> The CD is totally related to the tour and him!!
4> if ppl r gettin CD from concert then the sales at retail be lower which is true!!


I dont know what the biggest tour in terms of ppl attended is!!

Not many ppl can pull off such a thing:
1) Tour is 1.5mil pp!!l how many acts can do that
2) He recorded it with his own money. Owns the master
3) he wrote all the songs played all the intruments! so no copyrite problems.

he can do it only coz he is so talented!!

Big success he will make $60million+ this yr and have a big CD which will stay in topten for 6months!! and all the Fans get a free CD!! no one is complaining
could it have ever been better!!!
[This message was edited Thu Jun 24 22:05:24 2004 by asg]

Yeah, but Billboard purposes of counting these CDs are different from what Prince's purpose is for giving out CDs. He wanted the people at the concerts to hear the new music. And that's a great idea!

Also, for the record Springsteen's last tour drew 3.1 million people.

savoirfaire said:

Agreed, Billboard is supposed to be tracking units that are intentionally bought. Buying the concert tickets and getting a free CD does not necessarily mean that their was a specific interest in attaining the CD.

That is why "The Cure" is making theirs an optional purchase. THe purchase of the CD would then show that their was a specific intention to buy the CD.

I personally think if Prince made his CD optional with the purchase that he would still seel a hellova lot of them.

asg said:

Wrong
Springsteen Drew in 1.1 million grossin about 110million last yr
That included a 10nite stand at some nyc stadium with 50,000/nite

I know purple Rain tour had a draw of almost 1.7million

Does any one know the correct # for the most attended concert??


I dont think ppl mind payign $5 extra for another CD
[This message was edited Fri Jun 25 7:33:02 2004 by asg]

AsianBomb777 said:

Billboard DOES NOT track units that are "intentionally bought". Ever see how Soundscan numbers are compiled. They are figured by "scan sales" (actual bought or scanned by a reg), & corporate music buyers bulk buy (thats how you see that tag line about a record: sold 3 million its first week). 3 million people didn't buy the record, a bunch of music buyers ordered/bought 3 million pieces.
That number s figured into some mathematic equataion none of will know about & voila-a number of "sales". Billboard also includes Soundscan numbers. I own a small label and also work for a music vendor so I know all about this. Prince isn't doing anything dishonest, because if anything he's being more honest-at least these millions of people actually have these CD's. Its not sitting in some warehouse somewhere.

Clive Davis "loaned" Tower Records a few million dollars to "buy" Alicia keys first record. Why would he do that? What better promotion is there then being on the top of the charts. Get it. He was eventually fined by the RIAA. So these numbers are about promotion not sales. Prince did a brilliant thing (as far as music industry business savvy goes) he kept his new music in attention while playing a hits tour. So he opened it up for his new stuff to have maximum exposure and kept him in full industry attention by keeping the numbers up. He found a loophole...they can't deny there own crooked system.


Nero

neronava said:

Excellent points.

asg said:

Dude contact me if you would like to make a bet on this.

From the news section of Bruce's website:

"...This represents the 120th and final show of Springsteen and the Band's world tour, which has now played to over 3 million people. No additional dates will be announced."

You only looked at the stadium leg of the tour when quoting your numbers.

.
[This message was edited Fri Jun 25 9:24:58 2004 by lovemachine]

lovemachine said:

i was wrong it was 1.6million ppl which is still less then purple Rain with 1.7mill

http://www.antimusic.com/...em61.shtml

Bruce Springsteen was clearly the Boss in the 2003 concert season. On Wednesday, Pollstar released the list of the Top 20 grossing tours of 2003.
Springsteen was far and away the leader. Bruce Springsteen & The E. St. Band brought in $115.9 million dollars in 2003 with an average per concert gross of $3.9 million. Springsteen managed to pack the crowds in and sold over 1.6 million concert tickets in 2003 with an average price of $71.36 per ticket.


but my point is no one will mind paying $5 extra for a CD i am sure about 60% of ppl will opt for it making it still top 10!!

OdysseyMiles said:

But so is the fact that he could be handing out cd's of silence or even worse "1999 - The New Master" and it would be in the top 10.

Let 'em complain.

The music industry has for DECADES had corrupt practices at the expense of recording artists, and that includes the perceived oh-so-noble billboard charts according to Soundscan. Everybody who knows that, and has a beef with Prince's over the table tactics can't absolve themselves of being silently hypocritical about that.

Here's the thing. Billboard decided to count the cds. Billboard has since revised its position. Why is this "debate" continuing?