Rihanna may be getting ‘Loud’, but it seems no one is listening. At least, not enough.

The first week sales predictions are in for Ms. Fenty’s latest release…and it’s not looking particularly good for the model and her label.

Find out how much ‘Loud’ is set to debut with next week after the jump…

According to the ever-reliable Hits Daily Double, the LP will premiere on the Billboard 200 with sales to the tune of 180,000.

While arguably respectable numbers given the current sales climate, the figures will no doubt come as a blow to the Pop pretender’s label – who have once again pumped millions of marketing dollars into the project, only to yield back little in returns.

To add insult to injury, the sales are on course to be less than last year’s ‘Rated R’ (which debuted with 190,000)

Speaking on the Angie Martinez show last night, the 22 year old appeared aware of the looming low numbers (and the flack she may receive for it), saying:

“Never have I ever stressed out on the first week. Ever since ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’, the first week was like 160[,000], and it grew to sell nine million albums. The first week never determines what the success of the album will be.”

Slow and steady may win the race, yet we’re in an era when you need to come flying out of the gate – and that Ms. Fenty is not. This, despite being at what should be her commercial peak, and of course the two chart smashes which preceded the album (‘Only Girl’ and ‘What’s My Name’).

What do you think is the disconnect between Rihanna and the record-buying public? Because it’s as clear as her lack of talent, that there is a serious problem. Did I just answer my own question. Damn…

Tidbit: Nelly’s ‘5.0′ is set to shift 60,000 first week.

Trent’s Sidebar:

This is Rihanna’s 5th album and she is yet to have a #1 ranking. Seriously? Didn’t she just get her 8th #1 single? Rihanna: the definition of a singles artist.

Your thoughts

HAPPYPERSON said:

Rihanna may be getting ‘Loud’, but it seems no one is listening. At least, not enough.

The first week sales predictions are in for Ms. Fenty’s latest release…and it’s not looking particularly good for the model and her label.

Find out how much ‘Loud’ is set to debut with next week after the jump…

According to the ever-reliable Hits Daily Double, the LP will premiere on the Billboard 200 with sales to the tune of 180,000.

While arguably respectable numbers given the current sales climate, the figures will no doubt come as a blow to the Pop pretender’s label – who have once again pumped millions of marketing dollars into the project, only to yield back little in returns.

To add insult to injury, the sales are on course to be less than last year’s ‘Rated R’ (which debuted with 190,000)

Speaking on the Angie Martinez show last night, the 22 year old appeared aware of the looming low numbers (and the flack she may receive for it), saying:

“Never have I ever stressed out on the first week. Ever since ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’, the first week was like 160[,000], and it grew to sell nine million albums. The first week never determines what the success of the album will be.”

Slow and steady may win the race, yet we’re in an era when you need to come flying out of the gate – and that Ms. Fenty is not. This, despite being at what should be her commercial peak, and of course the two chart smashes which preceded the album (‘Only Girl’ and ‘What’s My Name’).

What do you think is the disconnect between Rihanna and the record-buying public? Because it’s as clear as her lack of talent, that there is a serious problem. Did I just answer my own question. Damn…

Tidbit: Nelly’s ‘5.0′ is set to shift 60,000 first week.

Trent’s Sidebar:

This is Rihanna’s 5th album and she is yet to have a #1 ranking. Seriously? Didn’t she just get her 8th #1 single? Rihanna: the definition of a singles artist.

Your thoughts

Well like i have said a million times the days of a million are over, sure Taylor Swift did it, but she sells to everyone, white, male, female, kids especially and she is safe, Rihanna is past that "safe" stage, the whole image change for Rated R, etc.. But again, its first week, its meaninlgess now because the mind-set that people have is the days of the Backstreet Boys when everyone sold half a million a week, times change, music is not important and people maybe just dont really care that much like they used to about Rihanna, or maybe they are saving some beans for Xmas, etc...or maybe it was because this album was all over the internet 3 weeks prior, etc..i mean its a host of things, but the main thing is that people need to get into this century with thinking, the 90's are gone, shit dont sell like that anymore, take that 180,000 and be freaking proud, with the holidays coming this album is a sure gold seller, her first and sceond album both didnt move quick, shes a singles artist too not someone where you go, damn gotta get that new cd.

This is why labels should not always hope for a million and you don't even get half of that. Back before 2000 or whatever, no one cared about "first week sales" and if you debuted with those numbers back then, it was more like "how did that happen" rather than "oh this could be good for albums, let's promote it the first week and if it's platinum, fuck further promotion". I think Rihanna's album sales do well, but the label's wishes need to be deducted so she won't look like a failure.

Timmy84 said:

This is why labels should not always hope for a million and you don't even get half of that. Back before 2000 or whatever, no one cared about "first week sales" and if you debuted with those numbers back then, it was more like "how did that happen" rather than "oh this could be good for albums, let's promote it the first week and if it's platinum, fuck further promotion". I think Rihanna's album sales do well, but the label's wishes need to be deducted so she won't look like a failure.

yeah i dont know why everyone is so brainwashed about the whole soundscan thing, to put it in perspective, Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet back in 1986 at its peak was selling 200,000 a month? this record went on to sell about 10 million in the states and over 25 worlwide. And lets not forget the 70's icons like Stevie and David Bowie and Elton John had so much product that they were lucky to have gold records then, and that was shipping not over the counter.

wow! Doesn't she have a number one single in the states right now?

I guess the music industry has done a u-turn and singles are the big sellers now like when Elvis was at his peak. Shame. I hope albums don't die out.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

This is why labels should not always hope for a million and you don't even get half of that. Back before 2000 or whatever, no one cared about "first week sales" and if you debuted with those numbers back then, it was more like "how did that happen" rather than "oh this could be good for albums, let's promote it the first week and if it's platinum, fuck further promotion". I think Rihanna's album sales do well, but the label's wishes need to be deducted so she won't look like a failure.

yeah i dont know why everyone is so brainwashed about the whole soundscan thing, to put it in perspective, Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet back in 1986 at its peak was selling 200,000 a month? this record went on to sell about 10 million in the states and over 25 worlwide. And lets not forget the 70's icons like Stevie and David Bowie and Elton John had so much product that they were lucky to have gold records then, and that was shipping not over the counter.

Exactly.

mancabdriver said:

wow! Doesn't she have a number one single in the states right now?

I guess the music industry has done a u-turn and singles are the big sellers now like when Elvis was at his peak. Shame. I hope albums don't die out.

Well think about it. Back two decades ago. Having a number-one single and an album that did 180,000 was normal. Now it's "abnormal" for some revisionist reason.

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

midiscover said:

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

She must've did over 500K then lol

midiscover said:

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

Maybe the reason is because none of Rhianna's 5 career albums were exactly great. This thread was right the first time; she is a singles-based artist, NOT a album-based artist.

TonyVanDam said:

midiscover said:

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

Maybe the reason is because none of Rhianna's 5 career albums were exactly great. This thread was right the first time; she is a singles-based artist, NOT a album-based artist.

Basically lol

BURP! s'cuse me

midiscover said:

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

It's embarassing isn't it? Considered to be one of the hottest in the game yet can't score a #1 album. Even C-Error has one under her belt. SMH...

And Queen SuBo snatching wigs once again. Doesn't surprise me.

Rihanna has always been a single artist...

Good Girl Gone Bad was really well done as an album though.

Also, Susan Boyle is still relevant? ERGH!

As long as I continue to not hear from her, I guess it's fine.

Realistically, 180-190k is a good first week tally for any artist these days. More importantly, she's on track for 500k worldwide this week. The album will no doubt eventually scan 1 million+ in the US and outsell Rated R worldwide. That's a lot more than you can say for most artists these days and somehow, I don't think she's hurting.

What could be possibly keeping her out of the #1 spot this week?

Cinnie said:

What could be possibly keeping her out of the #1 spot this week?

[img:$uid]http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/apr2009/1/2/susan-boyle-pic-pa-106501596.jpg[/img:$uid]

Cinnie said:

Timmy84 said:

Cinnie said:

What could be possibly keeping her out of the #1 spot this week?

[img:$uid]http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/apr2009/1/2/susan-boyle-pic-pa-106501596.jpg[/img:$uid]

...........and don't forget about THIS little girl:

[img:$uid]http://images06.alloy.com/images/gossip/swift_taylor.jpg[/img:$uid]

Asymphony5 said:

Rihanna has always been a single artist...

Good Girl Gone Bad was really well done as an album though.

Also, Susan Boyle is still relevant? ERGH!

As long as I continue to not hear from her, I guess it's fine.

SuBo is the new Queen of Wig Snatching. Slayed multiple favorites last holiday season, will do the same this year.

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/apr2009/1/2/susan-boyle-pic-pa-106501596.jpg[/img:$uid]

...........and don't forget about THIS little girl:

[img:$uid]http://images06.alloy.com/images/gossip/swift_taylor.jpg[/img:$uid]

True lol

midiscover said:

She's the definition of a singles artist. SuBo shitting on her once again. Rihanna is on her 5th album and still has 0 #1 albums. How unfortunate.

How unfortunate? Bitch can't sang.

Today's pop artists rely on "hype" to get them through. The question is always "how excited can we get teenagers?" Can we get them excited enough to talk their parents into buying the CD while they are at Walmart or Target? That's the question. They don't care if its about the music, the outfit she's wearing on the inside sleeve or just hoping that she will diss Beyoncé or somebody. Aside from the 1 or 2 songs they use to push the CD, they themselves don't care about the music.

First week sales seem to be largely "fan sales", which is why rock and metal bands can debut high and then they quickly drop. Rihanna doesn't strike me as someone who would have a large fan base ("fan" as in "fanatic"). She's a celebrity by this point, so she doesn't just release something and then disappear from the public. Everything about the two first singles from this album seems to indicate they're aiming for consistent radio and club play - just like with the last two records.

180,000 seems to be a fairly normal first week figure for a successful album these days.

I think the numbers are because she's starting to do consistent promo now rather than back when Only Girl first went to radio. If she'd been doing the talk show rounds, SNL etc back then, the numbers would probably be bigger. She got it right with GGGB by performing at the MTV Movie Awards just as Umbrella was really taking off.

Still, looking forward to the S&M video!

The first-week sales aren't a clear indicator of failure in the long term. All of her albums debut with moderate sales. There are artists out there would sell a kidney to

move 180K copies in the first week.

Identity said:

The first-week sales aren't a clear indicator of failure in the long term. All of her albums debut with moderate sales. There are artists out there would sell a kidney to

move 180K copies in the first week.

Exactly. Now if it was 6,000...

Shit 180K is healthy sales to me.

Bet. Check out my man Ceelo. He only sold 41,000 copies of his brand new allbum, Lady Killer, despite all of the buzz around the song "F*ck You".

VoicesCarry said:

Realistically, 180-190k is a good first week tally for any artist these days. More importantly, she's on track for 500k worldwide this week. The album will no doubt eventually scan 1 million+ in the US and outsell Rated R worldwide. That's a lot more than you can say for most artists these days and somehow, I don't think she's hurting.

There aren't too many artists with two singles being played heavily on radio right now. I don't think anybody said that when Janet opened with figures like that. Nobody said that when Mariah was set to open with that amount last year. But now, that figure is pretty good???? Excuses excuses

Identity said:

Bet. Check out my man Ceelo. He only sold 41,000 copies of his brand new allbum, Lady Killer, despite all of the buzz around the song "F*ck You".

But that's a really good number for a solo Cee Lo record. Good for him.