MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

It'll be 30 million in the U.S. by 2012.

The Eagles record label are gonna make sure that doesn't happen.

They had all that time last year.

No.

Never mind that sales are down - we don;t have the conditions that allowed that to happen anymore.

Michael Jackson in the 80s was INESCAPABLE. I didn't own a copy of Thriller, didn't need to, I heard it every day no matter where I went or what I did. I can still sing the chorus to every song on it, despite the fact that I have never put it on my own turntable. (I've come around to liking it, and him, since then but still don't own the record, only the DVD video collection).

Remember in the 80s there were no Ipods and no internet. If you wanted to listen to music you had the records in your collection, or the radio, or you could watch MTV. Today you have so many options, it's not the same world where we watch the same programs and listen to the same music.

No musical entertainer is going to be that ever-present again.

I wonder when people are gonna REALIZE that BIG ALBUM SALES were only a novelty anyway.

There was a certain magic to why so many sales were achieved at the time. No one can explain WHY Thriller sold the way it did even if you say that it was the songs, the Moonwalk, the THRILLER MINI-MOVIE, etc. It still sold after its initial success so again can you explain it? It was a souvenir to have after 1984.

There STILL could be an album that sells 10 million but it won't ever get to 20/30 million. FUDGETABOUTIT!

[Edited 5/20/11 18:00pm]

bobzilla77 said:

No.

Never mind that sales are down - we don;t have the conditions that allowed that to happen anymore.

Michael Jackson in the 80s was INESCAPABLE. I didn't own a copy of Thriller, didn't need to, I heard it every day no matter where I went or what I did. I can still sing the chorus to every song on it, despite the fact that I have never put it on my own turntable. (I've come around to liking it, and him, since then but still don't own the record, only the DVD video collection).

Remember in the 80s there were no Ipods and no internet. If you wanted to listen to music you had the records in your collection, or the radio, or you could watch MTV. Today you have so many options, it's not the same world where we watch the same programs and listen to the same music.

No musical entertainer is going to be that ever-present again.

I agree with everything you said.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Yes, when I release my album!! Be ready, it's gonna be madniss.

I can't wait....

You never know Justin Beiber may surprise us. The force is strong with that one. It's a kids thing. Only someone like Justin can beat it.

V10LETBLUES said:

You never know Justin Beiber may surprise us. The force is strong with that one. It's a kids thing. Only someone like Justin can beat it.

Gunsnhalen said:

Sales wise? i think it could happen honestly, yes with digital downloads and everything it seem's record sales are going down but hey i still think it could happen!

Do you think anyone will have more number 1's? imagine if some had like seven number ones that would be insane!!1

But this question is just for fun so please none of that usual MJ craziness in here

This is an easy answer....NOPE!

For all we know, it already has. They don't keep sales figures in Asia and the Subcontinent.

[Edited 5/20/11 19:35pm]

V10LETBLUES said:

You never know Justin Beiber may surprise us. The force is strong with that one. It's a kids thing. Only someone like Justin can beat it.

[img:$uid]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn246/themotownbandit84/Funny%20GIFs/gagagif.gif[/img:$uid]

Once someone creates the a new format, say 3D stereo albums or something, yes.

sosgemini said:

Once someone creates the a new format, say 3D stereo albums or something, yes.

Surely that will only trigger a bunch of more sales of Thriller on the new format

I'm going to kick Beyonce and Rihanna's ass, and pay my producers to make the next Thriller and announce it to the whole world before I begin warmups for my vocals

[Edited 5/21/11 0:46am]

802 said:

WaterInYourBath said:

no one cares about albums anymore

Not true.

Yeah, ok.

bobzilla77 said:

No.

Never mind that sales are down - we don;t have the conditions that allowed that to happen anymore.

Michael Jackson in the 80s was INESCAPABLE. I didn't own a copy of Thriller, didn't need to, I heard it every day no matter where I went or what I did. I can still sing the chorus to every song on it, despite the fact that I have never put it on my own turntable. (I've come around to liking it, and him, since then but still don't own the record, only the DVD video collection).

Remember in the 80s there were no Ipods and no internet. If you wanted to listen to music you had the records in your collection, or the radio, or you could watch MTV. Today you have so many options, it's not the same world where we watch the same programs and listen to the same music.

No musical entertainer is going to be that ever-present again.

bobzilla77 said:

No.

Never mind that sales are down - we don;t have the conditions that allowed that to happen anymore.

Michael Jackson in the 80s was INESCAPABLE. I didn't own a copy of Thriller, didn't need to, I heard it every day no matter where I went or what I did. I can still sing the chorus to every song on it, despite the fact that I have never put it on my own turntable. (I've come around to liking it, and him, since then but still don't own the record, only the DVD video collection).

Remember in the 80s there were no Ipods and no internet. If you wanted to listen to music you had the records in your collection, or the radio, or you could watch MTV. Today you have so many options, it's not the same world where we watch the same programs and listen to the same music.

No musical entertainer is going to be that ever-present again.

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

I have never heard a Justin Beiber song, I have no idea what station plays his music, but his name is over saturated over us. Not that I think this kid will really be the one to beat MJ's mainstream kiddie fodder, but that conditions are here once again for this to happen. No doubt in my mind.

V10LETBLUES said:

bobzilla77 said:

No.

Never mind that sales are down - we don;t have the conditions that allowed that to happen anymore.

Michael Jackson in the 80s was INESCAPABLE. I didn't own a copy of Thriller, didn't need to, I heard it every day no matter where I went or what I did. I can still sing the chorus to every song on it, despite the fact that I have never put it on my own turntable. (I've come around to liking it, and him, since then but still don't own the record, only the DVD video collection).

Remember in the 80s there were no Ipods and no internet. If you wanted to listen to music you had the records in your collection, or the radio, or you could watch MTV. Today you have so many options, it's not the same world where we watch the same programs and listen to the same music.

No musical entertainer is going to be that ever-present again.

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

I have never heard a Justin Beiber song, I have no idea what station plays his music, but his name is over saturated over us. Not that I think this kid will really be the one to beat MJ's mainstream kiddie fodder, but that conditions are here once again for this to happen. No doubt in my mind.

The difference between the past and present of the music industry is that we only had radio, television, and an abundance of record stores. Now, we have many trying to imitate, upstage and challenge what this young brave soul was fighting for nearly 30 years ago. Furthermore, I also think that all of these markets such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are part the reason as to why the music business and industry is becoming defunct and even more watered down today. Hell, look at all of these singing competitions, YouTube, etc. Anybody, anywhere can get into this industry easily. The only difference is that back in the day, it was all about survival and strife to be known. As technology is getting advanced, this industry is getting pummeled by images instead of true talents. That's just the way it is. It's a game. PERIOD! Everything is programmed now and "easy".

Thriller being surpassed? NOPE. That was a definite game changer and a one-time thing that will never happen again. Michael reinvented the industry, for better or for worse and nobody could doubt it. The music video market had never been able to be as expansive and forward-thinking, but Michael pushed the envelope and it nearly costed him his life and career. None of us will ever know what that is about.

The problem however is that people can reach any kind of music they want within seconds so it is kind of unimaginable to have one artist that everyone digs to create that kind of mass appeal

LightOfArt said:

The problem however is that people can reach any kind of music they want within seconds so it is kind of unimaginable to have one artist that everyone digs to create that kind of mass appeal

That too!

And the idea that music isn't about an image and popularity or how well you can dance and sing. Music is simply a form of expression, skill and art. We have gotten those two concepts mixed up over time. It takes years of survival, sacrifice, and struggle. Artists and people both in the 20th and 21st century have become focused about salability and what can appeal. It has downgraded what we believe music is supposed to be and that's the sickening part about it.

[Edited 5/21/11 6:38am]

Ellie said:

sosgemini said:

Once someone creates the a new format, say 3D stereo albums or something, yes.

Surely that will only trigger a bunch of more sales of Thriller on the new format

Interesting point.

silverchild said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

I have never heard a Justin Beiber song, I have no idea what station plays his music, but his name is over saturated over us. Not that I think this kid will really be the one to beat MJ's mainstream kiddie fodder, but that conditions are here once again for this to happen. No doubt in my mind.

The difference between the past and present of the music industry is that we only had radio, television, and an abundance of record stores. Now, we have many trying to imitate, upstage and challenge what this young brave soul was fighting for nearly 30 years ago. Furthermore, I also think that all of these markets such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are part the reason as to why the music business and industry is becoming defunct and even more watered down today. Hell, look at all of these singing competitions, YouTube, etc. Anybody, anywhere can get into this industry easily. The only difference is that back in the day, it was all about survival and strife to be known. As technology is getting advanced, this industry is getting pummeled by images instead of true talents. That's just the way it is. It's a game. PERIOD! Everything is programmed now and "easy".

Thriller being surpassed? NOPE. That was a definite game changer and a one-time thing that will never happen again. Michael reinvented the industry, for better or for worse and nobody could doubt it. The music video market had never been able to be as expansive and forward-thinking, but Michael pushed the envelope and it nearly costed him his life and career. None of us will ever know what that is about.

I disagree. MJ changed nothing. MTV did. It was also a convergence. A good record did not hurt matters either.

But a convergence and the ability for music media to once again be sold through concentrated channels that can once again be the mainstream thoroughfare is upon us once again. It may be difficult for some to see right now, but it's right under our nose.

Same game different names now. The business has adjusted, now the players that got it right are starting to show. Netfllix, iTunes, Amazon, Google.......

V10LETBLUES said:

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

Worldwide?! Not a chance. That's like saying that sales of the Beatles' are going to be surpassed sometime soon. That's not happening either.

Thriller already has almost 30 years ahead of whoever comes out now and it's going to continue to sell. There's just no, possible, way. We still have yet to find an album that has been able to surpass 20 million in sales. Example: even for how big Lady Gaga is she still hasn't had one album yet that surpassed Britney Spears's first album sales of 25 million. Also, even though Justin Bieber's movie outdid MJ's in the in the US, his international sales were barely a drop in the bucket. Maybe besides Lady Gaga and Britney Spears this seems to be the issue with most US artists, as they can, rarely, reach out to the international markets and vice versa with international superstars, such as Kylie Minogue.

Also, the internet music market has already been in existance for time now. If it's proven anything it's that singles sales have become prevalaent yet again. Yet, as I said earlier, all this has done is create more niche markets. There's a good reason why genres such as: "post-punk hardcore melodic metal r&b rock" exist today. Maybe album sales will become prevalent again...but that won't be for another couple of years...that is unless they create a completely new format.

V10LETBLUES said:

silverchild said:

The difference between the past and present of the music industry is that we only had radio, television, and an abundance of record stores. Now, we have many trying to imitate, upstage and challenge what this young brave soul was fighting for nearly 30 years ago. Furthermore, I also think that all of these markets such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are part the reason as to why the music business and industry is becoming defunct and even more watered down today. Hell, look at all of these singing competitions, YouTube, etc. Anybody, anywhere can get into this industry easily. The only difference is that back in the day, it was all about survival and strife to be known. As technology is getting advanced, this industry is getting pummeled by images instead of true talents. That's just the way it is. It's a game. PERIOD! Everything is programmed now and "easy".

Thriller being surpassed? NOPE. That was a definite game changer and a one-time thing that will never happen again. Michael reinvented the industry, for better or for worse and nobody could doubt it. The music video market had never been able to be as expansive and forward-thinking, but Michael pushed the envelope and it nearly costed him his life and career. None of us will ever know what that is about.

I disagree. MJ changed nothing. MTV did. It was also a convergence. A good record did not hurt matters either.

But a convergence and the ability for music media to once again be sold through concentrated channels that can once again be the mainstream thoroughfare is upon us once again. It may be difficult for some to see right now, but it's right under our nose.

Same game different names now. The business has adjusted, now the players that got it right are starting to show. Netfllix, iTunes, Amazon, Google.......

Actually MJ and the powers that be behind him did change the industry. MTV wasn't willing to play a video like "Thriller" for many reasons, but it took the innovative mind and creative force of Michael and a music company like Epic to have faith, willingness, and at other times, assertiveness. Sure, without MTV playing that video, Thriller would've been another album and Michael would've still been considered just another "Black artist" (whatever that means), but the thing people seem to forget is that people had to push certain buttons. MTV even changed their format. Before the emergence of Thriller, there were few Black artists and artists in general getting their videos played in constant rotation. Mind you, Michael wasn't the first Black artist with a video on MTV, but he certainly was the game changer in which artists, not just Black artists, could have the capacity of having a music video played abundantly. Record executives, public, and music markets took notice just as simple as that. So we have to thank Michael and those wicked music exectives taking a chance on this young man, who already had nearly 15 years in the game.

Again.....people had to push buttons, not technology or computers!

Unholyalliance said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

Worldwide?! Not a chance. That's like saying that sales of the Beatles' are going to be surpassed sometime soon. That's not happening either.

Thriller already has almost 30 years ahead of whoever comes out now and it's going to continue to sell. There's just no, possible, way. We still have yet to find an album that has been able to surpass 20 million in sales. Example: even for how big Lady Gaga is she still hasn't had one album yet that surpassed Britney Spears's first album sales of 25 million. Also, even though Justin Bieber's movie outdid MJ's in the in the US, his international sales were barely a drop in the bucket. Maybe besides Lady Gaga and Britney Spears this seems to be the issue with most US artists, as they can, rarely, reach out to the international markets and vice versa with international superstars, such as Kylie Minogue.

Also, the internet music market has already been in existance for time now. If it's proven anything it's that singles sales have become prevalaent yet again. Yet, as I said earlier, all this has done is create more niche markets. There's a good reason why genres such as: "post-punk hardcore melodic metal r&b rock" exist today. Maybe album sales will become prevalent again...but that won't be for another couple of years...that is unless they create a completely new format.

This is only the beginning. Nothing has been proven yet. People adopt, and if there is a buck to be made, stand back because someone is going to snatch it. Nothing is set in stone right now. People need to stop thinking in absolutisms.

Unholyalliance said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I get where you are coming from, But sales of Thriller will definitely be surpassed sooner than you think. The conditions that allowed Thriller are brewing once again. We just need another kid friendly talent to create another cross-generational hit.

The internet is finally coming into it's adolescence. Google, Amazon and Apple are creating new music lockers that will make it easy and cheap to buy new music. Everyone including our grandma's are internet savvy now, and the net is the new mainstream media for mainstream fodder. A new perfect storm is coming. You watch.

Worldwide?! Not a chance. That's like saying that sales of the Beatles' are going to be surpassed sometime soon. That's not happening either.

Thriller already has almost 30 years ahead of whoever comes out now and it's going to continue to sell. There's just no, possible, way. We still have yet to find an album that has been able to surpass 20 million in sales. Example: even for how big Lady Gaga is she still hasn't had one album yet that surpassed Britney Spears's first album sales of 25 million. Also, even though Justin Bieber's movie outdid MJ's in the in the US, his international sales were barely a drop in the bucket. Maybe besides Lady Gaga and Britney Spears this seems to be the issue with most US artists, as they can, rarely, reach out to the international markets and vice versa with international superstars, such as Kylie Minogue.

Also, the internet music market has already been in existance for time now. If it's proven anything it's that singles sales have become prevalaent yet again. Yet, as I said earlier, all this has done is create more niche markets. There's a good reason why genres such as: "post-punk hardcore melodic metal r&b rock" exist today. Maybe album sales will become prevalent again...but that won't be for another couple of years...that is unless they create a completely new format.

Agreed! It's just a different landscape now. Different methods are taken into effect and they aren't the same as they were yesteryear. That's the problem with the state of this industry today. Why are folks constantly looking back, but at the same time trying to push forward? It just doesn't work all of the time. The internet music market was already in existence before the emergence of iTunes and probably Napster. The only thing that it has showed from its origins to now is that singles sales are more dominant. We don't know about the future of album sales. That whole jazz about CDs dying out is still arguable today because we can't just look at record stores. We gotta take internet sales of CDs into account too. But I don't know. It's just a game...a corrupted game. All I know is that it's a different game that is played now.

[Edited 5/21/11 8:44am]

I love how there's one person who actually thinks it's possible people can sell WITH the internet. It's good having your own opinion but VI0LET, I just only wonder how that's gonna work in the next ten years. Surely you don't think someone in THIS day and age can push Thriller-type sales with the type of promotion one does.

Timmy84 said:

I love how there's one person who actually thinks it's possible people can sell WITH the internet. It's good having your own opinion but VI0LET, I just only wonder how that's gonna work in the next ten years. Surely you don't think someone in THIS day and age can push Thriller-type sales with the type of promotion one does.

There's a model...it just hasn't been thought up yet.

sosgemini said:

Timmy84 said:

I love how there's one person who actually thinks it's possible people can sell WITH the internet. It's good having your own opinion but VI0LET, I just only wonder how that's gonna work in the next ten years. Surely you don't think someone in THIS day and age can push Thriller-type sales with the type of promotion one does.

There's a model...it just hasn't been thought up yet.

No one's thinking about it now though. You think they think about it now...

You never know what the future may hold, but I think it's safe to say that "Thriller" sales certainly WONT be surpassed in THIS lifetime.

Impossible really. As others have already stated, albums don't sell the way they used too and that is largely due to the internet. Albums are really becoming a thing of the past if you ask me.

Every year, it seems that album sales decline. I don't see anyone repeating the success of "Thriller".

The world is a different place now. Technology, internet,etc. have a major part in this.

It just wont happen.

[Edited 5/21/11 10:26am]

I agree w/ most everyone else, Thriller will never be surpassed sales-wise