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Did Frank Ocean's Coming Out Boost His Album Sales? Has Frank Ocean's Sexuality Boosted 'Channel Orange' Album Sales?Last year, Frank Ocean released his 'Nostalgia Ultra' mixtape, via his Tumblr page. Details on the artists were few and far between. In some ways, he traded on his anonymity.
Now, in 2012, that anonymity has been blown wide open, as Frank made headlines last week (just ahead of the release of his Def Jam debut, 'Channel Orange'). News of his coming out as bisexual spread like wildfire across the internet, introducing the name 'Frank Ocean' to thousands of music fans who perhaps had not heard the name - or indeed, his music - before.
With seemingly little effort from his record label (aside from some private listening sessions, Mtv reports, and a commercial aired during the Bet awards), the Odd Future affiliate's 'Channel Orange' shot to the top of the iTunes chart yesterday (July 10, 2012) within hours of its release. It's hard to imagine that a conventional record label marketing campaign could have been as effective as Ocean's decision to reveal the truth about his sexuality.
In a world where people assume black males in the hip-hop community to be heterosexual, his admission that he's not one of them seems to have worked wonders for his album sales. Whether or not the confession was a calculated move in order to attract attention, will remain a subject for debate and speculation. What will be harder to deny, though, is that Frank's surge in popularity can be attributed to his open statement about his sexuality. http://www.contactmusic.c...es_1361945
TBH I never even heard of this guy until he made his statement coming out. Now he is everywhere. Havent listened to his new album yet but I checked out the other thread here and some people are saying its a masterpiece, the best album of the year, others are saying its just ok... What are people's thoughts on this?
MJ L.O.V.E: https://www.facebook.com/...689&type=2 / YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/us...nderSilent | |
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There was a lot of hype around him anyways, to anyone that payed attention. I honestly don't even think that it became as huge as people think. Certain orgers are of course going to say it was for publicity and to boost album sales, but I doubt that they have any knowledge of black R&B and hip-hop culture and how it was more likely to crash and burn than make him even more famous. | |
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^Well I guess I wasnt paying attention because I never heard of him before until now MJ L.O.V.E: https://www.facebook.com/...689&type=2 / YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/us...nderSilent | |
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How many albums has he released? Are they all pretty good?
One mixtape, Nostalgia Ultra, that came out last year. Was pretty strong, in my opinion. He got a bit of buzz off that. channel ORANGE is coming out next week and that, obviously, has a lot of buzz. [Edited 7/11/12 7:18am] | |
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I'll have to check it out, thanks! MJ L.O.V.E: https://www.facebook.com/...689&type=2 / YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/us...nderSilent | |
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Anytime! | |
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Hooray for him! "It's not nice to fuck with K.B.! All you haters will see!" - Kitbradley
"The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing." - Socrates | |
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I really think it's all because of the hoopla surrounding his coming out, though. I'm curious as to what the demographic is of the people buying the record? 
Only time will tell whether he will be able to maintain good record sales but I hope the time has FINALLY arrived where a black male R&B singer can be judged on his talents alone and not his sexuality.Simple answer would be; hell yes.
And I think it is of no convenience... | |
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Even though he was already getting buzz last year (how often do mixtapes get top 60 hits?) I do feel it helped boost sales | |
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If only music executives knew beforehand how lucrative it would be to come out of the closet... Chris Brown would have done so ages ago [Edited 7/11/12 7:44am] | |
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As a black R&B artist who is heavily involved in the hip-hop world? Frank took more of a risk. Many PR representatives might consider that career suicide if it was a publicity stunt. That's not shit you play around with in a world of "no homo" and "pause". | |
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His fans aren't exactly hip-hop devotees. | |
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Frank is a member of OF and his fan base has primarily been R&B and hip-hop devotees. | |
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There was hype and anticipation before he came out.
His album would have gone top 5 without question either way. | |
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Frank was in a better position because of the critical and industry love he has been shown over the past year.
This ain't no scrub that decided to come out. If he weren't doing special things then this revelation would've done damage for sure. He probably wouldn't even dare do it.
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People forget how big OF is. 
His album doesn't sound like it's catered towards his hip-hop devotees, in my opinion. | |
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It's not really, but that's where he's known most. | |
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He already had a boost from his EP last year so folks already knew who he is. His audience may have increased AFTER he admitted his bisexuality but he always had an audience so he was gonna do good especially since he's an Odd Future member. | |
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Chris Brown wouldn't need to, his gay audience is secure. Frank Ocean isn't selling sex like Breezy but now his is secure too.
I can't stop listening to "Channel Orange" it's like Maxwell on acid. He can't sing that well but the music takes over. It's a real album, no other young R&B cat can see him. This is a magnum opus.
The hype generated by his coming out letter combined with his superior product was marketing genius. This dude done blown up, for real! | |
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Well, that alone will pretty much guarantee him a #1 spot on some Billboard chart. "It's not nice to fuck with K.B.! All you haters will see!" - Kitbradley
"The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing." - Socrates | |
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Hi David. | |
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Where can I hear samples online?
Amazon doesn't have any...thanks in advance! "Keep in mind that I'm an artist...and I'm sensitive about my shit."--E. Badu | |
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Second post. | |
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There was already rumors about a " Hip Hop/Rnb male" that wrote for other artist that was going to come out on his album & reveal his sexuality. I refused to post it on here. Because I felt that is a private matter.... [Edited 7/11/12 10:59am]  will ALWAYS think of  like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. mean of all people who might of been aliens or angels.if found out that wasn't of this earth, would not have been that surprised. R.I.P. | |
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KCOOLMUZIQ said: There was already rumors about a " Hip Hop/Rnb male" that wrote for other artist that was going to come out on his album & reveal his sexuality. I refused to post it on here. Because I felt that is a private matter.... [Edited 7/11/12 10:59am]  | |
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But Jada and Will have no privacy? Oh, okay. [Edited 7/11/12 11:06am] | |
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And yet you post about the Smith family's whereabouts every chance you get... | |
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Perhaps the title should be changed to; did Frank Ocean use his coming out to boost his album sales? | |
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