Well, that didn't take long.

.

Now that Rebel Heart and its singles have fallen off the charts, let's do a postmortem! Why didn't it work? She was definitely trying...

.

Was it the pretty-good-but-not-great songs? Ageism? Leaks? Tired music videos? Tired hairdos? Matadors? Annie Lennox?!?!

.

I don't know / you tell me. (If I was in charge I'd take away her instagram account and cut her hair.)

[Edited 4/28/15 19:17pm]

I will have to revisit, but I don't think it was a good album overrall. I do enjoy the song Beautiful Scars and I will be seeing her on tour.

Nothing went "wrong" with it.We live in an era of declining CD sales.It has nothing to do with the music on the album.Madonna could work with Patrick Leonard again and re-create a 'Like A Prayer'-type album and it still wouldn't be a big seller in this day and age.Madonna is a veteran artist and we all know that veteran artists only sell alot of records when they do cover albums,or an album of duets.

but just to put it all in perspective,here's something I stole from another forum

Let's remember that, while her sales may not be blockbuster flavored, she's still outperforming her "peers". Many of whom have done some of the ridiculous suggestions posted in the last thread....

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold Prince and his much ballyhooed return to Warner Bros. Records, which gave him a whopping 51K in week one.

Madonna's Rebel Heart sold right at what mega-seller Garth Brooks' latest moved, 119K his first week back fresh from retirement.

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold giveaway gods U2, whose latest only managed 28K their first week, but I guess we all know what happened there so we'll move on. " />

Springsteen? 99K

Do we even need to tap into the the pretenders to the throne from years past and present? J.Lo at 33K... Mariah at 53K... Mary J Blige at 57K... Shakira at 85K... Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold them all.

^^ the bottom line is....many people aren't selling a ton of record these days.There are only a handful of artists (all of them young and currently in their "heyday") who are selling lots of records these days.If you're a veteran artist,you gotta focus on touring.

I mean,think about it....we live in an era where a new Mariah Carey album sells only 53k in its' first week.....we live in an era where Pharrell has a massive single ("Happy") but yet his album barely went gold.It's not the 80s or 90s anymore.

Oh, geez. This again?!! The RH era ain't over; the tour hasn't begun. Too early to count Madonna out. And I suspect she will always rebound...on or off the charts of pop music.

babybugz said:

I will have to revisit, but I don't think it was a good album overrall. I do enjoy the song Beautiful Scars and I will be seeing her on tour.

Lot's of good songs on RH, but Beautiful Scars is my favorite.

Bit premature to write it off as a flop, it's just gone up the UK album charts again this week.

It's her best album since Confessions but the media's ageism is really against her right now.

What would have been the criteria for "right?" Madonna's album has already outperformed latest albums by Mariah, Celine, JLo, Britney, Kelly Clarkson, and a host of others. And we can pretty much bet that if Janet ever releases a new album, it won't do half as well as it either. For the past 10-15 years, every time Madonna releases a new album, the overall industry sales average is lower than it was the previous time she put one out, with her numbers lowering along with it...so there you go.

The only thing this era has missed that the others didn't was that #1 Billboard 200 spot (which she would have had if they hadn't made those ridiculous changes to their tallying system) and that one song that narrowly managed to scrape the top 10, which wasn't likely this time.

Sales numbers-wise, she's not faring that much worse than just about everyone else whose been around at least 10 years.

word of mouth and spotify/youtube, that's what = people can clearly hear how BAD this album is and ain't buyin' it;

worst album of her career (not that HC/MDNA were great , quite the contrary)

SoulAlive said:

Nothing went "wrong" with it.We live in an era of declining CD sales.It has nothing to do with the music on the album.Madonna could work with Patrick Leonard again and re-create a 'Like A Prayer'-type album and it still wouldn't be a big seller in this day and age.Madonna is a veteran artist and we all know that veteran artists only sell alot of records when they do cover albums,or an album of duets.

but just to put it all in perspective,here's something I stole from another forum

Let's remember that, while her sales may not be blockbuster flavored, she's still outperforming her "peers". Many of whom have done some of the ridiculous suggestions posted in the last thread....

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold Prince and his much ballyhooed return to Warner Bros. Records, which gave him a whopping 51K in week one.

Madonna's Rebel Heart sold right at what mega-seller Garth Brooks' latest moved, 119K his first week back fresh from retirement.

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold giveaway gods U2, whose latest only managed 28K their first week, but I guess we all know what happened there so we'll move on. " />

Springsteen? 99K

Do we even need to tap into the the pretenders to the throne from years past and present? J.Lo at 33K... Mariah at 53K... Mary J Blige at 57K... Shakira at 85K... Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold them all.

I´m surprised that Prince´s AOA album did so well in comparison. I mean, Madonna´s Rebel Heart sold what, a bit more than twice the number of what Prince sold but I would´ve expected her to sell four or five times more. So Prince is still capable of selling half as many albums as Bruce Springsteen?

I knew CD sales were low but I didn´t know that they were THAT low.

People download shit.

Qazz said:

What would have been the criteria for "right?" Madonna's album has already outperformed latest albums by Mariah, Celine, JLo, Britney, Kelly Clarkson, and a host of others. And we can pretty much bet that if Janet ever releases a new album, it won't do half as well as it either. For the past 10-15 years, every time Madonna releases a new album, the overall industry sales average is lower than it was the previous time she put one out, with her numbers lowering along with it...so there you go.

The only thing this era has missed that the others didn't was that #1 Billboard 200 spot (which she would have had if they hadn't made those ridiculous changes to their tallying system) and that one song that narrowly managed to scrape the top 10, which wasn't likely this time.

Sales numbers-wise, she's not faring that much worse than just about everyone else whose been around at least 10 years.

Exactly.I remember when 'Hard Candy' came out and in its first week,it "only" sold 280,000 copies in the US Some people were trying to say that was disappointing,lol.Madonna releases a new album every three years or so.Record sales get lower and lower during the time that she's away.When she releases her next record,it will sell even less than Rebel Heart.No biggie.It's just the way it is.

KoolEaze said:

SoulAlive said:

Nothing went "wrong" with it.We live in an era of declining CD sales.It has nothing to do with the music on the album.Madonna could work with Patrick Leonard again and re-create a 'Like A Prayer'-type album and it still wouldn't be a big seller in this day and age.Madonna is a veteran artist and we all know that veteran artists only sell alot of records when they do cover albums,or an album of duets.

but just to put it all in perspective,here's something I stole from another forum

Let's remember that, while her sales may not be blockbuster flavored, she's still outperforming her "peers". Many of whom have done some of the ridiculous suggestions posted in the last thread....

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold Prince and his much ballyhooed return to Warner Bros. Records, which gave him a whopping 51K in week one.

Madonna's Rebel Heart sold right at what mega-seller Garth Brooks' latest moved, 119K his first week back fresh from retirement.

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold giveaway gods U2, whose latest only managed 28K their first week, but I guess we all know what happened there so we'll move on. " />

Springsteen? 99K

Do we even need to tap into the the pretenders to the throne from years past and present? J.Lo at 33K... Mariah at 53K... Mary J Blige at 57K... Shakira at 85K... Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold them all.

I´m surprised that Prince´s AOA album did so well in comparison. I mean, Madonna´s Rebel Heart sold what, a bit more than twice the number of what Prince sold but I would´ve expected her to sell four or five times more. So Prince is still capable of selling half as many albums as Bruce Springsteen?

I knew CD sales were low but I didn´t know that they were THAT low.

In a few years from now,selling 20k in the first week is gonna be the norm just watch

KoolEaze said:

I´m surprised that Prince´s AOA album did so well in comparison. I mean, Madonna´s Rebel Heart sold what, a bit more than twice the number of what Prince sold but I would´ve expected her to sell four or five times more. So Prince is still capable of selling half as many albums as Bruce Springsteen?

I knew CD sales were low but I didn´t know that they were THAT low.

.

They're horribly low. Think about it. No one uses physical media anymore for ANYTHING.

.

Re: the album content its not her best, its not her worst. Its not art official cage thank god. She got Kanye, the kids love Kanye. I'm hoping its her last real stab at mainstream.

TheGoldStandard said:

They're horribly low. Think about it. No one uses physical media anymore for ANYTHING.

.

Re: the album content its not her best, its not her worst. Its not art official cage thank god. She got Kanye, the kids love Kanye. I'm hoping its her last real stab at mainstream.

Madonna is a pop artist. Her records will always have a mainstream contemporary element to them. She has always been mostly inspired by what is happening currently. I get some of her older fans have an issue with that, but I don't see her changing totally and making a jazz album or something.

As it has been said, her album has already outsold her peers before beginning the tour to support it.
If anything is WRONG, it is that radio has turned their backs on her new material, when she has been their lifeblood for years.

Case in point, I heard a local station giving away tickets to her tour, but they were playing "Into The Groove" not "Living For Love".

Every artist has a "lifecycle" in music...

Ray Charles

Miles Davis

Stevie Wonder

The Rolling Stones

Who

Earth, Wind, & Fire

Bob Dylan

Diana Ross

Sarah Vaughan

Frank Sinatra

Johnny Cash

Prince

this list could go on forever.

All of the artist and most of the ones I didn't mention have a consistent creative period... then they trail off to a not so consistent creative period. Madonna is no different... Ever once in a while you'll see a band / or singer get a second wind but that's rare.

One of my favorit bands is Eath, Wind, & Fire... still recording music but between 1970 and 1979 they pretty much couldn't do any thing wrong... drop the needle and listen. After 79' I knew what I was listening to wasn't as good as in the past. EWF, albums / music weren't consistently good... it was hit and miss and a lot of miss.

Something tells me Garth Brooks fan aren't Madonna fans. Besides C&W fans buy CD's and they download entire digital albums. C&W fan based has always supported their fands / singers in a way Funk / R&B / Soul/ Rock / Rap buyers never have. So, all the comparing of what this artist sold and what the other did is kinda silly to me. (IMHO) All arist stand on their own bottom... their music, and fan base.

===========================================

[Edited 4/29/15 10:11am]

- overlong

- some good songs mixed with a LOT of mediocre ones

- some extremely cringeworthy lyrics

- ageism? perhaps, but moreso the aforementioned "lifecycle" which is why she, Kylie, Janet, Jody, Diana, Aretha and maybe even Lady Gaga will most likely never have a mainstream hit again

She just just count her blessings, she's had a 30+ year in music and can still do succesful tours. She should stop trying too hard to be current, the potential to deliver a great album was there with songs like Ghosttown, but instead it just went all over the place trying to be hip.

whitesockedfunk said:

- overlong

- some good songs mixed with a LOT of mediocre ones

- some extremely cringeworthy lyrics

- ageism? perhaps, but moreso the aforementioned "lifecycle" which is why she, Kylie, Janet, Jody, Diana, Aretha and maybe even Lady Gaga will most likely never have a mainstream hit again

She just just count her blessings, she's had a 30+ year in music and can still do succesful tours. She should stop trying too hard to be current, the potential to deliver a great album was there with songs like Ghosttown, but instead it just went all over the place trying to be hip.

I'm not a fan of Ms. M but a 30 year music career, you've worked you butt off and done a lot right. Most bands / singers can't sustain a music career past a decade.

whitesockedfunk said:

- overlong

- some good songs mixed with a LOT of mediocre ones

- some extremely cringeworthy lyrics

- ageism? perhaps, but moreso the aforementioned "lifecycle" which is why she, Kylie, Janet, Jody, Diana, Aretha and maybe even Lady Gaga will most likely never have a mainstream hit again

She just just count her blessings, she's had a 30+ year in music and can still do succesful tours. She should stop trying too hard to be current, the potential to deliver a great album was there with songs like Ghosttown, but instead it just went all over the place trying to be hip.

the sooner M realizes she's the "one woman dance-pop/rock version of The Rolling Stones", the better

that means she should focus on the tours and singles, exactly what the Stones have been doing since 1997

but anyone expecting a solid M album at this point is flippant...

[Edited 4/29/15 10:40am]

TD3 said:

whitesockedfunk said:

- overlong

- some good songs mixed with a LOT of mediocre ones

- some extremely cringeworthy lyrics

- ageism? perhaps, but moreso the aforementioned "lifecycle" which is why she, Kylie, Janet, Jody, Diana, Aretha and maybe even Lady Gaga will most likely never have a mainstream hit again

She just just count her blessings, she's had a 30+ year in music and can still do succesful tours. She should stop trying too hard to be current, the potential to deliver a great album was there with songs like Ghosttown, but instead it just went all over the place trying to be hip.

I'm not a fan of Ms. M but a 30 year music career, you've worked you butt off and done a lot right. Most bands / singers can't sustain a music career past a decade.

I think it's a good thing to be a "veteran artist".It proves that you've had longevity.Many of these young "hot" artists won't ever reach that status.

whitesockedfunk said:

She just just count her blessings, she's had a 30+ year in music and can still do succesful tours. She should stop trying too hard to be current, the potential to deliver a great album was there with songs like Ghosttown, but instead it just went all over the place trying to be hip.

speaking of "Ghosttown"....everyone pretty much agrees that it's a superb song.But because Madonna is 56,many radio stations won't play it.It goes back to the point I made earlier.The music is great.However,when you're a veteran artist,you don't get the airplay and attention that younger artists get.I think we all know that if "Ghosttown" had been recorded by Taylor Swift,it would be Number One on the charts right now.Ageism is a real issue for people like Madonna.

SoulAlive said:

Nothing went "wrong" with it.We live in an era of declining CD sales.It has nothing to do with the music on the album.Madonna could work with Patrick Leonard again and re-create a 'Like A Prayer'-type album and it still wouldn't be a big seller in this day and age.Madonna is a veteran artist and we all know that veteran artists only sell alot of records when they do cover albums,or an album of duets.

but just to put it all in perspective,here's something I stole from another forum

Let's remember that, while her sales may not be blockbuster flavored, she's still outperforming her "peers". Many of whom have done some of the ridiculous suggestions posted in the last thread....

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold Prince and his much ballyhooed return to Warner Bros. Records, which gave him a whopping 51K in week one.

Madonna's Rebel Heart sold right at what mega-seller Garth Brooks' latest moved, 119K his first week back fresh from retirement.

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold giveaway gods U2, whose latest only managed 28K their first week, but I guess we all know what happened there so we'll move on. " />

Springsteen? 99K

Do we even need to tap into the the pretenders to the throne from years past and present? J.Lo at 33K... Mariah at 53K... Mary J Blige at 57K... Shakira at 85K... Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold them all.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/RtePv.gif[/img:$uid]

You snatched them baldt!

I did like

Holy Water

Devils Prayer

Living for Love

Unapologetic

and especially Body Shop

She should have taken Body Shop to a director especially or Devil. Those two have single quality on them. probably not Body Shop so much but I can see a nice vid for it.

[Edited 5/1/15 18:01pm]

its about time that her sales reflect her talent level...

paisleypark4 said:

SoulAlive said:

Nothing went "wrong" with it.We live in an era of declining CD sales.It has nothing to do with the music on the album.Madonna could work with Patrick Leonard again and re-create a 'Like A Prayer'-type album and it still wouldn't be a big seller in this day and age.Madonna is a veteran artist and we all know that veteran artists only sell alot of records when they do cover albums,or an album of duets.

but just to put it all in perspective,here's something I stole from another forum

Let's remember that, while her sales may not be blockbuster flavored, she's still outperforming her "peers". Many of whom have done some of the ridiculous suggestions posted in the last thread....

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold Prince and his much ballyhooed return to Warner Bros. Records, which gave him a whopping 51K in week one.

Madonna's Rebel Heart sold right at what mega-seller Garth Brooks' latest moved, 119K his first week back fresh from retirement.

Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold giveaway gods U2, whose latest only managed 28K their first week, but I guess we all know what happened there so we'll move on. " />

Springsteen? 99K

Do we even need to tap into the the pretenders to the throne from years past and present? J.Lo at 33K... Mariah at 53K... Mary J Blige at 57K... Shakira at 85K... Madonna's Rebel Heart outsold them all.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/RtePv.gif[/img:$uid]

You snatched them baldt!

It doesn't matter what Madonna does,or doesn't do,when it comes to stragegy/promotion.She's not gonna sell 10+ million copies of an album,ever again.Neither is Prince,Bruce Springsteen,Elton John,Janet Jackson,Mariah Carey and all the other veteran artists.Fans need to stop blaming certain things ("oh,she should have released this single"....."she should have performed on thatshow",etc) and accept the reality.I'll call it now: the next Madonna album is gonna sell even less than Rebel Heart No big deal.Madonna is gonna do a great tour and move on to the next project.Life goes on.

I didn't know Madge's networth is $800 Million...Wow, just freaking wow........