Idol Sales News – Week Ending 07/05/09

Airplay (increase in audience impressions):

No. 24 – Kelly Clarkson (-3.6 million)
No. 49 – Jordin Sparks ( 3.1 million)
No. 51 – Daughtry ( 0.3 million)

Streaming:
No. 8 – Kelly Clarkson – I Do Not Hook Up

Can one of you numbers people get a total of MJ’s singles he sold last week? Thanks ahead of time.

Yikes. MJ domination. It’s probably hurting sales of other artists. I think things should calm down this week. And by next the charts should be more “normal.” No Kelly Clarkson numbers. Her singles usually show in the top 100.

Holy Mary Mother of God. Talk about a chart takeover! I’m in awe. :shock_tb:

Yeah. According to Billboard (Article Link), Michael Jackson has sold over 2 million records again in the past week. An increase from the initial week of his death. He completely blows the theory out of the water that people aren’t buying music due to the economy….. lol He keeps breaking records, even in his death.

I agree jpfan, MJ is definitely hurting the sales of other artists. If I’m not mistaking, MJ is also number 1 in Australia and the UK.

That is amazing. Wow.

MJ is definitely hurting the sales of other artists.

Yep. I’m sure Daughtry would rather wait a few more weeks for their new album to drop, but I’m sure they’ll be fine nonetheless.

Any MJ album sales numbers?

No, but here are the HDD numbers to give a ballpark number:

3 1 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 337,806 224%
NUMBER ONES
1 3 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 165,394 55%
THRILLER
2 5 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 121,957 15%
ESSENTIAL
14 11 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 43,794 28%
OFF THE WALL
32 22 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 23,907 67%
DANGEROUS
25 28 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 19,795 5%
BAD

KenzTK, if you look in that Billboard article that is linked above, it has album sales numbers for MJ.

Given the memorial, this week should be another strong one for MJ. We’ve been tracking both the original Billie jean’s and David Cook’s Billie Jean’s spins over on the chart thread on DCO, and after fading for a few days, the original just jumped up in airplay again. So, MJ music is still dominating the airwaves, which is contributing to the sales issues that a lot of other songs and albums are having.

Kirsten Jul 8th, 2009 at 10:25 am

No, but here are the HDD numbers to give a ballpark number:

3 1 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 337,806 224%
NUMBER ONES
1 3 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 165,394 55%
THRILLER
2 5 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 121,957 15%
ESSENTIAL
14 11 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 43,794 28%
OFF THE WALL
32 22 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 23,907 67%
DANGEROUS
25 28 MICHAEL JACKSON EPIC 19,795 5%
BAD

DAYUM! Was that THIS week? He sold even more from the previous week? WOW. Totally sucks for people having new releases this month (Daughtry, Jordin Sparks).

Holy moly on the MJ domination no room for anyone else apparently. I still don’t get it but it clearly means MJ has picked up a couple new generation of fans because presumably the die hard fans from the begining already have all this stuff…..

So are they going to be selling the memorial service on DVD too? or the music from it? Who was that female singer who did a lot of the singing on We are The World and Heal the World, very good, pretty black girl? Was she part of MJ’s backup singers for his ill fated tour?

For the past 15 years MJ has apparently been a “joke” to many. My daughter only knows him as the freak who maybe molested young boys. She had no idea of his music or his contribution to the music industry.

Then…he dies…and the TV stations are full of his music and viola a lightbulb goes off and these kids begin to understand what music and performance and video really is (as opposed to the majorly crappy stuff that masquerades as top 40 in today’s market).

Now a whole new generation finally gets it! According to my daughter he may still be a “freak” but she now understands who and what he WAS. It’s a real shame that it took his death for us to really appreciate the amazing talent he was. And I, personally, think a lot of “new” recording stars are going to have to step up their game. The music buying public has gotten a taste of “real” music….now lets see how they choose to spend their money on the “new guys”.

Well in the wise words of Joni Mitchell – you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.

At least in MJ’s case he was obsessed with leaving a legacy and a legacy he has indeed left.

You have to realize that when Thriller came out, you only had records. Then the era of cassette tapes, then cds. So many of us, including myself, had the record, the cassette tape, the cd (that got scratched) so thenI downloaded too. Am not saying that is the reason for the increase. I do think many youngsters are purchasing them but I think many people who had it on a different media, are purchasing again as well…..

good point wildcatatheart I have not replaced all of my favourite records that were in cassette form. Beside the cost, many of them weren’t easy to find until recently with the explosion of internet sites that carry older or used CDS, and of course download sites with older catalogue as well. Because of course they put the newer stuff on CD first.

I remember trying to find a CD version of the original soundtrack to Rocky Horror Picture Show. I cried because the tape machine ate the tape – it was played too much I guess. And I couldn’t not find it anywhere. Then I forgot about it.

MJ is definitely hurting the sales of other artists.

That’s cos he’s the undisputable, unbeatable King Of Pop.

For the past 15 years MJ has apparently been a ‘joke’  to many. My daughter only knows him as the freak who maybe molested young boys. She had no idea of his music or his contribution to the music industry.

Then’ ¦he dies’ ¦and the TV stations are full of his music and viola a lightbulb goes off and these kids begin to understand what music and performance and video really is (as opposed to the majorly crappy stuff that masquerades as top 40 in today’s market).

Now a whole new generation finally gets it! According to my daughter he may still be a ‘freak’  but she now understands who and what he WAS. It’s a real shame that it took his death for us to really appreciate the amazing talent he was. And I, personally, think a lot of ‘new’  recording stars are going to have to step up their game. The music buying public has gotten a taste of ‘real’  music’ ¦.now lets see how they choose to spend their money on the ‘new guys’ .

QFT.

I never thought MJ’s death would impact me this much… I teared up a little bit whenever I listened to his slower songs… it’s kinda bittersweet to me: bitter because of his death, and it took his death to let the younger generation and public to appreciate him and his music and finally understand what he was about, and how much he had made an impact to the world during his peak… all the humanitarian that he had done to the world :’( but at the same time, it was also sweet because of his sales exploding in the charts all over the world :’) Happy tears and sad smile…

Hopefully Daughtry, Jordin, etc. can make up for likely poor early sales later on – their 2nd singles are going to be the key ones…

As for MJ, Thriller has to be around 30,000,000 sold now in total…

Brian Mansfield has just posted the Idol numbers HERE

Digital Tracks:

Jordin Sparks, Battlefield (Main Version) (47,000, -7 percent, 339,000 total)
Daughtry, No Surprise (35,000, -9 percent, 410,000)
Kellie Pickler, Best Days of Your Life (32,000, -4 percent, 579,000)
Kelly Clarkson, I Do Not Hook Up (30,000, -5 percent, 506,000)
Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You (17,000, -12 percent, 1.993 million)
David Cook, Come Back to Me (15,000, -7 percent, 247,000)
Kris Allen, Heartless (6,000, -12 percent, 270,000)

Albums:

Various, American Idol Season 8 (14,000, debut 14,000 total)
Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted (7,000, -6 percent, 636,000/1,000 digital, 5 percent, 136,000)
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride (6,000, -14 percent, 2.918 million)
Kellie Pickler, Kellie Pickler (6,000, -1 percent, 261,000)
David Cook, David Cook (5,000, -3 percent, 1.195 million/1,000 digital, -1 percent, 146,000)
Daughtry, Daughtry (4,000, -13 percent, 4.483 million/372,000 digital)
Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts (4,000, 3 percent, 6.808 million)
Michael Johns, Hold Back My Heart (2,000, -51 percent, 7,000/3,000 digital)
Adam Lambert, Season 8 Favorite Performances (1,000, 3 percent, 34,000)

Wow. Down across the board, but the declines look less steep at the moment, for the most part. With the MJ funeral and resulting media coverage, I expect this slump to extend into next week’s reported numbers as well. Hang in there for a couple more weeks guys!

According to Idol Chatter, the season 8 cd sold 14,000 copies, and will debut at #34 on the billboard 200 chart.

David Cook, Come Back to Me (15,000, -7 percent, 247,000)
Kris Allen, Heartless (6,000, -12 percent, 270,000)

Kris’s ‘Heartless’ continues to amaze me. I’m shocked that it is digitally outselling CBTM. I guess I haven’t been paying that much attention to the total numbers.

I would actually like to see Kris and Kanye collaborate on the song and do their own thing while interlocking together.

As for MJ, Thriller has to be around 30,000,000 sold now in total’ ¦

Actually it has sold over 100 MILLION worldwide (per Wikipedia): “Thriller is the best selling album of all time; though sales figures for the album vary, the album is cited as selling as many as 109 million copies worldwide.”

Looks like AL’s “Want” went bye-bye. Haven’t heard anything from Hi-Fi. Wonder if they are cutting their losses or gearing up for another onslaught. Guess we’ll have to wait until the MJ madness dissipates.

It stands to reason that CBTM is selling less than “Heartless”. 1.195 million already have it on DCTR.

I see Kelly’s MLWSWY is going double plat, while IDNHU, which is getting slightly less but still significant airplay has only just hit gold. Which to me indicates that mayber folks aren’t likin’ it as much. I dunno man, I love MLWSWY but I do not like (hehe) IDNHU (thanks Kara), and I don’t think it’s helping sell the record. I’m glad Already Gone is coming out. That oughtta juice the album numbers.

I’m glad DCTR’s holding relatively steady, but I’d like to see it creep back up soon. He’s hitting up a bunch of big state fairs and festivals this summer amidst the theater shows, so I’m hoping some of these will yield new album buyers.

I love Kelly but the second single sounded too much like the first so I feel like I’ve heard it before already so when I do the weekly radio survey for my radio station and they ask me about IDNHU I say Sick of It – I love that they have that as an option because some songs you like them or you don’t hate them but you are just sick of them, let some new song onto the playlist already.

It stands to reason that CBTM is selling less than ‘Heartless’ . 1.195 million already have it on DCTR.

Eh. If that were the case any single on a top selling album shouldn’t be expected to sell much, but we know that’s not always the case. Not that I think CBTM is doing badly. It’s generating sales of both itself and the album at this point, so I doubt RCA is mad at it. LOL. But Heartless has had very little airplay and those are numbers since the finale only, so since that’s the case I think its’ doing pretty well.

Agreed sma11ie. Also, seriously RCA. New single soon, k? I know it’s been said DCTR continues to sell well, and maybe I have standard..but IMO it’s sales aren’t that great. If they do hold off until the Fall for the next single they truly are idiots.

Loading comment… Deleted comments

So Kelly Clarkson sang on SYTYCD last week and instead of getting a boost, she is down in both album and single sales? Singing on one of the highest rated shows should provide some benefit, but not so in this case. She is also still getting major pop airplay as well as HAC on both songs. I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on there.

I know it’s been said DCTR continues to sell well, and maybe I have standard..but IMO it’s sales aren’t that great.

I think it’s the perspective. The numbers are not something great, but they’re good for the airplay the single gets. I think comparing it to Kelly, makes it great.
But if the song was doing better, and by better I mean doing anything on CHR, one would expect those sales to be higher. I also think it’s time to release a new single. For David and Kelly. I think singles should come when a song is close to peaking, not when the song has peaked already, so the time between one falls and the other rises is not as long.

So Kelly Clarkson sang on SYTYCD last week and instead of getting a boost, she is down in both album and single sales? Singing on one of the highest rated shows should provide some benefit, but not so in this case. She is also still getting major pop airplay as well as HAC on both songs. I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on there.

Well I think there’s a couple of things going on there. 1, the mj effect that’s been depressing nearly everyone’s sales and 2. IDNHU’s overall underperformance. The song has just not been connecting in keeping with it’s level of airplay – on the album sales or single sales front. But RCA seems to be gearing up for the 3rd single’s release, plus Kelly is back in the states for a new round of promo, so I expect that ship will start to right itself shortly.

I know it’s been said DCTR continues to sell well, and maybe I have standard..but IMO it’s sales aren’t that great.

Top HAC play with a little pop play is not going to get you in the top 30, tour or no. He’s selling about where he should be album wise IMO. One could argue about the single’s sales. Still, I don’t think he can release anything new until CBTM dies down some. He has 2 songs getting lots of spins on his core format as it is, if he releases another one too soon, they may begin to eat spins from each other.

Not sure what happened there. Sorry.

I’m one that buys CDs, usually the physical CD and not digital. I bought Light On and Charity Permanent, but not Come Back To Me, all ready having it DCTR. I did buy both of DC’s videos.

The following numbers were compiled from data that Kirsten and Brian Mansfield were gracious enough to make public for our perusal. Thank you!

KRIS ALLEN —

Previous Totals (post-idol sales) $1,068,921.80
Heartless 6,000 x .99= 5,940.00
TOTAL SALES $1,074,861.80

ADAM LAMBERT —

Previous Totals (post-idol sales) $919,204.83
Adam Lambert Album 1,000x 9.99 = 9,990.00
TOTAL SALES $929,194.83

Last week Sadiepie from IDF stated that her totals for Adam Lambert matched mine exactly. I was happy to hear this, hoping I had an accurate accounting of post-idol sales for both guys.

Thanks

I think it’s the perspective. The numbers are not something great, but they’re good for the airplay the single gets. I think comparing it to Kelly, makes it great.
But if the song was doing better, and by better I mean doing anything on CHR, one would expect those sales to be higher. I also think it’s time to release a new single.

Back in the days before you could hear every song from an album on the Internet before you purchased it, and all you had to go off was the songs from that album that you heard on the radio– and you had to just hope you would like at least some of the other songs on the album– the rule was “three“. Well, it was my rule, anyway, but also that of a lot of other people I knew.

In other words, if you heard three songs you liked, it was worth it to purchase the album. (Then you’d hope you liked at least three more songs, and if you ended up liking at least half the tracks on a twelve track CD, you felt like you’d made a good buy).

What’s my point? Well, Cook has had three singles… if you count TOML. But, I’m not sure there’s enough commonality between his three singles that the general music audience can define his “sound” yet. I suppose you could look at CBTM as a middle point between TOML and LO. But, I what I see is more that TOML is an anomaly. (Then again maybe some people see CBTM as closer to TOML, and LO as the anomaly).

Anyway, I think the “rule of three” may still apply, only it has evolved to mean that many people need to hear three songs that they like to convince them to even be interested enough to check out an album, preview it, and then decide if they want to buy it. So, if music listeners like the 4th single along with LO and CBTM or, god help us, TOML and CBTM, then I think we should see the average weekly record sales jump to 10 – 15K or even 15 – 20K, instead of 5 – 10K.

Wow, 14,000 copies of AI S8 and it’s only being sold at Walmart. I guess newbies don’t recognize how craptastic NB is.

Glad to see how well Kradam did.

And Kelly has much better songs on the album than IDNHU (shock, it’s a Kara song). Hope they get released soon.

Wow, 14,000 copies of AI S8 and it’s only being sold at Walmart. I guess newbies don’t recognize how craptastic NB is.

I would have to suspect that too?

Last week Sadiepie from IDF stated that her totals for Adam Lambert matched mine exactly. I was happy to hear this, hoping I had an accurate accounting of post-idol sales for both guys.

It’s still a shame we can’t get the numbers for the entire season 8. Also, it would be cool to get the video sales as well, even if we only get the numbers for the videos that sold post idol.

I don’t think there is much point in comparing sales unless we can get all of the numbers. Also, I wonder how much money Adam and Kris get out of this?

It stands to reason that CBTM is selling less than ‘Heartless’ . 1.195 million already have it on DCTR.

SINGLE sales (as in “by its self; individual”), not album sales.

Heartless has had very little airplay and those are numbers since the finale only, so since that’s the case I think its’ doing pretty well.

Heartless is still for sale? I thought all the AI8 iTunes were taken down except Natural Disasters and the Kris/Adam albums? I keep thinking, imagine how much DC’s Billie Jean and ABMB would have sold post AI7 if they had kept it up for even a month post finale?

RE: CBTM vs Heartless sales, I think the bulk of Heartless’ 270K were sold the 2 weeks post-finale, correct? History leads me to believe that Idol songs get a huge download boost right after the finale, particularly for the winner. Even craptastic coronation songs make it onto the Billboard Hot 100 on the strength of sales alone. That buying frenzy isn’t always there months/years after the season ends, which is why it’s so imperative Idols strike while the iron’s hot and release albums while people still remember their names. All that to say: CBTM is admittedly an average performing 2nd single, but I’m not at all surprised Heartless’ current total is higher. But as long as CBTM keeps up the 15K pace for a few more weeks, it’ll pass it pretty easily.

Heartless is still for sale? I thought all the AI8 iTunes were taken down except Natural Disasters and the Kris/Adam albums?

I was wondering the same thing. Why is that one song still available?

I keep thinking, imagine how much DC’s Billie Jean and ABMB would have sold post AI7 if they had kept it up for even a month post finale?

Does anyone remember what the sales were for these two in the few days they were available after the finale last year?

Heartless is still for sale? I thought all the AI8 iTunes were taken down except Natural Disasters and the Kris/Adam albums?

Yes, everything was taken down but the compilation albums and videos. You can still buy everything on all of the compilations as separate individual songs/videos, though, so that’s how people are continuing to buy Heartless by itself. I guess it’s the only song by either guy that’s still selling well on its own.

Billie Jean sold 56,344 in the half week it was allowed to chart. ABMB sold 46,577, according to LadyMadonna’s chart:

http://www.scribd.com/full/7827195?access_key=key-10zneydobqevahuxbdp0

I enjoy seeing your sales totals each week, evanjane.

Thanks for the answers, CathyMK.

Thanks, CathyMK!

I don’t think there is much point in comparing sales unless we can get all of the numbers.

Evanjane didn’t make any overt comparisons, she just gave us the #s that are available for Kris and Adam. Since those are the only 2 Season 8 Idols that still have material available on iTunes, those are the 2 we get #s on. The numbers are what they are, it doesn’t need to be a contest. Looks to me like they’re both still moving units.

I’m hoping the albums and videos stay available until the tour ends. As time goes on it becomes more and more likely that the sales are due to concert conversions- maybe you go to the concert for Matt and Anoop, but then realize that you really love Adam too, and buy up everything of his you can find when you get home! I just wish they’d left it all available. Now that I’ve seen the Youtubes of Anoop singing Always on My Mind, I wish I’d bought the studio version. Bad move to take those down, 19E.

You’re welcome, sma11ie and EmmaJK. LadyMadonna deserves the thanks for the David Cook #s though!

I saw Kelly Clarkson in Indio and she was fabulous as always. I adore her. Her next single Already Gone my predix will be one of the biggest songs of the year. Here are some promo pics of her new video:

http://www.dailystab.com/kelly-clarkson-already-gone-single-cover-and-promo-pics/#comment-139623

This is going to be freaking epic for Kelly Clarkson. It’s the best song on All I Ever Wanted, it gives me chills. I loved My Life would suck and liked I do not hook up. I think I Do Not Hook up was too similar and too Katy Perry. Everyone acts like IDNHU is a big flop, it’s a moderate hit and has landed gold. Gold is good just not platinum. I love how certain people dog Kelly as she is the only American Idol Star who has done well internationally. Carrie Underwood has sold 10 million albums in US with 2 albums and Kelly has sold 10 with 4 but Carrie has only sold 1 million international, Kelly has sold 10 million international. So Carrie’s worldwide numbers are 11 million while Kelly’s are 20 million. Kelly kills everyone internationalally(especially Austrailia). Anyways after seeing these gorgeous pictures for the video of Already Gone. I am very optimistic the tide is going to turn on her album.

I think that DCTR sales are relevant to the question of CBTM sales for two reasons. First, as noted, there are plenty of buyers who already had the entire CD and did not need to buy an additional copy of the song. But there is also the fact that it appears pretty clear that CBTM is selling both itself and DCTR. Even when DC was on vacation and neither touring nor doing any promo, CBTM sales grew (consistent with its growth in airplay) and DCTR sales stayed stable. At that time, as now, CBTM had the biggest airplay of any of the DC songs, and was by far the youngest of the three singles getting the most airplay on stations outside of straight-up AC.

Sure, there are artists who are managing to sell lots of albums and singles—Lady Gaga comes to mind—but it doesn’t really surprise me that, for DC, album sales might eat into singles sales.

Well if you add Cook’s album sales of 5K to the numbers for the CBTM single, you still don’t get a fantastic number. However, Cook’s singles do seem to have longevity so maybe CBTM will continue to sell modestly for both album and single.

I thought Cook’s album sales would top out at 1.3 and I think I’ll stick with that. A fourth single could help but RCA is going to be pretty busy with Daughtry and Lambert in the next few months. But if there is another single, I doubt they’ll even bother sending it to Top 40 radio.

I don’t have a crystal ball so I don’t know where Cook’s album will top out but I think 1.3 is seriously low balling the record. Also it seems to me that RCA would be a pretty poor record company if they were only able to handle two performers and decided that David was not worth their time anymore because of Daughtry and Lambert. You would think that they would want all the people they represent to be successful. They are in the business of making and selling records after all.

A fourth single could help but RCA is going to be pretty busy with Daughtry and Lambert in the next few months. But if there is another single, I doubt they’ll even bother sending it to Top 40 radio.

I agree with 123abc456. RCA is a large company and, unless there is an American Idol department, the resources of which the AI’s have to share regardless of how many Idols end up on the label, then that’s one shitty recording contract these guys won for being on AI.

RCA has other non-Idol artists releasing stuff too. Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne are both rumored to have albums out this Fall.

Well if you add Cook’s album sales of 5K to the numbers for the CBTM single, you still don’t get a fantastic number.

Well to be fair, 5K represents how much he’s selling during the chart wide mj attack. LOL. Before this started, CBTM had been moving the album at a steady 7-8K for weeks, and the single sales were inching up with its airplay increases.

However, Cook’s singles do seem to have longevity so maybe CBTM will continue to sell modestly for both album and single.

One can only hope!

I thought Cook’s album sales would top out at 1.3 and I think I’ll stick with that. A fourth single could help but RCA is going to be pretty busy with Daughtry and Lambert in the next few months. But if there is another single, I doubt they’ll even bother sending it to Top 40 radio.

If the next single is the last and it does about the same, I think we’re looking at closer to 1.4 by the time the year is out. I don’t know if they will send the next single to pop radio. I wouldn’t be surprised either way. But no matter what, I don’t think Daughtry and Lambert will be issues.

True RCA may be busy with Daug and AL, but I don’t think they will “abandon” DC. They are in business to make money. Do the math: 1.195 million albums at an average of $12.99 an album=$15,523,050 and that doesn’t include single sales or anything else. That’s in a little over a year. I don’t think RCA is looking at DCTR being done. I personally think this is wonderful in this economic climate and remember DC was a “newbie”. I bet alot of established artists would like his sales. Now will RCA promote Daug and AL more than DC? At this point in time, maybe. Daughtrey has a new album to promote and AL is the “new” thing. Of course they will promote them. Let’s see what happens with DC’s next single and album.

Eh, I don’t see how Daughtry, or Adam, or Avil or anyone else releasing albums should impact a 3rd single (4th if you count TOML). It’s not like throwing a single out there at this stage requires a ton of effort. Even CBTM didn’t get much put into it, with the exception of the AI pimpage and even that I credit 19 for. I figure the next single will be released to HAC and RCA will hope/expect it will do well with little effort there since he has a good track record on that format.

What I don’t understand about CBTM’s popularity (or lack thereof) on the radio is this: I cannot, I repeat can NOT get my local DJs to play that song, neither on AC or Top 40. I never hear it unless it’s a satellite radio station playing at the mall or in a restaurant. But I went to three concerts in a row this past weekend (Amarillo, Thackerville, and Galveston), and everyone in all three audiences cheered their freakin’ faces off when he started that song. Hell, in Galveston, he just stopped singing and the crowd sang it for him! So what gives? If so many people love and know that stupid song, why in God’s name are the DJs so reluctant to give it airplay? Where in the country is it increasing in airplay, cuz it sure as hell isn’t increasing in this part of Texas (central TX).

And don’t even get me started on Barbasol. That’s like the red-headed stepchild of radio. I might as well be requesting Weird Al’s version of “Eat It” (to the tune of MJ’s “Beat It”) . Hell, at this point, I’d probably have more luck at getting that played.

I wonder how daughtry’s cd will go. Looks like all idols suffer a sophomore slump except Kelly Clarkson. Carrie’s first effort sold 7M and her 2nd album can’t break 3M… that’s more than half drop. I wonder if chris can sell half of his first album.

I wonder how someone like David cook will do with his next album too, when it doesn’t look like he’s going to top 2M… I wonder how many albums he’s still got with RCA if the slump continues.

The industry really sucks nowadays, it’ll be hard for anyone in this generation to be truly legendary like Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Michael Jackson were.

Hardkandy, I agree with you that the industry sucks and anyone will have a hard time matching the sales of Elvis, The Beatles or MJ. For everyone’s info, David Cook (DCTR) is #31 in sales for the calendar year. To put this in perspective, #1 Taylor Swift sold 1.352 million, #12 Kelly Clarkson sold 636,000 and #43 Carrie Underwood sold 334,000. For album year (November to November) DCTR is in 8th or 9th place. These figures are from USA Today’s Brian Mansfield. Per his July 8th report, only 4 albums have sold over a million in 2009. This really shows how the industry is in the toilet.