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The Sun-Times ran an AP wire story today that's mostly good news with a sprinkle of bad news for lovers of music, though that depends on your persepctive.
Overall, music sales were up for the year 2006. While sales of physical albums declined 4.9 percent, digital album sales doubled, and sales of digital singles increased 65 percent.
What’s refreshing about this story is that it doesn’t feature any dunderheaded analysis (or fulminating quotes from industry execs) blaming downloading for the decrease in the sales of physical product. Of course, this is only because 2006 was the year that all record companies finally got wise to the idea that people weren't insisting on getting their music for free, they just wanted it on their own terms.
Moreover, the music industry also looked for other ways to promote itself, particularly on television with many just-signed indie label artists finding themselves with national exposure on shows like "Grey's Anatomy," "Six Degrees" and others targeting that yupster demographic. We knew the old rules were out the window the minute Prince showed up on "American Idol."
Future sales look rosy too with Forbes saying digital sales will "more than double" in the next five years."
The only bad news is for music snobs. The Beatles and Johnny Cash came in at #5 and #2, respectively, on the list of top-selling artists. No surprise or quibble there. Carrie Underwood's presence at #4 is no real surprise since country music always sells well (see Tim McGraw at #6 and Keith Urban at #9) and that American Idol boost cannot be denied. But Nickelback at #3 is just too much too bear. And can anyone explain why Rascal Flatts is at #1? You can return to our country music argument if you like, but we don't even know anyone who buys their records (sadly, we know far too many people who buy Nickelback records, and this is why we are glad Christmas only comes once a year).
Also, since the Dixie Chicks have come in at #9 on the best-selling albums of 2006, will this be enough to put an end to the constant talk of how they took such a commercial hit for speaking out against the President?
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I think the Rascal Flatts success is based on the everyman theory that the band is fronted by a fat ass with frosted hair tips, lumbering across a stage while singing in a voice higher than a castrato. It gives hope for every other delusional fat ass in the Bible Belt that they can do it, as well.
I think the Rascal Flatts success is based on the everyman theory that the band is fronted by a fat ass with frosted hair tips, lumbering across a stage while singing in a voice higher than a castrato. It gives hope for every other delusional fat ass in the Bible Belt that they can do it, as well.
In other words, you'll realize your wildest dreams if you put your faith in God, guns, the G.O.P., and Aveda.
I think Rascal Flatts' success this year has more to do with them supplying the theme song (their grating cover of "Life is a Highway") to a mega-popular Disney animated film and soundtrack ("Cars") than any sort of broader popularity.
I think the music industry is doomed the way it's going
I think the music industry is doomed the way it's going
On no longer being able to sell 10 million albums:
"Maybe Im a snob, but stuff that sells the best, usually isnt the best stuff. How many records does Sheryl Crow sell? Not 10 million. Maybe its snotty to say, but the popular stuff is the crappiest." Martie Maguire
Sherly Crow does indeed sell 10 Million, and so have the chicks. They are mental midgets.
The most Sherly Crow ever sold was 7 million copies but typically she sells about 2 - 3 million copies.
As for the Dixie Chicks, they have sold 10 million copies or more with two cds. I think her quote is right on, just because one sells 10 million copies doesn't necessarily make it great music. While their first two cds sold in excess of 10 million, their Home cd fell short at 6 million and that cd has much more depth and artistry to it. The latest cd is brilliant as well and it will only sell 2 million at the most.
Anyway, there are a great number of bands that put out great cd and barely reach a million copies, i.e. Tom Petty, Patti Griffin, etc. yet groups like Rascal Flatts sell 5 million copies of pure pop syrup.
Martie's quote seems pretty dead on.
The most Sherly Crow ever sold was 7 million copies but typically she sells about 2 - 3 million copies.
As for the Dixie Chicks, they have sold 10 million copies or more with two cds. I think her quote is right on, just because one sells 10 million copies doesn't necessarily make it great music. While their first two cds sold in excess of 10 million, their Home cd fell short at 6 million and that cd has much more depth and artistry to it. The latest cd is brilliant as well and it will only sell 2 million at the most.
Anyway, there are a great number of bands that put out great cd and barely reach a million copies, i.e. Tom Petty, Patti Griffin, etc. yet groups like Rascal Flatts sell 5 million copies of pure pop syrup.
Martie's quote seems pretty dead on.
The most Sherly Crow ever sold was 7 million copies but typically she sells about 2 - 3 million copies.
As for the Dixie Chicks, they have sold 10 million copies or more with two cds. I think her quote is right on, just because one sells 10 million copies doesn't necessarily make it great music. While their first two cds sold in excess of 10 million, their Home cd fell short at 6 million and that cd has much more depth and artistry to it. The latest cd is brilliant as well and it will only sell 2 million at the most.
Anyway, there are a great number of bands that put out great cd and barely reach a million copies, i.e. Tom Petty, Patti Griffin, etc. yet groups like Rascal Flatts sell 5 million copies of pure pop syrup.
Martie's quote seems pretty dead on.
The most Sherly Crow ever sold was 7 million copies but typically she sells about 2 - 3 million copies.
As for the Dixie Chicks, they have sold 10 million copies or more with two cds. I think her quote is right on, just because one sells 10 million copies doesn't necessarily make it great music. While their first two cds sold in excess of 10 million, their Home cd fell short at 6 million and that cd has much more depth and artistry to it. The latest cd is brilliant as well and it will only sell 2 million at the most.
Anyway, there are a great number of bands that put out great cd and barely reach a million copies, i.e. Tom Petty, Patti Griffin, etc. yet groups like Rascal Flatts sell 5 million copies of pure pop syrup.
Martie's quote seems pretty dead on.
Don't look for the general public to stop listening to bad music any time soon. And remember that it's nice to see your favorite acts at Schubas, Empty Bottle, Metro, etc. rather than the United Center or Allstate Arena.
Its nice that every website joins the crowd and slates Nickelback.Real intelligent,real classy.
Nickelback deserve every bit of success that comes there way,seeing as though any website that thinks that there humble opinion matters, bashs the hell out of them.
But i guess you guys may have a point, fans liking a band like Nickelback, having sold over 17 million records,winning American,World,Peoples and Billboard awards and have done endless tours around the world , might have insuperior tastes than you perfect highly educated music fans.
If you want to know what sort of guy Chad kroeger is when making music.Everytime the guy finishs a song at a live concert.He says thanks to fans.Nickelback Rock.
Hey, guess who I am?
"nicklback good.why hate on nicklbck?he like fans.fans of nikcleback good."
Give up? *cough*jack*cough*
i agree with the guy 2 comments up.some websites have nothing better to do than knock down successful bands like nickelback.
get a life and understand that nickelback are there because of a loyal fanbase.
there new song if everyone cared is amasing.
Yeah, I remember the first time I broke into the family liquor cabinet.