08 Apr Is Prince The Real Number #1? The Numbers Don’t Add Up
I’ve had thoughts about this all day. There are a few points I am going to make right now.
Here are TWO IMPORTANT INSIGHTS
ITEM #1: Prince is #1 in Retail Sales
Prince sold more physical albums than Urban!
Without digital sales, Keith only sold 134,338 making Prince #1 in retail stores. To me, that is kind of press-release worthy to get out there.
Also…IF Prince added his digital sales from his own web site www.lotusflow3r.com to the mix, he may win the “all in” numbers..depends what he sold digitally.
Keith Urban’s album this week:
ITEM #2: Capitol Records (most likely) Made Urban #1
OK, hear me out on this because this happens a LOT! What most likely happened is that Capitol Records was VERY motivated (for many reasons) to deliver a # 1 ranking to Keith Urban.
Seeing they were only 3,000 units behind the #1 spot, they “did what it took” to ensure the win.
Now, it’s only a theory but it is probably correct.
If they would have lost by such a small margin (3,000 units) some vice president would have lost their job.
When it is that close…you can go out and buy the units at a retail store or better yet, Itunes, to ensure the win, and it would be worth the investment.
The downloads from his OWN site should count on this. I have not seen a Billboard position this close in a while. Something is just NOT adding up!-Dr.FB
Twinkly1
Posted at 21:43h, 09 AprilWhether or not Prince “cares” about the charts really isn’t relvant to the issue of reporting sales.
If the Soundscan charts are to be considered “The Source” and are reported as such the count should be accurate and legitimate.
In this instance, the numbers are all over the place leading to speculation.
All hanging chads should be counted!
justmemuchlove
Posted at 16:00h, 09 April“..No one’s talking about a conspiracy against P? Really?..”
Yes really “tha Truth” You just did..
“…your buddy Dr. KA is apparently knows enough and has some insider information. Or, at least, he knows enough to feel comfortable with posting his “theory” on a public blog as FACT..”
Yeah so.. and.. If the Dr. knows more he knows more.
“..And now when there’s an accusation of this practice supposedly affecting him negatively, people are acting like this shadiness hasn’t been a longstanding occurrence in the music industry and poor widdle P is a victim? Wrong…”
Thats right keep it going! Keep blowing it up just you’ll have something to bitch about. If the numbers dont add up they dont. No “victim” in this case.
“..Lastly, you don’t know me pal..”
Really,, wanna talk about “not knowing me.” Good.. !That means you do understand what I’m saying. If you like his work you go buy his album to enjoy. If you want to the show you buy a ticket to go the show. The relationship begins and end right there for YOU and for me.
Alli
Posted at 15:54h, 09 AprilWoke up ! An earth quaking experience. The other guy won over Prince cos it was always gonna end that way.
Thank you.
lodi
Posted at 15:32h, 09 AprilI have been eluding to the same thing as miko4u. I can’t wait til next Wednesday…I will bet my all…Prince ‘s numbers will skyrocket while Keith will drop to a tremendous low…which imo will mean the “proof was in the pudding” Prince won the #1 spot “hands down”….billboard/capitol records put sh…it the game as usual. Prince remains “unstoppable” and will always be #1 in out hearts. Shout out to Bria…we love u too hang in there with Prince…. he will take good care of u.
tha Truth
Posted at 14:58h, 09 April@justmemuchlove:
“No one is taking about a conspiracy against P. That’s what you make of it.! If the numbers dont add up they don’t. If he is the one who should’ve been nr 1.. well he should have. I don’t know enough about it all. But if there is a gap. I would like to know more about it too.
But you know what.. Dont ask me about him buying copies of a single from more then 10 years ago. You’re the one who know him personaly and you’re and artist yourself.. Go talk to him about it.”
No one’s talking about a conspiracy against P? Really? You DID read “Item #2”, right? That’s the one where Dr. KA basically states that Capitol ““did what it took” to ensure the win”. I wholeheartedly agree with you when you said “I don’t know enough about it all”, but your buddy Dr. KA is apparently knows enough and has some insider information. Or, at least, he knows enough to feel comfortable with posting his “theory” on a public blog as FACT.
Also, I didn’t ask you ANYTHING about him buying “a single from more then (sic) 10 years ago”. Know why? Because that’s a FACT. And now when there’s an accusation of this practice supposedly affecting him negatively, people are acting like this shadiness hasn’t been a longstanding occurrence in the music industry and poor widdle P is a victim? Wrong.
Lastly, you don’t know me pal, so save your sarcasm for someone that cares.
miko4u
Posted at 13:13h, 09 AprilWe will have a lot of answers next week, when we see how much in sales “drop” on the Keith Urban release. If it is more than 50%, I think it would definitely warrant a need for an investigation….. i think some NUMBERS have been tampered with ya’ll
Stymie
Posted at 12:44h, 09 AprilEh,
None of this much matters to me. While I wish that people would stop bitching because the exclusive deal with Target is quite a coup, I do understand that people need something to complain about. One moment, his fans say charts don’t matter, and the next they say it does.
justmemuchlove
Posted at 12:37h, 09 April@the
“Silly? You mean as silly as insinuating that there’s some VAST conspiracy against Prince..”
No one is taking about a conspiracy against P. That’s what you make of it.! If the numbers dont add up they don’t. If he is the one who should’ve been nr 1.. well he should have. I don’t know enough about it all. But if there is a gap. I would like to know more about it too.
And of course I meant to say HISTORY.(sorry saw it too late to correct) But about THAT .. read my post again. I do not for a second believe that you dont know what I’m talking about! But you know what.. Dont ask me about him buying copies of a single from more then 10 years ago. You’re the one who know him personaly and you’re and artist yourself.. Go talk to him about it.
Amil
Posted at 11:33h, 09 AprilAlso keep in mind that Target may have “bought” some of Prince’s CD’s to artificially boost his sales.
There’s strong evidence to indicate Walmart has done this with exclusive deals in the past (such as AC DC), and no reason to believe that Prince did not work it into the contract here, as well – where Target agrees to buy, say, 10,000 CDs of Lotusflow3r to help boost sales. That could have be part of the contract in getting this Prince deal.
So it goes both way, Urban may have gotten help from his label, but it’s just as likely – if not MORE likely – that Target helped boost Prince’s sales.
bak1999
Posted at 11:12h, 09 AprilIf this were an election, this one would be headed for a recount, like the Minnesota US Senate race, which Al Franken narrowly leads.
Hits Daily Double and Soundscan were so far apart. Prince sold 185,956 CDs according to Hits and 168,458 according to Soundscan. That’s a difference of 17,498. Keith Urban’s total’s were off too, by only by 5,745 units (CDs and downloads). According to Hits, Urban moved 177,292 units. Soundscan had Urban at 171,547 units sold.
Now comes the real chart test_seeing whether LotusFlow3r can thrive on the charts after its opening week success.
Prince just released what will undoubtedly be a contender for record of the year at the 2010 Grammys, now he needs to relentlessly promote it, with his first full scale US tour in five years and talk show appearances, where he talks about where those 17,498 where those missing CDs are (Area 51???).
tha Truth
Posted at 11:11h, 09 Apriljustmemuchlove Says:
“That is just a silly thing to say, sorry. It really annoys me when ppl say stuff like this. HISORY, as you say,is what makes him do this too. So it really doens’t make sense saying stuff like that.”
Silly? You mean as silly as insinuating that there’s some VAST conspiracy against Prince to hold him back from getting the #1 record for the week? And to make it by a mere 20,000 copies?
Also, what does “HISORY” make him do? Buy thousands of copies of “tMBGITW” to make it hit #1?
~T!na~
Posted at 10:10h, 09 AprilLike I said B4 Prince has went a long way and did it with no record label and still managed to make it #2 (so they say) To me that screams WOW!!! What a huge eye opener to the rest of the industry…Not only that Lotusflower is gonna be HUGE…
justmemuchlove
Posted at 09:32h, 09 April@ Leon.
Hi Prince 🙂 (waving) How are ya!?
justmemuchlove
Posted at 09:15h, 09 April“.. It’s called HISTORY. Nothing wrong with it. Or are you only allowed to bring it up when it BENEFITS Prince? …”
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That is just a silly thing to say, sorry. It really annoys me when ppl say stuff like this. HISORY, as you say,is what makes him do this too. So it really doens’t make sense saying stuff like that.
maggiegurl
Posted at 09:11h, 09 AprilI’d have to agree with many above….for it to be so close with a limited release – well, it’s clear how popular he is. It’s fantastic how well he’s done (and continues to do) at crafting a career for himself that’s what he wants….instead of being a “slave” to a big corp. record company….kudos to Prince – he’s an inspiration….his focus is unparalleled (not to mention all his sexy songs…tee hee!!!!) Can’t wait for the next Prince event – p u r e J O Y !!!
Leon
Posted at 09:11h, 09 AprilYou whine more than Prince does. He’s lucky he sold more than 100K copies after years of bashing his own fans.
tha Truth
Posted at 07:50h, 09 April@3rd Party
It’s called HISTORY. Nothing wrong with it. Or are you only allowed to bring it up when it BENEFITS Prince? Also, according to many, many, MANY comments made by the man over the years – he could care less about chart position. If that’s not true, it sure would be nice for him to tell us THA TRUTH.
Also, learn your facts. HITS is a trade gossip rag with best guess/ESTIMATES. Soundscan is the ONLY thing keeping track of record sales. Kinda like how movie studios “project” how well a movie opens over the weekend. Their “estimates” stand until the final tally on Sunday night.
But, again, Prince doesn’t care about charts. And is the album being number TWO really going to affect your opinion of it?
kenni
Posted at 06:56h, 09 Aprilthnak u dr.f i just hope something can be done about the trickery here. It is very clear to me that shady business was going on to keep Prince out of the #1 spot and it all has to do with how Prince has handled his buisness in the music industry…he has totally out smarted these idiots. I hope all artists speak out in regards to what has clearly been wrong. I know Prince is above this as he knows how crooked the industry is….capitol records needs to be “called out” loud and clear on this one…we love Prince and some of us is just not taking sh.. like this no more….dr.f thanks and please do what you can, we need to be heard…this is just the beginning.
violetsareblue
Posted at 06:34h, 09 AprilYAWN!.. Prince is numero uno in my heart!
Mr House Quake
Posted at 06:23h, 09 AprilI kinda want him to be #1… but with the album’s limited release… I’m cool with #2. But I do understand the perception which comes with being #1.
john
Posted at 06:22h, 09 AprilSorry to be blunt but… who cares about charts anyway? I cared about what was on Lotus Flow3r that’s all… and that definitely does not include the mess that is Elixer.
aston martin
Posted at 05:08h, 09 AprilI want to see the results for next week… call me just curious cuz it really doesn’t matter…
princeismybaby
Posted at 04:24h, 09 AprilWow my baby is 1
justmemuchlove
Posted at 04:00h, 09 Aprilthank you 3rd party
MacDruid
Posted at 03:56h, 09 AprilHis site sales should not count because you can not just buy the album there. The albums are only available to those who buy a membership for $77. This is just like bundling Musicology with ticket sales.