It's odd that it made number 1 since that's only 23,000 more than Riot Act sold in the first week and much less than Binarual and Avocado did. I guess there was no competition this time whereas Binarual was released against an Eminem album and Avocado was released against a Tool album.
The peripheral fans who are too lazy to download itunes or find an indy record store or even a target nearby dropped out of this one. I suspect it will be one of their lowest selling records, but who cares. These are the same people who want to hear only the first 3 albums live. The fan base is now lean and concise, just like Backspacer.
It's odd that it made number 1 since that's only 23,000 more than Riot Act sold in the first week and much less than Binarual and Avocado did. I guess there was no competition this time whereas Binarual was released against an Eminem album and Avocado was released against a Tool album.
Album sales are way down from 2002, when "Riot Act" came out. It's like saying that it's amazing that "NCIS" was the #1 show on TV last week with 20 million viewers when "Friends" needed 30 million viewers in 2002 to rank #1. It's just a whole different world now.
It's odd that it made number 1 since that's only 23,000 more than Riot Act sold in the first week and much less than Binarual and Avocado did. I guess there was no competition this time whereas Binarual was released against an Eminem album and Avocado was released against a Tool album.
Album sales are way down from 2002, when "Riot Act" came out. It's like saying that it's amazing that "NCIS" was the #1 show on TV last week with 20 million viewers when "Friends" needed 30 million viewers in 2002 to rank #1. It's just a whole different world now.
It's a matter of the money-saving and convenience to be had when one illegally downloads music nowadays, in my opinion. Even TV is going to start feeling it as high-bandwidth internet connections become more affordable and accessible... as it is, streaming an episode of a show can be done just hours after its airing. The same can be said about music - just that the leaking is available pre-release, rather than post-release.
'05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
It's odd that it made number 1 since that's only 23,000 more than Riot Act sold in the first week and much less than Binarual and Avocado did. I guess there was no competition this time whereas Binarual was released against an Eminem album and Avocado was released against a Tool album.
Album sales are way down from 2002, when "Riot Act" came out. It's like saying that it's amazing that "NCIS" was the #1 show on TV last week with 20 million viewers when "Friends" needed 30 million viewers in 2002 to rank #1. It's just a whole different world now.
It's a matter of the money-saving and convenience to be had when one illegally downloads music nowadays, in my opinion. Even TV is going to start feeling it as high-bandwidth internet connections become more affordable and accessible... as it is, streaming an episode of a show can be done just hours after its airing. The same can be said about music - just that the leaking is available pre-release, rather than post-release.
I disagree with part of this. Pearl Jam did not sell 189,000 copies of "Backspacer" (as opposed to 279,000 of "Pearl Jam") because 90,000 people downloaded it illegally. They sold 90,000 fewer copies primarily because: 1) thanks to the advent of the iPod, people are less interested in albums than they were in 2006; and 2) the album is only available at one major retailer. #2 cannot be overstated.
The vast majority of downloading is legal (i.e., iTunes), not illegal.
I was going to make a point but they were all made for me, I think everything thats been said here is true and in today's music scene 190K is very good. However, Britney beat Binaural, Eminem was released a week later.
It came out on a Sunday though, I don't think this counts the first couple of days does it? Most of the sales would be on the first day I would think?
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Regardless of the # ..... Backspacer is #1 on the charts. This in itself speaks for the industry today and should be the benchmark rather than the actual # of units sold. Plus as mentioned,....its physically only sold at target or and indy. I know I've spoken to many people to date who are saying they are going to go buy the album but just have not gotten a chance to go to one of the retail outlets yet.
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OK, cool, I am wondering about the world charts as well.
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It came out on a Sunday though, I don't think this counts the first couple of days does it? Most of the sales would be on the first day I would think?
This is a great question. My understanding has been that some retailers report Sunday through Saturday, and others report Monday through Sunday. The SoundScan week purportedly runs from Monday through Sunday. I don't know how you reconcile these two things.
If the sales of "Backspacer" on Sunday, September 20, were carried over to the following week, then the results would be skewed-- Pearl Jam getting the benefit of "Eight Days A Week" and everyone else getting just seven. If the September 20 sales count toward the previous week, then there should have been enough sold to have allowed "Backspacer" to chart last week. Typically, it only takes a few thousand copies sold to crack the top 200.
There are a number of other unanswered questions that leave us guessing as to the context for the 189,000 number. How many of the independent retailers selling "Backspacer" report to SoundScan? Are the copies sold through the Ten Club accounted for in the numbers? What is the breakdown of sales through Target, indies, Ten Club and iTunes?
You guys are all right on the money. However, I think that the "#1" status should be the main focus, not the total number. Plus, I don't think that Billboard counts all of the albums sold directly through PearlJam.com. I've been getting all of my albums and merch from this site for the better part of a decade. I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands that do the same.
It's great that Pearl Jam are #1 on the album charts!
I disagree with part of this. Pearl Jam did not sell 189,000 copies of "Backspacer" (as opposed to 279,000 of "Pearl Jam") because 90,000 people downloaded it illegally. They sold 90,000 fewer copies primarily because: 1) thanks to the advent of the iPod, people are less interested in albums than they were in 2006; and 2) the album is only available at one major retailer. #2 cannot be overstated.
The vast majority of downloading is legal (i.e., iTunes), not illegal.
I completely disagree with you. 1) In 2006 the iPod and MP3 players was just as popular then as they are today. And 2) AC/DC had no problems at all selling a million copies in it's first week (Black Ice sold approximately 1,762,000 units in its first week) and it was only available at Walmart.
I think Pearl Jam (the album) also had it's success in being marketed and hyped as Pearl Jam's "return to form" album which gave more interest to the mainstream audience
I disagree with part of this. Pearl Jam did not sell 189,000 copies of "Backspacer" (as opposed to 279,000 of "Pearl Jam") because 90,000 people downloaded it illegally. They sold 90,000 fewer copies primarily because: 1) thanks to the advent of the iPod, people are less interested in albums than they were in 2006; and 2) the album is only available at one major retailer. #2 cannot be overstated.
The vast majority of downloading is legal (i.e., iTunes), not illegal.
I completely disagree with you. 1) In 2006 the iPod and MP3 players was just as popular then as they are today. And 2) AC/DC had no problems at all selling a million copies in it's first week (Black Ice sold approximately 1,762,000 units in its first week) and it was only available at Walmart.
I still think it's progressively getting worse, though. And Tool's album came out on the same day, so I think there was some competition to see who could get to #1. The main reason why Pearl Jam went to #1 this time is because they have a large built-in fan base who feel they have to have the album.
I disagree with part of this. Pearl Jam did not sell 189,000 copies of "Backspacer" (as opposed to 279,000 of "Pearl Jam") because 90,000 people downloaded it illegally. They sold 90,000 fewer copies primarily because: 1) thanks to the advent of the iPod, people are less interested in albums than they were in 2006; and 2) the album is only available at one major retailer. #2 cannot be overstated.
The vast majority of downloading is legal (i.e., iTunes), not illegal.
I completely disagree with you. 1) In 2006 the iPod and MP3 players was just as popular then as they are today. And 2) AC/DC had no problems at all selling a million copies in it's first week (Black Ice sold approximately 1,762,000 units in its first week) and it was only available at Walmart.
It's not that the iPod is more popular now than in 2006. It's that three more years of the availability of the iPod, and three more years of people getting comfortable with and familiar with iTunes and its ability to let them cheaply download the individual tracks they want, instead of whole albums, that has diminished people's interest in albums. I'm an album listener who doesn't even own an iPod. Practically everyone I know looks at me like I have two heads.
The Wal-Mart comparison is not really a fair one. Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in America, and they promoted the AC/DC record way more heavily than Target promoted "Backspacer," setting up "AC/DC stores" within the stores that drove traffic and spurred impulse buying. To wit: "Now, upon the retail launch of Black Ice, Columbia Records and Walmart plan to give fans even more access to this legendary band. In each of its 3,500 Walmart stores, Walmart will create a “Rock Again AC/DC Store” within the store. While the new $11.88 Black Ice CD album holds centerstage, it will be surrounded by new AC/DC apparel, DVDs, past albums, games, and even a social gaming station for fans to try out their rock-n-roll skills on Rock Band.
In addition, Walmart and Columbia Records have partnered with MTV to create an “AC/DC Rock Band Store” in New York’s Times Square and in Los Angeles to give fans in the these cities fast access to the band’s newest items. These pop up stores will open 12:01 midnight Oct. 20 to begin selling the album, AC/DC apparel, the Rock Band video game, and Rock Band branded apparel and accessories.
Also new, Walmart has dispatched interactive Black Ice trucks on the streets of New York City and Los Angeles this week. Making new stops each day, the trucks fill the air with AC/DC music, invite fans to be the first to hear the new album before release, and allow players to demo the new AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band® Track Pack game on the truck’s back stage. These trucks will also sell the album starting 12:01 a.m. Oct. 20."
In the Target where I bought "Backspacer," you would not have even known it was for sale if you weren't looking for it. It was on the second floor, in the CD section, with a not especially conspicuous display.
I think Pearl Jam (the album) also had it's success in being marketed and hyped as Pearl Jam's "return to form" album which gave more interest to the mainstream audience
Maybe so, but every album since "Yield" has been marketed as Pearl Jam's return to form. At least, that's how the media have presented every album. It's almost comical. You could almost set your clock to expect a slew of articles in 2012 when the next album comes out talking about how "Backspacer" was tossed off really quickly, and the new 2012 album really marks a return to form for the boys.
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Does the "album" sales figure of 189k include i-tunes downloads of the entire album?
I'm one who would rather have the disc and the packaging in my hand... Then I rip the disc to my i-pod...
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Also new, Walmart has dispatched interactive Black Ice trucks on the streets of New York City and Los Angeles this week. Making new stops each day, the trucks fill the air with AC/DC music, invite fans to be the first to hear the new album before release, and allow players to demo the new AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band® Track Pack game on the truck’s back stage. These trucks will also sell the album starting 12:01 a.m. Oct. 20."
.
I would have been so fucking pissed if that shit box rolled up next to me!
“I know this song so well, I can smoke a cigarette, have a drink, brush my teeth, take a shit, and mow the lawn while singing it. But I'll only be doing a couple of those things during this version.”
I think Pearl Jam (the album) also had it's success in being marketed and hyped as Pearl Jam's "return to form" album which gave more interest to the mainstream audience
Maybe so, but every album since "Yield" has been marketed as Pearl Jam's return to form. At least, that's how the media have presented every album. It's almost comical. You could almost set your clock to expect a slew of articles in 2012 when the next album comes out talking about how "Backspacer" was tossed off really quickly, and the new 2012 album really marks a return to form for the boys.
yeah but with that album, Pearl Jam themselves were actually regarding it as their return to form. They said in multiple interviews that they were ready to take the limelight again, and that the album was like a new engine in an old truck.
It still a low # of units sold though i bet the band is not to impressed at all .....
My guess is that they expected to sell anywhere from 175-200..........189 is a nice showing.
I would say the difference between self-titled and Backspacer is clearly because of the exclusivity of the Target deal.
80,000 people like Pearl Jam enough to buy their new album, but not enough to go and seek it.
Self-titled had direct marketing and exposure that was hard to miss........Backspacer not so much. The Target commercial doesn't even say the name of the album............
Backspacer is #2 in Ireland in it's first week, and Ten is #38. And we don't have any major chains promoting it. It's getting good rotation on the radio though.
It still a low # of units sold though i bet the band is not to impressed at all .....
Agreed.
Bottom line is the band is not going to be a sales powerhouse ever again. Their live shows will always sell strong but albums sales aint gonna happen and I don't think thats such a bad thing. Works for the Stones and it worked for the dead.
yeah but with that album, Pearl Jam themselves were actually regarding it as their return to form. They said in multiple interviews that they were ready to take the limelight again, and that the album was like a new engine in an old truck.
Didn't Ed also say something very similar this time around about Backspacer...something like an old truck with a new engine?
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Album sales are way down from 2002, when "Riot Act" came out. It's like saying that it's amazing that "NCIS" was the #1 show on TV last week with 20 million viewers when "Friends" needed 30 million viewers in 2002 to rank #1. It's just a whole different world now.
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
I disagree with part of this. Pearl Jam did not sell 189,000 copies of "Backspacer" (as opposed to 279,000 of "Pearl Jam") because 90,000 people downloaded it illegally. They sold 90,000 fewer copies primarily because: 1) thanks to the advent of the iPod, people are less interested in albums than they were in 2006; and 2) the album is only available at one major retailer. #2 cannot be overstated.
The vast majority of downloading is legal (i.e., iTunes), not illegal.
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Toronto, ON - August 21, 2009
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Toronto, ON - Sept 12, 2011
London, ON - July 16, 2013
Boston, MA - Aug 7, 2016
EV - 5
(**Letterman'02, Irving Plaza, Storytellers, Beacon, ACL, Spectrum 3&4, Bridge School '10**)
"Constant recoil,..sometimes life don't leave you alone."
Let's connect on twitter - @Jeffgorra
Eddie: Dublin & London
Nevertheless, awesome it has landed at #1. Hope it can hold it for a few weeks.
This is a great question. My understanding has been that some retailers report Sunday through Saturday, and others report Monday through Sunday. The SoundScan week purportedly runs from Monday through Sunday. I don't know how you reconcile these two things.
If the sales of "Backspacer" on Sunday, September 20, were carried over to the following week, then the results would be skewed-- Pearl Jam getting the benefit of "Eight Days A Week" and everyone else getting just seven. If the September 20 sales count toward the previous week, then there should have been enough sold to have allowed "Backspacer" to chart last week. Typically, it only takes a few thousand copies sold to crack the top 200.
There are a number of other unanswered questions that leave us guessing as to the context for the 189,000 number. How many of the independent retailers selling "Backspacer" report to SoundScan? Are the copies sold through the Ten Club accounted for in the numbers? What is the breakdown of sales through Target, indies, Ten Club and iTunes?
It's great that Pearl Jam are #1 on the album charts!
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Why so surprised? "Pearl Jam" was available at Target, Best Buy, Wherehouse, Wal-Mart, Sam Goody, etc. "Backspacer" is available at Target.
It's not that the iPod is more popular now than in 2006. It's that three more years of the availability of the iPod, and three more years of people getting comfortable with and familiar with iTunes and its ability to let them cheaply download the individual tracks they want, instead of whole albums, that has diminished people's interest in albums. I'm an album listener who doesn't even own an iPod. Practically everyone I know looks at me like I have two heads.
The Wal-Mart comparison is not really a fair one. Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in America, and they promoted the AC/DC record way more heavily than Target promoted "Backspacer," setting up "AC/DC stores" within the stores that drove traffic and spurred impulse buying. To wit: "Now, upon the retail launch of Black Ice, Columbia Records and Walmart plan to give fans even more access to this legendary band. In each of its 3,500 Walmart stores, Walmart will create a “Rock Again AC/DC Store” within the store. While the new $11.88 Black Ice CD album holds centerstage, it will be surrounded by new AC/DC apparel, DVDs, past albums, games, and even a social gaming station for fans to try out their rock-n-roll skills on Rock Band.
In addition, Walmart and Columbia Records have partnered with MTV to create an “AC/DC Rock Band Store” in New York’s Times Square and in Los Angeles to give fans in the these cities fast access to the band’s newest items. These pop up stores will open 12:01 midnight Oct. 20 to begin selling the album, AC/DC apparel, the Rock Band video game, and Rock Band branded apparel and accessories.
Also new, Walmart has dispatched interactive Black Ice trucks on the streets of New York City and Los Angeles this week. Making new stops each day, the trucks fill the air with AC/DC music, invite fans to be the first to hear the new album before release, and allow players to demo the new AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band® Track Pack game on the truck’s back stage. These trucks will also sell the album starting 12:01 a.m. Oct. 20."
In the Target where I bought "Backspacer," you would not have even known it was for sale if you weren't looking for it. It was on the second floor, in the CD section, with a not especially conspicuous display.
Maybe so, but every album since "Yield" has been marketed as Pearl Jam's return to form. At least, that's how the media have presented every album. It's almost comical. You could almost set your clock to expect a slew of articles in 2012 when the next album comes out talking about how "Backspacer" was tossed off really quickly, and the new 2012 album really marks a return to form for the boys.
A) its #1 because of lack of competition except for Three Days Grace and...
i really think its that simple
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
I'm one who would rather have the disc and the packaging in my hand... Then I rip the disc to my i-pod...
1998: MSG I, Hartford
2000: Jones Beach I
2003: Albany, MSG II, Mansfield II & III, Homdel
2004: Boston (VFC) I & II
2006: Albany, Hartford, Boston I and E. Rutherford I
2008: MSG I & II, Hartford, Mansfield II (saw BostonLou in the FRONT ROW!!) EV-NYC II
2010: Hartford
2013 Worcester II, Hartford
2016 Fenway I
2018 Wrigley II, Fenway II
I would have been so fucking pissed if that shit box rolled up next to me!
yeah but with that album, Pearl Jam themselves were actually regarding it as their return to form. They said in multiple interviews that they were ready to take the limelight again, and that the album was like a new engine in an old truck.
My guess is that they expected to sell anywhere from 175-200..........189 is a nice showing.
I would say the difference between self-titled and Backspacer is clearly because of the exclusivity of the Target deal.
80,000 people like Pearl Jam enough to buy their new album, but not enough to go and seek it.
Self-titled had direct marketing and exposure that was hard to miss........Backspacer not so much. The Target commercial doesn't even say the name of the album............
Agreed.
Bottom line is the band is not going to be a sales powerhouse ever again. Their live shows will always sell strong but albums sales aint gonna happen and I don't think thats such a bad thing. Works for the Stones and it worked for the dead.