San Diego 10/25/00, 6/5/03, 7/7/06, 10/9/09, 11/21/13 LA 10/1/09, 11/23/13 VH1 Rock Honors 7/17/08, Hawaii 12/9/06 Bridge School 10/23/10, 10/23/11 EV 4/15/08, 4/16/08, 7/5/11, 7/8/11
The second single has been released to radio. "Just Breathe" debuts at No. 42 on Billboard's Rock Songs chart this week. "The Fixer" is still hanging in at No. 7 after 13 weeks.
as much as I love Just Breathe, I think Got Some or Unthought Known would have made better second singles for Backspacer. JB is too much like the Into the Wild soundtrack which the rest of the public has already heard a lot of, at least it got a lot of play here in LA.
As was said earlier it's a double a-side with Got Some, but I agree about Unthought Known, I could see that as getting lots of radio play and crossing over to other formats more so than anything else from the album. Surely it's gotta be the next single! I disagree with your comment about the rest of the public having heard Into the Wild though, it didn't sell that great from what I remember, It may've got play in LA but maybe it didn't get so much elsewhere.
My PJ shows:
London 28/10/96, Las Vegas 11/7/98, London 29/5/00, Nurnburg 11/6/00, Prague 14/6/00, Salzburg 18/6/00, Verona 20/6/00, Milan 22/6/00, Zurich 23/6/00, New York 8-9/7/03, Boston 11/7/03, Reading Festival 27/8/06, Shepards Bush 11/8/09, Berlin 15/8/09, Manchester 17/8/09, London 18/8/09, Dublin 22/6/10, Belfast 23/6/10, London (HRC) 25/6/10, Alpine Valley (PJ20) 3-4/9/11, Manchester 20-21/6/12, Leeds 8/7/14, Milton Keynes 11/7/14 To be continued....
The UK chart positions are embarrasing, although there was quite a bit of competition I still get the impression it hasn't sold well here. Disappointing considering we got 3 shows, the radio broadcasts etc, not sure why they didn't do a tv show like Jools Holland, they really need to do that if they're to get back in the public eye over here.
My PJ shows:
London 28/10/96, Las Vegas 11/7/98, London 29/5/00, Nurnburg 11/6/00, Prague 14/6/00, Salzburg 18/6/00, Verona 20/6/00, Milan 22/6/00, Zurich 23/6/00, New York 8-9/7/03, Boston 11/7/03, Reading Festival 27/8/06, Shepards Bush 11/8/09, Berlin 15/8/09, Manchester 17/8/09, London 18/8/09, Dublin 22/6/10, Belfast 23/6/10, London (HRC) 25/6/10, Alpine Valley (PJ20) 3-4/9/11, Manchester 20-21/6/12, Leeds 8/7/14, Milton Keynes 11/7/14 To be continued....
I'm not shocked that its gonna limp towards maybe 500,000. the world we live in now is splintered and the masses taste in music in general blows. PJ is too cerebral for the world of black eyed peas and that miley cyrus kid. Besides who needs the masses, don't you people remember how annoying all the douchebags were back in the ten/ jeremy days !
After 5 weeks, Backspacer is starting to sputter. Down to #32 on the charts with only 14,000 sold this past week??! This may not get to 500,000 (Riot Act territory).
It's too bad that Target is already taking down the big cardboard displays. They do need something to give this album a secondary push. Maybe "Unthought Known" could give it a little push if it's released? A Letterman appearance? SNL? Anything! And why no Rolling Stone cover story? They got one for the last album! Hell, Shakira is on the latest issue!
After 5 weeks, Backspacer is starting to sputter. Down to #32 on the charts with only 14,000 sold this past week??! This may not get to 500,000 (Riot Act territory).
It's too bad that Target is already taking down the big cardboard displays. They do need something to give this album a secondary push. Maybe "Unthought Known" could give it a little push if it's released? A Letterman appearance? SNL? Anything! And why no Rolling Stone cover story? They got one for the last album! Hell, Shakira is on the latest issue!
Actually, #31 on The Billboard 200.
And the album is holding up reasonably well compared to recent Pearl Jam albums, especially considering that it is only available at one major brick-and-mortar retailer:
FIRST FIVE WEEKS
"Backspacer": 1-10-16-21-31
"Pearl Jam": 2-8-10-17-22
"Riot Act": 5-36-67-90-100
The sales story is far from being told on "Backspacer." The sales could ignite if "Just Breathe" crosses over to CHR/Top 40 radio. It will probably be two or three months before the song crosses over. So don't write the chart obituary yet.
Do you think it would have done better if it was available at more stores? It could also gain some small momentum next year if the band decides to do a bigger US tour.
2003: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Seattle; 2005: Monterrey; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit; 2008: West Palm Beach, Tampa; 2009: Austin, LA 3 & 4, San Diego; 2010: Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Indianapolis; 2011: PJ20 1 & 2; 2012: Missoula; 2013: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Seattle; 2014: Tulsa; 2016: Columbia, New York City 1 & 2; 2018: London, Seattle 1 & 2; 2021: Ohana; 2022: Oklahoma City
week 6
12,202 for a total of 329,531 #43 on Hits Daily Double
San Diego 10/25/00, 6/5/03, 7/7/06, 10/9/09, 11/21/13 LA 10/1/09, 11/23/13 VH1 Rock Honors 7/17/08, Hawaii 12/9/06 Bridge School 10/23/10, 10/23/11 EV 4/15/08, 4/16/08, 7/5/11, 7/8/11
Looks like it will be 40th on the Billboard 200. So far 314,617 sold if you add up the hitsdailydouble numbers. Let's hope that little mention in the World Series gives them a bump for next week. I would like another triple digit sales week.
So, five straight weeks of Backspacer selling fewer copies than the previous week and having a downward trend on the charts. I don't think there's any stopping the free-fall. Sounds like, outside of touring, there will be no further promotion for this album. No more Target commercials, no new single blowing up, and apparently no TV appearances in the near future... Again, we may not get to 500,000.
So, five straight weeks of Backspacer selling fewer copies than the previous week and having a downward trend on the charts. I don't think there's any stopping the free-fall. Sounds like, outside of touring, there will be no further promotion for this album. No more Target commercials, no new single blowing up, and apparently no TV appearances in the near future... Again, we may not get to 500,000.
This "freefall" is how it works for virtually every album by an artist with an established audience. With rare exceptions, albums debut at their peak and then fall each week from there. "Backspacer" is actually holding up reasonably well compared to other rock albums, not to mention the most recent Pearl Jam studio releases. You can't write the sales obituary on the album until "Just Breathe" has had some time to cross over to CHR/Top 40 radio. That process can take months.
In addition, sales during the holiday shopping season tend to spike dramatically. You could sell 100,000 copies in a week and not be in the top 10. So-- patience, young Padawan.
So far it looks like it's gonna be down again this week. Was hoping that mention in the World Series would help spike sales. Hopefully Just Breathe continues to do well.
I noticed that they will start selling Backspacer on Amazon as an import starting Nov 10th. Seems like they've had quite a bit of pre-orders on it, so maybe this will spike some album sells next week.
I noticed that they will start selling Backspacer on Amazon as an import starting Nov 10th. Seems like they've had quite a bit of pre-orders on it, so maybe this will spike some album sells next week.
they've had many different release dates on Amazon.
So, five straight weeks of Backspacer selling fewer copies than the previous week and having a downward trend on the charts. I don't think there's any stopping the free-fall. Sounds like, outside of touring, there will be no further promotion for this album. No more Target commercials, no new single blowing up, and apparently no TV appearances in the near future... Again, we may not get to 500,000.
every album they've released since Ten has done that. but i will agree, the lack of commcercials, show dates, tv appearances, or even a follow up single is really going to hurt them.
So, five straight weeks of Backspacer selling fewer copies than the previous week and having a downward trend on the charts. I don't think there's any stopping the free-fall. Sounds like, outside of touring, there will be no further promotion for this album. No more Target commercials, no new single blowing up, and apparently no TV appearances in the near future... Again, we may not get to 500,000.
every album they've released since Ten has done that. but i will agree, the lack of commcercials, show dates, tv appearances, or even a follow up single is really going to hurt them.
they got some good exposure during the playoffs. although the songs were played after the games had ended. and most of the audience either changed the channel by then or went to sleep. Bon Jovi had a better deal during the tbs coverage. As their song was played during every inning.
they got some good exposure during the playoffs. although the songs were played after the games had ended. and most of the audience either changed the channel by then or went to sleep.
That kind of exposure doesn't drive sales. Most people aren't paying attention enough to even notice that there's a Pearl Jam song playing. Even if they did, they'd go to buy it at Best Buy or Wal-Mart and find that it doesn't exist.
The only things that would move the sales needle other than a crossover radio hit would be a reasonably high-profile TV appearance, but there aren't really that many venues unless Oprah decides to endorse "Backspacer." Letterman and Conan draw relatively small audiences, and those audiences are even smaller after 12:30 when the musical guest comes on. "SNL" would probably provide a small boost, if they picked the right songs to play. If "Backspacer" gets nominated for Album of the Year and they perform at the Grammys, then you'll see some sales. But that's not likely.
they got some good exposure during the playoffs. although the songs were played after the games had ended. and most of the audience either changed the channel by then or went to sleep.
That kind of exposure doesn't drive sales. Most people aren't paying attention enough to even notice that there's a Pearl Jam song playing. Even if they did, they'd go to buy it at Best Buy or Wal-Mart and find that it doesn't exist.
The only things that would move the sales needle other than a crossover radio hit would be a reasonably high-profile TV appearance, but there aren't really that many venues unless Oprah decides to endorse "Backspacer." Letterman and Conan draw relatively small audiences, and those audiences are even smaller after 12:30 when the musical guest comes on. "SNL" would probably provide a small boost, if they picked the right songs to play. If "Backspacer" gets nominated for Album of the Year and they perform at the Grammys, then you'll see some sales. But that's not likely.
yea that's why i said bon jovi had the better deal. as they were constantly played every inning. repetiton helps. just like those direct tv commercials hepled the black eyed peas boost sales.
I posted a thread about my feelings about the marketing method PJ took, and I wanted to post on this thread, with similar statements. PJ dropped the ball in promoting the record. Obviously they cant be entirely blamed as its a new landscape now and noone save Trent Reznor or Radiohead seem to have any sense of what to do, but overall, it was a boneheaded move on the part of the band to market or rather not market the record.
Press for , and doing a deal with a major corporation in an economic depression, makes zero sense. In 1991, sure this would have been a way to sell records. Do press with Spin and Rolling Stone, make a deal with Target, but in 2009? Not so much.
The plain and simple fact is, people just dont buy records anymore. Not like they used to. And to combat that, to try and get the money that you would have gotten if downloading didnt exist, you have many options. MY first choice sure as hell wouldnt have been to do what I had been doing the last 15 years, which was do the same old press junket rounds. And I sure as hell wouldnt strike a deal with Target, because Target obviously deals with physical products, albums.
When you get beyond the denial stage many on this board seem to be going through, this idea that, "Oh there are so many people who still buy records", you can deal with the issue in a levelheaded and sane and adult manner. So, people are downloading records these days. And that cuts into a huge chunk of profit. Its unfortuante. But once you admit that, you can say, "ok, so people, hundreds of millions of people now, download instead of buying records, what is the next step, how do we deal with this issue?"
Continuing to hope that people storm record stores for the next big record release, is silly and nonsense. Continuing to believe that you are gonna sell 1 million records your first week is silly. The facts are plain and available to anyone with half a brain.
Ultimately you have to come to grips with the world. Do I feel sorry for bands that are losing profits, because of downloading? Sure. But do I feel sorry for some of the bands who continue to follow the same old way they have always followed, and not change with the times? No I dont feel sorry for them.
It would be tough to move on. I imagine its tough. For their entire careers, bands do things a certain way, and then boom...things change. These bands themselves grew up with CD's and records and LPs as physical products. When these band members were kids you couldnt go on Kazza and you couldnt go to iTunes. You had to go to a record shop. I understand its hard to change that pattern. Its hard to let go of a way of life.
The point remains though: its a self fulfilling prophecy. You dont sell alot of records these days period. But you sure as hell dont sell a ton of records by doing what you always did. The bands that are successful these days, have adapted to the new buisness model, to the online world.
Look at what Wal-Mart did for AC/DC. The problem is not that Target sells tangible records. It's that next to nothing was done to promote the fact that Target had the record for sale. Wal-Mart set up "stores within the store" selling all kinds of AC/DC merch. The casual shopper who didn't even know AC/DC had a new record out could not help but notice it. It drove hundreds of thousands of impulse buys. Target had tiny displays, tucked away in the CD/DVD sections, with nothing else in the store calling attention to the availability of the record. By the second Sunday of release, the Target newspaper circular gave no special attention to the record. It was just one of several albums pictured in a tiny photo. By the third Sunday, it wasn't listed in the circular at all.
There are a lot of people who would buy the record btu who don't even know it exists or, if they do, where to get it.
Look at what Wal-Mart did for AC/DC. The problem is not that Target sells tangible records. It's that next to nothing was done to promote the fact that Target had the record for sale. Wal-Mart set up "stores within the store" selling all kinds of AC/DC merch. The casual shopper who didn't even know AC/DC had a new record out could not help but notice it. It drove hundreds of thousands of impulse buys. Target had tiny displays, tucked away in the CD/DVD sections, with nothing else in the store calling attention to the availability of the record. By the second Sunday of release, the Target newspaper circular gave no special attention to the record. It was just one of several albums pictured in a tiny photo. By the third Sunday, it wasn't listed in the circular at all.
There are a lot of people who would buy the record btu who don't even know it exists or, if they do, where to get it.
the Target i went to. had their cds way in the back and to the corner. at the time they didn't even have the display up. i had to ask the guy. and he gave it to me from a drawer. i haven't been there since. so i don't know if a display ever went up.
Comments
As was said earlier it's a double a-side with Got Some, but I agree about Unthought Known, I could see that as getting lots of radio play and crossing over to other formats more so than anything else from the album. Surely it's gotta be the next single! I disagree with your comment about the rest of the public having heard Into the Wild though, it didn't sell that great from what I remember, It may've got play in LA but maybe it didn't get so much elsewhere.
London 28/10/96, Las Vegas 11/7/98, London 29/5/00, Nurnburg 11/6/00, Prague 14/6/00, Salzburg 18/6/00, Verona 20/6/00, Milan 22/6/00, Zurich 23/6/00, New York 8-9/7/03, Boston 11/7/03, Reading Festival 27/8/06, Shepards Bush 11/8/09, Berlin 15/8/09, Manchester 17/8/09, London 18/8/09, Dublin 22/6/10, Belfast 23/6/10, London (HRC) 25/6/10, Alpine Valley (PJ20) 3-4/9/11, Manchester 20-21/6/12, Leeds 8/7/14, Milton Keynes 11/7/14 To be continued....
London 28/10/96, Las Vegas 11/7/98, London 29/5/00, Nurnburg 11/6/00, Prague 14/6/00, Salzburg 18/6/00, Verona 20/6/00, Milan 22/6/00, Zurich 23/6/00, New York 8-9/7/03, Boston 11/7/03, Reading Festival 27/8/06, Shepards Bush 11/8/09, Berlin 15/8/09, Manchester 17/8/09, London 18/8/09, Dublin 22/6/10, Belfast 23/6/10, London (HRC) 25/6/10, Alpine Valley (PJ20) 3-4/9/11, Manchester 20-21/6/12, Leeds 8/7/14, Milton Keynes 11/7/14 To be continued....
Still big in France I see!
It's too bad that Target is already taking down the big cardboard displays. They do need something to give this album a secondary push. Maybe "Unthought Known" could give it a little push if it's released? A Letterman appearance? SNL? Anything! And why no Rolling Stone cover story? They got one for the last album! Hell, Shakira is on the latest issue!
2000: 8/15, 8/18, 10/9, 10/11, 10/12
2003: 6/18, 6/21, 6/22
2005: 9/9, 9/28
2006: 5/16, 5/17, 6/26, 6/27
2007: 8/5
2009: 8/23, 8/24
2010: 5/3, 5/4, 5/21
2011: 9/3, 9/4, 9/11, 9/12
2013: 7/19, 11/16
2014: 10/3, 10/9, 10/12, 10/17
2016: 4/16, 8/20, 8/22
2018: 8/18, 8/20, 9/2
2022: 9/18
2023: 8/31, 9/2, 9/5
2024: 5/18, 6/29
Actually, #31 on The Billboard 200.
And the album is holding up reasonably well compared to recent Pearl Jam albums, especially considering that it is only available at one major brick-and-mortar retailer:
FIRST FIVE WEEKS
"Backspacer": 1-10-16-21-31
"Pearl Jam": 2-8-10-17-22
"Riot Act": 5-36-67-90-100
The sales story is far from being told on "Backspacer." The sales could ignite if "Just Breathe" crosses over to CHR/Top 40 radio. It will probably be two or three months before the song crosses over. So don't write the chart obituary yet.
Do you think it would have done better if it was available at more stores? It could also gain some small momentum next year if the band decides to do a bigger US tour.
"Backspacer": 1-10-16-21-31
"Pearl Jam": 2-8-10-17-22
"Riot Act": 5-36-67-90-100
And remember Riot Act still went gold!
12,202 for a total of 329,531 #43 on Hits Daily Double
2000: 8/15, 8/18, 10/9, 10/11, 10/12
2003: 6/18, 6/21, 6/22
2005: 9/9, 9/28
2006: 5/16, 5/17, 6/26, 6/27
2007: 8/5
2009: 8/23, 8/24
2010: 5/3, 5/4, 5/21
2011: 9/3, 9/4, 9/11, 9/12
2013: 7/19, 11/16
2014: 10/3, 10/9, 10/12, 10/17
2016: 4/16, 8/20, 8/22
2018: 8/18, 8/20, 9/2
2022: 9/18
2023: 8/31, 9/2, 9/5
2024: 5/18, 6/29
This "freefall" is how it works for virtually every album by an artist with an established audience. With rare exceptions, albums debut at their peak and then fall each week from there. "Backspacer" is actually holding up reasonably well compared to other rock albums, not to mention the most recent Pearl Jam studio releases. You can't write the sales obituary on the album until "Just Breathe" has had some time to cross over to CHR/Top 40 radio. That process can take months.
In addition, sales during the holiday shopping season tend to spike dramatically. You could sell 100,000 copies in a week and not be in the top 10. So-- patience, young Padawan.
I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
I'm curious about the influence of the upcoming Australian shows on Backspacers chart position Down Under.
they've had many different release dates on Amazon.
every album they've released since Ten has done that. but i will agree, the lack of commcercials, show dates, tv appearances, or even a follow up single is really going to hurt them.
they got some good exposure during the playoffs. although the songs were played after the games had ended. and most of the audience either changed the channel by then or went to sleep. Bon Jovi had a better deal during the tbs coverage. As their song was played during every inning.
That kind of exposure doesn't drive sales. Most people aren't paying attention enough to even notice that there's a Pearl Jam song playing. Even if they did, they'd go to buy it at Best Buy or Wal-Mart and find that it doesn't exist.
The only things that would move the sales needle other than a crossover radio hit would be a reasonably high-profile TV appearance, but there aren't really that many venues unless Oprah decides to endorse "Backspacer." Letterman and Conan draw relatively small audiences, and those audiences are even smaller after 12:30 when the musical guest comes on. "SNL" would probably provide a small boost, if they picked the right songs to play. If "Backspacer" gets nominated for Album of the Year and they perform at the Grammys, then you'll see some sales. But that's not likely.
yea that's why i said bon jovi had the better deal. as they were constantly played every inning. repetiton helps. just like those direct tv commercials hepled the black eyed peas boost sales.
Press for , and doing a deal with a major corporation in an economic depression, makes zero sense. In 1991, sure this would have been a way to sell records. Do press with Spin and Rolling Stone, make a deal with Target, but in 2009? Not so much.
The plain and simple fact is, people just dont buy records anymore. Not like they used to. And to combat that, to try and get the money that you would have gotten if downloading didnt exist, you have many options. MY first choice sure as hell wouldnt have been to do what I had been doing the last 15 years, which was do the same old press junket rounds. And I sure as hell wouldnt strike a deal with Target, because Target obviously deals with physical products, albums.
When you get beyond the denial stage many on this board seem to be going through, this idea that, "Oh there are so many people who still buy records", you can deal with the issue in a levelheaded and sane and adult manner. So, people are downloading records these days. And that cuts into a huge chunk of profit. Its unfortuante. But once you admit that, you can say, "ok, so people, hundreds of millions of people now, download instead of buying records, what is the next step, how do we deal with this issue?"
Continuing to hope that people storm record stores for the next big record release, is silly and nonsense. Continuing to believe that you are gonna sell 1 million records your first week is silly. The facts are plain and available to anyone with half a brain.
Ultimately you have to come to grips with the world. Do I feel sorry for bands that are losing profits, because of downloading? Sure. But do I feel sorry for some of the bands who continue to follow the same old way they have always followed, and not change with the times? No I dont feel sorry for them.
It would be tough to move on. I imagine its tough. For their entire careers, bands do things a certain way, and then boom...things change. These bands themselves grew up with CD's and records and LPs as physical products. When these band members were kids you couldnt go on Kazza and you couldnt go to iTunes. You had to go to a record shop. I understand its hard to change that pattern. Its hard to let go of a way of life.
The point remains though: its a self fulfilling prophecy. You dont sell alot of records these days period. But you sure as hell dont sell a ton of records by doing what you always did. The bands that are successful these days, have adapted to the new buisness model, to the online world.
There are a lot of people who would buy the record btu who don't even know it exists or, if they do, where to get it.
the Target i went to. had their cds way in the back and to the corner. at the time they didn't even have the display up. i had to ask the guy. and he gave it to me from a drawer. i haven't been there since. so i don't know if a display ever went up.