Dark Matter projected to sell 55,000 physical copies in its first week

PJammin'

Jcanr20 said:

Disappointing. Especially considering how good this album is. I was hoping they would be rewarded with good sales/charts. 

Me too. I was hoping for 100k-150k. 

Lord knows I did my part. 

kmcmanus

jimjam1982 said:

Jcanr20 said:

Disappointing. Especially considering how good this album is. I was hoping they would be rewarded with good sales/charts. 

I don't really find it disappointing, I believe it's a conscious decision by the band.  They could have pushed different songs to radio and different radio stations. A few lyrical tweaks and shortening of songs could make them top hits but they prefer the artistic approach.

The marketing strategy of pointing your phone at the sky is wasted effort if you are looking for broad appeal.  It just feels to me like they are choosing to fly under the radar at this point in life. Never worked once on my phone.  I must be too outdated with Galaxy S21 being over 3 years old. That stuff might appeal to GenZ for newer bands but most of us between the age of 38 and 58 is like WTF and needs tech support to figure it out. 

Dark Matter was a hit though, not sure the singles are the issue. Although if I were A&Ring it I probably would have gone DM-Wreckage-Won’t Tell for the singles.

Gonzo1977

Those aren't very good numbers for Beyoncé. Her people must be shitting bricks over those sales
About what I expected for Pearl Jam...surprised it's even that high

igotid88

Gonzo1977 said:

Those aren't very good numbers for Beyoncé. Her people must be shitting bricks over those sales
About what I expected for Pearl Jam...surprised it's even that high

This is Beyonce's 4th week on the chart

igotid88

Spiritual_Chaos said:

igotid88 said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

igotid88 said:

dreamweaver said:

You can’t compare Taylor Swift sales to Pearl Jam. Taylor has a chokehold on largest demographic in music consumption, teenagers. Pearl Jam maybe had some pull in that demographic in early 90’s, if ever. I would instead compare PJ to sales of other similar artists, Green Day, Foos, Metallica, etc. who are rock acts still putting out new material. All of those albums sold in 50-60k range I believe.

Metallica sold 146,000 total their first week for 72 Seasons. As much as Metallica fans complain about their music at least they show up 

What was the step down from Hardwired to 72 Seasons? If there was one.

My point is Metallica has had their fair share of criticism from fans. From the black album to Garage Inc. They always sell well. 

Is 146.000 well, is my question. By Metallica-standards. 

For a 40 year old band yes. Especially during the streaming age. It might take Dark Matter to get to that point 

Spiritual_Chaos

Foo fighters latest:

The album tops the Billboard Top Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts, and debuts at number eight on the all-format Billboard 200 chart, moving 62,000 equivalent album units. 

And Medicine by Midnight (great album by the way):

In the United States, Medicine at Midnight debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart with 70,000 album-equivalent units, which consisted 64,000 pure album copies

And with how "big" Foo Fighters are and their space in the music/pop culture scene (if this is the same chart), then 55.000 doesn't sound so bad comparatively? 

igotid88

My point is that people were saying they weren't buying Gigaton either because they didn't like Dance, or because stores weren't open because of the pandemic, or they had to hear it live first. Dark Matter has been getting great press/reviews. "Fans" were excited for DM the single. Stores are open. There are 12 variants. Yet it sold the same as Gigaton

kmcmanus

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Foo fighters latest:

The album tops the Billboard Top Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts, and debuts at number eight on the all-format Billboard 200 chart, moving 62,000 equivalent album units. 

And with how "big" Foo Fighters are and their space in the music/pop culture scene (if this is the same chart), than 55.000 doesn't sound so bad comparatively? 

55.000 is physical sales, when you add in streaming PJ’s total was actually about 63K, so about neck & neck with Foo.
Plus, while DM seems to be riding a good bit of public & critical goodwill, that Foo album was the mourning Taylor & his mom album, there was a ton of glowing reviews and well-wishing and general love that still didn’t sell great.

Spiritual_Chaos

Also, just wanna say that when the CD business is "gone" and you charge 51 dollars in Sweden for the LP from a 35 year old band you are not going to get others than the JAMILY to buy the album.

51 dollars is a Rubicon crossed to have someone pick up the album because Dark Matter was a great single or just to get someone to pick it up because it's a new PJ album on the shelf while their strolling through the store. Even with them liking PJ and remembering an album with an avocado on it that they enjoyed.

And I imagine pushing 15-20 variants on the little JAMILY POND is only gonna take you so far (and the album is still a lot of dollars in Sweden also for the Jamily). 

Maybe a lot cheaper in the US, or a different type of musicbuying culture. But but but

igotid88

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Also, just wanna say that when the CD business is "gone" and you charge 51 dollars in Sweden for the LP from a 35 year old band you are not going to get others than the JAMILY to buy the album.

51 dollars is a Rubicon crossed to have someone pick up the album because Dark Matter was a great single or just to get someone to pick it up because it's a new PJ album on the shelf while their strolling through the store. Even with them liking PJ and remembering an album with an avocado on it that they enjoyed.

And I imagine pushing 15-20 variants on the little JAMILY POND is only gonna take you so far (and the album is still a lot of dollars in Sweden also for the Jamily). 

I think that's what hurt Gigaton as well. Almost $40 for the vinyl over here. They need to do a deal with Target where they sell it for 19 99

Jim Tressel

jimjam1982 said:

Jcanr20 said:

Disappointing. Especially considering how good this album is. I was hoping they would be rewarded with good sales/charts. 

I don't really find it disappointing, I believe it's a conscious decision by the band.  They could have pushed different songs to radio and different radio stations. A few lyrical tweaks and shortening of songs could make them top hits but they prefer the artistic approach.

The marketing strategy of pointing your phone at the sky is wasted effort if you are looking for broad appeal.  It just feels to me like they are choosing to fly under the radar at this point in life. Never worked once on my phone.  I must be too outdated with Galaxy S21 being over 3 years old. That stuff might appeal to GenZ for newer bands but most of us between the age of 38 and 58 is like WTF and needs tech support to figure it out. 

I mean they did team up with CBS to have their music played during March Madness. I am sure they would want as many sales as possible. 

igotid88

Jim Tressel said:

jimjam1982 said:

Jcanr20 said:

Disappointing. Especially considering how good this album is. I was hoping they would be rewarded with good sales/charts. 

I don't really find it disappointing, I believe it's a conscious decision by the band.  They could have pushed different songs to radio and different radio stations. A few lyrical tweaks and shortening of songs could make them top hits but they prefer the artistic approach.

The marketing strategy of pointing your phone at the sky is wasted effort if you are looking for broad appeal.  It just feels to me like they are choosing to fly under the radar at this point in life. Never worked once on my phone.  I must be too outdated with Galaxy S21 being over 3 years old. That stuff might appeal to GenZ for newer bands but most of us between the age of 38 and 58 is like WTF and needs tech support to figure it out. 

I mean they did team up with CBS to have their music played during March Madness. I am sure they would want as many sales as possible. 

And Hockey and MLB. They need to have their song in a Marvel or DC movie like Nirvana. Or go full Queen

dreamweaver

From a market and economy standpoint, I would also look into what PJ fan demographic is spending $45 for a vinyl copy(s), when it can be streamed or downloaded. 

I bought a TC pre-sale copy but did not go out for Record Store Day or buy multiples. My wife would kill me. I don't have this kind of Swiftie money!

BF25394

JeBurkhardt said:

Both of my adult daughters are Swifties, and asked me if I thought Pearl Jam's record would sell as many copies as Taylor's. My guess was that she would sell more copies in the first couple of weeks than PJ would sell for the rest of the year. Looks like it might be in just the first week.

She probably sold more pre-orders in the two hours after she announced the album at the Grammys than Dark Matter will ever sell. Her album "officially" sold 1.4 million on the first day.

BF25394

igotid88 said:

dreamweaver said:

You can’t compare Taylor Swift sales to Pearl Jam. Taylor has a chokehold on largest demographic in music consumption, teenagers. Pearl Jam maybe had some pull in that demographic in early 90’s, if ever. I would instead compare PJ to sales of other similar artists, Green Day, Foos, Metallica, etc. who are rock acts still putting out new material. All of those albums sold in 50-60k range I believe.

Metallica sold 146,000 total their first week for 72 Seasons. As much as Metallica fans complain about their music at least they show up 

134,000 of that was physical sales.

BF25394

Spiritual_Chaos said:

igotid88 said:

dreamweaver said:

You can’t compare Taylor Swift sales to Pearl Jam. Taylor has a chokehold on largest demographic in music consumption, teenagers. Pearl Jam maybe had some pull in that demographic in early 90’s, if ever. I would instead compare PJ to sales of other similar artists, Green Day, Foos, Metallica, etc. who are rock acts still putting out new material. All of those albums sold in 50-60k range I believe.

Metallica sold 146,000 total their first week for 72 Seasons. As much as Metallica fans complain about their music at least they show up 

What was the step down from Hardwired to 72 Seasons? If there was one.

282,000 in pure sales (291,000 total units) for Hardwired; 134,000 for 72 Seasons (146,000 total units).

LaFleur

i was sold a copy 2 months ago (i assume pre-orders count in the first week sales), but now seems unlikely will actually receive said copy in the first week of release.  pathetic. 

BF25394

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Also, just wanna say that when the CD business is "gone" and you charge 51 dollars in Sweden for the LP from a 35 year old band you are not going to get others than the JAMILY to buy the album.

51 dollars is a Rubicon crossed to have someone pick up the album because Dark Matter was a great single or just to get someone to pick it up because it's a new PJ album on the shelf while their strolling through the store. Even with them liking PJ and remembering an album with an avocado on it that they enjoyed.

And I imagine pushing 15-20 variants on the little JAMILY POND is only gonna take you so far (and the album is still a lot of dollars in Sweden also for the Jamily). 

Maybe a lot cheaper in the US, or a different type of musicbuying culture. But but but

The CD business is far from gone. We don't have the numbers yet for Dark Matter, but of Gigaton's 57,000 in first-week sales, only 14,000 were on vinyl. Anyone can buy Dark Matter on CD very easily. If you have chosen to throw away your CD player because you want to listen exclusively to vinyl, and then complain that vinyl costs too much, that is a choice you do not have to make. It's a first-world problem. This music is available in physical form on CD at a fraction of the vinyl price.

Separate topic:

As I have written here many times, it is still not clear to me to what extent direct-to-consumer sales are getting reported to Luminate. In other words, the Ten Club may have sold 50,000 copies directly to consumers, none of which will show up in the reported totals. Without getting too far into the weeds on this, I have reason to believe that these sales are not reported (although I do not know with certainty).

mace1229

dreamweaver said:

You can’t compare Taylor Swift sales to Pearl Jam. Taylor has a chokehold on largest demographic in music consumption, teenagers. Pearl Jam maybe had some pull in that demographic in early 90’s, if ever. I would instead compare PJ to sales of other similar artists, Green Day, Foos, Metallica, etc. who are rock acts still putting out new material. All of those albums sold in 50-60k range I believe.

PJ maybe hd some pull on teenagers in the 90s?
Vs had the record for album sales in the first week when it came out. It's more than a maybe.
But they lost that hold in the late 90s.

mace1229

igotid88 said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Also, just wanna say that when the CD business is "gone" and you charge 51 dollars in Sweden for the LP from a 35 year old band you are not going to get others than the JAMILY to buy the album.

51 dollars is a Rubicon crossed to have someone pick up the album because Dark Matter was a great single or just to get someone to pick it up because it's a new PJ album on the shelf while their strolling through the store. Even with them liking PJ and remembering an album with an avocado on it that they enjoyed.

And I imagine pushing 15-20 variants on the little JAMILY POND is only gonna take you so far (and the album is still a lot of dollars in Sweden also for the Jamily). 

I think that's what hurt Gigaton as well. Almost $40 for the vinyl over here. They need to do a deal with Target where they sell it for 19 99

It's not selling at target. It's the packaging and double vinyl that drives the cost up. You can get 10 and Yield on Amazon for $20 and $25. Simple packaging, single record.