Live and Commercial Success - Does it Matter? Options

[sellingthdrama]

I'm wondering if anyone cares whether or not Live's new album (or any of their new albums at any point in time) hits the top of the charts. For me, I will love their music as long as I can relate to it and feel it; regardless of where it ends up on the charts.

But part of me misses the commercial success of Throwing Copper. Part of me wants everyone to be talking about Live and how great they are. I want to hear them on the radio, and see them on TV, in the magazines. What it really is, is that I want everyone to feel how I feel when I hear their music - because it's a pretty great feeling. It's the feeling, if you ask me. That's a bit off topic, so anyway...

Anyone else have an opinion on this? Does Live's commercial success matter to you in any way?

[Pokey]

I couldn't care less if they reach the top again .. personally I hope they don't because that'll give Ed incentive to go "Hey people really liked SFBM .. lets make another album like that!" but eh .. But if they brought out another album that I loved like I do the first 4 then it doesn't matter to me if they're the biggest band in the world or completely drop off the page all together as long as I can still listen to and enjoy the music.

[NectarDan]

If this new album isn't commerically successful (with all the promotion and such the marketing team at Song/Epic records has put into it so far) then I doubt they'll ever be commerically successful again (atleast here in America).

[sellingthdrama]

If this new album isn't commerically successful (with all the promotion and such the marketing team at Song/Epic records has put into it so far) then I doubt they'll ever be commerically successful again (atleast here in America).

Maybe I'm naive (and a poor speller), but I thought Live could have been more successful with BOP had they released Like I Do or Life Marches On. Like I Do was a much different sound than anything that was on the radio, but it never got a shot. For SFBM, it sounds like Mystery and Love Shines will be great songs - so I hope those get released.

[Pokey]

If this new album isn't commerically successful (with all the promotion and such the marketing team at Song/Epic records has put into it so far) then I doubt they'll ever be commerically successful again (atleast here in America).

Depends .. if Live were pushed like they are now with SFBM again but actually had some class material to promote instead of uninspiring "lost in the mix" stuff like SFBM then maybe.. You can push mediocre material all you want but it won't last. Eh then again there is U2 so maybe it can.

[SJN1279]

If this new album isn't commerically successful (with all the promotion and such the marketing team at Song/Epic records has put into it so far) then I doubt they'll ever be commerically successful again (atleast here in America).

I don't think this album will be an immediate hit. "The River" is climbing the charts, but it looks to be a slow steady climb. The song should be an eventual Hot A/C hit, but not till after the album is released. Once "The River" hits other formats (especially POP) we'll see how well the album will do. I think the album will debut in the Top 20 or 30(like BOP and V), but have a much better shelf life than either of those albums.

To answer the question, I would love to see this album become a huge hit for the band. However, I will support the band and be a huge fan no matter what the eventual outcome is.

[Grandpa Grizz]

Many great bands don't have huge commercial success. Who knows if Live's selling power peaked a long time ago? Some bands go up and down and up again. What really matters is the integrity of the artists. As long as a band that I love records what they want to, I'm happy.

Rush (sorry ) has seventeen studio albums. Some have sold quite well, others not. All of them are gold or better. My favourite, Vapor Trails (2002), has sold rather slowly, and is either loved or hated by their fans. But their recent DVDs have gone multi-platinum right away. Rush's haydays were early 80s and early 90s. Their sales, both recordings and concerts have always fluctuated. But they're still rocking!

We all want our band to be enjoyed and understood by as many people as possible. The greatest bands lift us up out of ourselves and make us better creatures. We want to trade them money for the bliss they give us. I believe that truly committed gifted musicians will endure and maintain a core fanbase as long as they continue their creativity.

[+Ed+]

I hope it will be successfull.
Come on, LIVEis my faveband yanno

[alcoholiday]

i doubt they will reach commercial success with only using ballad type songs as their singles...they need some edgier rockin songs like they used to. Now they would fit in more on a contemporary station. Wasn't Lakini's Juice the last rockin single they ever played on the radio? Since then, Overcome, RunAway, Heaven, and the most played song of theirs that i only hear anymore is Lightning Crashes.
Most people unfamiliar with them wouldn't even know they were a rock band.
Not that commercial success is important. You'd just hear them every 1/2 hour on the radio

[Alex]

Huh? What about The Distance to here singles?

[NectarDan]

I thought Live could have been more successful with BOP had they released Like I Do or Life Marches On. Like I Do was a much different sound than anything that was on the radio, but it never got a shot.

I agree. Everyone I've played that song to loves it.

[Soxwsc]

I don't think Live could ever have commercial success on rock/alternative radio again. Since they've never reached the commercial success of Throwing Copper, Rock wants nothing to do with them. Most listeners and djs of those stations started disrespecting Live back in the TDTH days. It's very typical of those stations to bash certain bands they're playing, while you would never hear anything but kind words from djs at the Hot/AC stations. So it's safe for Live to go the Hot/AC route... and maybe it's the only way they can go right now. And Hot/AC stations are filled with bands/artists just like Live who hit in big in the 90's and have had mild success since then. My question is.. if you hit it big on Hot/AC and top their charts, are you considered a commercial success? Are the Goo Goo Dolls considered a success these days?

[sellingthdrama]

I don't think Live could ever have commercial success on rock/alternative radio again. Since they've never reached the commercial success of Throwing Copper, Rock wants nothing to do with them. Most listeners and djs of those stations started disrespecting Live back in the TDTH days. It's very typical of those stations to bash certain bands they're playing, while you would never hear anything but kind words from djs at the Hot/AC stations. So it's safe for Live to go the Hot/AC route... and maybe it's the only way they can go right now. And Hot/AC stations are filled with bands/artists just like Live who hit in big in the 90's and have had mild success since then. My question is.. if you hit it big on Hot/AC and top their charts, are you considered a commercial success? Are the Goo Goo Dolls considered a success these days?

Good points. The music live is coming out with isn't really rock/alternative. It's not quite hot/ac, but it's much much closer to hot/ac than rock/alt. You're not gonna hear "Heaven" on an alternative radio station, nor would I expect to hear anything like "The River" on an alternative station.

If you're huge on the hot/ac charts, I would say you're considered a commercial success. Keep in mind, I'm distinguishing between "commercial success" and "success." "Success" is subjective, I think, while "commercial success" means sales and popularity in the "mainstream." I would still consider the Goo Goo Dolls commercially successful; I still hear them on the radio just about every day.

[edstipe]

Does commercial success matter? Ultimately the answer is no, at least not to the fan who listens to the music for the beauty (and not the popularity) of it.

That being said, it does matter to the band (after all, they do want to maximize the money they make). And, in some ways, it does matter to the fans as well. As we all know, more commercial popularity means more shows, promotional apearances, magazine articles, and a slew of other things that makes it fun to follow a band. In addition, any band today who does not meet commercial expectations is in danger of being dropped by its record label, and that can be a very scary thing for a veteran rock act considered to be past its peak...

[edstipe]

Just to throw my two cents in on the "how will SFBM be received" discussion, I have heard the album (or at least an unmastered version of it) in its entirety, and I have to admit to being optimistic. It feels like a cross between TDTH and BoP in terms of themes/mood, but is catchier by far than either of those two, even upon first listen. Catchiness is critical in terms of commercial popularity, so, if the record label plays its cards right, I think there are certain songs on SFBM that could blow up and make the album huge. We'll see.