US sales projections for SFBM Options

[Soxwsc]

The majority of people who really wanted to buy this album presumably downloaded it about 2 months ago. Then it was released internationally a month prior to the US release date to mixed reviews. All of the pushing back really hurt sales.

I'm surprised though that they didn't try to somehow capitalize off their AI performance. 30 million viewers.. and 2 weeks later their album is released and sells less than 20,000. That's unheard of!

This post has been edited by Soxwsc: Jun 13 2006, 4:09 pm

[SJN1279]

The majority of people who really wanted to buy this album presumably downloaded it about 2 months ago. Then it was released internationally a month prior to the US release date to mixed reviews. All of the pushing back really hurt sales.

I'm surprised though that they didn't try to somehow capitalize off their AI performance. 30 million viewers.. and 2 weeks later their album is released and sells less than 20,000. That's unheard of!

Remember a new album wasn't mentioned on American Idol. They just played the song(without even naming it) and that was that. It is just a shame. Birds of Pray sold more than twice the amount Songs of Black Mountain sold in its first week. It just shows the difference between Geffen and Epic as labels.

Epic is really just crap. I've been saying it for months, now it is just confirmed.

[Another Mary]

I can't believe it didn't even crack the Top 50.

[livefan1999]

I can't believe it didn't even crack the Top 50.

You all are depressing me, big time. If they didn't crack the top 50, what was their number on the charts? I can't seem to access anything beyond top 20.

Also, does anyone know how their sales are abroad? The figures on Billboard reflect only sales in the U.S., right?

[Lively Chick]

I can't believe it didn't even crack the Top 50.

Yeah, so sad

[Another Mary]

You all are depressing me, big time. If they didn't crack the top 50, what was their number on the charts? I can't seem to access anything beyond top 20.

Also, does anyone know how their sales are abroad? The figures on Billboard reflect only sales in the U.S., right?

I don't know what their number was because I can only find the Top 50. Billboard will have the top 100, so we'll know then. And yes, I think Billboard is just US sales.

One problem with the sales this week was lack of product. I tried 4 frickin' stores before I found it, and my friend is still looking for a copy and can't find one. So yeah, Epic kinda f**ked this one up, but there's still hope if "Mystery" takes off.

[Lively Chick]

Hell, I'm frickin mad, less than 20 thou? I wonder how the band feels and where the hell are they anyways. They shoulda been in the US for the album release. AI and Ellen was like 10 years ago.

[Lively Chick]

Who do we blame for this Epic, Live, Live's management? I really hope something, anything, pushes this album ahead.

[livefan86]

The blame for this goes directly to Epic. Live wrote an etremely marketable album and Epic fucked over the band by changing the release date a million times, putting the band on smaller distribution, and by not pushing the album or singles. There is nothing the band or their management could have done to change this. Epic is at fault and sucks for doing this to a band who is one of the only good acts still around. Hopefully, Live will break free from Epic for their next album and shove the sales from that one down Epic's throats.

[jonesy]

The writing was on the wall.The album pretty much flopped over here,it dropped outside the top 50 in 4-5 weeks. If it did that here where Live get massive airplay then they were always going to struggle in the U.S. I think releasing these A/C format songs starting with birds of pray has hurt them. Here it was heaven,sweet release and run away. Then they follow it up with The River for SFBM. Nice songs for the fans,but the rest of the population say they are boring songs,and I can see where they are coming from.
Stll to this day why Like I do wasn't released is beyond me.Then lighthouse.
You can blame the labels as much as you want,but until they start releasing there best songs again,the fanbase and sales will keep falling.

[love shines]

The album pretty much flopped over here,it dropped outside the top 50 in 4-5 weeks.

However, i blame epic for this. I have hardly seen any promotion for SFBM here. For Birds of Pray and Awake they hade tv adds and posters. If i wern't a huge LIVE fan i doubt i would have known that they had a new album out.

[DrumSolo]

Yeah really strange the varying levels of promotion all around, although I think I agree with the opinion that the choice of singles for Australia hurt them a little. Run Away was not a good idea for BOP, however they redeemed themselves a little as We Deal In Dreams got good airplay for Awake. But Aus is a land of rock and I think that's how Live pulled many fans all the way up to BOP.

I'd still expect Live would be causing chart damage over in Holland, where they seem to be huge? Yes?

I'm still unsure of where I sit with the whole SFBM album sales thing. I'd love to see Live sell well and all that 'cos I like the guys but there's a few scenarios that I keep considering...

1) Album sells well, Live are encouraged to continue with soft happy pop rock.
2) Album sells well, Live decide to rebel against popularity and go back to hard angry pop rock.
3) Album does nothing, Live do nothing.
4) Album does nothing, Live goes back to hard angry pop rock.
5) Nothing.
6) Music has nothing to do with sales for Live anymore, even though it did back in the day.
7) *grunt*
8) Something to do with money and Jerry Harrison coming back to produce the next album.

Hmm...at any rate, even though Live aren't making the kind of music and the kind of impact I'd like to hear and see, they're still a really good band on record and a really good band live and have achieved much. Not to mention their career has been following an interesting trajectory as well, which keeps me motivated to keep checking em out!

[love shines]

a question for Drumsolo:

Do you listen to triple M? If so, have you noticed that they have seemed to be playing less LIVE in recent years?

Triple M are a major radio station in Australia who have always loved and supported LIVE. But it seems to me that they haven't been that keen on LIVE for a while now. Though when Ed did his promotional tour here they were the first to get Ed on their station. Have no idea what's going on there

[jonesy]

However, i blame epic for this. I have hardly seen any promotion for SFBM here. For Birds of Pray and Awake they hade tv adds and posters. If i wern't a huge LIVE fan i doubt i would have known that they had a new album out.

How much money can a label pump into advertisement however? They have to see returns,BOP was solid in sales,but not a huge hit. No point spending shitloads if you are only going to break even.
I can't blame Epic for this time. Half of the fans either don't like this album,or think it's ok. I am one of them,I think it's good,but no where near there previous attempts. So the casual fans aren't going to be blown away by it,and that has shown in sales world wide.

[seriakiLLa]

I think Live sells better now overseas, I don't have figures to support this though.
Anyone got figures from Australia and Europe?