HDD has posted their final numbers for first week sales estimates for albums dropping 3/10/2009. Again, HDD only estimates sales, their numbers are not official and are not used for any reporting purposes. However, they tend to be extremely accurate, and it is rare that their top 50, or their sales figures, are much out of sync with Soundscan.
It comes as no surprise that Kelly Clarkson came in at #1. Kelly. The Dream and U2 are the only artists predicted with sales over 100,000 this week, with Kelly coming in at around 250K.
Out of the top 50, there are only EIGHT (8) new releases making it onto the list. The other 42 are earlier releases that are recurring top 50.
Kelly Clarkson
The Dream
U2
J. Holiday
New Found Glory
Chris Cornell
Punk Goes Pop (various)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
(am I the only one who does not recognize some of these at all?)
There are also some long timers still hanging around with Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride well into it's second year in the Top 50. The Hollywood Undead celebrated a year on the chart, and Jennifer Hudson is rapidly approaching her one year mark. Darrius Rucker and Sugarland are not far behind.
This week's projected #50 is Lonely Island with estimated sales of 10,446 units.
Soundscan will rank every CD that was registered with them for reporting, but only the top 200 are made available to the public through Billboard ranking. The entire list is available only to members who participate in the Soundscan program.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Responding to a Comment
Rhonda posted this comment, but I have had many people e-mail and PM wanting to ask something about this, so I thought I would bring it to the front page and expand.
Rhonda said...
I am very disheartened because a friend and I have been going to multiple Targets and Walmarts only to find NOT ONE Taylor Cd!!!! Target has stated it is a manufacturer problem....I'm more skeptical that something fishy is up. How can his sales do well when there are no cd's available???? Walmart told us you can only order thru Walmart online. Anyone know what the scoop is?
March 14, 2009 7:13 PM
I do not think there is anything fishy going on. Remember, this is Taylor's CD, on his own label, distributed by a company he is paying. We don't have the short bald man behind the curtain anymore.
From what I understand, part of the problem with Target is that a number of the stores were shipped CDs that did not contain the bonus track. Although this sounds really dumb, it happens more than you would think. When Clay Aiken's "A Thousand Different Ways" came out a couple of years ago, he had a K-Mart bonus track and the same thing happened there, and I remember a Walmart problem awhile back with another artist.
As for Walmart, it really doesn't matter whether the CD is purchased online or in the store, the sale counts the same for him. As long as it was purchased prior to midnight Sunday night (3/14), it counted in first week sales. It does NOT matter when you receive it, or when they actually ship it, the date your credit card is charged is the determining factor in when the sale counts.
As for placement in Walmart stores, we are VERY fortunate that Taylor is being featured in Walmart at all. Had they not been able to negotiate the bonus track deal with them, he would most likely never have had the chance to be in the brick and mortar Walmart stores. They have very stringent policies on the music they stock, and among other things, it is rare that you ever see an indie title in Walmart. Walmart routinely stocks the top albums off the Billboard 200, new releases from major labels and a select list of top sellers of catalog albums. So if they have chosen to limit the number of stores they are featuring it in, we are still way ahead of the game being there at all.
For anyone who is not aware, Walmart does not run it's own music departments. It leases the space out to one of the distributors (Handleman's or Anderson's) who actually orders, ships and services the department. They order the product, ship it from their warehouse, all returnable if not sold, and they send their employees (called rack jobbers) into the stores to inventory the boxes and stock the racks. If you have ever wondered why the music department at your Walmart looks even more disheveled than other departments, it is because their employees normally adopt a "hands off" policy.
And if you are ever in there on release day looking for a new title and the Walmart clerk tells you they don't have it, it very well may be in the back in a box, it is just that the rack jobber has not come in and inventoried and unpacked and stocked the shelves. You CAN get around this one!!
However, this is apparently not what happened with The Distance.
The thing to remember about the bonus track CDs is that the retailer involved orders a specific number up front, and that quantity is pressed. When they are gone, that is the end of them. Then, if the store wishes to restock, they do so with the regular CD. It is not common practice to ever re-press a bonus track CD.
Rhonda said...
I am very disheartened because a friend and I have been going to multiple Targets and Walmarts only to find NOT ONE Taylor Cd!!!! Target has stated it is a manufacturer problem....I'm more skeptical that something fishy is up. How can his sales do well when there are no cd's available???? Walmart told us you can only order thru Walmart online. Anyone know what the scoop is?
March 14, 2009 7:13 PM
I do not think there is anything fishy going on. Remember, this is Taylor's CD, on his own label, distributed by a company he is paying. We don't have the short bald man behind the curtain anymore.
From what I understand, part of the problem with Target is that a number of the stores were shipped CDs that did not contain the bonus track. Although this sounds really dumb, it happens more than you would think. When Clay Aiken's "A Thousand Different Ways" came out a couple of years ago, he had a K-Mart bonus track and the same thing happened there, and I remember a Walmart problem awhile back with another artist.
As for Walmart, it really doesn't matter whether the CD is purchased online or in the store, the sale counts the same for him. As long as it was purchased prior to midnight Sunday night (3/14), it counted in first week sales. It does NOT matter when you receive it, or when they actually ship it, the date your credit card is charged is the determining factor in when the sale counts.
As for placement in Walmart stores, we are VERY fortunate that Taylor is being featured in Walmart at all. Had they not been able to negotiate the bonus track deal with them, he would most likely never have had the chance to be in the brick and mortar Walmart stores. They have very stringent policies on the music they stock, and among other things, it is rare that you ever see an indie title in Walmart. Walmart routinely stocks the top albums off the Billboard 200, new releases from major labels and a select list of top sellers of catalog albums. So if they have chosen to limit the number of stores they are featuring it in, we are still way ahead of the game being there at all.
For anyone who is not aware, Walmart does not run it's own music departments. It leases the space out to one of the distributors (Handleman's or Anderson's) who actually orders, ships and services the department. They order the product, ship it from their warehouse, all returnable if not sold, and they send their employees (called rack jobbers) into the stores to inventory the boxes and stock the racks. If you have ever wondered why the music department at your Walmart looks even more disheveled than other departments, it is because their employees normally adopt a "hands off" policy.
And if you are ever in there on release day looking for a new title and the Walmart clerk tells you they don't have it, it very well may be in the back in a box, it is just that the rack jobber has not come in and inventoried and unpacked and stocked the shelves. You CAN get around this one!!
However, this is apparently not what happened with The Distance.
The thing to remember about the bonus track CDs is that the retailer involved orders a specific number up front, and that quantity is pressed. When they are gone, that is the end of them. Then, if the store wishes to restock, they do so with the regular CD. It is not common practice to ever re-press a bonus track CD.
Street Pulse - A First Look at Sales Predications
Street Pulse has posted it's sales predictions for first week on the albums that dropped on 3/10.
StreetPulse is a product of Bean Stream, Inc. and is a private company that markets point of sale software that collects and compiles sales data. They sell this information to music labels and other industry parties.
They assemble data much like Soundscan, and release projected sales charts weekly, which several of the industry trade journals also publish, but their data is not used in generating the Billboard chart.
Their early report for sales on the 3/10 releases places The Distance ....
#17 in sales
These are preliminary numbers.
On Monday afternoon HDD, the leading predictor of first week sales will begin posting their numbers. While HDD is a private group, and only posts estimates, their numbers and rankings are incredibly accurate, and seldom are there any surprises between their predictions and the final Soundscan numbers.
More about HDD as the numbers start reporting.
StreetPulse is a product of Bean Stream, Inc. and is a private company that markets point of sale software that collects and compiles sales data. They sell this information to music labels and other industry parties.
They assemble data much like Soundscan, and release projected sales charts weekly, which several of the industry trade journals also publish, but their data is not used in generating the Billboard chart.
Their early report for sales on the 3/10 releases places The Distance ....
#17 in sales
These are preliminary numbers.
On Monday afternoon HDD, the leading predictor of first week sales will begin posting their numbers. While HDD is a private group, and only posts estimates, their numbers and rankings are incredibly accurate, and seldom are there any surprises between their predictions and the final Soundscan numbers.
More about HDD as the numbers start reporting.
The Latest Numbers
Mediabase
#23 What's Right Is Right 139 spins 0.217 mil audience imp
Radio and Records
#25 What's Right is Right 133 spins +10 0.133 mil audience imp.
#1 Walmart Best Sellers
#13 Amazon A/C Best Sellers
#79 Amazon Best Sellers
#42 Amazon New Releases
#50 Barnes and Noble Best Sellers
#23 What's Right Is Right 139 spins 0.217 mil audience imp
Radio and Records
#25 What's Right is Right 133 spins +10 0.133 mil audience imp.
#1 Walmart Best Sellers
#13 Amazon A/C Best Sellers
#79 Amazon Best Sellers
#42 Amazon New Releases
#50 Barnes and Noble Best Sellers
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Off We Go
Wednesday Night on Amazon
#1 on A/C Hot New Releases
#9 on 3/10 Release Bestseller
#8 in A/C Best Sellers
#43 in Overall Pop Bestsellers
#47 On Amazon Bestsellers List
Monday, March 9, 2009
First Week Sales - Why They Count More
SoundScan measures actual sales. It is a product of Nielsen, the company
that measures just about everything including TV viewing, groceries and all media.
Sales are measured by actual point-of-sale (POS) transactions (eg, electronic cash registers). In order for purchases of Taylor’s CD to count for the first week, the sale must be completed between 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2009 and 12:00 midnight on Sunday. March 15, 2009.
To qualify for first week sales, an order placed with any online vendor must ship no later than March 15, 2009. The arrival date is not a factor. Digital sales ONLY count for first week sales if the entire album is downloaded as one purchase. If you are buying more than one copy of the album, you may purchase them all at one time. They do not have to be separate sales to be counted individually toward SoundScan sales.
It is an industry standard that all new album releases are on Tuesdays. All albums released the same week as Taylor’s will “drop” on March 10, 2009. Each participating SoundScan retailer transmits sales data electronically to SoundScan weekly. Sales results are then compiled based on the UPC codes. The results are for the first actual week the CD is available for
purchase at retail outlets.
The important competition for all albums debuting the same week is placement on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. This is the most critical of all the Billboard charts. When DJs say “debuting this week at . . .” this is where it debuts – the chart an album enters into the music world on. This chart ranks the top 200 albums across all genres. While there are charts for specific genres, this one encompasses all albums sold, and is the most watched by the industry.
Why is placement on this chart so important? Obviously, it’s great to just be on top, but many radio stations use first week sales to determine which new songs on the market to stack on their playlists. They then sort them by popularity, pre-release reviews, buzz, etc. Consumers look at those charts. Weekly countdowns play from those charts. It all boils down to advertising, prestige, and buzz in the industry. If an album places in the top five, it is making a statement.
Somewhere between 225 to 275 albums will be released March 10th with Taylor’s. This is not as bad as it sounds. Some will be Sesame Street, the younger years, and All in the Family, the compilation.
The following outlets (not all inclusive) report to SoundScan :
•Amazon
•Wal-Mart
•Best Buy
•Target
•Barnes and Noble
•Borders
•K-Mart
•Meijers
•Sam Goody’s
•Fred Meyers
•Most major chain stores with music
departments.
•When in doubt. . .ask!
The following outlets don’t report sales to SoundScan:
•Most warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ’s, etc)
•Drug stores and supermarkets (except for Walgreens)
•Many independent record stores can’t report unless the have an electronic sales system
•Record clubs
•Hallmark stores
Bonus tracks are offered through various retailers as an inducement to sell more albums. Please don’t share your bonus tracks off a CD you purchased with someone who purchased their CD elsewhere. This cheats Taylor out of a sale (besides being illegal). If you know someone who does not live near a store that offers the bonus tracks, suggest that they send you the money and you can purchase Taylor’s new CD with the bonus track for them and mail it to them. In many cases online gift cards can be purchased for you to use. Just because someone doesn’t have local access to a store, it is not a reason to give away Taylor's new music.
that measures just about everything including TV viewing, groceries and all media.
Sales are measured by actual point-of-sale (POS) transactions (eg, electronic cash registers). In order for purchases of Taylor’s CD to count for the first week, the sale must be completed between 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2009 and 12:00 midnight on Sunday. March 15, 2009.
To qualify for first week sales, an order placed with any online vendor must ship no later than March 15, 2009. The arrival date is not a factor. Digital sales ONLY count for first week sales if the entire album is downloaded as one purchase. If you are buying more than one copy of the album, you may purchase them all at one time. They do not have to be separate sales to be counted individually toward SoundScan sales.
It is an industry standard that all new album releases are on Tuesdays. All albums released the same week as Taylor’s will “drop” on March 10, 2009. Each participating SoundScan retailer transmits sales data electronically to SoundScan weekly. Sales results are then compiled based on the UPC codes. The results are for the first actual week the CD is available for
purchase at retail outlets.
The important competition for all albums debuting the same week is placement on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. This is the most critical of all the Billboard charts. When DJs say “debuting this week at . . .” this is where it debuts – the chart an album enters into the music world on. This chart ranks the top 200 albums across all genres. While there are charts for specific genres, this one encompasses all albums sold, and is the most watched by the industry.
Why is placement on this chart so important? Obviously, it’s great to just be on top, but many radio stations use first week sales to determine which new songs on the market to stack on their playlists. They then sort them by popularity, pre-release reviews, buzz, etc. Consumers look at those charts. Weekly countdowns play from those charts. It all boils down to advertising, prestige, and buzz in the industry. If an album places in the top five, it is making a statement.
Somewhere between 225 to 275 albums will be released March 10th with Taylor’s. This is not as bad as it sounds. Some will be Sesame Street, the younger years, and All in the Family, the compilation.
The following outlets (not all inclusive) report to SoundScan :
•Amazon
•Wal-Mart
•Best Buy
•Target
•Barnes and Noble
•Borders
•K-Mart
•Meijers
•Sam Goody’s
•Fred Meyers
•Most major chain stores with music
departments.
•When in doubt. . .ask!
The following outlets don’t report sales to SoundScan:
•Most warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ’s, etc)
•Drug stores and supermarkets (except for Walgreens)
•Many independent record stores can’t report unless the have an electronic sales system
•Record clubs
•Hallmark stores
Bonus tracks are offered through various retailers as an inducement to sell more albums. Please don’t share your bonus tracks off a CD you purchased with someone who purchased their CD elsewhere. This cheats Taylor out of a sale (besides being illegal). If you know someone who does not live near a store that offers the bonus tracks, suggest that they send you the money and you can purchase Taylor’s new CD with the bonus track for them and mail it to them. In many cases online gift cards can be purchased for you to use. Just because someone doesn’t have local access to a store, it is not a reason to give away Taylor's new music.
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