If you’re old or you’re not working constantly tending your audience, sales of records are over. That’s today’s lesson in the music business.
Examples: this week Bon Jovi released a new single called “Legendary.” It sold the equivalent of 940 copies, half of which came from streaming. Yes, nine hundred forty copies. Fewer than a thousand.
But things get worse: One Direction’s Zayn Malik released a single called “What I Am” that drops the f word in its chorus. Zayne has struggled with depression, so this is a tough story. With no promotion, “What I Am” sold 77 copies through streaming and had no sales.
And not good: Justin Timberlake’s “Everything I Thought It Would Be” was not at all what he expected. The album sold only 65,000 copies. Chances of hitting half a million are similar to the Republicans suddenly waking up and realizing what’s happened to them. Justin had better have a compelling opening act on his tour or he’ll wind up in JLo territory.
The top selling album of the week was Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” with just 100,000 copies, down 56% from its debut last week. It was mostly a streaming event, as I wrote yesterday.
Did the internet kill the music business? Yes, without a doubt. The next test is Beyonce on March 29th. Otherwise, everything is Taylor Swift. And she barely sold 250,000 albums this week with 8 albums!
