Best Ever Albums

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

meccalecca — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 12:32:00 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 07/30/2013 16:32

lethalnezzle wrote:

Thanks for that, very interesting and really quite eye-opening. It really is a shame how few records the vast majority of artists sell.

Yeah, my occasional inside information has been quite revealing of how things actually work. My friend recently worked as a Senior Publicist at Universal. A lot of his job was overseeing budgets for many of their lesser known bands. Major labels spend outrageous sums of money to give their artists a chance. But a lot of the time, it doesn't really pay off financially, even if that band does get International exposure.

I'm also sure sales numbers are totally fudged by major labels to make them seem better than they are. And then a lot of sales #s are strictly based on distribution. Like say, Celine Dion releases a new album and every KMart in the United States orders 50 copies to sell at their stores. It would appear that Celine Dion's new album is killing it. but if no one buys those records at the stores, it's meaningless.

People are all up in arms about Spotify and streaming services. And honestly, the artists deserve bit more money than their receiving. But their costs are also wayyyyy down. If an artist decides to release an album in non-physical formats only, they no longer need to pay for the printing, shipping, and distribution costs of the physical records. In order to have a presence on record store shelves, the label needs to have a larger number of copies printer than they'll actually sell. So naturally there's a very high percentage of waste accumulated.

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 12:09:33 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/30/2013 16:09

meccalecca wrote:

I don't really know what's normal. i guess we'd have to establish what a normal level artist would be.

To give you an idea. My friend's company worked PR for a relatively well known band in Portugal who had toured with Flaming Lips. In Portugal they're a headlining act. They were attempting to break into the US, so they paid at least tens of thousands for marketing and publicity in anticipation of their album. They even paid to fly out American writers out to Portugal for a week.

The week that album was released in the U.S., I believe it sold less than 20 copies. No joke.

I think Ane Brun also sold less than 100 copies in the US during the first week of release with her last album. That's on a tour where she was opening for Peter Gabriel and sold out a decent NYC venue like Bowery Ballroom for a solo show.

Thanks for that, very interesting and really quite eye-opening. It really is a shame how few records the vast majority of artists sell.

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 12:04:03 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/30/2013 16:04

meccalecca wrote:

Oh my... 🙁

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

meccalecca — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:45:21 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 07/30/2013 15:45

EyeKanFly wrote:

What's "a lot" and what's a "horrible" number? I mean, I know there's gold, platinum, etc., but how much is normal or a lot for the first week?

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

EyeKanFly — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:54:29 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 07/30/2013 14:54

meccalecca wrote:

I know 594 copies the first week sounds like nothing, but considering that it's been a while and it's doubtful Razorlight had a very devoted fanbase, it's not a bad first week for a shitty solo performer getting bad reviews.

My friend was doing PR for some significant bands, and occasionally i'd hear sales numbers. They were usually horrible. only a few artists really sell a lot of records

What's "a lot" and what's a "horrible" number? I mean, I know there's gold, platinum, etc., but how much is normal or a lot for the first week?

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

meccalecca — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 08:07:41 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 07/30/2013 12:07

I know 594 copies the first week sounds like nothing, but considering that it's been a while and it's doubtful Razorlight had a very devoted fanbase, it's not a bad first week for a shitty solo performer getting bad reviews.

My friend was doing PR for some significant bands, and occasionally i'd hear sales numbers. They were usually horrible. only a few artists really sell a lot of records

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 07:40:16 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/30/2013 11:40

DLGGLD wrote:

Also I'm delighted, he seems like a horrible human being.

This. I lol'd.

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

GeevyDallas — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:41:36 GMT

Author: GeevyDallas

Posted: 07/29/2013 23:41

itsit wrote:

Uh... the guy was the lead singer of Razorlight...

He played bass at a rehearsal or two with the band (The Libertines) and never any gigs(or so has been my belief for quite some time), he was ever officially a part of the band though.

Also I'm delighted, he seems like a horrible human being.

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

alelsupreme — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:15:44 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 07/29/2013 23:15

Evandar wrote:

I had to google his name, as I didn't recognize it. I've heard of The Libertines, certainly, but that's as far as it goes for me.

Uh... the guy was the lead singer of Razorlight...

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

Evandar — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:13:01 GMT

Author: Evandar

Posted: 07/29/2013 20:13

I had to google his name, as I didn't recognize it. I've heard of The Libertines, certainly, but that's as far as it goes for me.

Re: Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

alelsupreme — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:53:39 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 07/29/2013 19:53

Ahahaha, oh man, that's quite a fall.

Johnny Borrell's debut solo album sells 594 copies...

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:32:02 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/29/2013 19:32

... in the first week and fails to make the top 100. 😲 I wasn't aware of a single from the guy and I only saw the album today. Amazing. This guy was in a hugely successful band and obviously had a golden touch for writing songs. Anyone who has a wrote a number 1 hit must have some magic after all.

Multi platinum albums in his own nation as well and now a solo album not reaching the top 100 there? I understand a single not getting into the top 100 as Rock Artists/Bands are rarely promoted these days in the singles department but an album...

A once mighty icon has fallen oh so fast. I would have wondered what had become of Pete Doherty too though he has suddenly appeared out of no where again.

http://www.nme.com/news/johnny-borrell/71717