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Posted by: timjimlee 6th July 2016, 01:31 PM

It is nearly four years since Album Sales fell to a new low after Rihanna topped the UK chart with a weekly sale of less than 10,000 copies for the first time since modern statistical records began.

Talk That Talk, the album released by the Barbadian singer in 2011, returned to the number one slot with sales of just 9,578 CDs and downloads combined on the Chart announced on the 12th August 2012 which happened to be the day of the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Looking at the Album Release schedule for the dates overlapping this years Olympics in Brazil:

Friday 5th August
Friday 12th August
Friday 19th August

There would appear to be next to nothing new to get to 10k Weekly Sales in any of these weeks unless someone like The Stone Roses drops their third Studio Album.

Do we think the Album Sales will fall to a new all-time low during the Olympic period (if not before)?
Album Sales will inevitably pick up in September with some big Releases scheduled (eg Bastille).

Posted by: cqmerqn 6th July 2016, 01:37 PM

I think OneRepublic are releasing their new album this summer time, I could imagine that getting over 10k.

Posted by: timjimlee 6th July 2016, 01:40 PM

Agreed but there is no Release Date for Album yet, suspect they will wait until Sep/Oct time.

Posted by: Mart!n 6th July 2016, 01:40 PM

I don't think albums will sink that low considering 4 years ago Olympics were held in Britain, they are on the other side of the world now, I can't see Brazil Games affecting the album chart. And there are album releases scheduled for those weeks.

Posted by: Colm 6th July 2016, 01:42 PM

Gaga

Posted by: timjimlee 6th July 2016, 01:54 PM

Again, I think she will wait until Sep/Oct.

Remember August is a month when traditionally the big stars avoid Releasing. It is month when the likes of The Maccabees and Richard & Adam have stolen weeks at number 1 in recent years!

Jess Glynne Released last year at the end of August but usually the bigger releases are saved until later in the year.

Posted by: timjimlee 6th July 2016, 02:05 PM

I think it is the combination of Summer Holidays, Olympics and lull in Release Schedule that caused Sales to be low last time.

Posted by: cqmerqn 6th July 2016, 05:18 PM

So why do the Olympics and summer holidays (as mentioned above) lower sales anyway?

Posted by: SKOB 6th July 2016, 05:42 PM

I don't see how Olympics held in Brazil keeps people in Britain from consuming music?

Posted by: Ethan 6th July 2016, 06:30 PM

a new record low is definitely on the horizon with album sales still very much in solid decline~

Posted by: timjimlee 6th July 2016, 06:36 PM

The Summer Holidays is a no-brainer, a lot of people are away from home and generally wouldn't buy as much music. Whilst I buy music /stream music on Holiday I tend not to buy CD's until I return home.
The Olympics has a tendency to monopolise the TV Schedules (fewer Promotional opportunities etc) , I personally don't listen to as much music during the Olympics. I suspect the main reason for the Low Sales however is the lack of Releases by major Artists at this time, clearly they are going to wait until the periods when the Sales market is traditionally stronger. I can't remember many big Albums being launched in early August...

Posted by: tommie 7th July 2016, 10:48 AM

Shockingly, I suspect streaming might actually help albums from not falling to record lows in sales.

Those Rihanna sales doesn't include streaming, which wasn't big at that point.

Posted by: timjimlee 12th August 2016, 07:27 PM

Apologies for the bump of this thread but we are now in the equivalent week of the lowest Album Sales from four years ago and there are no major releases scheduled for this week and streaming seems to have gone down in recent weeks as well.
Blossoms may be able to muster 10k but who else can get there this week, I think surely a price reduction for one of Bieber, Drake, ELO or Christine & The Queens would be enough...

Posted by: Rob Spears 12th August 2016, 07:39 PM

Britney coming for that #1 at the end of the month.

Posted by: Jandeep 13th August 2016, 03:03 PM

We've had new release albums this year going in at No.1 on around 12k (PJ Harvey, Lumineers) before we got a decent couple of months with Beyoncé, Drake, Radiohead, Prince.
Also in next few weeks there is new releases from Dolly Parton, Barbara Strienend and Celine Dion. Also Drake, Christine or ELO may get a price cut to prolong their life.

Posted by: Jandeep 13th August 2016, 03:11 PM

It would be awesome if Lady Gaga Beyonced her new new album in September and released a cd a couple of weeks later with 1 or 2 x factor performances in Nov/Dec
This could work for Gaga but maybe not for Katy Perry or Pink.

Posted by: timjimlee 15th August 2016, 10:06 PM

tommie might just be right that streaming (ie Drake) might just save this week being the lowest selling for Albums but surprised not many others were on board with the possibility of this happening for the chart announced on the 19th August.

Posted by: Ethan 15th August 2016, 10:29 PM

looks like timjimlee could well be proved right this week~

Posted by: ___∆___ 15th August 2016, 10:46 PM

I don't think the Olympics (Or any other event TBH) stops people from buying music - Maybe so years ago when Our Price/Woolies/HMV was the only place to get music but with downloads and streaming being available 24/7 sales should be high! The dire new releases are the problem - No new music = low sales!

Posted by: Common Sense 17th August 2016, 05:09 PM

Dolly's new album is out on Friday. Can see it going Top 5 easily. No.1 maybe?

Posted by: ___∆___ 17th August 2016, 05:38 PM

^^ Really hope the Dolly album does well but I'm not convinced - It's a trio album with Emmylou Harris and Linda Rondstat and features out takes, remastered songs etc.

Also the download/stream have been pushed back to September 9th - Not sure if the physical is out this Friday?

Posted by: timjimlee 17th August 2016, 05:42 PM

Yes, suspect she will be in the running, wonder whether an Olympic Closing Ceremony Performer will be in the frame as well or Andre Rieu who even has an Olympic themed Album out (sorry to continue to milk the theme but it is the Olympic thread)

Posted by: Common Sense 17th August 2016, 07:49 PM

No, the trio album is later in the year. The one out on Friday is a new Dolly solo album with an extra disc with Glastonbury performances.

Posted by: The Hit Parade 17th August 2016, 08:06 PM

I presume the Trio reissue was postponed to avoid overshadowing Dolly's new material.

Posted by: timjimlee 19th August 2016, 01:48 PM

Frank Ocean is apparently releasing "Boys Don't Cry" this weekend in which case Dolly may be denied.
After that the Release Schedule is picking up (it was mentioned earlier in the thread that Britney was coming for that number 1 at the end of the month, suspect Barbra will outsell her that week though).
This thread will be over this afternoon

Posted by: timjimlee 19th August 2016, 05:52 PM

7,948 is the new low. See you in 4 years.

Posted by: Rob Spears 19th August 2016, 06:11 PM

Surely Britney is guaranteed her highest peaking album since Circus in two weeks times?

Posted by: timjimlee 19th August 2016, 06:21 PM

Maybe but her quest for a UK number 1 Album will continue.

Posted by: Suedehead2 19th August 2016, 06:38 PM

Ouch

Posted by: Rob Spears 19th August 2016, 06:44 PM

I doubt she's that bothered!

Posted by: timjimlee 19th August 2016, 07:03 PM

Probably not but it is surprising she has not achieved a number 1 given the number of Albums she has released over the years.

Posted by: Ne Plus Ultra 19th August 2016, 07:08 PM

It is annoying in her case since she remained #1 on the midweek album charts for both Oops I Did It Again & her first Greatest Hits until Whitney & Eminem both passed her on Saturday (back when the charts went from Sunday to Saturday).

Posted by: ___∆___ 20th August 2016, 01:19 AM

Biebers team coming for the #1 album - Banner on iTunes advertising the album for £5.99, the fact sales are so appalling and he still has strong streams for the album he could do it?!

Posted by: cqmerqn 20th August 2016, 01:20 AM

Kygo is performing at the Olympics closing ceremony, could that give the album a boost?

Posted by: timjimlee 20th August 2016, 11:30 AM

I guess there will be some additional promotion this week in advance of the appearance at the V Festival but I think in terms of getting to the Top the price reduction has come a week too late - a definite missed opportunity to get that number 1 peak.

Posted by: timjimlee 20th August 2016, 11:44 AM

Yes, should do although given the timing of the Closing Ceremony (ie early hours of Monday morning) it may not be the biggest audience to give it a huge boost.

Posted by: The Hit Parade 20th August 2016, 12:21 PM

Mind you, The Fall have released a lot more albums than her and they've never had a Number One either.

Posted by: timjimlee 22nd February 2020, 11:47 AM

Given the low Album Sales this week I thought I would give this thread a bump as it is a safe assumption that someone will be competing with Blossoms for the unenviable title of lowest weekly sales for #1 Album.
After all it happens every four years.

Ironic looking at this thread again that Bieber’s last Album was reduced to £5.99 four years ago in an (unsuccessful) attempt to get to #1.

Posted by: smidsy101 22nd February 2020, 12:51 PM

Nothing in the diary yet as far as I can see for August, but Lana loves a good summer release (last albums being released in June, September, July and August) and is due her new album out this year which naturally would be way way over. But it's a dodgy time indeed.

Maybe given the rumours that Adele will be releasing in September will encourage more artists to release beforehand?

Posted by: timjimlee 14th May 2020, 08:17 PM

Well it happens every four years and it is nearly upon us...feel like we are in for a bumper year of new lows!