I wonder why it is that they seem to climb steadily from early November for about a month, then seem to 'have a week off' before climbing again close to Xmas?

 

Common sense would suggest their sales should climb steadily all the way to Xmas...

I wonder why it is that they seem to climb steadily from early November for about a month, then seem to 'have a week off' before climbing again close to Xmas?

 

Common sense would suggest their sales should climb steadily all the way to Xmas...

 

This only happened in 2009 and this year. It's actually a week earlier this year which suggests they might all fall again next week before all shooting to a new peak.

 

I agree though, very strange, maybe there's just loads of people who buy them at the start of December and loads who wait until the week running up to Xmas and there are less people in the mid-section wanting to buy them? :unsure:

Edited December 11, 201014 yr by Bray

This only happened in 2009 and this year. It's actually a week earlier this year which suggests they might all fall again next week before all shooting to a new peak.

 

I agree though, very strange, maybe there's just loads of people who buy them at the start of December and loads who wait until the week running up to Xmas and there are less people in the mid-section wanting to buy them? :unsure:

I have the following theory:-

 

The Xmas songs get the initial boost when they start getting played in shops, german markets and nightclubs at the end of November / early December. This initial spurt begins to level out as it can only sustain a maximum of X sales for each song, where the songs don't drop in sales but merely level out.

 

Then, from mid December to the end of December, radio play for the Xmas songs REALLY kicks in and this gives them their final spurt which, with the nightclub/shop plays still being factored in, increases their sales in the last week before Xmas.

I have the following theory:-

 

The Xmas songs get the initial boost when they start getting played in shops, german markets and nightclubs at the end of November / early December. This initial spurt begins to level out as it can only sustain a maximum of X sales for each song, where the songs don't drop in sales but merely level out.

 

Then, from mid December to the end of December, radio play for the Xmas songs REALLY kicks in and this gives them their final spurt which, with the nightclub/shop plays still being factored in, increases their sales in the last week before Xmas.

 

Why *German* markets?

Why *German* markets?

 

Because a lot of people go to them I'm guessing? There's an enourmous one in Birmingham for example. I went there last year (I actually went with some friends to a concert where Tinchy Stryder, the Sugababes, JLS, Chipmunk, Little Boots, etc, but it got cancelled due to violence :cry:), so we went to the German Market instead, and it was actually packed. It was insane. There were thousands and thousands of people there. It took about 10 minutes to walk a distance that would usually take 1 minute, and we all had to hold hands so we didn't lose each other, which was a totally humiliating experience for me, and we were all singing Meet Me Halfway the whole time. :lol:

 

Yes, I realize nobody needs to know this, just reminiscing. :D But basically, I think quite a lot of people go to the German markets.

Because a lot of people go to them I'm guessing? There's an enourmous one in Birmingham for example. I went there last year (I actually went with some friends to a concert where Tinchy Stryder, the Sugababes, JLS, Chipmunk, Little Boots, etc, but it got cancelled due to violence :cry:), so we went to the German Market instead, and it was actually packed. It was insane. There were thousands and thousands of people there. It took about 10 minutes to walk a distance that would usually take 1 minute, and we all had to hold hands so we didn't lose each other, which was a totally humiliating experience for me, and we were all singing Meet Me Halfway the whole time. :lol:

 

Yes, I realize nobody needs to know this, just reminiscing. :D But basically, I think quite a lot of people go to the German markets.

 

I've been to the Birmingham one too, first time this year. It was quite big with lots of stalls. BTW the marshmellows are to die for (depending on the flavour)!

 

Back on topic in response to vidcapper's question, i reckon it's probably to do with more people being in the christmas spirit as it gets near to Christmas.

 

Back on topic in response to vidcapper's question, i reckon it's probably to do with more people being in the christmas spirit as it gets near to Christmas.

 

Or *drinking* the Christmas spirit? :P

Or *drinking* the Christmas spirit? :P

I do enjoy a bit of mulled wine :cool:

There's all that nice fruit that they sell as well. Ok, so you hasve to eat your way through the chocolate to get at the fruit but I'm sure it still counts as part of your five a day :D

Another observation : the mid-December slump doesn't seem to affect *just* the old songs that chart every year, as you'd perhaps expect, but also new ones too, which is far more difficult to explain.

In the top 100 this week only 3 Christmas songs have fallen - Mariah Carey 22-23, Shakin' Stevens 73-74 and The Killers 53-85.

 

All the others have climbed (Coldplay 18-13, The Pogues 27-26, Wizzard 52-46, Slade 59-51, Wham! 57-53, Band Aid 62-54) and there are 2 re-entries (John Lennon #98 and Chris Rea #100)

 

Although I suppose this week they'll all fall, Chris Rea will do what East 17 did last year and drop out of the top 100 this week then re-enter a few positions higher than it was last week, next week.

All the others have climbed (Coldplay 18-13, The Pogues 27-26, Wizzard 52-46, Slade 59-51, Wham! 57-53, Band Aid 62-54) and there are 2 re-entries (John Lennon #98 and Chris Rea #100)

 

However, of the above, only CP, P&KM & BA actually increased their sales.

coldplay have fallen 10 places this week - god sake - no chance of top 10 next week now!! :(

However, of the above, only CP, P&KM & BA actually increased their sales.

Slade recorded a sales increase too.

 

I have the following theory:-

 

The Xmas songs get the initial boost when they start getting played in shops, german markets and nightclubs at the end of November / early December. This initial spurt begins to level out as it can only sustain a maximum of X sales for each song, where the songs don't drop in sales but merely level out.

 

They're "European" markets......

 

My favourite Christmas song has to be, The Climb - Joe McElderry :)

My favourite Christmas song has to be, The Climb - Joe McElderry :)

 

LOL, The Climb a xmas song, go figure.

 

LOL, The Climb a xmas song, go figure.

Haven't you ever watched the fairy climb to the top of the Christmas tree? Isn't that what the song is about? :blink:

Slade recorded a sales increase too.

 

Then Mikey must have accidentally omitted them from his 'sales increases' post on Haven, because that was what I've been working from.

 

It did seem odd that they could climb 8 places without an increase, but it seemed within the bounds of possibility, and Mikey was so frazzled after typing in all the album increases, I didn't want to bother him.

Surely it's a matter of intention to buy?

 

The people that download them at the beginning buy them to put on their iPod mostly I would assume, and maybe a few for any parties or whatever.

 

Then the people that download them at the end do it for "accompanying" music on the actual holiday days itself, rather than because they want to put them on their iPod for personal enjoyment.

 

Then there's simply less reason to buy it in the middle section as the people who want it for their iPod have already mostly bought it and the people who want to buy it for the latter reason are waiting until around the week or so before the day, then they buy it.

 

Well, I don't know about that, but it's just a guess. I don't know why people would buy a song for their iPod they're only going to listen to for a few days but hey, you get people who do that with crap like the X Factor's winner song so god knows really - there's some weird people out there who don't seem to think before buying!

 

Also, many of the songs are being downloaded from the Now Xmas album this year which might explain the early shoot before levelling out as well...

Edited December 18, 201014 yr by superbossanova