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).

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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.

Gaga

Gaga

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.

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.

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

 

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

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

Edited July 6, 20169 yr by SKOB

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

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...

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.

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...

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

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.

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.

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.

looks like timjimlee could well be proved right this week~

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!

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.

 

 

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

Edited August 17, 20168 yr by Common Sense