This topic has been mentioned before although I'm not sure it has had its own thread. With cherry-picking from albums and, now, steaming, is there any point to Greatest Hits albums? Old collections (e.g. Abba and Fleetwood Mac) still pop into the top forty regularly but successful new compilations are now fairly rare.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42701623

I doubt it really, obviously big acts who have been around for a long time and have a decent amount of hits under their belt would successfully be able to pull it off - but nowhere near the extent it was 10-15 years ago really. I think the "This Is: [Artist]" or "Best of [Artist]" or "[Artist] Top Hits" sort of playlists on streaming services will take over instead completely. Greatest Hits albums aren't at the type of thing people would stream, especially if an artists back catalog is already available to stream

Yes I think they still would sell on CD but nothing like the numbers they've sold in the past. Bet you ones by Ed or Adele would sell very well though.

I still they could sell if they tried

Elbow did 100k with their Best of this year

And that didnt even have a great tracklist

Greatest Hits collections may not be massive hits anymore but they are clearly still steady sellers since the chart is populated with them. Oasis, Eminem, RHCP and many others are often staples of the top 100 with artists like Pink, the Killers and Maroon 5 re-enter often when they release new material.

There are 23 GH albums in this week's Top 100. I think that says for itself the GH set isn't dead. It would be silly for record labels to stop releasing them cos they just keep selling. Not to mention they get lots of streaming equivalent points. I think the future is curated Spotify 'best of' playlists but CDs and downloads still sell, of course it depends on the artist too.

Rihanna stands out like a sore thumb as an artist who should release one.

 

Abba Gold is tipped to go back in to the Top 10 this summer with Mamma Mia 2 being released in cinemas. The soundtrack album will be a big seller too.

Edited February 3, 20187 yr by Crazy Chris

Rihanna stands out like a sore thumb as an artist who should release one.

 

Abba Gold is tipped to go back in to the Top 10 this summer with Mamma Mia 2 being released in cinemas. The soundtrack album will be a big seller too.

 

Beyonce too come to think of it, especially if she added the whole thing onto Spotify (which still doesn't have Lemonade, yet a GH would likely have Formation & Hold Up and/or Sorry) it would surely do well

crazy that Rihanna, Beyonce or Coldplay have never released a GH

One Direction could have released one GH as a goodbye album

and Olly Murs could release one GH too

I think 1D will save their GH for 2020 ie ten years after they were formed. Along with a comeback tour but excluding Zayn.

crazy that Rihanna, Beyonce or Coldplay have never released a GH

One Direction could have released one GH as a goodbye album

and Olly Murs could release one GH too

 

 

Yes I think Coldplay would sell well, especially if released late November.

There are 23 GH albums in this week's Top 100. I think that says for itself the GH set isn't dead. It would be silly for record labels to stop releasing them cos they just keep selling. Not to mention they get lots of streaming equivalent points. I think the future is curated Spotify 'best of' playlists but CDs and downloads still sell, of course it depends on the artist too.

But not many of those 23 have been released in the last five years.

Direct Hits by The Killers is the most recent platinum selling GH I think?

There are 23 GH albums in this week's Top 100. I think that says for itself the GH set isn't dead. It would be silly for record labels to stop releasing them cos they just keep selling. Not to mention they get lots of streaming equivalent points. I think the future is curated Spotify 'best of' playlists but CDs and downloads still sell, of course it depends on the artist too.

 

Yes and most of those are there because of streaming sales - not because anyone is actually buying them physically.

Rihanna, Coldplay and Muse have been the three names mentioned during conversations about overdue greatest hits albums. We can probably replace Muse with Beyonce now as Muse's general popularity has subsided and perhaps the general public might not be that interested in a Muse compilation in any case.

 

Which is a pity because they were a phenomenal singles band in the '00.

 

A few weeks ago, the Guardian predicted that Rihanna will never have a greatest hits album

 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jan/...s-album-rihanna

Edited February 4, 20187 yr by Colm

Surely greatest hits are still easy money? Huge streaming potential having all the hits together for easy streaming. Plus fans will lap them up still on cd etc.

 

Direct Hits by The Killers is the most recent platinum selling GH I think?

What about I Cry When I Laugh? :P

Rihanna has already too many hits to fit them in 1 CD :D same for Coldplay

 

Direct Hits by The Killers is the most recent platinum selling GH I think?

 

Well on it’s way to double platinum now! Shows clearly still a market, been a surprisingly big success.

I guess in the age of playlists there isn't much need for GH albums, but I still enjoy listening to them myself and they're always the first port of call if I delve into the back catalogue of a hugely successful artist. It's so easy to make your own though, I've made a lil Rita Ora greatest hits album (lmao after a whopping one studio album x) through a Spotify playlist and it works just as well!