The top 3 albums all sold close to 4000 since the previous update.

I hope the album goes top ten in many places and hopefully number one outside the UK.

 

Ireland and Denmark look possible.

Do we have any update on the European, and perhaps more global chartings (or potential) at the moment?

I will know Ireland debut on Friday. Is the cassette sales counted into this week's sales does anyone know?

I’d be surprised if they weren’t, considering vinyl is added these days.

 

Here’s a new article from Music Week for you all to take a read through:

 

 

Take That have lit the blue touchpaper on Q4, with their “reimagined” Greatest Hits album Odyssey (Polydor) already the fastest-selling artist album of the year after just three days on sale.

 

Yesterday’s Midweek Chart Update from the Official Charts Company showed the superstar manband – Music Week cover stars last week – had moved 89,408 copies by the end of Sunday, with a clear bias to physical sales (84,745) over downloads (3,977) and streaming (686). That’s more sales than the previous fastest-seller of 2018, Arctic Monkeys' Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Domino), which sold 86,359 in a full week.

 

Polydor co-president Tom March had already predicted the album will become the first 100,000+ seller of the year, and Odyssey is on pace to achieve that. So Music Week sat down with March – enjoying a stellar year, in partnership with co-president Ben Mortimer, which has seen the Universal label scoop the A&R Award at the Music Week Awards and top the market shares in Q3 – to talk Greatest Hits albums, streaming and what comes next for Gary Barlow and co…

 

Why was it important to not just put out a standard Greatest Hits album?

 

“The world has moved on, the standard hits album has moved on. For them, it was not just about looking back, they also want to look forward. Hopefully, this is the perfect blend of moving forward whilst one eye is on the past as well. Their fans are going to love them no matter what. So we need to excite their existing fanbase, give them something they haven’t had before, give them something new and hopefully great promo shows the great content the guys have created.”

 

Their sales are traditionally very physical heavy. Will this project help change that?

 

“We’ve got some fantastic plans in place with Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon. All of the partners are very keen to have the guys involved. Our hope is to start to move some of the audience onto those services. Trying to make the soundbed for the TV ad for Odyssey was an embarrasment of riches! It’s a phenomenal catalogue to have the option to play with.”

 

How do you make that catalogue work in the streaming age?

 

“When we were first discussing the best way to celebrate 30 years of the band's incredible career, what was immediately evident was that we all – band, label and management – wanted to be bold and brave and to innovate. A standard Greatest Hits album in the modern era felt tired. Taking inspiration from The Beatles’ Love album where some of the band's best songs were beautifully re-interpreted, Take That collaborated with Stuart Price to create a non-stop musical journey through their greatest hits, bringing the excitement and energy of their spectacular live shows to the album. Our aim is to be future-facing while embracing the band's incredible catalogue. The campaign will be full of moments of nostalgia for their fans but will also give them something brand new to love. We're expecting to sell huge amounts of physical records whilst also reinvigorating their catalogue on streaming services and have fantastic plans in place with all the partners.”

 

Where do Take That go next?

 

“Take That's three decade-spanning career is testament to a band that are capable of constantly evolving, re-inventing themselves and embracing the times, taking their existing audience with them while winning over new generations of fans. Whatever they do next, it will be big and bold and continue to assure their legacy as one of Britain's most-loved bands.”

Interesting article. THey will continue sell great as there is a lot of TV coverage ahead.

But you have to put things in perspective. NOt knowing a lot about the music business I assume that all the successful albums/songs this year aside of TT are heavy on downloads/streaming.

 

I would be interested how many albums are sold in the rest of Europe. They will always be a national treasure in the UK. Seeing them on breakfast TV in Germany this morning the commentor was full of memories. But I wonder if people buy the album

up to 97.6k now! 100k by end of today hopefully.

It will easily make 100,000 but will be no higher than 105,000.what did wonderland open with?

Wonderland went in at 112k I think I recall...again very impressive for a March release.

 

Long gone are the days of 400k opening for an album of any artist!

Odyssey will struggle to beat Wonderlands opening sales.

That said, it will outsells Wonderlands,2nd-5th week sales.

True iTunes isn't what it once was .. however wouldn't we want TT to be high on any list/format as opposed to non existent? It's an indicator still for audience though nowhere near the definitive now.

 

In terms of consistency on iTunes, UK, Ireland and Denmark have all had the album in the top 10 throughout week. If you add physical sales there is a chance for a high debut in those nations.

 

I remember the Wonderland peaks all tailing off by end of week, then being surprised by how high some of the first week chartings were in some countries. We'll have to see.

I will know Ireland debut on Friday. Is the cassette sales counted into this week's sales does anyone know?

 

 

I cant find an option to purchase the cassette, i would buy this for its uniqueness to have in my collection.

I cant find much information on its release date and availability.

 

Odyssey will sell more in week 1 than Michael Buble and Little Mix managed in the first 2 weeks of their chart life.

It is a wonderful result for Take That, and this, is not to take away from Michael Buble and Little Mix who are also doing very well.

The cassette was only available for a week (I think about 2 weeks ago), I would have liked one too!

Thank you for the picture! Looking at those cassettes are really nostalgic!

 

It makes sense for their 30th though as they are showing all the changed formats since they first released in 1991.

 

Better Man I see your flag is Russian, I know East 17 were far more popular in Russia but were TT a big act in Russia 90's and present? Thanks.

Edited November 28, 20186 yr by nirvanamusic

I also think it was a good idea to release the cassettes for Odyssey.

 

Better Man I see your flag is Russian, I know East 17 were far more popular in Russia but were TT a big act in Russia 90's and present? Thanks.

nirvanamusic, I was a child around their first era so can't judge personally to be honest.

But a good friend of mine is a crazy TT fan since 90s.

She told me some interesting stories about this era and there were regular fan meetings in Moscow.

My favourite one (cos it's funny) was about the fact Take That fans met each other at the same place (Patriarshiye Ponds - where 'Master and Margarita' goes) where fans of Depeche Mode always met as well and, you know, they didn't like each other because of it :))

 

Aslo she collected a lot of materials from magazines and recorded TV shows so it gives me understanding Take That had a rather good presence in Russia in 90s.

Now it's not due no any activity here but Take That groups in social world are still active.

 

p.s. just for knowing, Depeche Mode fans in Moscow still regularly meet each other every week on Friday since 90s... they are still the most favourite international band in our country. That's irony they're not in UK :(

Edited November 28, 20186 yr by Better Man

Thanks so much Better Man! That's great. It's interesting to hear first hand from other countries as info is harder to come by from their first time around. TT and Depeche Mode back then is quite different crowds!

Absolutely! Thanks, Better Man!

The cassette was only available for a week (I think about 2 weeks ago), I would have liked one too!

Why release before it was actually released as those sales wouldn't be counted in. It looks great though.

We’ve passed the 100k mark!