It's very unusual for mainstream artists to release 2 albums in as quick succession as this regardless of how successful they are. Can you name even one example of an 'underperforming' album that a label did something like this off the back of before?

 

I literally cannot think of one example of a big name underperforming album being followed by a new album months later...

 

The idea of Katy releasing a new album 6 months after Witness....it would have bombed.

This is not one either as the album didn't underperform.

 

She released one album in 2018 and is going to release (probably) one in 2019. It's not that weird imo.

Comparing the first 22 weeks of her album chart runs (because Sweetener is in its 22nd week in the chart):

Not really sure how Sweetener could be described as having under-performed? It's by far her biggest album success to date! Nowadays selling 200k+ is great going, and it's inevitable that it'll go Platinum eventually.

 

It's also her best chart run, with 9 weeks Top 10 / 16 weeks Top 20. Her previous best was 2 weeks Top 10 & 5 weeks Top 20.

 

Sweetener represents a major improvement for her as an album seller (bear in mind that My Everything's total is the accumulation of four and a half years on sale, and Sweetener isn't even six months old yet).

 

I'm not saying it under performed compared to her previous albums that is a silly comparison, it under performed relative to who and where she is as an artist. She is one of the biggest names in music and that chart run and sales dont match that.

 

Anyone who thinks her or the record label were satisfied with 220k and what it sold WW after all the hype and good will are fooling themselves.

 

Sweetner was meant to be huge, this was going to be her Good girl gone bad but it just didn't happen mainly because after No tears the rest of the album was rubbish and they moved on quickly realising that.

I'm not saying it under performed compared to her previous albums that is a silly comparison, it under performed relative to who and where she is as an artist. She is one of the biggest names in music and that chart run and sales dont match that.

 

Anyone who thinks her or the record label were satisfied with 220k and what it sold WW after all the hype and good will are fooling themselves.

 

Sweetner was meant to be huge, this was going to be her Good girl gone bad but it just didn't happen mainly because after No tears the rest of the album was rubbish and they moved on quickly realising that.

It was the 16th biggest album of the year here, released in Q3 which is typically the weakest time of the year for album sales. It was massive and will continue to sell exceptionally well - more so than Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli and Michael Bublé who all finished ahead for sure. You're projecting your own disappointment of the album (and don't get me wrong, the quality didn't reach my expectations either and I prefer her previous two albums) onto the sales, which is unfair. It's done very well and I think anyone expecting any more than 210k is hoping for some sort of miracle.

Anyone who thinks her or the record label were satisfied with 220k and what it sold WW after all the hype and good will are fooling themselves.

 

It sold 3.5 million worldwide in like 5 months...the record company would be very happy with that. Again, you’re cluticng straws here and your argument has become a bit embarrassing.

I'm not saying it under performed compared to her previous albums that is a silly comparison, it under performed relative to who and where she is as an artist. She is one of the biggest names in music and that chart run and sales dont match that.

 

Anyone who thinks her or the record label were satisfied with 220k and what it sold WW after all the hype and good will are fooling themselves.

 

Sweetner was meant to be huge, this was going to be her Good girl gone bad but it just didn't happen mainly because after No tears the rest of the album was rubbish and they moved on quickly realising that.

I didn't suggest you were saying it under-performed compared to her previous albums, you've misunderstood the point of my post. I was highlighting that in comparison to her previous albums, Sweetener clearly shows she's become significantly more successful in that market.

 

"Who and where she is as an artist" is reflected by how well Sweetener has performed compared to her old work. You have to appreciate that the album market has changed, 210k in 5 months is very good going in the here and now. Previous eras saw her selling considerably less in the same time-frame when album sales were stronger. I think your expectations are too high for the type of artist she is - she's not George Ezra.

 

If you don't count Lady Gaga's A Star Is Born (what with it being a soundtrack and a collaboration with Bradley Cooper), then Sweetener was 2018's highest selling studio album by an international female artist. That to me is in accordance with her being one of the biggest names in music. The chart run and sales do match that!

I didn't suggest you were saying it under-performed compared to her previous albums, you've misunderstood the point of my post. I was highlighting that in comparison to her previous albums, Sweetener clearly shows she's become significantly more successful in that market.

 

"Who and where she is as an artist" is reflected by how well Sweetener has performed compared to her old work. You have to appreciate that the album market has changed, 220k in 5 months is very good going in the here and now. Previous eras saw her selling considerably less in the same time-frame when album sales were stronger. I think your expectations are too high for the type of artist she is - she's not George Ezra.

 

If you don't count Lady Gaga's A Star Is Born (what with it being a soundtrack and a collaboration with Bradley Cooper), then Sweetener was 2018's highest selling studio album by an international female artist. That to me is in accordance with her being one of the biggest names in music. The chart run and sales do match that!

 

When was the last time the biggest selling international female album was only the 16th best selling album of the year?

 

She had a wide open market to go at in that regard, who was her competition Kylie Minogue.

 

When was the last time the biggest selling international female album was only the 16th best selling album of the year?

 

She had a wide open market to go at in that regard, who was her competition Kylie Minogue.

 

In 2013 Pink had the biggest international female album and that only finished 20th

In 2013 Pink had the biggest international female album and that only finished 20th

 

So it was the weakest position on the year end chart for the best selling female international album in 5 years.

 

 

In 2013 Pink had the biggest international female album and that only finished 20th

 

But if you give Sammy a logical response to an odd argument instead of eating humble pie and accepting his opinion might be a bit misplaced / expectations a bit confused he just comes back with another illogical argument.

 

Edit: he beat me to it :lol:

20. CamelPhat and Christoph feat Jem Cooke - Breathe

When was the last time the biggest selling international female album was only the 16th best selling album of the year?

 

She had a wide open market to go at in that regard, who was her competition Kylie Minogue.

"Only the 16th" is a bit glass half empty! Being one of the Top 20 albums of the year is great?

 

There were only two international females in the Top 20 of 2017, P!nk (5th) and Taylor Swift (15th), both of which were released in Q4 i.e. when sales are at their strongest. It's worth pointing out that Sweetener was released in Q3.

"Only the 16th" is a bit glass half empty! Being one of the Top 20 albums of the year is great?

 

There were only two international females in the Top 20 of 2017, P!nk (5th) and Taylor Swift (15th), both of which were released in Q4 i.e. when sales are at their strongest. It's worth pointing out that Sweetener was released in Q3.

 

I'm sorry but does being released in Q3 mean it is taken off sale in Q4? Did George Ezra's album released early in the year not sell great in Q4 too?

 

Wasnt the 2018 Xmas number 1 album released in 2017?

I'm sorry but does being released in Q3 mean it is taken off sale in Q4? Did George Ezra's album released early in the year not sell great in Q4 too?

 

Wasnt the 2018 Xmas number 1 album released in 2017?

Q3 is the most dead period of the year for album sales. Q4 on the other hand is by *far* the strongest.

 

George Ezra benefited from a huge amount of promo over the festive period, plus the fact he's more of an album seller overall. I really don't think Ari and George is a particularly fair comparison as they appeal to different demographics? And The Greatest Showman isn't remotely comparable, it's outdone just about EVERYONE'S expectations. Let's not start bringing that up in a discussion about Ariana.

Sweetener did very well on all metrics around the world and the label were very happy and it’s the only reason Ariana was able to take the risk of releasing new material, because it put her in such a good position. Let’s not continue to make up that it under-performed. End of.

Q3 is the most dead period of the year for album sales. Q4 on the other hand is by *far* the strongest.

 

George Ezra benefited from a huge amount of promo over the festive period, plus the fact he's more of an album seller overall. I really don't think Ari and George is a particularly fair comparison as they appeal to different demographics? And The Greatest Showman isn't remotely comparable, it's outdone just about EVERYONE'S expectations. Let's not start bringing that up in a discussion about Ariana.

 

Why because it makes her look bad comparing it to genuinely massive albums? Not clapping meaningless accolades for her like best selling international female album when barely any big name American artists released albums.

 

Of course if you compare Ariana to low barometers like the first 22 weeks of her older albums (when she wasnt so famous and before Manchester) and against other international female albums there has been a dirth of this year then she looks great.

 

Comparing her to heck even Jess Glynne she was outsold this year and Jess is in that really dangerous sophomore album period shows Sweetener really wasnt a big success.

20. CamelPhat and Christoph feat Jem Cooke - Breathe

 

Yas at this *.*

Let's not pretend Jess Glynne's album underperformed too :drama: Jess' album outsold Ariana's as she had a big Q4 push anyhow (and she's more of a natural album seller in the UK market).

Why because it makes her look bad comparing it to genuinely massive albums? Not clapping meaningless accolades for her like best selling international female album when barely any big name American artists released albums.

 

Of course if you compare Ariana to low barometers like the first 22 weeks of her older albums (when she wasnt so famous and before Manchester) and against other international female albums there has been a dirth of this year then she looks great.

 

Comparing her to heck even Jess Glynne she was outsold this year and Jess is in that really dangerous sophomore album period shows Sweetener really wasnt a big success.

 

You can't put every artist on the same level when it comes to album sales though. It's important to compare like-for-like. Comparing to Ari's previous albums, released in higher sales periods yet they still sold less in the same timeframe, is relevant. Comparing to mum-favourite George Ezra is NOT relevant. Ariana appeals more to the younger generation, who are less likely to pick CDs up casually in Tesco than George's typical demographic.

 

Jess Glynne is ever so slightly more relevant but I'm sure you can agree that something like Thursday or All I Am is far more MOR, far more safe and radio friendly, and again more likely to appeal to the older CD buying generation than songs like God is a woman or breathin? Dare I say Ari's more comparable to someone like Post Malone really. Her music has definite tinges of urban and they appeal to a similar age-group, who are more likely to stream than actually buy albums.

 

I think you're being very unfair on Ariana because Sweetener is obviously a big success. 200k is a surefire success and it'll make its way to platinum too!

I don't understand where this argument is going in all honesty. He's just gonna keep doing the same thing over and over and over again. It's so tiring and exhausting to read.

 

He's being proven wrong time and time again on this, with plausible facts and evidence but he's just as stubborn as always to accept the fact that 'Sweetener' was a huge success, all because he doesn't like it/her.

 

The fact that TUN was such a massive hit should show just how big Sweetener is. Sweetener literally set her up for a massive hit. If it wasn't that big of an album, would people really have been willing to give her new songs the time of day? I highly doubt it.