10 hours ago, -Jay- said:

Studio albums since 2000:

2000: 151,891 - Music

2003: 65,013 - American Life
2005: 217,610 - Confessions on a Dancefloor

2008: 94,655 - Hard Candy

2012: 56,335 - MDNA
2015: 37,245 - Rebel Heart
2019: 27,227 - Madame X

It'll be interesting to see if she can reverse the downward trend in sales. I think she will

Edited July 5Jul 5 by Robbie

2 minutes ago, Robbie said:

It'll be interesting to see if she can reverse the downward trend in sales. I think she'll do so.

I’d be shocked if she doesn’t. It’s her first release since the variant strategy has been in use which should drastically increase her numbers. She also seems to be doing well on streaming. Coupled with the critical acclaim, I think 45-50k could be in reach.

16 hours ago, ___∆___ said:

Really interested to see Madonna’s sales - there are 22 physical variants and I’ve seen so many unboxings on insta etc., with people getting 10+ copies.

Also the fact that some of the physicals are priced decently (£19.99 for the vinyl etc.,) should help.

Which is why I never want to see or hear another Madonna fan slagging off other artists for playing the game. Their bile aimed at Taylor and Kylie is now incredibly hypocritical in retrospect.

 

14 hours ago, 777666jason said:

Yeah i do think kylies fanbase are more rabid than Madonnas tbf

This comment made me cackle, especially after watching videos/reading tweets from Madonna fans who have bought 10+ copies of Confessions II.

34 minutes ago, Nightingale said:

This comment made me cackle, especially after watching videos/reading tweets from Madonna fans who have bought 10+ copies of Confessions II.

Tbf if we are truly honest most stan artists have their rabid fans , not exclusively but it does feel like mostly female artists 🤣

I think this proves why variants should be banned from the charts, people get all catty about it even though they go out an do the exact thing they complain about.. It's just all very desperate in my eyes regardless of who it is. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't represent anything really, especially in the streaming era and its certainly not an achievement worth recognising.

1 hour ago, Supercell said:

I think this proves why variants should be banned from the charts, people get all catty about it even though they go out an do the exact thing they complain about.. It's just all very desperate in my eyes regardless of who it is. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't represent anything really, especially in the streaming era and its certainly not an achievement worth recognising.

How is it any different from people playing the same album on repeat on Spotify? Artists who have big fanbases benefit from it but I don’t see why that’s a problem. If they have enough fans willing to spend their hard-earned cash on 83 versions of the same album why should that be punished?

2 hours ago, Supercell said:

I think this proves why variants should be banned from the charts, people get all catty about it even though they go out an do the exact thing they complain about.. It's just all very desperate in my eyes regardless of who it is. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't represent anything really, especially in the streaming era and its certainly not an achievement worth recognising.

It’s always been a thing though (appreciate it feels super extreme on albums atm) -

In the physical single era you had CD1, CD2 and DVD CD that were available in week 1 for 3 for £3.

In the download era you had artists releasing 10 versions.

The stans will always multibuy however I think those that do only make up a small % of overall sales - There are Madonna fans buying all 22 but equally there seems to be far more buying 1-2 copies.

Oh I love pop girly release weeks on here, it's so catty

Variants are here to stay and we just need to accept it , olivia rodrigo had 11 phyiscal variants in week 1 but people gloss over that because her streaming numbers keep her up there anyway

Besides noones forced to buy every variant its a personal choice, buy multiple or dont just use the same energy with all artists dont pick and choose who its ok for and who its not because "you dont like them"

What’s everyone’s issue with variants? All artists are on the same playing field the rules are the same for everyone.

Sure some artists have bigger fanbases and buy more variants but it is what it is.

Sales would be in the toilet without variants. The different variants are pretty much keeping the physical market afloat.

Edited July 5Jul 5 by Mr. C. Joel

12 variants don't help beyond the week 1 anyway. Albums can go like Niall Horan's latest (fade into oblivion on week 2) or actually have some staying power and of course the latter is more preferable.

2 minutes ago, Sour Candy said:

12 variants don't help beyond the week 1 anyway.

Unless you're Taylor Swift!

Just now, gasman449 said:

Unless you're Taylor Swift!

Olivia Rodrigo says hi

Charli xcx says hi

Edited July 5Jul 5 by 777666jason

1 minute ago, gasman449 said:

Unless you're Taylor Swift!

Oh her inventing new variants every week is of course a different story. But she's an anomaly there being able to sell the same album to same people in several separate occasions. I highly doubt that Confessions II (Hide the Cocaine Edition) would be a big hit on week 8.

14 minutes ago, Mr. C. Joel said:

What’s everyone’s issue with variants? All artists are on the same playing field the rules are the same for everyone.

Sure some artists have bigger fanbases and buy more variants but it is what it is.

Sales would be in the toilet without variants. The different variants are pretty much keeping the physical market afloat.

This - without variants we’d just have a Top 100 full of streaming greatest hits albums

Also why has matt cardles team gone digital only its going to flop harder than the titanic shame its so good too 😢

Edited July 5Jul 5 by 777666jason

Matt Cardle has a new album out!? Wow that passed me by, I like his voice too.

Variants are in no way more cheating than current artists getting their songs on playlist placements all over spotify, Apple etc in order to boost fake streams of their albums.

26 minutes ago, 777666jason said:

Also why has matt cardles team gone digital only its going to flop harder than the titanic shame its so good too 😢

It was meant to be released on vinyl, CD etc with multiple bundles - they’ve literally pulled it at the last minute!

They must have already been pressed this close to release date so it’s mad that they’ve pulled them from his store, plus HMV and Amazon!

49 minutes ago, 777666jason said:

Olivia Rodrigo says hi

Charli xcx says hi

Has Olivia actually released any variants outside of week 1 that weren't actual re-issues (such as GUTS Spilled, or anniversary editions)?

9 minutes ago, JosephStyles said:

Has Olivia actually released any variants outside of week 1 that weren't actual re-issues (such as GUTS Spilled, or anniversary editions)?

All the different release dates for Sour , Guts wasnt as bad