fatmuffin

Will looks amazing in these pics. Such a shame for Eg, he deserves success, but perhaps he should stick to writing. There is a real skill in performing with charisma and getting a song across. Or perhaps it's an innate thing. It shouldn't be underestimated and I'm glad Eg was able to see that Will has that in spades!

Have you heard the whole album? I thought you haven't bought it? You are obviously not the only one not to have bought LIG so it's interesting to read your reasons :) . It's strange that LIG has had such great critical reviews. LIG and KO are equal favourite albums. I think If Love Equals Nothing is Will's highest point in songwriting and singing. It's my favourite Will song anyway. I also think the bonus track This Is Who I am was totally wasted as a mere bonus track. It should have been a single, no question. I never understand the thinking of record companies :P

I think it is around 400,000 for the album. Around the same sales as James Morrison. James's album was rescued by his duet with nelly furtado, before that it was sinking fast. I think they've both done well in a female dominated market, and with non debut albums. It's Will's fourth album, I'm very relieved he didn't do a Lemar, or a Franz Ferdinand! Shame about the Let It Go single, it's unlikely to chart due to almost no airplay :( I hope Lemar's album picks up with his second single.

Loved seeing and especially hearing Will on DOI, it was gorgeous :D

It's quite a nice song, but Syco have screwed him over. Unfortunately, I'm not sure he's strong enough, or bright enough to steer his own career. I think it's a shame TBH.

Will has gone platinum and held his own in the top 40 albums since his release of let it go back in September. His sales have been a lot slower than previous albums, but he's had a mountain to climb in that radio one haven't supported him at all, and male solo artists - (especially British), are somehow not flavour of the month at the moment. James Morrison has had amazing airplay, but even he, who is considered a bit cool, hasn't gone platinum as yet. Katy Perry, whilst having had a huge hit single, hasn't sold that many albums. It's albums that are the measure of success, in my opinion as that's where the fanbase and the money really count. There have been few male solo artists around - Lemar has flopped shockingly. I can't think of any others???? The best british male category at the Brits is going to be interesting!!

Ummm........they weren't very good? :unsure: They must have had good lead singles, which proved to be the only really good track on the album. Continuing sales of an album must be from good 'hearsay' and recommendations from buyers and good following singles bumping up sales. Without either of these albums are doomed to sink. The other side of the coin would be to see which albums had the lowest week one chart position, but that in the end stayed the longest in the charts. Maybe the first single wasn't so great, but following singles were better and the album built up a good reputation. I think album sales info is much more interesting than single sales :D

That's good then thanks. Would have been about 50 without christmas songs!

Has Will's Grace stuck around the itunes chart this week?

I disagree. Look at the sort of stuff that gets in the top ten at the moment! Can you imagine a 30 year old downloading I Kissed a Girl, or that washing up song? Why did Cliff have to rely so heavily of marketing of a physical CD. The singles chart is dominated by the under 25s choices. The albums chart is much more an 'all age' chart. I don't think most over 25s are remotely interested in single songs, they prefer a 'proper' album. I use the 25 years as the dividing point, but I mean 'mental age' LOL.

It's all the downloading. Some tracks are further down the charts because people are busily downloading christmas songs, or x factor songs, or songs on adverts etc. That never happened when people went to a shop to buy a newly released CD. Even if you wanted to do that these days, they are so hard to find, except when there's a special single released, and shops make a point of stocking them. It's really not fair, IMO, and only current chart releases should be allowed to feature in the 'official' chart. Some artists will be prejudiced by their fan base too. I'd guess the majority of downloaders are under 25 - and grew up with computers. Many artists have older fan-bases who are less likely to know how, or be inclined to download a track, and therefore they no longer stand a chance in hell of having another hit single. I think they should do away with the singles charts altogether :o Just have an album chart - every week a run-down of top 40 albums which features different tracks from that album. That would be so much more interesting than the current top 40 show. Albums could still have their lead singles - or a selection of them, to release to radio. The public would then get a chance to hear a few tracks before actually buying the album for themselves. Artists could still make their videos to go with certain tracks etc. I'm a Will fan, and whilst disappointed that Grace didn't chart higher, I fully understand the reasons for that. I'd be very worried if his album hadn't continued to sell off the back of that track though, but it has, so fine. There are artists around at the moment who have huge hit singles, but whose albums don't sell well at all. There's no money for record companies in that. Yet it's the singles charts that seem to attract so much of the kudos :cry: :unsure: To do well in both charts is going to be the privilege of very few artists, those who are 'flavour of the month'. To do badly in both is a disaster, and there have been some big artist and band in that position too. :(

I so agree with this, so many established acts are really struggling, Some acts are endlessly hyped whilst others release under the radar. It's a use once and throw away industry. Record companies encourage this, as that's how they make their money, new acts demand less returns.. Radio One are also a culprit, IMO - the way they hype up certain acts constantly. All I can say is, look out those who are currently basking in huge success, as in a few years, they too could be considered old and uninteresting. Other casualties of the older acts doing less well are James Morrison, Lemar, Will Young (to a certain extent), Dido, Kaiser Chiefs, the Feeling, I doubt even Robbie would sell very well if he were to return in the current climate.

Phew, am happy to see Will in top 20, and to hear his album has gone up, with all the new entries! :) Thanks Dave.

There have been far too many Autumn/Christmas releases this year. People only have so much they can spend on music, and there have been lots of casualties of this strategy. Note to record companies......... Time to re-think!

I can't find Will's new downloads on itunes :mellow: , but I guess no-one else is worried as they are too obsessed by Leona and Britney to bother with artists who produce their own music and who always put in the effort to sing live when performing :rolleyes :P : Never known so much hype around a release as there is around Run :blink: , a Snow Patrol cover, lest we forget :D

Well, I hope you're right Dave, although I'd be even happier if LIG goes up several places in the albums chart :D

There are 2 remixes and a live version coming out tomorrow or Monday. I'll be getting all three. I know i'll prefer the live version, I always do when it's Will :D The re-mixes I'm curious about. Then there's the physical, with a stonking B side this time. I'm hoping for top 20 taking this into consideration. Pre-sales of physicals have kept up for weeks now. I'm not expecting better if I'm honest, airplay hasn't been good - radio one continue to act as if Will doesn't exist at all :angry: In fact it's amazing that LIG is still hanging on with pretty good sales 9 weeks after release.

Thanks Dave. No Lemar :unsure:

Maybe Will Young with Let It Go. I think there's lots more life in it, and some great potential singles. He's also featuring on the South Bank Show sometime early 2009 :D

Am I missing something where Same Difference are concerned :thinking: They're song is total cr*p IMO, and their act mindnumbingly awful :lame: Must be my age :mellow:

I think top 10, as there are two fanbases to draw from. The song is dull though :( I don't know what's happened to James, his first album was really good, but the current one is so samey and, ummm, dull. There's only one track I like, When i was a child. He's struggled to get over 100,000 sales so far, when his previous album sold over a million I think <_< He's had huge and unrelenting support from radio 1&2 and commercials though.

Thankyou Dave :)

I'm not actually keen on Run, and think there's a certain amount of sheep mentality and emperors new clothes about it all to be honest.. A brilliant song, sung by an artist with a good voice, with a huge backing/production/echo machine!! and bigged up to ridiculous proportions! Then ensues a sort of mass hysteria. :huh: My comment regarding the record company behaviour was an observation. Anyway, are there any updates this morning?

Do you know where Will is in the albums Dave? Good news for Dido - I wonder what the sales are like :)

Hmm, charming of sony bmg to try to force people to spend a fortune on an album for the one track. They are money grabbing idiots. Another no, 1 for Leona would have done her a lot of good in terms of profile for the future, but they are always in it for short term gain, not for the long term welfare of their artists. They earn tons more from album sales than from d/ls. I hope it backfires on them and people d/l rips from the X factor show in droves.