DrPepper

No - I love this time of year for release. If an act releases around now it's because they (them, record company, who knows) it because they want to gamble on making money on the high sales. No1 in March compared with No1 in Dec is worlds apart in terms of profit. The record companies are gambling (to an extent) with their act. Watch Sugababes NOT release at Xmas next time. I like it because there's quite a lot at stake in terms of reputation and careers (although as I used Sugababes previously, I think they will survive becuase they have enough history (and the record company certainly didn't spend much on promoting it)

Aretha Franklin - Freeway of Love Doobie Brothers - The Doctor Five Star - There's a Brand New World Bananarama - Last Thing On My Mind Jason Donovan - All Around The World

If they release, then Take That could do it.

I hate it. I spend a reasonable amount of time in the USA and it was ALWAYS on the radio there for months and months on end. Here's hoping it's a great big flop.

Madonna, Take a Bow peaked outside the Top 10 which is silly as it is about the best song she has done. It was number one for weeks in the USA.

Undoubtedly, Leona will be on American Idol soon to seal the deal.

I think they serve a useful purpose in catapulting a song up the charts - Wow by Kylie for example. Thats good for a few reasons. 1. It gives the single a sales boost towards the peak position (otherwise, just how long could Wow have hung around the bottom end of the top 40). 2. It provides promotional focus. 3. It brings people (albeit a few) into shops to buy the single which means teh opportunity to buy a CD album (which I would HATE to disappear). What I think might happen is that singles will be issued on a limited release for one week only. That will boost the time to the peak chart performance. What happens after that with downloads is anybody's guess though - Wow is dropping like a physical single would but others stick around so there's no real pattern. Take Duffy as an example, on the week of physaicl release, my local Zavvi (Reading), had a 4 shelf high rack at the front door. Multiply that by all Zavvi stores and you'll get decent sales because it's in your face and there was no ther single choice. That contributes to the success of the song, and therefore the album (where some money is made) and sell enough of those and you've got a tour (the big bucks). I think singles will soon be pushed that way for a short time, not because of the physical sales, but for the potential impact to the bigger picture.

Yep, now it says 27 weeks! God knows where I got 53 from but I swear it said that before - sorry. Anyway, would still be interesting to know. And The Dutchess has so underperformed in the UK.

Inspired by Fergie's The Dutchess, listed at 53 weeks on the Top 75 which is great, over a year, but I suspect it has sold very badly (even though I think it s a really good album). I just wondered what the sales were, and if any album had a longer Top 75 run with even lower sales?

This is a very good point indeed. It would be interesting if we all posted selling prices each week and then worked out the average per CD and then worked out who took the most money when the sales figures come in. It's quite relevant as someone like Amy MacDonald wouldn't have the 1 position without the price. I'd do it myself but don't have the time. I hope someone takes it on though.

Take That - Beautiful World Kelly Clarkson - My December (VASTLY UNDERRATED - I STILL THINK IT CAN BE SAVED) Jamelia - Walk With Me (VASTLY UNDERRATED - NO CHANCE OF SAVING) Fergie - The Dutchess (underrated). Kylie X will soon be up there and it's better than Jamelia and Fergie.

Tangled Up Mixed Up

100,000 With Take That selling 100,001..............hopefully. Both great, but that's how it should turn out.

It's only a fiver in Woolies - it should go up!

My first CD album was "Between the Lines" by Five Star - although I already had the tape. My first CD single was "You Have Placed a Chill in my Heart" by the Eurythmics - in a funky limited edition black tin.

Don't forget Kimberley Locke - her single was so UK friendly and should have been huge. They screwed the second release though. Not sure if the album was released here but it is really good. I think Daughtry will do well. Also, a while back when Carrie was advertising Sketchers on UK posters on the tube the posters stated the album release date. She'd need to promote but she could do well - it's been a while since Shania.

With the right PR, the right song and the right video I think that Kylie could be a contender. Particularly if there was a battle as people would rather have her over many otheres.. however, I don't think she'll go for it - it will be too close to the single promoting the album. She should do a real christmassy new song - we need one of those. I am sick to death of Mariah!!

Ok - thanks.

Does anyone use the Limbo website with the Say hey forum? For some reason I can't get on and haven't een able to since the weekend. I have a feeling it might be my PC or there would be other posts about it elsewhere but can someone let me know? Thanks.

MMMM. They tend to discount indie and therefore they will have a better showing in this chart and skew it somewhat. Take That almost out the Top 20 highlights how skewed it is. Acts like McFly will barely dent this chart (whereas will do better in a chart like Woolies) and therefore not being available in the higher numbers, they won't get the space and therefore won't have the opportunity to sell as well. I think that CD shops should display the official chart. It's not that I like McFly per se (I don't) but I just think fairs fair. HMV position themselves as a "real" music store with that, comes the inevitable music snobbery - in my opinion at least. In my local HMV, the albeit new singles chart, is so hidden at the back of the store in corner next to the posters!!! (Reading The Oracle) they'll be lucky to sell any. Just the ones they decide to put by the cash registers.

Shine is already Top 40 on iTunes as an album track. This sort of this could hurt sales later on.

Thanks - maybe I can be clearer. Take That are greater then the sum of the four parts - together they just have that magic ingredient.

Te most fabulous thing about Take That I have aways thought, is that together, they are far more than the sum of the four parts. It's like the Kylie thing you can't quantify. Somehow, when they are together they become something else. And it really helps that the songs are quality.

Maybe not - chart battles inflate sales. If Westlife hadn't had the chart battle publicity I doubt they would have sold as much week one. You never know though. I would say that TT will sell a million by the time the last single is released. They can clean up at Valentines AND mothers day as well if they get it right. The other thing is, and it was mentioned earlier, the album has had great reviews and it is truly excellent. Nostalgia will take them only so far, I hope that the quality is recognised.

Also, album trcaks are downloaded sometimes when people whow it will be a single but before it has been released as one. The iTunes chart s usually full of them.