Charts like the Billboard 200 made perfect sense in the 90s, but ten years later, measuring success is a very tricky affair. That was the motivation for the Ultimate Chart, an attempt by BigChampagne to rank artists and songs according to a broader number of metrics. It also represents an attempt to seriously challenge Soundscan, a yardstick that has plenty of critics in the direct-to-fan and independent communities. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Charts’
It Used to Be So Simple: BigChampagne Unveils the “Ultimate Chart”
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Keep It Moving: Eminem On to the Next Chart-Topper…
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010Who says the major label machine is dead? When it comes to the top-grossing, blockbuster artists, over-the-top marketing is quite alright, thank you very much. And over at Interscope, the action on Eminem is fierce: just moments after crossing one million units on Recovery, a second track is already over-performing. (more…)
The M.I.A. Effect: Does Controversy Still Sell?
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010Artists need lots of attention to survive, and sometimes, controversy does the trick. Case in point? Madonna handcrafted the art of stoking controversy in the 80s and 90s, though in the 2010s, getting sustained attention – and resulting sales – is a much trickier craft. (more…)
The Second-Lowest Chart Topper In History…
Friday, May 21st, 2010The long way down is producing a raft of bizarre stats, including a strange one from Justin Bieber. During the most recent week, Bieber scored sales of 60,343 units on My World 2.0, the second-lowest tally for a album chart-topper in the US since Soundscan started tracking in 1991. (more…)
What Bieber, Usher, and Slash Have In Common…
Friday, April 16th, 2010The personalities of Justin Bieber, Usher, and Slash couldn’t be more different. But when it comes to selling albums, these guys were the trifecta at the top this week. (more…)
Not All Bad: EMI Scores a Few Chart-Toppers…
Friday, March 26th, 2010EMI Music and its owner, Terra Firma, are battling an overwhelming swarm of problems. Lingering defaults, exiting bands, nervous partners, and near-term takeover possibilities are hardly the elements of productive stability. But positives still exist, and the more stable EMI Music Publishing offers the easiest example. (more…)
Shazam Goes Premium: ‘Encore’ iPhone App Emerges…
Monday, November 9th, 2009One of the most popular – and free – apps now has a premium companion. Shazam is now launching its ‘Encore’ upgrade, a $4.99 (2.99 pound, 3.99 euro) app that offers faster recognition, recommendations, charts, and an in-car mode designed to easily identify songs played on the radio. (more…)
