Keep It Moving: Eminem On to the Next Chart-Topper…
Who 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.
The M.I.A. Effect: Does Controversy Still Sell?
Artists 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.
The Second-Lowest Chart Topper In History…
The 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.
What Bieber, Usher, and Slash Have In Common…
The 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.
Not All Bad: EMI Scores a Few Chart-Toppers…
EMI 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.
Shazam Goes Premium: ‘Encore’ iPhone App Emerges…
One 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.