Weekly Register: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Can too many superstar releases in a short period of time end up hurting the majority of artists’ sales? Is there too much good music, especially Country music, for fans to consume in a brief period of time? As more and more artists release projects aimed at garnering holiday sales, consumers could be hit with an overabundance of available choices, affecting the sales for any one artist. This week’s numbers may suggest buyers are reaching their consumption limits.

ALBUMS

That seems to be the case with Little Big Town. Despite critical acclaim that Little Big Town has received for its glowing new album, Pain Killer, the group moved 42k units in its first week (33 percent digital). Compare that to LBT’s last release, which moved 113k in its first week. Still, that was enough to put the group at No. 3 on the Country album chart, and at No. 7 on the overall chart. Florida Georgia Line‘s Anything Goes stays at No. 1 on the Country albums chart this week, selling 59k units, while Jason Aldean‘s recently released project Old Boots, New Dirt moved 56k units. Blake Shelton‘s Bringing Back The Sunshine lands at No. 4 on the Country albums chart with 11k sold, followed by Lady Antebellum‘s 747 at No. 5 with 11k units moved.
Slipknot‘s latest release topped the overall Soundscan charts, selling 132k, followed by rapper T.I. with 80k and Neil Diamond, selling 78k.
Overall album sales are down 13.6 percent YTD, while Country album sales are down 15 percent.
The music industry anxiously awaits next week’s official sales numbers from Taylor Swift‘s 1989, which released Monday (Oct. 27). Reports have Swift pegged to sell anywhere from 800k to 1 million in its first week. If the album passes the 1 million mark, and several outlets predict it will, it will make Swift the only artist to sell more than 1 million albums in a single week on three separate occasions, not to mention on three consecutive releases. It will also make 1989 the first album released in 2014 to sell a million units.
Also releasing this week is Sam Hunt‘s debut album, Montevallo, and Darius Rucker‘s Christmas project, Home For The Holidays.

TRACKS

Meghan Trainor‘s “All About That Bass” moves back to the top spot on the overall digital tracks chart, selling 143k. The single is now at 3.2 million in sales RTD. The top debut is Swift’s “Welcome To New York,” which sold 84k.
Jason Aldean‘s “Burnin’ It Down” took the top Country tracks spot (and No. 23 overall), selling 44k this week. The top Country track debut is Billy Currington‘s latest, “Don’t It,” with 17k and comes in at No. 15 Country and No. 75 overall.
Also worth noting is Kenny Chesney‘s single “American Kids,” which has topped 1 million units.
Overall track sales are down 12.9 percent YTD, while Country track sales are down 17.4 percent.
The top five Country tracks this week are Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down,” followed by Carrie Underwood’s “Somethin’ In The Water” (33k), Blake Shelton’s “Neon Light” (29k), Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt” (29k), and Tim McGraw’s “Shotgun Rider” (28k).
This time last year, Lorde‘s “Royals” held the coveted overall No. 1 track, moving 222k. Eric Church had the top selling Country track this time last year with “The Outsiders” moving 81k.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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