Album Sales predictions-What do you think?

[Halen High]

I understand that, but c'mon, the first VH album featuring original lead singer David Lee Roth, in 28 years, the most celebrated eraof music the band ever laid to tape, yet, this new cd can't sell a measly
500,000 copies ?

And people on this board were predicting sales of 5 million ? Sheesh ...

Bruce Springsteen's 2009's "Working On A Dream" was, IMHO, one of his weakest efforts, yet that cd sold 600,000 units in amonth and eventually went Platinum.

From memory, I predicted 1 to 1.5 million - over a longer period of time (2 years). Even if the new album turned out to be the best they have ever done, I still thought this would be the case. Our demographic doesn't tend to buy CDs anymore. Then there's downloading (legal and illegal), which according to reports, increases dramatically every year...with some people only downloading 3 or 4 tracks - which if legally done - does count but still reduces the total album sales compared to the past when everyone bought the album.

And even though Dave has been back since 2007, resulting in two great tours and an amazing new album - we can't under-estimate the damage done to the 'Van Halen' name, particularly in 2004, but also between 1986 and 1998.

[minkahed]

From memory, I predicted 1 to 1.5 million - over a longer period of time (2 years). Even if the new album turned out to be the best they have ever done, I still thought this would be the case. Our demographic doesn't tend to buy CDs anymore. Then there's downloading (legal and illegal), which according to reports, increases dramatically every year...with some people only downloading 3 or 4 tracks - which if legally done - does count but still reduces the total album sales compared to the past when everyone bought the album.

And even though Dave has been back since 2007, resulting in two great tours and an amazing new album - we can't under-estimate the damage done to the 'Van Halen' name, particularly in 2004, but also between 1986 and 1998.

Like I said, I understand all that, but all I kept hearing from all Van Halen people is that if they put out a new album with Dave, it would be a monster seller.

Now, they made a kick ass cd and noone's buying it, except us hard core fans !?

I don't know, maybe if they had released "A Different Kind Of Truth" in '07/'08, we'd be looking at different numbers as well.

Maybe if Mike Anthony, (I'm not disrespecting Wolfie), had been in on an original line up, the cd would have definetely gone past Gold by now ...

For christ sake, the album is on it's way out of the Top 40 already after only 5 weeks. Fuck.

[Vinnie Velvet]

Like I said, I understand all that, but all I kept hearing from all Van Halen people is that if they put out a new album with Dave, it would be a monster seller.

Now, they made a kick ass cd and noone's buying it, except us hard core fans !?

I don't know, maybe if they had released "A Different Kind Of Truth" in '07/'08, we'd be looking at different numbers as well.

Maybe if Mike Anthony, (I'm not disrespecting Wolfie), had been in on an original line up, the cd would have definetely gone past Gold by now ...

For christ sake, the album is on it's way out of the Top 40 already after only 5 weeks. Fuck.

Oh well.

Can't do much about that. Its still the best hard rock album since the mid 80s.

But its not 1984 anymore or even 1996 for that matter.

Having said all that, VH/DLR don't seem very interested in promoting the album. They are not doing any interviews, no late night talk show appearances, no magazine cover stories - nothing.

Its as if they don't even care whether the album sells or not. Which is baffling IMO.

Back in the day, when the band was on tour Dave was all over radio stations giving interviews, etc.

I don't think he's done even one radio interview in any of the cities they've played thus far.

Also, VH pioneered (along with MJ) the art of the music video. Yet, all they've done is a piss poor black and white video for Tattoo -- and nothing for She's the Woman.

????

I mean, if the album ultimately tanks its really their own fault.

[private parts]

It's just gonna take a little longer but it will go Platinum.

Hell I just talked to a guy the other day who didn't know VH had a new album! If some of the alt/rock stations would play As Is or Honeybaby sales would jump. I'd put those songs up against
anything thats being played right now.

[BenJammin]

ADKOT had to jump a lot of hurdles (28 years worth) just to become a reality so it's a miracle it was even produced, much less made a respectable blip on the charts.

Plus bad timing from Adele's Grammy sweep and stupid crack whore dying made ADKOT miss the sweet spot of the curve when released.

Be thankful for what you have but don't expect it to conquer the world like it would have back in 1985 - 86 when it SHOULD have been made if not for the fucking universe falling into an evil alternate reality of blandness.

[Vinnie Velvet]

ADKOT had to jump a lot of hurdles (28 years worth) just to become a reality so it's a miracle it was even produced, much less made a respectable blip on the charts.

Plus bad timing from Adele's Grammy sweep and stupid crack whore dying made ADKOT miss the sweet spot of the curve when released.

Be thankful for what you have but don't expect it to conquer the world like it would have back in 1985 - 86 when it SHOULD have been made if not for the fucking universe falling into an evil alternate reality of blandness.

I don't think anyone is expecting 1984-type numbers.

But at least the band could be doing press to beef up the promotion for the album.

Its as if they don't care.

[sonrisa salvaje]

I understand that, but c'mon, the first VH album featuring original lead singer David Lee Roth, in 28 years, the most celebrated eraof music the band ever laid to tape, yet, this new cd can't sell a measly
500,000 copies ?

And people on this board were predicting sales of 5 million ? Sheesh ...

Bruce Springsteen's 2009's "Working On A Dream" was, IMHO, one of his weakest efforts, yet that cd sold 600,000 units in amonth and eventually went Platinum.

Don't forget that The Boss has a satellite radio setting all to himself which played a new cut from that record every hour off of Working on a Dream. I haven't tuned in lately but i'm sure they are playing the hell out of Wrecking Ball as well. Maybe if VH had a channel parked between the Boneyard and Hair Nation they would get a lot of extra run.

[ZahZoo]

I don't think anyone is expecting 1984-type numbers.

But at least the band could be doing press to beef up the promotion for the album.

Its as if they don't care.

I think they care... it's their meal ticket. But as you can see any/all press has been very controlled... nothing live.

I think the main thing is the Van Halens don't want to answer any "sticky subject" questions like related to MA, Spam, Gary or past fall-outs with Dave. Dave is probably being overly cautious only doing sit-downs with print/web media also to avoid the controversial crap...

Notice the lack of drama and soap opera antics... there's the answer.

[Mrkramer]

Quite shocked with the numbers mentioned in the US , considering the band only ever tours the US and is on tour now promoting it
My 2 cents worth,
as already discussed band has not pushed the CD themselves , first choice of single didn't stick with the public. I thought maybe they would of had a media launch regarding CD , world tour , videos etc..
Biggest issue is this band has had no new music to push in over 14 years , to the average Joe this was a 80"s band
And most rock bands aren't doing big numbers, it's the same in Australia . Springsteen will always sell as he never left the
Spotlight and has always put out new material ,,
With the CD not doing the numbers of at least 500 k , I think interscope will push for a live DVD or look into the vaults
To release a DVD of old footage.. Who knows how much they paid to VH to have them on tinterscope ? But the label will want a return on the Cd one way or another..
Saying this I love this cd and all my VH mates do also... Would love to see the band tour outside the US
but doubt it

[Jagermeister]

It's still number 11 on Billboard I think. Really it's doing pretty well I think. It won't sell a million copies though.

[Terry]

It's kinda unreasonable to expect Van Halen 2012 to be moving units like CVH did in the 1980s, if only because their audience back then was comprised of the prime age demo for record buyers back then. Teenagers buy the most in terms of popular music, and I doubt Van Halen's current audience breakdown has a high percentage of teenagers in it. Throw in the free downloading and general decline of record sales in the past several years and it's not too shocking that ADKOT hasn't gone platinum yet.

It'd be a bit surprising if ADKOT didn't at least go gold by the end of the tour, though.

[minkahed]

It's still number 11 on Billboard I think. Really it's doing pretty well I think. It won't sell a million copies though.

#11 ?

Try #37 ...

Holy shit, "ADKOT" sold a paltry 9,886 copies this week.

ToTal U.S. sales= 323,924

At this rate, I doubt this thing will sell much more. Spammy probably getting a good laugh at this I'd bet.

Oh, Guns N Roses "Greatest Hits" just jumped 527% in sales to #3 on Billboard with sales of over 85,000 this week.

Total sales for that album are over 5.1 Million.

[DONNIEP]

Obviously I'm missing something here....I'm sure it's just me, but I'm not plunking down a couple hundred bucks for ANY band's live show if I'm not willing to buy the new record. I mean, I can see how people might want to go see one of the 80s bands live even if they don't have new music out. And there are plenty of them who'll be on tour this summer. BUT the ticket prices are a whole hell of a lot less. I'm a big fan of a lot of bands, and I'm a casual fan of even more. But if I'm not willing to toss out 12 or 14 bucks for their new CD I sure as hell ain't willing to lay down $350 + for two tickets to their show! This ain't the 80s or 90s when tickets were cheap. Perfect example - Thursday, June 20, 1991 - my DLR ticket says I paid 21 bucks for a triple bill show. And a CD back then was 16 fucking dollars!!!

I just don't see why anyone would spend nearly 400 bucks for two tickets (floor seats, maybe nosebleeds are cheaper) but NOT buy the record. Maybe they should have had an option to bundle the tix with a CD for 12 bucks extra. I know I had the option to buy the vinyl copy for, what, 30 or 50 bucks more??? Bundle the CD with the tix and I'm certain it would have sold more. I'm not bitching, and I'm not expecting 1980s sales numbers for this record. But I do think that they missed an opportunity by offering ONLY the vinyl copy bundle with the tix and not offering a CD copy. Just my opinion.

And yes, I'm fucking happy that they "gave" me what they did. I'd be even happier if they'd "give" me some of the old footage. I'd gladly buy that too, in a fucking heartbeat!

[SNIPER]

Obviously I'm missing something here....I'm sure it's just me, but I'm not plunking down a couple hundred bucks for ANY band's live show if I'm not willing to buy the new record. I mean, I can see how people might want to go see one of the 80s bands live even if they don't have new music out. And there are plenty of them who'll be on tour this summer. BUT the ticket prices are a whole hell of a lot less. I'm a big fan of a lot of bands, and I'm a casual fan of even more. But if I'm not willing to toss out 12 or 14 bucks for their new CD I sure as hell ain't willing to lay down $350 + for two tickets to their show! This ain't the 80s or 90s when tickets were cheap. Perfect example - Thursday, June 20, 1991 - my DLR ticket says I paid 21 bucks for a triple bill show. And a CD back then was 16 fucking dollars!!!

I just don't see why anyone would spend nearly 400 bucks for two tickets (floor seats, maybe nosebleeds are cheaper) but NOT buy the record. Maybe they should have had an option to bundle the tix with a CD for 12 bucks extra. I know I had the option to buy the vinyl copy for, what, 30 or 50 bucks more??? Bundle the CD with the tix and I'm certain it would have sold more. I'm not bitching, and I'm not expecting 1980s sales numbers for this record. But I do think that they missed an opportunity by offering ONLY the vinyl copy bundle with the tix and not offering a CD copy. Just my opinion.

And yes, I'm fucking happy that they "gave" me what they did. I'd be even happier if they'd "give" me some of the old footage. I'd gladly buy that too, in a fucking heartbeat!

Thats what I am talking about !!!! What the fuck !!! Crazy shit !!!

[DONNIEP]

Thats what I am talking about !!!! What the fuck !!! Crazy shit !!!

Exactly! What the fuck??? I just don't get it. I swear to God I'm going to piss off every person around me at the Charlotte show by asking them "did you buy the new record?" And then I'm going to say, "Why the fuck are you here then?" And God help the Sammy fan who's occupying floor seats next to me and starts pissing and moaning for that fat bastard's unholy return to MY band!!!