I read on a Beatle fan site, that the 2000 album '1', containing all 27 Beatles singles, sold the most of any album in the last 10 years. 11 million copies.

I thought that was kind of interesting.




    "Beatles 1" Top selling album of the decade!
« on: Today at 03:56:21 am » Quote  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, yeah, yeah!!  

******************************************************************************************
Biggest Selling Albums and Singles of the Decade Revealed
December 9, 2009 9:06 a.m. by Nick Neyland

Record sales may have declined dramatically during this decade, but it’s still interesting to look over a list of the best-selling artists from the last 10 years. Whether we will be looking over similar lists 10 years from now remains open to speculation, especially as it’s looking likely that some kind of streaming equivalent would make for a more accurate representation of people’s tastes.

But in 2020 we might be listening to music through implants in our brains while zooming around on jet packs (surely someone must invent the jet pack soon?). So, in the jet pack-less present, we have to turn to Nielsen Soundscan, who have compiled the 10 best selling artists in the U.S. during the last decade.

Clearly, we just can’t get The Beatles out of our systems, as the Fab Four have come out on top with 11,499,000 units sold of the 1 album. But The Beatles look like a relatively sane choice compared to the rest of the list. Did that many people really buy Creed and Linkin Park records? Apparently so.

Top 10 selling albums:



01. The Beatles: 1 -11,499,000 units sold

02. 'NSYNC: No Strings Attached - 11,112,000 units sold

03. Norah Jones: Come Away With Me - 10, 546,000 units sold

04. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP - 10,204,000 units sold

05. Eminem: The Eminem Show - 9,799,000 units sold

06. Usher: Confessions - 9,712,000 units sold

07. Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory - 9,663,000 units sold

08. Creed: Human Clay - 9,491,000 units sold

09. Britney Spears: Oops! ... I Did It Again - 9,185,000 units sold

10. Nelly: Country Grammar - 8,461,000 units sold



Top 10 selling Singles:



01. Flo Rida feat. T-Pain: "Low" - 5,214,000 units sold

02. Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis: "Just Dance" - 4,690,000 units sold

03. Jason Mraz: "I'm Yours" - 4,619,000 units sold

04. Timbaland feat. OneRepublic: "Apologize" - 4,439,000 units sold

05. The Black Eyed Peas: "Boom Boom Pow" - 4,349,000 units sold

06. Soulja Boy Tell'em: "Crank That" - 4,315,000 units sold

07. Lady Gaga: "Poker Face" - 4,200,000 units sold

08. Coldplay: "Viva la Vida" - 4,140,000 units sold

09. Taylor Swift: "Love Story" - 4,005,000 units sold

10. Katy Perry: "Hot N Cold" - 3,945,000 units sold
********************************************************************************************
  

That tells you two things:

1 -- Personal preferences aside, you can't deny the fact that today's popular music does not cross over to different demographics the way that The Beatles have over the past few decades. Only Elvis and Michael Jackson have similar appeal. Maybe there are others, but I doubt it.

2 -- No one buys music anymore. Take the Beatles part out of it, and just look at the fact that an album in the first year of the decade remained the top seller at the end of the decade.

It doesn't matter what (young) people listen to these days, they aren't paying for it nearly as much as they used to. And if they are, it's a song or two on iTunes rather than an entire album.

Quoted from NJDevil That tells you two things:

1. Most, not all, album buyers are clueless drones.

2. Singles buyers are even worse.

Sorry NJ. Piddled. Beatles one is gold. Pure.

Quoted from NJDevil Record sales may have declined dramatically during this decade

With good reason. There's Playstation, XBox, Cable TV, Internet and all its joys, outdoors, a real life that involves other people...

I worked in the music biz for best part of a decade, over the years. To quote'ish' the novel "High Fidelity" for a mo "...that's the equivalent of saying the bloke who develops film at Boots the Chemist's works in the film biz...".

Ahem. I worked in a record shop doing websites and the like. Anyway. Here's how it used to be...

A punter comes in looking for a song. Helpful staff, such as myself, identify tune. Point to full priced album that contains the song. Customer says "oh, but I only want that song..."
Helpful staff say..."Yeah but the single is long deleted and that's the only way you can get it now."
Punter thinks "Oh booger it. Okay"
And punter pays full album whack for one track.

Scenario Two is punter likes two songs on an album then buys it. Plays it twice then realises the rest of the album is Sheeite and that's just tough.

I could go on. At least today the record companies no longer rule the roost.

Hey kids remember.. for every ten notes the record co. got they were paying the artist twenty pence. Piracy, theft, the music business is finished. Pah. It's just gotta adapt...

As PE once wisely said...

Quoted from Public Enemy Don't believe the hype

RV

Quoted from rendevous A punter comes in looking for a song. Helpful staff, such as myself, identify tune. Point to full priced album that contains the song. Customer says "oh, but I only want that song..." Helpful staff say..."Yeah but the single is long deleted and that's the only way you can get it now." Punter thinks "Oh booger it. Okay" And punter pays full album whack for one track. Scenario Two is punter likes two songs on an album then buys it. Plays it twice then realises the rest of the album is Sheeite and that's just tough. RV

see, this is where i think iTunes is actually a good thing. there are tons of artists that only have 1-2 good songs -- too many, in fact. No one should have to pay full album price for single/EP quality.

But I don't blame the consumer, or the technology. I blame the record labels for spewing out such garbage music year after year. 90% of the music from 2000-09 sounds way too similar. What stands out? Very little. And what does stand out is usually buried under an avalanche of filth.

Looking back on this decade and proclaiming that the highest-selling album was a collection of singles from a band that ceased recording 40 years prior... is a sad statement on the music of today.

It's also a tremendous compliment to the enduring legacy of the "Fab Four"

Quoted from stevie Did that many people really buy Creed and Linkin Park records? Apparently so. 07. Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory - 9,663,000 units sold

I bought that album when I was thirteen. I thought it was amazing. :B

I bought the Marshall Mathers LP too. Fortunately, I downloaded The Eminem Show illegally.

Given that I actually actively listened to three of these albums, the list doesn't surprise me at all. I'd imagine a good chunk of those listeners realized the error of their ways and moved onto better things just like I did. Some people would argue I listen to crap now but everyone still hates Creed. Nuff said.

The most recent album on that list is Usher's 'Confessions.' Grim. And I shudder at the singles list. 'Just Dance' and 'Apologize' are the only songs from that list I enjoy--the other songs are the reason I no longer listen to the radio anymore.

Anyways, good luck reaching platinum status if you're a new artist...

One thing that you have to consider, when looking at lists like this, is that the Beatles essentially put out an album every year and went on concert tours every year.  They wrote and composed and played their own stuff. Up until Gerry Garcia's death, the Grateful Dead was still touring six months out of the year.  

Today's musical 'talents' are very over-hyped singers. All they have to do is look good in front of the camera.


Phil

In addition, the Beatles overall lifespan as a group was incredibly short 10 years, in which they, quite literally, changed the world. Compare that to Axl Rose's dismal Chinese Democracy which took 15 years to still suck...

Actually BW, the boys official recording career was 8 years.
1963 - 2 albums
1964 - 2 albums
1965 - 2 albums
After that they had one album out each year till 1970.

The earlier albums had to recorded in between world tours, film making, radio appearances, etc.
When they started recording 'Rubber Soul' in October 12 1965, they only had, like, till a few weeks before it would be released at the beginning of December. And they had to do 2 new songs on top of that for the next single(the Beatles always gave good value for money).
They worked feverishly to get the album done, and it was released 18 days after the final mix.
'Rubber Soul' is in most top ten lists of the greatest albums of all time.

Robertson just won the snooker.

The Australian barsteward! This is typical. Just because he comes swanning over to Blighty ranting on about babrbies and shielas doesn't mean he should actually play better than the poor bony Scott called Dott. Frankly typical Ozzy behavoiur. Cocky good looking barstards I say.

Seriously. Brilliant match. Best snooker final without Ronnie for years. And fair play. The boy won it clear.

Now when. Where am I? Oh yes. It's not yesterday, is it? All my troubles seemed so far away then.

Macca's playing soon. We daren't mention rushes. Or Heather. Bless.

140 euro a ticket. How much? yes you say they start at 70 Paul. But, they're sold out aren't they? I could buy a fecking car for that much.

Hey, Jude. Eleanor, have a word. How much money do you actually need Macca? You tight fisted fecking eejit. Even Flatley just sold out his first night.

Peace and love. That's all we are saying. Give it a chance.

R

WHERE IS WHAM ON THE LIST?

Shawn.....><

How come Tobias Sammet doesn't have any of his amazing projects in the top 10?

Pitiful!

Because he didn't sell enough copies. And I think he's shite.

SHITE!  SHITE?  WHAT???

How could you speak such blasphemy?  I curse you, foul Rendevous!

I'm appalled...totally appalled.

You're right though on at least 1 observation, the masses just don't get it, and in a way I'm glad.

The new Avantasia double Digi Box set is simply amazing!  Classy shite there for sure.

Curse me all you want sexy.

I read Richard Dawkins. Hocus Pocus is for eejits.

Sorry. My opinions are just that. Some people think Freddie Merc was just a shirtlifter. I beg to differ and I worshipped the ground on which he stepped. Literally. With books.

For each their own DS. Grow up. Everyone's different.

Now. Where is my Night At The Opera CD gone.

Time for bed methinks.

I'll be having sweet ones. I hope you do too.

R x

Night at the Opera?  SWEET!  I didn't know you liked Blind Guardian.  They're not bad at all, but nowhere near Tobi and the boys.

I was kidding around, obviously, Ren, but you're right...I should grow up...I just never seem to.