Libertad debuts well below Contraband

[russtcb]

For those who brought up marketing, consider this. Not only did Bon Jovi come to market with little to no marketing themselves, they also came to market with a confusing record that didn't get much play on either target station (country or pop) and they still debuted at #1 then went on to out sell VR.

I don't consider myself a Bon Jovi fan overall so please don't think I'm defending them or saying they're album is better then VRs either. Other then the first single their album is absolute garbage, it just happened to sell better. Why? I don't know.

I know at least here in Detroit the rock stations have been supporting the hell out of VR and Libertad.

Maybe I'm missunderstanding you, Bon Jovi little to no marketing?  Jon was on American Idol, played a new tune on there.  He was on just about every major daytime talk show you could imagine.  Did an unplugged session that aired on three different networks.  Is that not marketing/promotion?

I mean actual traditional marketing of the new album. Your right, they did play the first single on AI, but that's the only place they played it. Every other time they (he) managed to play music, it was usually an old single.

Not to mention the fact that they aren't even gonna tour for this record until like winter.

[D]

not rare at all, Bon Jovi, like it or not, its a major band.

another Bon Jovi thread?

Bon Jovi was a good band, today its music is crap. Velvet Revolver music is very much better than the music that Bon Jovi does today...in this second millenium only Velvet Revover and Tha darkness have tried to bring back the classic rocker sounds and I say thanks for that.

Yeah I bet u have listened to every BJ album to be able to stand behind that opinion? Check out Lost Highway, The fuckin album is brilliant.




Singles MEAN EVERYTHING in today's music.

Bon Jovi's Crush sold 2 million in the US because it had a huge single in "Its My Life"? The next album Bounce only sold 800,000 cause the single "Everyday" didnt take off.

Have A Nice Day has sold 2 million in the US because after the first single stiffed, Who Says You cant Go Home turned out to be one of BJ's most successful songs ever and it pushed the album to double platinum.

Same with Lost Highway, Jon Promoted the Shit out of this album EVERYWHERE, He is also a big enough star where he can go on shows like Oprah Winfrey etc.


VR have not done shit to promote this album. one apperance on Jay Leno is all I can think of.


SBQM is a good song, horrible single, the video sucks


So basically Libertad is filled with a bunch of good songs but nothing that captures the public's hearts. "Messages" would do that.? The Last Fight won't. Its a good song but nothing thats gonna be earth shattering.

[mikegiuliana]

I saw it was #5 on the BB chart 200 at 92,000, but was anyone suprised.. ?Amazing it sold that well IMO.. Contraband was the true suprise to me...

I really think Velvet Revolver is a group that could sell 10,000-15,000 tickets a show and play 60 cities in the states and get less then half the fans to buy..Something about seeing slash n scott play compared to owning their albums.... It's like KISS could tour again sell out 50,000 seaters then release an album and sell 500,000 total when all is said n done..

[Eazy E]

Bon Jovi's Crush sold 2 million in the US because it had a huge single in "Its My Life"  The next album Bounce only sold 800,000 cause the single "Everyday" didnt take off.

... Because "Everyday" was just a weaker retread of "It's My Life"... kind of like "SBQM" and "Slither...

The Last Fight still has the potential, I say they just skip waiting for SBQM to die out and just release it now.

[kimberly]

The Last Fight still has the potential, I say they just skip waiting for SBQM to die out and just release it now.

I thought that SQBM (after hearing the entire album) was one of the most obvious songs to be released as a first single...nevertheless The Last Fight has the most potential off that entire record imo.

Anyway 100.000 records is still a good amount, I'd like to see other rock bands sell that amount of records in their first week.

[mrlee]

messages would only take off in america.

[Eazy E]

I thought that SQBM (after hearing the entire album) was one of the most obvious songs to be released as a first single...nevertheless The Last Fight has the most potential off that entire record imo.

Anyway 100.000 records is still a good amount, I'd like to see other rock bands sell that amount of records in their first week.

It's a decent number, but it is less than what it could have been... and... you should've read this post:

Good old Ozzy Osbourne sold 150K his first week just last month. White Stripes sold 223,000. Paul McCartney with 161,000. Maroon 5 with 429,000. Linkin Park 625,000. NIN with 187,000. The new Smashing Pumpkins album is on pace for 150K.

Going back to last year, Tool with 564K. Chili Peppers with 442K. Audioslave with 150K. Pearl Jam with with 279K.

[mrlee]

I thought that SQBM (after hearing the entire album) was one of the most obvious songs to be released as a first single...nevertheless The Last Fight has the most potential off that entire record imo.

Anyway 100.000 records is still a good amount, I'd like to see other rock bands sell that amount of records in their first week.

It's a decent number, but it is less than what it could have been... and... you should've read this post:

Good old Ozzy Osbourne sold 150K his first week just last month. White Stripes sold 223,000. Paul McCartney with 161,000. Maroon 5 with 429,000. Linkin Park 625,000. NIN with 187,000. The new Smashing Pumpkins album is on pace for 150K.

Going back to last year, Tool with 564K. Chili Peppers with 442K. Audioslave with 150K. Pearl Jam with with 279K.

yes but those bands have bigger fanbases and have many many albums worth. VR, althought comprised of people who had past fame, dont have the strength of back catalogue those bands listed above do, plus VR's new album was lame so that doesnt help them very much either.

[Krispy Kreme]

I think we can also chalk this up to the record industry basically being in free fall. I didn't realize how bad things really were until NIN, Manson, and now Velvet Revolver all debuted far, far below their standard and the general expectations. I'm worried for the Pumpkins now.

Pumpkins got a very bad review  in the local paper  here for their new album. I have not been following them for years, but based on the review, I would not buy the new CD.

[Wheres Izzy]

I honestly think it has everything to do with the promotion of the album. I mean fuck all the talk of intrigue and the music industry 3 years ago compared to today, "Slither" was a perfect lead single. It is a pretty great rockin tune and fits radio very well. And I guess where intrigue does play a role is there was a lot more articles on them before the album came out because of their pasts which is free press. I really believe if they had picked "Just 16" or "Get Out The Door" or "Let It Roll" as the lead single they could have easily sold another 50,000 copies first week. Still not close to Contraband but definately better. I think one of those 3 songs, especially the 1st 2 (even tho Let it roll is my favorite of the 3) would have had an infinately better chance of catching on rock radio. I don't even think SBQM should have made the album, especially considering how much better GAA$L and Messages are and they didn't. It even sounds like a b-side. I don't think theres too many people who were on the fence about picking the album up and said "SBQM is fuckin sweet. I am definately gonna get it now!"

[freedom78]

I think we can also chalk this up to the record industry basically being in free fall. I didn't realize how bad things really were until NIN, Manson, and now Velvet Revolver all debuted far, far below their standard and the general expectations. I'm worried for the Pumpkins now.

Pumpkins got a very bad review  in the local paper  here for their new album. I have not been following them for years, but based on the review, I would not buy the new CD.

Not an SP fan, but I wouldn't do anything based on a review.  Music critics strike me as a bunch who couldn't cut it as rock stars/musicians, and so want to bring down a few giants.  The internet makes it so easy to hear something before you buy it...I'd just do my own internal review!

[ShotgunBlues1978]

I think we can also chalk this up to the record industry basically being in free fall. I didn't realize how bad things really were until NIN, Manson, and now Velvet Revolver all debuted far, far below their standard and the general expectations. I'm worried for the Pumpkins now.

Pumpkins got a very bad review  in the local paper  here for their new album. I have not been following them for years, but based on the review, I would not buy the new CD.

Keep in mind that when it comes to presently active rock stars that have real talent, Billy Corgan is second only to Axl Rose when it comes to being hated by the press

[GeraldFord]

While I wouldn't call Libertad a flop just yet, I'd say it's in critical condition.

The label needs to get behind the album, like, now, if they want it to go platinum.

It's a shame. I was just listening to it yesterday and it's a great album.

[Ines_rocks!]

today I bought the album with the bonus DVD and I didn?t find Messages in there... in which edition can you find it? 

[Falcon]

The label needs to get behind the album, like, now, if they want it to go platinum.

Just curious, what more would you like them to do? 

[GeraldFord]

They should release "The Last Fight" now and then the third single shortly after, not have a gap. Maybe an MTV special, more billboards, more adds, etc.

[Juanjay]

even with the lower sales Contraband didn't take off until Fall To Pieces was released. They had Set Me Free and Slither before that.

Give it time its the first week.

[Falcon]

They should release "The Last Fight" now and then the third single shortly after, not have a gap. Maybe an MTV special, more billboards, more adds, etc.

Maybe a new single release is in order, they did play the "The Last Fight" at the end of Kimmel last night.

Can't see an MTV special, VH1 covered the formation of the band so why would MTV (or whomever) be interested in any kind of "in depth" look a second time around?

Billboards and adds are always good, no argument there.

The tour with AIC starts in 3 weeks and is easily the best bill out there rock show wise to look forward to in North America this summer, I'm sure that will generate plenty of interest in the new record.

Still not sure why some are so panicked, I seriously doubt the label or band for that matter consider
anything on life support at this stage of the game.

[GeraldFord]

Still not sure why some are so panicked, I seriously doubt the label or band for that matter consider
anything on life support at this stage of the game.

It's not a failure just yet, but they do need a single with legs. I'm really hoping "The Last Fight" is it, although maybe the ELO cover would have been better.

[Falcon]

Still not sure why some are so panicked, I seriously doubt the label or band for that matter consider
anything on life support at this stage of the game.

.. but they do need a single with legs.

I expect "The Last Fight" will probably go to radio to coincide with the AIC tour, whether it takes off or not will be a good way to guage if the record has any kind of legs underneath it.