Chinese Democracy (Album) - Charting

[adman2374]

You can spin it any way you want but 255,000 albums (with a Sunday release and Black Friday) is going to look like a huge bomb in the eyes of the media and many fans. What caused this? Was it Best Buy, Axl/GNR's lack of interviews/appearances or a combination of the two?

Or a very bad lead single?

Couldn't agree more.  A lot of people judged the entire album on the title track and its the weakest song on the entire fucking album.  Now "Better" is getting less attention and the next single will get even less.  I don't like the way this is headed......

"Better" is getting increased airplay so far.  It's building.  Give it some time.  Most songs take time to move up the charts.

Ali

I hope you are right, but I disagree. Singles that are "hits" are on the charts quickly after a release and then fade quickly as times goes on. Singles do not have a better change of becoming "hits" as time moves on. Actually, it's the opposite. As time moves on after a single/album release, that product loses popularity quickly.

Not every station had the song for the first week.  Most songs do take a little time to move up the charts.  They do not just land at the top of the charts right away typically.

Ali

Sorry to disagree with you again, but not true. Just look at "Chinese Democracy." It charted high immediately after its release. And "better" was sort of released 2 years ago with the harley ad and it got a pretty good buzz. so did "irs," which hit number 49 i believe immediately based on a leaked demo. singles usually do land at the top right away because the advanced promo for the upcoming release of an album.

[Ines_rocks!]

Gn'r is number 9 in Portugal

http://www.artistas-espectaculos.com/topafp.php


Even Abba got on top.


Well i guess the fact that that monumental campaign never got here and that gn'r doesn't do videos and interviews or even promotes the record at any level could explain this.

So, if the band is happy with the lack of promotion they've been giving, this is a fair result.

that sucks 

[Ali]

You can spin it any way you want but 255,000 albums (with a Sunday release and Black Friday) is going to look like a huge bomb in the eyes of the media and many fans. What caused this? Was it Best Buy, Axl/GNR's lack of interviews/appearances or a combination of the two?

Or a very bad lead single?

Couldn't agree more.  A lot of people judged the entire album on the title track and its the weakest song on the entire fucking album.  Now "Better" is getting less attention and the next single will get even less.  I don't like the way this is headed......

"Better" is getting increased airplay so far.  It's building.  Give it some time.  Most songs take time to move up the charts.

Ali

I hope you are right, but I disagree. Singles that are "hits" are on the charts quickly after a release and then fade quickly as times goes on. Singles do not have a better change of becoming "hits" as time moves on. Actually, it's the opposite. As time moves on after a single/album release, that product loses popularity quickly.

Not every station had the song for the first week.  Most songs do take a little time to move up the charts.  They do not just land at the top of the charts right away typically.

Ali

Sorry to disagree with you again, but not true. Just look at "Chinese Democracy." It charted high immediately after its release. And "better" was sort of released 2 years ago with the harley ad and it got a pretty good buzz. so did "irs," which hit number 49 i believe immediately based on a leaked demo. singles usually do land at the top right away because the advanced promo for the upcoming release of an album.

Again, you seem to miss parts of my posts.  I said most songs take time to move up the charts.  "Chinese Democracy" was an exception.  Theory of a Deadman, Disturbed, etc. have had songs work their way up the charts.

Ali

[adman2374]

You can spin it any way you want but 255,000 albums (with a Sunday release and Black Friday) is going to look like a huge bomb in the eyes of the media and many fans. What caused this? Was it Best Buy, Axl/GNR's lack of interviews/appearances or a combination of the two?

Or a very bad lead single?

Couldn't agree more.  A lot of people judged the entire album on the title track and its the weakest song on the entire fucking album.  Now "Better" is getting less attention and the next single will get even less.  I don't like the way this is headed......

"Better" is getting increased airplay so far.  It's building.  Give it some time.  Most songs take time to move up the charts.

Ali

I hope you are right, but I disagree. Singles that are "hits" are on the charts quickly after a release and then fade quickly as times goes on. Singles do not have a better change of becoming "hits" as time moves on. Actually, it's the opposite. As time moves on after a single/album release, that product loses popularity quickly.

Not every station had the song for the first week.  Most songs do take a little time to move up the charts.  They do not just land at the top of the charts right away typically.

Ali

Sorry to disagree with you again, but not true. Just look at "Chinese Democracy." It charted high immediately after its release. And "better" was sort of released 2 years ago with the harley ad and it got a pretty good buzz. so did "irs," which hit number 49 i believe immediately based on a leaked demo. singles usually do land at the top right away because the advanced promo for the upcoming release of an album.

Again, you seem to miss parts of my posts.  I said most songs take time to move up the charts.  "Chinese Democracy" was an exception.  Theory of a Deadman, Disturbed, etc. have had songs work their way up the charts.

Ali

No, I did not miss any parts of your posts. I just disagree with your logic . Singles lose charting ability over time, they don't gain it over time. Just as you said regarding the release of "Chinese," it charted immediately. This is especially true with established acts like GNR. People know them and if they like the single, it will chart immediately. It may take more time for lesser known acts to chart becasue people are just learning about them. This is not true about GNR. So, just go and re-read my reasons why I totally disagree with you here. You are just igoring the facts, history, and common sense.

[neon2002]

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110120

#1 in Canada!

 

[Ali]

You can spin it any way you want but 255,000 albums (with a Sunday release and Black Friday) is going to look like a huge bomb in the eyes of the media and many fans. What caused this? Was it Best Buy, Axl/GNR's lack of interviews/appearances or a combination of the two?

Or a very bad lead single?

Couldn't agree more.  A lot of people judged the entire album on the title track and its the weakest song on the entire fucking album.  Now "Better" is getting less attention and the next single will get even less.  I don't like the way this is headed......

"Better" is getting increased airplay so far.  It's building.  Give it some time.  Most songs take time to move up the charts.

Ali

I hope you are right, but I disagree. Singles that are "hits" are on the charts quickly after a release and then fade quickly as times goes on. Singles do not have a better change of becoming "hits" as time moves on. Actually, it's the opposite. As time moves on after a single/album release, that product loses popularity quickly.

Not every station had the song for the first week.  Most songs do take a little time to move up the charts.  They do not just land at the top of the charts right away typically.

Ali

Sorry to disagree with you again, but not true. Just look at "Chinese Democracy." It charted high immediately after its release. And "better" was sort of released 2 years ago with the harley ad and it got a pretty good buzz. so did "irs," which hit number 49 i believe immediately based on a leaked demo. singles usually do land at the top right away because the advanced promo for the upcoming release of an album.

Again, you seem to miss parts of my posts.  I said most songs take time to move up the charts.  "Chinese Democracy" was an exception.  Theory of a Deadman, Disturbed, etc. have had songs work their way up the charts.

Ali

No, I did not miss any parts of your posts. I just disagree with your logic . Singles lose charting ability over time, they don't gain it over time. Just as you said regarding the release of "Chinese," it charted immediately. This is especially true with established acts like GNR. People know them and if they like the single, it will chart immediately. It may take more time for lesser known acts to chart becasue people are just learning about them. This is not true about GNR. So, just go and re-read my reasons why I totally disagree with you here. You are just igoring the facts, history, and common sense.

Hardly 

Disturbed is hardly a lesser known act.  Singles CAN grow in airplay the more they are heard.  Even the title track grew in airplay. 

Ali

[Madagascar88]

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1600588/20081203/west_kanye.jhtml

Kanye West, Taylor Swift Top Guns N' Roses On Billboard Albums Chart
In its third week, Swift's Fearless beats the long-awaited Chinese Democracy.
By Chris Harris


After nearly 17 years in the studio, one truly odd MTV VMA appearance, a failed world tour, a riot in Philadelphia, a lot of defensive talk from Sebastian Bach, a leak facilitated by Mike Piazza and DJ Eddie Trunk, a much-ballyhooed exclusive deal with Best Buy, a lawsuit involving the Offspring, the apparently empty promise of free Dr Pepper for all, innumerable and mysterious delays, $13 million in reported production costs, a Greatest Hits album, a change in managers, five possible producers, five guitarists, two bassists, three drummers, the invention of the iPod, a guy with a KFC bucket on his head, zero promotion from the album's mastermind, and now, rumors of a potential reunion of the original lineup, Guns N' Roses' sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy, sold a whopping 261,200 copies its first week on store shelves.

That's right, just 261,200 copies.

Two weeks ago, it seemed like the #1 position on Billboard's weekly albums sales chart could have gone to either Guns or Kanye West. Chinese Democracy was released on November 23, and West's 808s & Heartbreak dropped November 24. It was a battle that pitted one of hip-hop's biggest stars against one of rock's most enigmatic ringleaders, and in the end, GN'R just couldn't contend.

When Nielsen SoundScan issued the latest national album sales data on Wednesday (December 3), it was West's latest at #1, opening with sales of more than 450,100, leaving the #2 slot wide open for Guns ... or so it seemed. Unfortunately, no one factored country crossover cutie Taylor Swift into the equation. In its third week out, her new one, Fearless, climbed from #4 to #2, thanks to sales of close to 267,400 ? meaning GN'R's first appearance on the chart in close to 20 years will be at #3.

Whether it was to pick up Kanye's new one or Axl Rose's magnum opus, consumers made their presence felt at record retail last week ? one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year. Virtually every album in Billboard's Top 200 experienced either increased or stronger sales, with 22 new efforts cracking the chart. Beyond 'Ye and GN'R, two other albums debut in next week's top 10: Ludacris' Theater of the Mind bows at #5, selling 213,500 units, with The Killers' Day & Age following at #6, scanning 193,400 copies.

Among the other newcomers to next week's chart are Coldplay's Prospekt's March EP, which enters at #15 with 76,700 sold. Entering at #41 with 30,900 scans, is Linkin Park's Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes. E-40's Ball Street Journal follows at #42, with sales clocked at 30,400 and change. The Fireman, the moniker given to electronic music experiments created by The Beatles' Paul McCartney and producer Youth, open at #67, selling 17,300 copies of their new one, Electric Arguments, while Paramore's live CD/DVD set The Final Riot! comes in at #88 with 12,100 sold.

Kevin Rudolf's In the City bows at #93, with 10,800 copies snatched up, while Linkin Park's Songs from the Underground EP follows at #95, scanning 10,600 copies. Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland's new solo offering, Happy in Galoshes, opens at #96, with 10,500 copies sold. Stephen Colbert's A Colbert Christmas enters the chart at #119, having sold nearly 8,200 units, while Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo pops up at #174 with 5,600 sold.

[gabble]

I hope you are right, but I disagree. Singles that are "hits" are on the charts quickly after a release and then fade quickly as times goes on. Singles do not have a better change of becoming "hits" as time moves on. Actually, it's the opposite. As time moves on after a single/album release, that product loses popularity quickly.

A number of songs decrease in spins after the first couple of months of release.  Others peak after six months of airplay.  And it's not just for the new bands.  Disturbed and Seether are certainly well established. #26 Motley Crue took 4 months for Saints of Los Angeles to peak.

Let's look at the currently ranked #1 song on the year-to-date Active Rock list: Saving Abel - Addicted.
Jan - 295
Feb - 1808
Mar - 4378
Apr - 6605
May - 8492
Jun - 9299 (peak month)
Jul - 8530
Aug - 6866
Sep - 4985
Oct - 4169
Nov - 2976
Dec

#1 Saving Abel - Addicted took 6 months to peak.
#3 Disturbed - Inside the Fire  5 months.
#4 Seether - Rise Above This  6 months.
#8 Theory of a Deadman - Bad Girlfriend  7 months.

Year-to-Date spins on Active Rock stations:

Year-To-Date : By Spins
Published (U.S.) - Rolling Chart   
Jan through Dec, 2008 Currents & Recurrents
 
Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
1 SAVING ABEL Addicted 58403 - 2976 4169 4985 6866 8530 9299 8492 6605 4378 1808 295
2 PUDDLE OF MUDD Psycho 58313 - 2312 2928 2726 3569 3900 4321 5188 7333 9222 8739 8075
3 DISTURBED Inside The Fire 57553 - 2761 3480 4985 8499 9716 9697 9104 7676 1635 - -
4 SEETHER Rise Above This 47400 - 1486 2076 2822 4565 7218 8634 8057 6222 4836 1356 128
5 SIXX A.M. Life Is Beautiful 44652 - 2312 2406 2611 3221 3603 3666 4028 4503 5114 5810 7378
6 SEETHER Fake It 44043 - 1864 2479 2399 2639 2867 2682 3287 4170 5546 6900 9210
7 3 DOORS DOWN It's Not My Time 42920 - 1836 2141 2312 3039 3949 5216 7621 8093 6832 1881 -
8 THEORY OF A DEADMAN Bad Girlfriend 41006 - 6020 8597 8642 7833 5894 3457 538 4 21 - -
9 THEORY OF A DEADMAN So Happy 38331 - 904 1085 1147 1518 1846 3607 6679 8159 7545 4789 1052
10 SHINEDOWN Devour 37555 - 1323 2358 5212 8559 8226 6958 4919 - - - -

Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
11 LINKIN PARK Given Up 36982 - 1374 1826 2390 3423 5357 6915 6145 5130 3452 633 337
12 10 YEARS Beautiful 35934 - 1047 1123 1420 2580 5110 6313 5929 5409 4691 2248 64
13 AVENGED SEVENFOLD Almost Easy 32391 - 1052 1193 1233 1280 1396 1426 1600 2783 5000 7330 8098
14 FOO FIGHTERS Long Road To Ruin 31940 - 657 754 648 793 885 1271 1804 4553 7636 7173 5766
15 APOCALYPTICA I'm Not Jesus 30596 - 692 874 953 1310 2188 4258 6119 5907 5397 2635 263
16 APOCALYPTICA I Don't Care f/Adam Gontier 29974 - 8156 7686 6377 4772 2475 486 7 15 - - -
17 FOO FIGHTERS Let It Die 29172 - 1587 2161 3322 5920 6326 5032 3706 1001 99 15 3
18 METALLICA The Day That Never Comes 28437 - 7683 9468 8434 2852 - - - - - - -
19 TANTRIC Down And Out 28200 - 1020 1470 3616 5806 5008 4022 2992 2231 1485 539 11
20 ATREYU Falling Down 27870 - 531 568 630 983 1435 2405 5339 6672 5758 3136 413

Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
21 STAIND Believe 27739 - 2818 5934 6742 6570 5130 545 - - - - -
22 FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Never Enough 27571 - 1504 3305 5200 5622 4450 3651 2891 948 - - -
23 AVENGED SEVENFOLD Afterlife 27414 - 941 1151 1674 3452 5049 5019 4573 3460 1909 181 5
24 HINDER Use Me 27332 - 2821 6800 7641 6848 3222 - - - - - -
25 THREE DAYS GRACE Riot 26817 - 903 1245 1353 1575 2059 3173 4555 4410 3641 2317 1586
26 MOTLEY CRUE Saints Of LA 25570 - 812 886 1295 3547 5626 5551 5519 2334 - - -
27 FOO FIGHTERS The Pretender 25482 - 1680 1779 1784 1624 1705 1751 2067 2423 2673 3007 4989
28 FINGER ELEVEN Paralyzer 24761 - 1276 1634 1735 1849 2052 2176 2358 2363 2964 3009 3345
29 AC/DC Rock 'n Roll Train 24277 - 7841 8583 7064 789 - - - - - - -
30 SLIPKNOT Psychosocial 24062 - 3134 5418 5734 5370 4068 338 - - - - -

Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
31 BREAKING BENJAMIN Until The End 23633 - 592 706 759 721 837 983 1448 2339 5363 5328 4557
32 FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH The Bleeding 22806 - 765 936 979 979 1086 1304 1702 2670 4491 4099 3795
33 THREE DAYS GRACE Never Too Late 21690 - 1384 1599 1433 1508 1744 1654 1778 2170 2448 2643 3329
34 3 DOORS DOWN Train 21151 - 930 2749 4971 5072 4079 2635 715 - - - -
35 PAPA ROACH Forever 20705 - 1312 1517 1574 1609 1641 1844 1932 2034 2223 2273 2746
36 ASHES DIVIDE The Stone 20523 - 65 104 183 324 263 662 2767 5508 5464 3951 1232
37 HURT Ten Ton Brick 20312 - 349 480 504 669 742 890 1013 1243 3623 5489 5310
38 OFFSPRING Hammerhead 20143 - 662 871 1524 2313 4964 5722 4087 - - - -
39 LINKIN PARK Bleed It Out 20122 - 1015 1235 1180 1259 1417 1534 1771 2070 2552 2686 3403
40 SERJ TANKIAN Empty Walls 19210 - 482 576 584 724 1098 1003 1109 1412 2334 3453 6435

Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
41 TRAPT Who's Going Home With You... 17579 - 3858 4429 3798 2627 1739 899 200 29 - - -
42 ATREYU Becoming The Bull 17509 - 642 741 668 850 998 979 1110 1260 1788 2838 5635
43 BUCKCHERRY Too Drunk 17471 - 933 4607 5552 4975 1404 - - - - - -
44 DISTURBED Indestructible 16807 - 6823 5890 3345 632 51 57 9 - - - -
45 REV THEORY Hell Yeah 16240 - 679 1300 2780 2936 2747 2510 2148 1099 41 - -
46 LINKIN PARK Shadow Of The Day 16017 - 302 368 398 460 500 505 881 1293 2009 4446 4855
47 SALIVA Ladies And Gentlemen 15816 - 871 1062 1087 1169 1219 1447 1536 1761 2040 1789 1835
48 LINKIN PARK What I've Done 15697 - 1278 1448 1299 1381 1324 1212 1327 1343 1522 1669 1894
49 DROWNING POOL Enemy 15593 - 289 332 386 548 931 1892 3183 2866 2380 1590 1196
50 THREE DAYS GRACE Animal I Have Become 15070 - 1033 1203 1254 1263 1228 1345 1531 1569 1614 1401 1629

Let's look at those same songs on the Mainstream Rock year-to-date chart:

Mainstream Rock
Year-To-Date : By Spins
Published (U.S.) - Rolling Chart   
Jan through Dec, 2008

Rank Artist Title Total Spins Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
5 DISTURBED Inside The Fire 10814 - 721 993 1273 1716 1811 1659 1478 975 188 - - (peak at 5 months)
6 SAVING ABEL Addicted 10315 - 726 1212 1466 1850 1818 1529 863 491 239 106 15 (8 months)
7 SEETHER Rise Above This 10076 - 407 674 981 1461 1789 1725 1441 889 575 131 3 (7 months)
11 THEORY OF A DEADMAN Bad Girlfriend 7258 - 1401 1605 1368 1413 989 467 14 - 1 - - (8 months)
 
Songs gain momentum when they are popular and get increasingly added to stations.

[reed2009]

people i think we have to be happy with being number 3........we have a tremendous album that people cant understand yet and will in future see that this album is timeless and epic, and the fact that there wasnt really any great promotion at all and that axl has been missing for the past few months. i bet if he was around doing some promoting the album would be around the 350000 400000 mark. sales would of have been much higher, just like a few weeks ago when Obama spoke 3 striahgt days and the market rebounded 1200 points!!!

give it time and it will sell great!

[mrarkadin]

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1600588/20081203/west_kanye.jhtml

Kanye West, Taylor Swift Top Guns N' Roses On Billboard Albums Chart
In its third week, Swift's Fearless beats the long-awaited Chinese Democracy.
By Chris Harris


After nearly 17 years in the studio, one truly odd MTV VMA appearance, a failed world tour, a riot in Philadelphia, a lot of defensive talk from Sebastian Bach, a leak facilitated by Mike Piazza and DJ Eddie Trunk, a much-ballyhooed exclusive deal with Best Buy, a lawsuit involving the Offspring, the apparently empty promise of free Dr Pepper for all, innumerable and mysterious delays, $13 million in reported production costs, a Greatest Hits album, a change in managers, five possible producers, five guitarists, two bassists, three drummers, the invention of the iPod, a guy with a KFC bucket on his head, zero promotion from the album's mastermind, and now, rumors of a potential reunion of the original lineup, Guns N' Roses' sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy, sold a whopping 261,200 copies its first week on store shelves.

That's right, just 261,200 copies.

Two weeks ago, it seemed like the #1 position on Billboard's weekly albums sales chart could have gone to either Guns or Kanye West. Chinese Democracy was released on November 23, and West's 808s & Heartbreak dropped November 24. It was a battle that pitted one of hip-hop's biggest stars against one of rock's most enigmatic ringleaders, and in the end, GN'R just couldn't contend.

When Nielsen SoundScan issued the latest national album sales data on Wednesday (December 3), it was West's latest at #1, opening with sales of more than 450,100, leaving the #2 slot wide open for Guns ... or so it seemed. Unfortunately, no one factored country crossover cutie Taylor Swift into the equation. In its third week out, her new one, Fearless, climbed from #4 to #2, thanks to sales of close to 267,400 ? meaning GN'R's first appearance on the chart in close to 20 years will be at #3.

Whether it was to pick up Kanye's new one or Axl Rose's magnum opus, consumers made their presence felt at record retail last week ? one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year. Virtually every album in Billboard's Top 200 experienced either increased or stronger sales, with 22 new efforts cracking the chart. Beyond 'Ye and GN'R, two other albums debut in next week's top 10: Ludacris' Theater of the Mind bows at #5, selling 213,500 units, with The Killers' Day & Age following at #6, scanning 193,400 copies.

Among the other newcomers to next week's chart are Coldplay's Prospekt's March EP, which enters at #15 with 76,700 sold. Entering at #41 with 30,900 scans, is Linkin Park's Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes. E-40's Ball Street Journal follows at #42, with sales clocked at 30,400 and change. The Fireman, the moniker given to electronic music experiments created by The Beatles' Paul McCartney and producer Youth, open at #67, selling 17,300 copies of their new one, Electric Arguments, while Paramore's live CD/DVD set The Final Riot! comes in at #88 with 12,100 sold.

Kevin Rudolf's In the City bows at #93, with 10,800 copies snatched up, while Linkin Park's Songs from the Underground EP follows at #95, scanning 10,600 copies. Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland's new solo offering, Happy in Galoshes, opens at #96, with 10,500 copies sold. Stephen Colbert's A Colbert Christmas enters the chart at #119, having sold nearly 8,200 units, while Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo pops up at #174 with 5,600 sold.

Now hopefully they will lay off Axl and go back to hyping the sexual misadventures of vapid, pampered rich kids.

[mrarkadin]

people i think we have to be happy with being number 3........we have a tremendous album that people cant understand yet and will in future see that this album is timeless and epic, and the fact that there wasnt really any great promotion at all and that axl has been missing for the past few months. i bet if he was around doing some promoting the album would be around the 350000 400000 mark. sales would of have been much higher, just like a few weeks ago when Obama spoke 3 striahgt days and the market rebounded 1200 points!!!

give it time and it will sell great!

The more tremendous the album, generally lower the sales in the US. TV on the Radio would probably kill for sales and coverage Axl has gotten, and Dear Science is almost universally acclaimed.

[GNR4L]

I think as time passes by Chinese Democracy will hit 1 or 2 in the charts.  Once the video's come out and the tour hits, I think we will see alot of press and exposure.

[IKnowWhereIAM]

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1600588/20081203/west_kanye.jhtml

"...zero promotion from the album's mastermind, and now, rumors of a potential reunion of the original lineup, Guns N' Roses' sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy, sold a whopping 261,200 copies its first week on store shelves.

That's right, just 261,200 copies.

I have to agree with the first part...but the where did they come up with the second?  Trolling fansites?  For those of you who are GnR fans, and identify with the band as 'your home team' in this 'sport' of music...it is early in the season, and we are in 3rd place...don't lose faith.  

[younggunner]

Nor do I. But you know what? I see other big time rock bands like Metallica and ACDC release an album and give their fans a smooth ride. For once as a GNR fan I would like to enjoy that.

Lol, Jesus

You act like you're married to the guy or something

You people are going to look and feel so stupid when Axl makes his next appearance.

And for the record, he has the right to handle his own album just the way he wants.

Um, Im actually going to be happy when he makes his next appearance. I have been saying all along that he will eventually appear and do some sort of promotion. No shit its his album and he can do what he wants. Thanks for that insight. All Im saying is it would have been nice if the band stepped up right out of the gate when the album was about to be released.

Time will treat this album will.

[Crowebar]

In light of the fact that Axl/GNR has been out of the "general" public eye for the most part, I'd say that things are going pretty good so far no matter what. The album fucking kicks ass and is WAY better than nickel-crack-head-back or any of the other shit they play on the radio these days. Fuck hinder as well. Axl fucking rules!!!

[ShotgunBlues1978]

261K is not bad all things considered.  I just did a little more research, there are fewer Best Buys in the US than I thought.  According to this article, as of 2007 there were only 852 stores in the US.  

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6455982.html

That's compared to 4000+ Wal-Mart/Sam's Club locations for AC/DC and tens of thousands of locations where Metallica's album was/is available.  Kind of puts things in perspective because I was thinking there was 1200-1400 Best Buys in the US

[ppbebe]

I think as time passes by Chinese Democracy will hit 1 or 2 in the charts. 

yea see it in ten years time it should be an all time bestseller.

[LunsJail]

261K is not bad all things considered.  I just did a little more research, there are fewer Best Buys in the US than I thought.  According to this article, as of 2007 there were only 852 stores in the US.  

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6455982.html

That's compared to 4000+ Wal-Mart/Sam's Club locations for AC/DC and tens of thousands of locations where Metallica's album was/is available.  Kind of puts things in perspective because I was thinking there was 1200-1400 Best Buys in the US

That's a good point.  I think this exclusive deal guaranteed the band and label recouping a certain amount of money but really limited the potential for big Soundscan numbers.  The album just isn't physically visible enough in the marketplace, even at some of the Best Buys.

I think as time passes by Chinese Democracy will hit 1 or 2 in the charts. 

yea see it in ten years time it should be an all time bestseller.

I wouldn't bet the farm on either of those things....just yet.

[ShotgunBlues1978]

Obviously hindsight is 20/20 but this just kind of emphasizes how hard it would've been to live up to our expectations of sales

I'd anticipated CD would sell 500K+ but looking at these store numbers, with give or take 852 Best Buy locations in the US, in order to hit 500K they would've had to sell any average of 585+ albums per Best Buy location

Compare that to AC/DC who only had to sell about 180-190 albums per Wal-Mart location to hit 770K like they did

Even if we assume that 61,000 sales came from digital sales, GnR still would've moved roughly 235 units on average per Best Buy location

Simply looking at the math, it would've been an unbelievable feat to hit 500K, because people quite simply do not care about music enough anymore to go out of their way to buy it

[Lord Kayoss]

Simply looking at the math, it would've been an unbelievable feat to hit 500K, because people quite simply do not care about music enough anymore to go out of their way to buy it

Agreed.

The Best Buy deal was a big fat bust.  This album has benefited ZERO from an exclusive deal with an electronics store.

Even with zero promotion from Axl or the rest of the band, if the album had been released everywhere I believe it would've debuted #1.

But at the end of the day I highly doubt Axl really cares.

We have the album.  That's all that really matters to me.