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A Long Wait For The 'Long Road' Continues The Eagles 'Long Run'
November 9, 2007
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"Who is gonna make it? We'll find out in the long run."
-- 'The Long Run,' Don Henley/Glenn FreyThis week, after the DRUDGE REPORT and a whole bunch of other websites had reported that Britney Spears' new album would debut #1 on the charts, just a few short hours later they had to eat their words, take down those early posts, and scratch their heads when Billboard magazine announced they decided to "revise" their chart policy and make the new Eagles album "Long Road Out Of Eden" #1 instead.
Fox News' Roger Friedman had also posted his popular daily '411' column Tuesday on the Fox news website in the Entertainment section announcing Britney was the #1 album, but later in the day did what others did and had to take it all back and post another column titled 'Sorry Britney, The Eagles Are Really #1' in which he said, "Spears, in fact, did not do so well."Blackout" was predicted to sell 325,000 copies, but came in at 289,791. On Amazon.com the album has already dropped from number 5 to number 9, and may be lower still by Wednesday morning." (My guess is, we'll see Britney do a fast fade on the charts in the next few weeks)
The facts are this: 'The Long Road Out Of Eden' had sold over 700,000 thousand copies, more than twice as much as Spears. Prior to this week, the album would have been excluded completely from Billboard's chart because it's only available at one retailer, Wal-Mart, and at the band's website. Billboard policy, prior to this week, did not allow for listing albums sold in a single retail outlet. Now, that policy is changed and according to a press release, "Billboard will now allow exclusive album titles that are only available through one retailer to appear on The Billboard 200 and other Billboard charts." Makes sense. If Billboard had made Spears album #1, it would have looked silly, don't you think?
"We know that some retailers will be uncomfortable with this policy, but it was inevitable that Billboard's charts would ultimately widen the parameters to reflect changes that are unfolding in music distribution," said Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts. "We would have preferred to make this decision earlier, but only became aware within the last 24 hours that Wal-Mart would be willing to share the data for this title with Nielsen SoundScan." Gee, now I'm wondering how Billboard became "aware" in those 24 hours.
Bu it doesn't matter. This now means a real score for reaffirming chart credibility in the public's eyes, but in the big (industry) picture, it means a whole lot more.
First: Wal-Mart's television advertising and marketing for the album was done extremely well. As Eagles manager Irving Azoff said this week, "The phenomenal first-week sales of 'Long Road Out of Eden' are a testament to Wal-Mart's marketing and distribution."
While Garth Brooks already knew about Wal-Mart's distribution power from a previous exclusive agreement he had established with the retailer, Billboard's capitulation in changing chart policy this week now changes the music retail landscape dramatically. (Brooks album sales at Wal-Mart, though in the hundreds of thousands, were not reflected in Billboard) How many other artists are now likely to follow the Eagles approach remains to be seen, but there certainly seems no downside to creating such a strategic alliance if the artists are well-established.
Smart Pricing: I've been talking about CD prices for almost five years now in the newsletter, and it seems apparent to me (and anyone looking at this objectively) that selling a two-disc album from such a premier act as the Eagles (let's not forget that the Eagles have the best-selling album of all time in the U.S.; their' Greatest Hits' album is certified in excess of 29 million sold) for an incredibly low price of $11.88 at retail, and a dollar cheaper for the mp3 download, provides great value to the music consumer. The double-disc album contains 20 new songs, so at these prices, buying the CD or downloading the album, the consumer is getting the songs for about 59 cents apiece. That's almost half of what iTunes and other online stores sell songs for!
If labels are truly concerned about falling CD sales, they need only see the success the Eagles just had in one week, and think a whole lot more about current CD pricing. The Eagles' first-week sales eclipses those of the new Springsteen and Carrie Underwood albums, which both debuted atop the Billboard charts with less units sold, and both were single-disc albums versus The Eagles two-disc set, but sold for more per song than the Eagles album did.
More: It's been almost three decades since the Eagles released their last new studio album, and that makes their success this week at retail and on the charts that much more meaningful.
The Eagles' success proves yet again that when labels were focused on signing artists with long-term potential, when they believed in artist development and had departments handling it, real talent would always win out in the end time after time. If labels invested more in developing talent for the long-term, their rosters might be healthier today and in the future. Without a strong roster, labels are now relying on a fewer number of mega-selling acts to make their "numbers." But if one of those acts stumbles at retail (e.g., Ms. Spears), there's trouble right there in River City, and that's capitol T, that rhymes with P, and that stands for "Poor" sales.
The strong retail success also proves that older demographics (ignored by most of the labels today) are still very active music consumers when they see something they like. They aren't watching MTV or VH-1, and most probably gave up reading Rolling Stone some time ago. But they know quality music when they hear it, and they've got the money to buy it when they want to.
I've heard some people in the industry say that it's not smart to put out full-concert DVDs because it can impact future concert ticket sales negatively. Their argument is "Why would people pay a lot of money to see the act in person if they can watch (and re-watch) the same act on a big screen with surround sound in their own homes?" Why? Because NOTHING can replace the live concert experience.
Elvis said, "A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage." Johnny Cash said, "You've got a song you're singing from your gut, you want that audience to feel it in their gut. And you've got to make them think that you're one of them sitting out there with them, too. They've got to be able to relate to what you're doing."
If you look at the weekly Billboard Comprehensive Music Video Chart each week, then you've probably noticed the Eagles 'Farewell 1 Tour - Live From Melbourne' is certified 16- times platinum video sales and it's been in the Top 10 almost every week since its release. It was also broadcast in edited form on NBC-TV, and then several times on BRAVO during the past two years. It did nothing but increase sales of the DVD and Eagles catalog every time it aired. Hence, there's no such thing as too much exposure when you have a great song catalog to pull from and your artists can deliver great live performances. One need only watch the 'Farewell 1 Tour' DVD to see the Eagles give their audience one of the best live shows ever.
The 'Long Road Out Of Eden' is a great success story for the Eagles. But as I mentioned above "in the big (industry) picture, it means a whole lot more."
It means that music retail will be forever changed as more artists seek new retailers to partner with. It means that sensible pricing can generate significant sales online and off. Most importantly, it means that great music by quality artists outlasts all the marginal and disposable flavors-of-the-month that have permeated the pop music landscape for far too long.
Over 700,000 people bought the new Eagles album this past week. Their first new album in 28 years.
How many artists established in the past decade-and-a-half will be able to generate the same response from consumers twenty-eight years from now?
It might be a "Long Road Out Of Eden," but I'm sure the Eagles will tell you, it's well worth the journey.
And Now This...
Ah, the Hollywood Writers Strike. It's everywhere on the news. Get ready for reruns of all your favorite shows as this TV season goes down in flames.
Of course, the big issue is new media royalties, royalties on DVD sales, and so on and so on, ad infinitum, ad naseum.
Last week I wrote "NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker gets my vote for "Dumbest Quote of The Week"...maybe "Dumbest Quote Of The Year" for his comment about Apple destroying the music business.
This week, Zucker continued making stupid statements and warned that this strike could be a "watershed event" that "drives more people away from primetime." Well, what a surprise to us all, Jeff. With reruns of all shows headed our way in just a month, what the hell did you think was going to happen? Duh!
As I said last week, "With cable TV shows now almost as popular as network shows, if major network shows are forced into reruns because of a strike, look for even more people to flip to cable channels for alternative programming. Once people sample those shows, how many will resume their old viewing habits? "
Of course, Hollywood has always looked down on writers. The legendary Samuel Goldwyn said, "Here I am paying big money to you writers and what for? All you do is change the words. Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union."
But I digress. This is a very serious strike. I do think the writers should rethink their strategy a bit more because whether they believe it or not, the public won't revolt. It's just two months until Fox's "American Idol" takes #1 pole position again. Until then, the people will find cable shows already in the can, like "Nip/Tuck," very entertaining, and spend more time online. Hollywood might actually rethink how to entertain audiences, and what if they come up with even more reality programs?
I'm not taking sides here. Writers should be compensated fairly for their hard work. But a very small percentage of WGA (Writers Guild of America) members make any big money. A little more make some money. And most make little or nothing and are waiting tables, bartending, parking cars, running errands, and doing whatever they can to make ends meet.
So while there's solidarity on those picket lines you will see on all the news broadcasts. Those picketing should remember that after all the dust settles, the same 5% already making the big money, will make more big money. The rest will make a little more. And those already scraping the bottom of the barrel will still find themselves struggling.
And This...
You might have read somewhere online or off, that Radiohead's decision to give their album away on their website to fans for whatever they wished to pay for it was not as successful as they hoped. That most people downloaded the new album "In Rainbows" for free.
Since the offer was only available on Radiohead's website, it's a fact that any outside analyzing of actual sales is at best, a "guess-timate."
What is known is this: Over 1.2 million people did visit the website once the offer was made and that the band's previous catalog experienced a 35% sales jump during the same time. It's obvious then the band's decision paid off overall.
In the meantime, the album will be released by the band on December 31 on vinyl and CD on XL Recordings. The EMI-created, three-version Radiohead box set that comes out December 10th is being released without the permission of the band.
When Rockers Cut Ties From Labels
Trent Reznor of the band Nine Inch Nails walked into the Santa Monica, CA headquarters of Musicane last month and stunned the start-up's employees with his tech knowledge and fierce attention to detail.
Typically, when artists sign on with Musicane, a company that helps musicians distribute their music online, they are satisfied with letting Musicane's programmers, administrators, and designers make the decisions, said CEO Sudhin Shahani. (After all, William Adams, or "Will.i.am," of the Black Eyed Peas is the company's marketing chief.)
Services like Musicane oversee digital sales, marketing, and other chores for bands that drop a record label. But do they make sense for everyone?
Read more about it by clicking here.
Napster Posts Narrower Loss
Services for mobile phones and PCs shrink earnings losses by 20% below expectations for the online music seller.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Almost-Impossible Rock & Roll Quiz
You may know the original title of Metallica's "Kill 'Em All," but are you sure you can name the final retail cost of Tom Petty's 1981 album "Hard Promises?" Challenge yourself to four decades of the trickiest, weirdest and most off-the-wall trivia questions ever in Rolling Stone magazine's 58- question quiz, and tabulate your own rock & roll IQ.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Review Roundup: A Fresh Crop of Flash Players
Every year an updated crop of flash portable media players hits the market just in time to tempt holiday shoppers. And, every year, other PMP makers vie to unseat the almighty iPod as the go-to player. The good news for shoppers out there is that the stiff competition brings out the best in every player. PC Magazine found these seven particularly impressive in their PC Labs testing.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Entertainment On Web Could Bloom With Strike
The last time the Writers Guild of America went on strike, restless viewers turned to cable, sending the category into a growth spurt that continues to this day. With a writers strike, the question looming over digital Hollywood is: Can the Web become the cable of 2007?
The answer might be as murky as the politics of the strike itself. Creators may be drawn to the Web as other avenues are sealed off. While strike rules at the moment seem to limit writers' latitude, some television veterans are calling for a rethinking of writers' relationships with online platforms.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Podcast: Considering Music's Future On The Web
What's the future of paid music on the Internet? Listen to why many experts believe that most consumers around the world believe music is something that should be free. Michael Eisner has some advice for striking Hollywood writers.
In the movie "The Graduate," the character played by a very young Dustin Hoffman gets buttonholed at this graduation party and urged to consider a career in plastics. Turns out, that was pretty sage advice.
Read more about it by clicking here.
File-sharing Pirates Attempt New Software Standard
A Swedish website that promotes trading of pirated movies is developing a new software standard for Internet downloads in a move that could make it easier to swap media files, which is illegal in many countries.
The Pirate Bay is the biggest ad-supported site using the software of BitTorrent. The program has been a good match for Internet denizens looking to pick up free downloads of copyrighted media, from Harry Potter movies to Xbox 360 video games.
Read more about it by clicking here.
HER LAST NAME IS BECOMING MORE APPROPRIATE EVERY DAY
Amy Winehouse stumbled (what else is new?) through what is reported to have been "a virtually incoherent performance" of her song "Back to Black" at the MTV European Music Awards in Munich last week. Prior to her performance she managed to pick up the award for Artists Choice, and said only "Um, thanks." It seems Ms. Winehouse is just too marvelous, too marvelous for words.
THE "I GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS!" DEPT
Led Zeppelin's reunion show has been postponed from Nov. 26 until Dec.10 because Jimmy Page has fractured a finger. In the meantime, Zeppelin will launch their own station on XM satellite radio. "XM LED" premiered this week with the debut of the remastered "The Song Remains the Same" soundtrack, featuring previously unreleased material and interviews. The station is expected to air until May 8th, 2008.
'HELP' IS HERE ... ON DVD, FINALLY
To commemorate the worldwide DVD release of The Beatles second film, "Help!," Apple Corps has launched a website dedicated to the film. (http://www.thebeatles.com/help). The site features a whole bunch of goodies and if you're a Beatle fan, a visit to the website is a must.
HE'S BAAAAACK
Don Imus will return making to morning radio -- just nine months after he was canned for his infamous "nappy-headed hos" comment. The host will resume broadcasting Dec. 3 on New York's WABC-AM.
SHE NOT BACK
Despite rumors and news reports earlier in the week, Rosie O'Donnell will not be returning to TV via an MSNBC talk show. We have been all been spared.
CONGRATS TO
CMA's big winners, including Kenny Chesney, who captured country music's top prize -- Entertainer of the Year -- for the third time on Wednesday in an awards show that also saw big wins for Brad Paisley (Male Vocalist of the Year), Carrie Underwood (Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year awards), and George Strait, whose "It Just Comes Natural" was named Album of the Year.
CONGRATS 2
Willie Nelson, who received BMI's Icon Award this Tuesday, during the organization's 55th Annual Country Awards. Toby Keith, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris showed up to pay tribute to the legendary performer.
CONGRATS 3
Winners of the 2007 VH1 Soul/VIBE Awards, who were announced Monday, including Beyoncé (R&B Artist of the Year), Lil Wayne (Hip-Hop Artist), Robin Thicke (Breakthrough Artist) and Timbaland (Producer of the Year). VH1 Soul will televise the pre-taped VIBE Awards Special Nov. 14, as will VH1 on Nov. 19. Keyshia Cole, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, and Nelly are among those set to appear.
ELVIS LOSES TO GARTH
Garth Brooks has been certified by the RIAA as the #1 selling solo artist in U.S. history. And he's about to sell even more. The country crooner's next album, "Garth Brooks: The Ultimate Hits," went on sale Tuesday.
AVRIL SET TO HIT THE ROAD
Avril Lavigne has announced her spring 2008 North American tour, which kicks off March 5th in Victoria, British Columbia, before working its way south to cover all major U.S. cities.
CELINE SET TO HIT THE ROAD
Céline Dion will end her Las Vegas run next month and will launch a 45-date arena tour of North America Aug. 12 in Boston and will stay on the road through January 2009.
Quotes of the week
"The band produced and delivered an album of integrity that was in keeping with their legacy ... and the fans responded. The phenomenal first week sales of 'Long Road Out of Eden' is a testament to Wal-Mart's marketing and distribution."
-- Irving Azoff, Eagles' manager, commenting on the #1 chart success of the new Eagles album."They call it the toughest time for comedy writing since those three weeks back in the 1990s when Bill Clinton stopped dating."
-- Jay Leno, talking about the upcoming WGA strike last week on 'The Tonight Show.'"Well, there was a difference in religious beliefs. I didn't believe she was God."
-- Howard Stern sidekick, and very funny man, Artie Lange, on why he broke up with his girlfriend last year."It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger."
-- Roberto Cavallli, on designing for a pregnant Jennifer Lopez."We didn't want to say anything before because we didn't want to take away from the tour, but we're expecting."
-- Jennifer Lopez this week. No! Really J-Lo!!!!!!!! Gee ... and so many of us thought you might have just swallowed a bowling ball."I've been so close to suicide."
-- Heather Mills, on her reaction to negative press on Britain's GMTV. C'mon, Heather. With all that divorce loot coming from your brief marriage to Sir Paul, who are you kidding?"Every neighborhood has the guy who you don't see, so you gossip about him. You see those stories about him, there's the myth that he did this or he did that. People are crazy!"
-- Michael Jackson to Ebony. Yup, people are crazy, Michael. None of them as crazy as you, however."It has been 13 years in this business, and for those of you out there who are keeping score, it has been only one marriage and no arrests!"
-- LeAnn Rimes, on the CMA Awards Show this week."My dream is to be a highly fulfilled and productive stay-at-home mom and wife."
-- Julia Roberts to Vanity Fair. Good dream, Julia, especially after you've already made $100 million-plus making movies. Since you haven't done anything worthwhile at the box office in at least a decade, your dream is coming true.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Study Finds Working At Work Improves Productivity
WASHINGTON, DC--According to a groundbreaking new study by the Department of Labor, working-the physical act of engaging in a productive job-related activity-may greatly increase the amount of work accomplished during the workday, especially when compared with the more common practices of wasting time and not working.
"Our findings are astounding: By simply sitting down and doing work, employees can dramatically increase their output of goods and services," said Deputy Undersecretary of Labor Charlotte Ponticelli, who authored the report. "In fact, 'working' may revolutionize the way people work."
Read the rest and laugh here: http://tinyurl.com/2rseu4.
The Blogs
Check out a great blog by Jerry Del Colliano, the Director Executive Programs, Clinical Professor Music Industry & Recording Arts, at the Thornton School of Music,University of Southern California, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com.
Box Office
Check The Daily & Weekly Box Office (and more film info) at: www.boxofficemojo.com.
TinyURL
Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
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