According to Kworb, 'Applause' is on track to sell 200-250K this week. That's half of what 'Born This Way' sold in its first three days. Half the sales in twice the time.

Did Lady Gaga damage her brand?

No, more like 350k. But yes

In the US, yes.

Outside, seemingly not.

In the US, yes.

BTW didn't damage it.
The media-blackout and the following ferocity and intensity with which she returned did.
The Ambromovich video, the V magazine spread, the nose piercing video.
A gradual return to the spotlight would have been much more effective.

Damage is an understatement....

Because she's been hyping Applause for the last 6 months, like she did with Born This Way, right? Completely different situations. She's doing fine for the basically non-existent promo... WORLDWIDE.

Not necessarily with Applause.It had already deteriorated to the core during the previous era(was there really a doubt about that now.).
And Kworb is not wrong.She's about to slip to #3 if things keep going the way they are,let alone compete Roar.And I don't think that if her star-power and the song couldn't save itself,any video or performances can.

Nah, everywhere man.

Stephy her problem is that she failed to capitalise on her (somewhat diminishing) momentum following BTW. The tour is all well and good but the GP don't care about that (who her music is aimed at). What she should've done, and this also applies to Beyoncé, is to throw a couple verses on a few songs in the couple years they were off.

In this way, they are fresh in the minds of iTunes buyers and Radio programmers, who will be more inclined to play any upcoming potential tracks. It's basically a back to the drawing board ting

In the english-speaking world. Yes.

Oh stop

She rush released the day after Roar was released, it isn't like #2 is a bad thing. The overreaction is hilarious.

Yeap.

She should have kept the original release date, but oh well.

In the US? I guess so. But if she didn't take any risks she would not have evolved as an artist. Just look at Katy with Roar.

Born This Way was the most hyped up song in recent memory, it was everywhere, the Madonna comparisons got it even more exposure, Gaga herself performed it 2 days after it premiered at the Grammys. Of course it was gonna sell 400k.

Applause is going great WW despite it being announced 3 weeks ago, having no promo besides an iTunes banner, having no radio deal (it really didn't because it was rushed out so quickly, a couple of stations like Z100 played it on the hour for a couple of hours), no lyric video, no music video, no TV interviews.

Hopefully Applause is a slow-burner like Bad Romance and stabilises and climbs steadily, being 2 behind a planned release from America's sweetheart coming off her biggest era to date isn't a bad thing, anyone (besides Taylor) would be 2 behind Katy right now.

The fact that it's 1 all over the world and Top 5 in every major market (the song holding up well right now, not dropping as of yet like a rock like Judas did after a similar amount of time), despite the circumstances is a testament to Gaga.

Radio is saying it's getting positive reactions, a great thing after the BTW era mess.

Yes, Gaga did damage her brand in the US, but the fact that she's holding at 2 right now is pretty good.

Applause just isn't as instant of a SMASH HIT.

And obviously it didn't have 1/4 of the hype of BTW's lead

It did have a radio deal and it was confirmed by Billboard.