There is big difference between Rihanna and Britney.
While lead singles from Rihanna almost always sell better in following weeks when AI picks up, then there was only one time in digital era when Britney outdid first week sales and that was Christmas gift card week when Womanizer sold 300+K.
So there are very little chance that this song will pick up with time.

PRESENT.

I still think 218k for Gaga is the most laughable moment in 2013. "Applause, Bitch" would have done much worse than 170k.

It also sold 2.3 million without a single performance.

That member is always pressed though so i'm not surprised.

There are songs that passed 4M or even 5M without performances, so 2.3M something spectacular.

When artist fall from 411K opening week to 170K opening week, it just shows fall level of interest from GP about artist.

Okay?

The point is that it still sold well considering it only had pop support and wasn't promoted. Its sales in the US are not far off from Rihanna's What's My Name and Rude Boy which not only were actually promoted but had far more airplay.

HIAM had poor longevity but 3 didn't so let's not.

And I agree that Britney has faded immensely but that had nothing to do with my post.

Not shocking. "Oh La La" did poorly, even for a soundtrack single, and "Work Bitch" sucks.

Welp

Pressed soul. Princess of pop sells lesser than gaga and below 200k is just as shame as ****

Yes, Britney is 15+ years into her career while Rihanna is 8. I wonder if Rihanna/Gaga/Katy will be selling nearly 200k opening week in 8-10 years?

WB is predicted to sell less than Applause's 5th week sales.

Madonna sold 217,000 25+ years in (4 Minutes, 2008).

I see you missed what was point of my post. It wasn't who is longer in industry but how their lead singles perform.

They are pressed

Pink still manages get top 10 hits at age 32.

Madonna still can dance very well at 32.

Beyonce still can sing very well at 32.

Christina still look gorgeous at 32.

When is Brit?

Keep clinging to the whole "Oh, it's the title that's making it underperform" argument. It's quite telling that at least 50% of Pop stations are still playing the unedited version. It really has nothing to do with the title, and everything to do with the quality of the song. Bitch isn't even really considered a curse word anymore, it's not like the f word. It all just comes down to the fact that it's just not a good song, and people were obviously expecting more from the supposed "legend" Britney Spears.

Yes let's compare everyone to Madonna. How many artists 15+ years into their career have sold 150k+ in a single week? Usher, Mariah, Britney, Madonna...hm. Nice company.

Pink is only 12 years into her career. At that point Britney was still debuting at #1 with 3 and smashing with the FF singles.

No front loaded sales and don't talk about longevity cuz brit isn't known for that. what's left on her ?

Are you serious?! Your fave first single of her last album 4 ("RTW") peaked at #5 on iTunes the first day, the second day out of top 40, ten days after was out of Top 100, and it peaked #29 on the HOT 100

There You Go was released February 8, 2000 so P!nk is only 1,5 years less in career. And at this point Britney already wasn't able to sell 1M copies of her album in US.

Sold 960,000 copies with negligible radio support and has 200 million views on vevo, WB will be lucky to cross the 1 million mark.