First, 5 years ago hit albums used to debut selling 800k+ in the US alone, but now it seems that any album selling 400k is a mega hit!

10 years later, i can see Beyonce's album opening with 40k @ #1.... whilst her single topping with 700k!

Sorry, that already happened! P!nk

Funhouse: 1.8 Million
So What: 5.9 Million

So whatcha think?

I think you need meds.

There was no need for a thread, but yes if the RIAA dont somehow factor illegal downloads into the charts when album sales are going to slowly die and eventually selling 5 figures will get you the #1.

I think it would be interesting to see how many people illegally download the new Britney or Madonna album.

not just Britney or Madonna, it happens to every artist, most likely more than those 2,(well i wouldnt put my money on Madonna, younger generations illegally download..)

Sales would be double, maybe even higher like triple, the amount they are now, in both singles and albums sales...

If they somehow factor it, Circus would certificate diamond by the end of the year!

PS. What if Toxic was released today?

Didn't reports come out that Here I Stand sold nearly 1 million on Limewire?

It mosly affects established artists. I read that the most illegally downloaded acts of all tiem were Madonna and U2. Breakthrough artists still manage to sell a lot because the most people download artists they are more aware of.

Makes sense if you look at how most people debut album sell so much more these days. As soon as an artist becomes established they more affected by piracy.

well in the US, im sure the more popular music is more effected by illegal downloads, and Madonna this year in the US , besides 4 Minutes hasnt been that successful at all, so i wouldnt bank on her being that effected as artists like Leona, Mariah, Kanye, TI, Lil Wayne, Britney, Rihanna, etc as in terms of 2008.

^ Yes, 4 Minutes didn't peak at #1 but managed to sell 200k+ for 7 weeks!

I'm sick of these threads ...

IF CIrcus sold 505,000 alone its first week, after the leak of the album was over 3 weeks before the release, to be honest, I think it would have debuted with 700-800. ugh, such a shame these illegal downloading days.

Nothing gets sold on on LimeWire, Rico, but yes there was a report that his album was illegally downloaded over 500k times the week prior to its release.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf...0times_1069935

I hate illegal downloading, but I have to download tracks like 'Quicksand', etc cause I can't get em on CD!

Here's what they need to do is add if a single goes gold or Plantuim they should add it to the record sales like if some someone has sold 1.5 million in a few week & their single goes Plantium & the other 3 singles go plantuim that should be added to album sales & then i'm sure we would be back to the 1990-2003 era of Diamond albums

What's wrong with this thread??

BTW, in 100 years, a 100 will be needed to be Top 50. LOL

This thread is so obvious and has been posted a million times before. We know sales are not what they used to be!!

You started this thread after what I said about Brintey's previous album sales in the top us albums thread...

The single will become more popular then album's. Albums may not have a future

thank god britney came out and breakthrough in 99.
<3

Ditto.