Discussion: What will happen if R8 underperforms?

suneclipse121

As a casual fan of Rihanna it seems that R8 is off to a rocky start. First with "FourFiveSeconds" selling 53k on its first week after its surprise drop, which many expected to have a bigger opening considering the artists involved. Thus far the single has done ok but when compared to "Diamonds" & "We Found Love" it falls short. Then "Towards The Sun" which ended up being cancelled as a single and the "Home" concept album masterpiece being nothing more than a various artist EP.

In a recent interview Rihanna said she wanted "timeless" music and therefore teamed up with Kanye West to execute her vision. But in her 10 years of being an artist she has become known for her in the moment hit records. Rihanna never set trends with her music she has always been content in following them. So now after all the throwaway hits (as she herself proclaimed) she wants to be timeless but Kanye West is not the answer. Something runs common in all the music and snippets we've heard thus far from R8 it's all Kanye and that's were the problem lies. If Rihanna wants to be "timeless" she has to work for it and its not as simple as having Kanye West executive produce your album.

Maybe this is just a fluke for Rihanna but considering she has always been the "singles queen" vs "album seller" if R8 were to under-perform in both singles and albums then what will be left for Rihanna? Can she come back harder with R9?

Discuss.

Fanik

Quote:

"FourFiveSeconds" selling 53k on its first week after its surprise drop

but it sold 53 k after one day tho

and she'll become a full time model

RihannaRTT

Quote:

if R8 were to under-perform in both singles

Not with that avi you don't sistren

OreGuy

She'll become an indie artist

Nikolai.

It WILL underperform, I've been saying it all along

Nemo

That isn't even possible tho. It's against the laws of physics.

Fanik

Quote:

Originally posted by GanjaSebert

It WILL underperform, I've been saying it all along

and then you'll finally add her to your sig since u stan for indie artists

Mark Rih

Quote:

First with "FourFiveSeconds" selling 53k on its first week after its surprise drop,

Stopped reading here

suneclipse121

Quote:

Originally posted by RihannaRTT

Not with that avi you don't sistren

Some dont need single sales to survive. That's the difference.

umich

Quote:

First with "FourFiveSeconds" selling 53k on its first week after its surprise drop

I stopped right there.

Rihhyonce

fffff

RihannaRTT

Quote:

Originally posted by suneclipse121

Some dont need single sales to survive. That's the difference.

And others do and just can't get any. It's a hard knock life.

MrFenty

Doesn't matter if it under performs, it'll probably be the best album she's ever made.

Trent W

Quote:

Originally posted by RihannaRTT

Not with that avi you don't sistren

FFS is already a hit, and is still going strong, so R8 era has already something to brag about.

The albums will do great

RickyH.

.....then it will underperform? There's nothing else to it.

suneclipse121

53k in one day with a $1.29 single vs 400k+ in one day with a $15.99 album.
Is this a better comparison for the people in the back.
Didn't want to be so harsh.

Fanik

Quote:

Originally posted by suneclipse121

53k in one day with a $1.29 single vs 400k+ in one day with a $15.99 album.
Is this a better comparison for the people in the back.
Didn't want to be so harsh.

but we aren't here for frontloaded sales.. are we?

oh wait

Trent W

Quote:

Originally posted by suneclipse121

Some dont need single sales to survive. That's the difference.

Keep telling that to yourself but singles are what people actually remember from an artist, and Rihanna has a lot of them.

suneclipse121

Quote:

Originally posted by Trent W

Keep telling that to yourself but singles are what people actually remember from an artist, and Rihanna has a lot of them.

I dont have to tell myself anything. Just the way it is.

Retro

If it does underperform, then either the next record will be more "typical" Rihanna or nothing at all will happen because she has a pretty solid base of 7 successful eras to sit upon.