Keith Caufield at Billboard reports and sensibly explains the 'record-breaking sales drop' that is being reported all over the press about 'MDNA':

This week, Madonna's 'MDNA' earns the distinction of the largest second-week percentage sales drop for a No. 1-debuting album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

The album slides from No. 1 to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with a 86.7% sales decline (falling from 359,000 to 48,000 according to SoundScan).

The percentage dip surpasses the record set by Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way,' when it fell 84.27% in its second week on the chart dated June 18, 2011.

'MDNA's' large fall was expected, as its debut was bolstered by sales gained from a concert ticket/album promotion as well as preorders from iTunes. Further, without a current hit single on our major airplay charts nor any substantial recent promotion on Madonna's part, the drop was bound to be significant.

Both 'MDNA' and 'Born This Way' would have not had such steep drops, had it not been for unusually enhanced first-week sales.

Most superstar albums that start at or near the top of the chart fall by 60% to 80% in their second week. And, high-debuting sets that are especially front-loaded by pre-orders, niche fanbases or unusual marketing campaigns take harder hits.

In terms of recent promotion, Madonna has basically been off the radar, instead focusing her energy on rehearsals for her upcoming world tour. Since headlining the Feb. 5 Super Bowl halftime show, her only significant recent media appearances have been via a live Facebook chat with Jimmy Fallon (March 24) and a brief drop-in at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami the same night.

Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, tweeted in response to a fan's question last night, saying '...I wish we could have done TV last week but we were in rehearsals morning and night. 7 more weeks to show time...'

Liz Rosenberg has also commented on this sales drop by saying:
It still has had the highest debut of 2012 and was number one in many countries. And the game ain't over.

http://madonnalicious.typepad.com/ma...aint-over.html

AP.

Ap

No it hasnt, this article was just written this morning, check the link

They probably mean that the article has nothing new.

It wasn't written this morning. They just stole Billboard's article.

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/indus...06724962.story
http://m.billboard.com/v/News/Madonn...ac57ac5ec4206a

They probably mean that they dont like this article because it exposes in a clear way that the sales drop is almost the same Born This Way had in it's second week, yet it is mostly Monsters who are all over ATRL calling this a failure...

Everyone knows about this now. It's old news.

It still has had the highest debut of 2012 and was number one in many countries. And the game ain't over.


But this is impressive, because it's her 12th album.

Follow the leader
jk I really don't care

ok

I think Madonna would have issues single wise no matter what because of whatever happened between her and American radio with American Life and because, well, she's 53. Even if she wasn't doing dance pop, unfortunatelty, 53 would be an issue.

That said, it's pitiful the way her and her people are handling the promotional and distributional aspects of MDNA and the singles. E! TV? Perez Hilton? Online chats? They're so 2002. It's as if there saying well it's not going to happen anyway, so why try too hard. I didn't like "Girl Gone Wild" initially. Now, I can't stop listening to it. If this had been distributed and promoted properly, it IMO stood the chance of being a Top 40 hit in the U.S. and even the U.K. But instead of hitting promo, hitting promo, hitting promo (promo equals TV performances and interviews), then releasing a CD with the digital download all at once - and then releasing the album - it was just mangled and delayed baby-steps. I also think she should have gone a different way with that video to appeal to a wider audience.

I know Madonna likes being a perfectionist with TV performances and that tour is coming soon, but sometimes you can just stand there and sing and it can rock out just the same.

ALL of this.

This could've been worded better, I don't know how the biggest sales drop is considered an honorable distinction.

Regardless, MDNA just came out, people can't judge it's performance just yet. It might surprise us.

AP

The Queen surpassing Gaga on everything.

Like I have said many times in previous posts. "MDNA still has so much hope."

Like it's going to sell a lot more. The delusion.

Not reading the thread, nice.