*The prediction is 200-225K.

I love Nicki's music (generally), but the predictions concern me on her part. Don't report as this thread isn't flamebait at all.

Why do you personally think Roman Reloaded is opening with just a little more than half of what Pink Friday did? Did Black Friday sales boost Pink Friday more than we thought? Has Nicki alienated some of the fans she had in late 2010 to get more pop hits? Did Starships do more bad than good?

I think even Nicki's biggest fans can admit that those numbers are less than half of what was expected. Personally, I'm shocked at how quickly her past fan base seemingly abandoned her. Do you think the album will gain legs?

Ask your mom, she probably knows

Besides Starships, most of the songs she's released have been negatively received not only by critics, but by the general public too.
Her urban audience also feels like she left them.

She ignored her core fanbase, released a non-public-pleasing urban single, and a smash pop song. It makes her look like she cares more for the pop crowd than urban when really she cares for both. She just doesn't know how to average the two out.

stupid hoe, Grammys (even though I loved both of these), red one, & the lack of urban appeal.

the opening sales were disappointing but at least she's got another #1 album & that's good.

What is that?

Stupid Hoe and Starships were the only songs from the album that were widely circulated pre-release. Stupid Hoe was panned by the general public and while Starships has proved to be a huge success, it's a dance-pop song with literally no urban appeal. Roman Holiday was never properly released, and just a few buzz singles with random adds on urban radio (RBMS, RR, BITT) are not going to get the urban audience's attention. She should have given an urban single full promotion to garner the urban community's attention. I'm willing to bet that the most they know about Roman Reloaded is Starships - a song that would make most of her early fans feel confused as well as alienated. A rapper making a song like Starships? Why would the urban audience buy and support?

I'm not disappointed in the album and I do think it will prove to be a huge success; however, if she's going to ride the line between urban and pop, then she's going to need to do it well - and as made evident by the first-week predictions - she's not currently doing it well. You act like a pop star you get a pop star's results.

Pink Friday didn't push many sales until later weeks either.
I think that's all it is tbqh, people don't know a lot about the release.
It'll push more sales with more singles/promo.
Didn't PF actually work up to #1 like 2 months after its' release?
Irregardless, it has a set spot at #1, and will continue to sell with high numbers afterwards.

All y'all claiming Starships and the pop section of the album is harming the sales, I peacefully disagree.
They still are urban enough imo, you don't see Britney or Gaga spitting carefree raps on pop anthems.

Basically this.

What is the predicted 1st week numbers?

It sold 375k first week, let's not kid ourselves now.

I see your point. If you put this opening & compare it to TD, Loud, & TTT's opening, it's a great number. But compared to Pink Friday, the numbers are alarming.

I hope this isn't a sophomore slump for her.

200-225k in the US.

living legend.

The album is trash.

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

basically

Its biggest sales were in the first week...

The week she went to #1, she sold only 45k. She got to #1 in a weak race.