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Music News: US Album Sales Have Fallen 54.6% from 2000
Member Since: 4/22/2009
Posts: 11,768
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US Album Sales Have Fallen 54.6% from 2000
Many similar threads have been posted before and this is a little old but this one shows the profound differences from 10 years ago:
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Just how bad is the recording industry decline? Since peak year 2000, US-based album sales have dropped an unbelievable 514.6 million units, or 54.6 percent. In 2000, the climax of a dreamlike 90s, album sales surpassed 943 million units, according to figures published by Nielsen Soundscan. The splashy year was spurred by mega-titles like No Strings Attached by 'N Sync, certified double-platinum after just one week.
The 'N Sync release symbolized a headier era, one that rewarded superstars with serious CD sales. In contrast, today's superstars are usually sub-platinum in their first week, with the notable exception of Lil Wayne last year. Then, over the life of the release, top-level sales are far more subdued. Overall, album sales in 2008 (both digital and physical) landed at 428.4 million, also according to Nielsen.
Of course, positive things are happening on digital side - but not enough positive things. Soundscan counted more than a billion a-la-carte downloads last year, a first for the business. Other formats have surfaced since 2000, mainly ringtones, though the mobile jingle has been fading for years. Other, non-sanctioned digital developments have been more influential, starting with the late-90s arrival of Napster.
That was the beginning of P2P, an antidote to forced album bundling. By 2002, annual album sales slipped to 803 million units, and by late 2003, major labels were suing file-swappers for infringement. Now, the majors are finally moving away from that strategy, and attempting to forge enforcement alliances with ISPs.
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http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/012709album
Note: this does not extrapolate for worldwide sales. The IFPI reported last year the album sales decline worldwide was a more modest 35%.
So, this begs the question:
What would your faves have sold if they released their albums in 2000? 
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Member Since: 1/6/2010
Posts: 38
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Good girl gone bad could have sold around 5 million?! And maybe 15 million worldwide!
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Member Since: 8/12/2007
Posts: 15,237
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Member Since: 2/16/2010
Posts: 69,775
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TF would've been at almost 18 million worldwide if sales were like they were in 2000 
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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I think the better question is what would sales have been for acts such as, say, NSYNC and BSB, had they released in 2010 rather than 2000 (and I actually like BSB, so don't get me wrong).
Considering that NSYNC and BSB both have horrible catalog sales, it's definitely something to ponder.
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Member Since: 6/22/2005
Posts: 6,931
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At first glance, I thought it said 5.46%. I can't believe it's THIS high. 
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 4,844
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Well my fave sold 8 million in the US in 2000.
If Bionic was released in 2000, it would've went at least platinum.
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Member Since: 2/16/2010
Posts: 69,775
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Quote:
Originally posted by benzene_dream
I think the better question is what would sales have been for acts such as, say, NSYNC and BSB, had they released in 2010 rather than 2000.
Considering that NSYNC and BSB both have horrible catalog sales, it's definitely something to ponder.
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NSA opened with like 2.4 million, right?
I think today that album would've struggled to open with even a million copies.
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Member Since: 10/28/2008
Posts: 22,771
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Um, yes because the sound wouldn't fit today's contemporary music customs.
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Member Since: 7/13/2010
Posts: 4,992
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Considering 4.7 million in 2003 and how huge Crazy In Love and Baby Boy were then factoring in MMI & NG as great follow-ups, its a possibility Dangerously In Love would've scanned around 9 million
B'day and IASF would've both scanned at least 6-7 million
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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Quote:
Originally posted by MusicTalker
NSA opened with like 2.4 million, right?
I think today that album would've struggled to open with even a million copies.
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Yep, and went on to sell over 11 million copies. And yet, despite being such a huge album, it barely even sold 4,000 copies in 2009. Makes the initial achievement much less impressive, imo.
I think they'd be lucky to hit 4x platinum (ignoring music trends and what not. Obviously Gaga would've been a huge flop in 2000 with her style).
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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I Am...Sasha Fierce would be at exactly 4,638,000.
Dangerously In Love would be at 7,429,000.
B'Day would be at 5,083,000.
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Member Since: 11/13/2008
Posts: 4,129
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Music quality has also fallen 54.6%
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Member Since: 4/22/2009
Posts: 11,768
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It must be said that this only applies to albums released in the last year or two of the decade. The decline in sales was not as steep in earlier years... Especially 2003. *cough*Donny*cough*
Circus would be 3x Platinum though.
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Member Since: 2/16/2010
Posts: 69,775
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Quote:
Originally posted by Satellites
I Am...Sasha Fierce would be at exactly 4,638,000.
Dangerously In Love would be at 7,429,000.
B'Day would be at 5,083,000.
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IA.... SF's sales would've been much higher than 4.6 million in 2000. It would at least be above 6 million.
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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Quote:
Originally posted by MusicTalker
IA.... SF's sales would've been much higher than 4.6 million in 2000. It would at least be above 6 million.
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I agree, I actually think IASF would be higher than B'Day.
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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Quote:
Originally posted by MusicTalker
IA.... SF's sales would've been much higher than 4.6 million in 2000. It would at least be above 6 million.
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In the US it has sold 3,000,000 if you take 54.6% of that you get 1,638,000. Once you add that the total is 4,638,000.
But that's just the math, it would be probably diamond back in 2000 based on other things.
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Member Since: 4/22/2009
Posts: 11,768
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Quote:
Originally posted by Satellites
In the US it has sold 3,000,000 if you take 54.6% of that you get 1,638,000. Once you add that the total is 4,638,000. |
Subtract 54.6% from the number you got and see if it's her actual sales. It's not. Sales have been cut in more than HALF. It would be over 6 million. Your math... 
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Member Since: 9/11/2010
Posts: 14,221
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Funhouse would be almost at around 3.5 mill.
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Member Since: 2/16/2010
Posts: 69,775
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Quote:
Originally posted by Satellites
In the US it has sold 3,000,000 if you take 54.6% of that you get 1,638,000. Once you add that the total is 4,638,000.
But that's just the math, it would be probably diamond back in 2000 based on other things. |
I don't get your math. Why did you take off 54.6% of 3 million?
I just did...
2.9 million (estimation) / 0.454 = 6.39 million
0.454 = 45.4%, which is 100% - 54.6 %.
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