I am a bit sick of people acting like the ARTPOP era is some MAJOR FLOP compared to other ones.
Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we...
Rated R: 2009
(fresh off of a 8 million selling breakthrough album and a world wind of controversy)
Sold 3 million (if that)
181,000 copies in its first week
First single peaked at #9 on the Hot 100.
Second single peaked at #8 on the Hot 100 and bombed worldwide.
Third single COMPLETELY BOMBED EVERYWHERE.
Tour only grossed $40 million