[MrPeanut]

Assuming that sales are equally successful for single or album, which is more important to you -- that your fave's singles have a high peak on the Hot 100 (e.g., grabbing multiple #1s) or that their albums hit a high peak on the album chart? This is about chart ranking, NOT sales.

(Note: This is, again, assuming that they both sell well. In this case, an album that doesn't peak high in any given week still has great, consistent sales leading to an impressive overall total.)

For me, I think chart ranking for singles on the Hot 100 is much more important than the rankings on the album chart are. My reasoning is that all that matters for an album is its sales -- so as long as its selling well and selling consistently over time, it isn't as important for it to have reached a high peak on any given week.

On the other hand, the singles chart incorporates airplay, not just sales, which is why I think there is so much importance placed on chart rankings for the Hot 100. There is a certain historical prestige with having multiple #1 singles, and a large part of that is because of the role that airplay has to play in that -- it shows which artists are getting the most radio exposure.

For those reasons, I do think that having high charting singles on the Hot 100 is more important than an album's chart ranking. Some of the most successful albums of all time never hit #1 in any given week on the album chart (e.g., "Come On Over," which is the most successful female album of all time). People focus on overall sales when it comes to albums, whereas people are more apt to talk about how many #1 singles an artist has instead of their singles sales.

[TheOnlyOne]

One look at my avatar should tell you my answer.

[joestre8]

Originally posted by TheOnlyOne

One look at my avatar should tell you my answer.

[joestre8]

I think both are important. You don't want to be known as a "singles artist" who can't sell albums, so overall I think album sales are more important

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by joestre8

I think both are important. You don't want to be known as a "singles artist" who can't sell albums, so overall I think album sales are more important

This isn't about sales though -- an important distinction. This is assuming that sales are good on either chart.

I'm talking about chart ranking. Like, is it more important to have #1 singles or a #1 album. In this theoretical scenario, sales are equal.

[WiddLe]

Album sales

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by WiddLe

Album sales

Again, this is not about sales. This is about chart ranking.

Is it better to have a #1 single or a #1 album, when sales would be good in either case (and thus irrelevant)?

[joestre8]

Originally posted by MrPeanut

This isn't about sales though -- an important distinction. This is assuming that sales are good on either chart.

I'm talking about chart ranking. Like, is it more important to have #1 singles or a #1 album. In this theoretical scenario, sales are equal.

oh. Thats a tough one.

[ashuduff]

I think it sounds nicer when people say:

She's had 10 #1 singles, please welcome Janet Jackson!

Rather than:

Six number one albums and counting, please welcome Janet Jackson!

[skyler]

Originally posted by TheOnlyOne

One look at my avatar should tell you my answer.

[Relative]

Originally posted by MrPeanut

Again, this is not about sales. This is about chart ranking.

Is it better to have a #1 single or a #1 album, when sales would be good in either case (and thus irrelevant)?

I would agree, that #1 singles is much more important.

[hOAng]

For me singles peak is more important.
I'm happy with a album sells consistently but never reach #1. But a single peaks at #2 or #11 will just piss me off.

[skyler]

Originally posted by Relative

I would agree, that #1 singles is much more important.

or that #1 album

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by Relative

I would agree, that #1 singles is much more important.

Well, my rationale is that looking at chart rankings on the Hot 100 are really the only way to incorporate airplay into the picture, whereas the album chart is just sales (in which case you can just look at the sales info instead of the rankings on that chart).

Rankings are just more relevant when it comes to the Hot 100 as opposed to the album chart, IMO.

[stoic_1987]

I go for album Sales, Norah Jones for example.

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by stoic_1987

I go for album Sales, Norah Jones for example.

This is about chart ranking, NOT sales.

[stoic_1987]

oops. but still album rankings :P

[Darren-5-08]

Clearly, as far as positions go, #1 on BBHot100 rather than BB200.

TF(M) peaked at #2, but it was still infinitely more successful than other albums that hit #1 (Animal, Teenage Dream, etc - no shade intended, I love both albums).

[ToMmY]

#1 album > #1 single. IMO.

[MariahKnowles]

Omg Peanut. You always get people thinking with your threads/posts

But hmm. this is a tough one.Singles artists tend to last less then album ones (with the exception of Rihanna) don't they?