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20 Feb 08: MJ News and Mentionings
- Thread starter Momma Shannon
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'Thriller' Blocked From The Pop Chart
When is the second highest selling album of the week nowhere to be found in the top 200?
There used to be a number of reasons but now it's down to one: When the disc has been classified as a catalog release.
The 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Epic/Legacy) sold 166,000 copies in its first week of release, which would make it the second biggest seller of the week that ended Sunday. Despite it containing a DVD and five newly reworked versions of the songs, it is considered a catalog release by Billboard, which categorizes sales data collected by Nielsen SoundScan.
In much of the rest of the world it has been categorized as a new release and debuted at No. 1 in France, No. 2 in Germany, Australia, Holland, Norway and Switzerland, and No. 3 in the U.K. “Thriller,” which has sold 27 million copies, is No. 1 on Billboard’s catalog chart. Most catalog chart toppers sell between 15,000 and 20,000 copies per week.
Last year, Billboard eliminated its rule that barred from the top 200, releases available at a single retailer. That was in response to the Eagles selling more than 700,000 copies of "Long Road to Eden" at Wal-Mart outlets.
Billboard continues to make decisions on bonus packages that mystify many people in the industry. In many cases, a major star - Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, etc. - can release a second version of a hit album that includes new songs, new mixes and videos, but its sales are included with the initial release.
Other discs - and this often affects soundtracks - are almost always split between regular and deluxe editions, regardless of their time of release. There have been exceptions, though, and that seems to drive some execs bonkers. Just like the folks who want the world to know "Thriller 25" is the No. 2 seller in the country.
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/
When is the second highest selling album of the week nowhere to be found in the top 200?There used to be a number of reasons but now it's down to one: When the disc has been classified as a catalog release.
The 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Epic/Legacy) sold 166,000 copies in its first week of release, which would make it the second biggest seller of the week that ended Sunday. Despite it containing a DVD and five newly reworked versions of the songs, it is considered a catalog release by Billboard, which categorizes sales data collected by Nielsen SoundScan.
In much of the rest of the world it has been categorized as a new release and debuted at No. 1 in France, No. 2 in Germany, Australia, Holland, Norway and Switzerland, and No. 3 in the U.K. “Thriller,” which has sold 27 million copies, is No. 1 on Billboard’s catalog chart. Most catalog chart toppers sell between 15,000 and 20,000 copies per week.
Last year, Billboard eliminated its rule that barred from the top 200, releases available at a single retailer. That was in response to the Eagles selling more than 700,000 copies of "Long Road to Eden" at Wal-Mart outlets.
Billboard continues to make decisions on bonus packages that mystify many people in the industry. In many cases, a major star - Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, etc. - can release a second version of a hit album that includes new songs, new mixes and videos, but its sales are included with the initial release.
Other discs - and this often affects soundtracks - are almost always split between regular and deluxe editions, regardless of their time of release. There have been exceptions, though, and that seems to drive some execs bonkers. Just like the folks who want the world to know "Thriller 25" is the No. 2 seller in the country.
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/
eternitys_child
Proud Member
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/opinion/local_story_051201650.html/resources_printstory
EDITORIAL: 25 years later, 'Thriller' still has heart
— In 1982, a 25-year-old man from Gary, Ind., sang about girlfriends, gangs and goblins.To commemorate the event, a 25th anniversary edition has been issued of Michael Jackson’s unparalleled hit album “Thriller.”
Released Nov. 30, 1982, seven of its nine songs were Top 10 Hits. “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” went No. 1.
In this day of downloading, there will never be another disc that sells more than 100 million worldwide. Music listeners can now access individual songs. They don’t need to buy a full album.
The first single from “Thriller” hit the charts in November 1982. “The Girl is Mine” featured Jackson singing playfully with Paul McCartney. Cute banter, no gangsta throwdowns. That ebony-ivory mix eased “Thriller’s” intro into mainstream appeal.
In fact, most of “Thriller” is about romance. Jackson, who later would turn weird with hyperbaric chambers and chimps, seemed to sing from the heart with one girlfriend as his “Pretty Young Thing” and promising a gal that she’ll always be “The Lady in My Life.”
But many listeners may forget that Jackson aimed messages at young men.
In “Billie Jean,” he warned young adults to think twice about unprotected sex. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ ” admonished gossip-mongers but ad-libbed, “If you can’t feed your baby, then don’t have a baby/And don’t think maybe, if you can’t feed your baby.” He tackled the gang mentality — while dancing, of course — in “Beat It” with ‘it’ being male aggression: “No one wants to be defeated/Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight/It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right.” Just walk away from fights.
These are messages parents should still be telling their sons.
Besides the lasting appeal of the music, “Thriller” produced long-lasting impacts on the music and television industries.
Even though it was 1982, Michael Jackson — even though he was 25, even after five solo albums and even though America watched him grow up — the most prominent R&B/pop singer in America faced racism.
MTV would not play Michael Jackson’s videos from “Thriller.”
As we recently learned in Ebony magazine, CBS President Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull every CBS video from the MTV playlist.
MTV relented.
The “Billie Jean” video with its stylish dancing aired in March 1983. Its success forced video producers to rethink their product.
The video opened the door for every black artist.
In 1982, there were two No. 1 hits by black artists on the Billboard pop charts: Lionel Richie and that saccharine “Ebony and Ivory” song by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.
As videos helped album sales, seven black artists hit No. 1 in 1984.
By the time of Michael Jackson’s last No. 1 hit in 1995, there were 10 artists with No. 1 hits; seven of them were black. The trend continues though the music is now dominated by hip-hop and rap.
MTV essentially apologized in the 1991 Video Music Awards program when it renamed the Video Vanguard Award in honor of Jackson.
Reflecting over 25 years in pop, we miss the heartfelt innocence of “Thriller.”
Sure, rock ’n’ roll was built on double entendres.
But today’s artists rely too much on references to body parts, particularly below the waist.
We long for the time when Michael Jackson referred to just one body part: the heart.
Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
EDITORIAL: 25 years later, 'Thriller' still has heart
— In 1982, a 25-year-old man from Gary, Ind., sang about girlfriends, gangs and goblins.To commemorate the event, a 25th anniversary edition has been issued of Michael Jackson’s unparalleled hit album “Thriller.”
Released Nov. 30, 1982, seven of its nine songs were Top 10 Hits. “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” went No. 1.
In this day of downloading, there will never be another disc that sells more than 100 million worldwide. Music listeners can now access individual songs. They don’t need to buy a full album.
The first single from “Thriller” hit the charts in November 1982. “The Girl is Mine” featured Jackson singing playfully with Paul McCartney. Cute banter, no gangsta throwdowns. That ebony-ivory mix eased “Thriller’s” intro into mainstream appeal.
In fact, most of “Thriller” is about romance. Jackson, who later would turn weird with hyperbaric chambers and chimps, seemed to sing from the heart with one girlfriend as his “Pretty Young Thing” and promising a gal that she’ll always be “The Lady in My Life.”
But many listeners may forget that Jackson aimed messages at young men.
In “Billie Jean,” he warned young adults to think twice about unprotected sex. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ ” admonished gossip-mongers but ad-libbed, “If you can’t feed your baby, then don’t have a baby/And don’t think maybe, if you can’t feed your baby.” He tackled the gang mentality — while dancing, of course — in “Beat It” with ‘it’ being male aggression: “No one wants to be defeated/Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight/It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right.” Just walk away from fights.
These are messages parents should still be telling their sons.
Besides the lasting appeal of the music, “Thriller” produced long-lasting impacts on the music and television industries.
Even though it was 1982, Michael Jackson — even though he was 25, even after five solo albums and even though America watched him grow up — the most prominent R&B/pop singer in America faced racism.
MTV would not play Michael Jackson’s videos from “Thriller.”
As we recently learned in Ebony magazine, CBS President Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull every CBS video from the MTV playlist.
MTV relented.
The “Billie Jean” video with its stylish dancing aired in March 1983. Its success forced video producers to rethink their product.
The video opened the door for every black artist.
In 1982, there were two No. 1 hits by black artists on the Billboard pop charts: Lionel Richie and that saccharine “Ebony and Ivory” song by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.
As videos helped album sales, seven black artists hit No. 1 in 1984.
By the time of Michael Jackson’s last No. 1 hit in 1995, there were 10 artists with No. 1 hits; seven of them were black. The trend continues though the music is now dominated by hip-hop and rap.
MTV essentially apologized in the 1991 Video Music Awards program when it renamed the Video Vanguard Award in honor of Jackson.
Reflecting over 25 years in pop, we miss the heartfelt innocence of “Thriller.”
Sure, rock ’n’ roll was built on double entendres.
But today’s artists rely too much on references to body parts, particularly below the waist.
We long for the time when Michael Jackson referred to just one body part: the heart.
Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
tinker*bell
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Indeed, it's great to see all this publicity around T25! :yes:
A lot of people I've never imagined came to tell me about it! :lol: It's great!
I can't help but put on a biiiiig smile on my face whenever I see one of them on the shelves...
A lot of people I've never imagined came to tell me about it! :lol: It's great!
I can't help but put on a biiiiig smile on my face whenever I see one of them on the shelves...
DenisRS
Guests
Sony-BMG confirmed about 1 million copies wholesale figure (so my estimation was correct); about half-million or more will be shipped in a week or two.
This 1 million figure is not much for Michael Jackson. For example, "Invincible" had 5.5 million wholesale figure before day of release. However, "Thriller 25" is catalogue album, so Sony-BMG ME/LR could not expect comparable sales, of course.
But yes, that 1 million wholesale were probably not enough.
This 1 million figure is not much for Michael Jackson. For example, "Invincible" had 5.5 million wholesale figure before day of release. However, "Thriller 25" is catalogue album, so Sony-BMG ME/LR could not expect comparable sales, of course.
But yes, that 1 million wholesale were probably not enough.
AllForMJ
Guests
Thriller is going to surpass The Eagles Greatest Hits once and for all. It's not going to matter if Billboard is trying to help The Eagles stay in their false lead.
I truly do not believe Thriller has ever trailed behind The Eagles Greatest Hits, as Thriller has been selling steadily since its original date of release, and it jumps in sells every single year around Halloween.
It's time for The Eagles, Billboard and the RIAA to face the truth.
Michael Jackson is a recording artist that appeals to all generations, and the same cannot be said about The Eagles. This truth alone would cause Thriller's sells to mount.
What is falsified in print can never be falsified in event. The end of the lie is nigh.
I truly do not believe Thriller has ever trailed behind The Eagles Greatest Hits, as Thriller has been selling steadily since its original date of release, and it jumps in sells every single year around Halloween.
It's time for The Eagles, Billboard and the RIAA to face the truth.
Michael Jackson is a recording artist that appeals to all generations, and the same cannot be said about The Eagles. This truth alone would cause Thriller's sells to mount.
What is falsified in print can never be falsified in event. The end of the lie is nigh.
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- 10. The rhinestone glove and Jheri curl are back as "Thriller," the top-selling album of all time worldwide, turned 25 on Feb. 12. Which song is NOT on the Michael Jackson classic?
- A. 'Beat It'
- B. 'The Girl is Mine'
- C. 'Human Nature'
- D. 'Rock with You'
Momma Shannon
Proud Member
lol I went food shopping today and in the store two of Michael's songs were played :lol: Billie Jean when I first went in and then The Girl is Mine while I was in the milk isle :yes: The man has presence no doubting that!
athina_livadi
Proud Member
Michael ROCKS and I LOVE it!!!
mjalwaysonmymind
Guests
wonderfulunk:i'm rocking with you michael, rock you in today!!!!
unk:i'm rocking with you michael, rock you in today!!!!whitesocksdancer
Proud Member
Thanks for the news. Billboard is in the same league as MTV: Ignorant, power hungry trolls.
jacksonactioncom
Proud Member
withch channel will air BET?
sweet princess
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Thanks for the news Shannon. :flowers:
Happy bithday to your momma.
Happy bithday to your momma.
troubleman84
Proud Member
It may continue to bug you until T25 sales help THRILLER exceed the Eagles. Until then I ain't tripping. ^_^
Rasta Pasta
Proud Member
something like this issue with Billboard is great.. this is what lights a fire in Michael...
its reminds of the issue with MTV when Thriller 1st came out..
in the Ebony interview.. remember what he said about that???
well,.. Michael is lit...
so...
the continuation of his legacy is being written.. please don't miss it...
its reminds of the issue with MTV when Thriller 1st came out..
in the Ebony interview.. remember what he said about that???
well,.. Michael is lit...
so...
the continuation of his legacy is being written.. please don't miss it...
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sunnyday81
Proud Member
Drudge is also reporting the same story about Billboard on his webpage!
Big Apple2
Proud Member
I'm very happy about that. Michael is getting a TON of press because of Billboard's "snafu" and I'm delighted to see it.
This Billboard story is all over the place! And most of the stories are also including all of the Thriller 25 chart positions AROUND THE WORLD.
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Me too! :thinking: Something isn't adding up. But hang on! If the Eagles album was a 'new' album then it makes sense.:yes:
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