1. Norah Jones "Not Too Late"

Sales this week: 210,861
Cume: 852,843

Well, you can’t say it’s a Grammy bounce…

But the more interesting fact is that after the Grammy hysteria, and the increased sales as a result thereof, this record moves up the chart to number one with FEWER sales than it had last week!  Yes, last week this album was number two with 235,687 sold.  A cause for optimism?  I think not.

Although sales were ONLY down 10.5% from the comparable week last year, the smallest slide in 2007, one has to factor in that Grammy sales occurred a week EARLIER last year.  So, be prepared for a disastrous drop next week.

2. Gerald Levert "In My Songs"

Sales this week: 165,275
Debut

Death is still the best career move.

Although ruled accidental, anybody taking Vicodin, Percocet AND Darvocet for pain is WAY overdoing it.  They all have a different threshold, they should not be combined, you should just take the one that’s necessary based on the level of pain you’re experiencing.

As for adding in Xanax…  Shit, you can’t HAVE any anxiety if you’re taking all those painkillers.

Just because something has a prescription, that doesn’t make taking it okay.  I don’t know who to blame more, the doctors prescribing this shit or a society that reveres thinness and success and excoriates those who don’t conform to ITS prescriptions.

Who’s next, Britney?

3. 2007 Grammy Nominees

Sales this week: 131,240
Cume: 317,083

Why all these together when you can cherry-pick on iTunes?

I mean does anybody who wants "Stickwitu" by the Pussycat Dolls also want Paul McCartney’s lame, retro, "Jenny Wren"?

With the death of the disc, we’re going to see the death of the "Now" series.  Just doesn’t make sense.  There’s no VALUE proposition.

Speaking of value, 23 tracks, including the biggest singles of the year, and this album STILL can’t go gold?

4. Corinne Bailey Rae

Sales this week: 119,791
Cume: 1, 121,317

If only this weren’t so safe, if only it were meaningful.

What would you rather have on your label, unmemorable crap like this or Joni Mitchell.

CORINNE BAILEY RAE OF COURSE!  Because you can get all that money right up front, on one or two albums, you don’t have to develop the act to make your money over four or five albums, even though those records will sell forever.  Because you won’t BE THERE forever!

And you wonder why the major labels are fucked up.

If only these guys owned these companies instead of working for the man beholden to the investment community.  Decisions would be different.  After all, doesn’t everybody buy real estate based on what it’s gonna be worth in the FUTURE?

A great album is like a piece of real estate, it will be valuable FOREVER!

5. Fall Out Boy "Infinity On High"

Sales this week: 118,747
Cume: 378,947

From: Rocky Del Balzo

I think you missed the real point about Fall Out Boy.  Based on their success they should have sold 3 times as many CDS.  The label is disappointed.  The problem is, people who buy Norah Jones CDs, don’t give them to their friends to copy into their ipods.  There is virtually no sharing amongst her fans, so her number is more in line with what we would expect four or five years ago. 

For every kid that bought a Fall Out Boy CD, there are three that either got the tracks they wanted for free from Limewire or another service or "ripped" it from a friend.

Record label heads are still in love with "sexy".  Youth oriented acts are "sexy".  They are cool, they are hip, they are destined to ruin record labels.  The problem with most of the label heads are that they just don’t  get this fact.  They would rather sign something cool that hopefully will make money as opposed to signing something that may not be so hip, but will appeal to an older demo.  One that still buys CDS.

Kids also buy singles.  I don’t know what the digital track downloads were for Fall Out Boy, but they were probably very significant.  The kids that do pay for it, are likely to download a couple of tracks and spend a couple of bucks, than pay $9.99 for the whole album.

The new world order.  It is a singles world for these bands in the long run.  You may have brief flashes of success, but eventually these acts will fall off the face of the earth.  It will likely be immediately after the label re-negotiates their contract and gives them huge dollars.  When are the guys who run labels going to figure this out.

6. Robin Thicke "Evolution Of Robin Thicke"

Sales this week: 115,681
Cume: 599,879

Bob-

Interesting to note that this lp is 19 weeks out and is one of the few LPs on the Top 200 to actually grow in sales every week.  I can also assure you that the current single "Lost Without You" is not being played in clubs…it’s a mid/ballad that happens to be an integrity based pop song that clearly outshines the disposable crap that the majority of labels push on all of us.  To merely dismiss the album as a Justin Timberlake wannabe certainly tells me that you clearly fail to understand the lyrical content of the compositions therein.  Yes the Lil Wayne and Faith Evans features are perhaps LP label driven incentives for increased sales purposes but perhaps you need to revisit the LP  (and fyi, Pharell produced only a single track on the entire lp)…after all, I can’t recall you writing anything remotely memorable outside of your ongoing doom and gloom assessment of our business  …don’t hate bob, be happy that Robin is making his way in the industry after numerous years of effort.  Bob Dylan and the remainder of your old school favs have to pass the torch sooner or later…I’m sure the old guard said the same thing about rock n roll in the 50’s….

Regards,

Michael Mavrolas
Genuine Music Group

8. Dixie Chicks "Taking The Long Way"

Sales this week: 103,407
Cume: 2,004,936

Nashville is up in arms about this.  The country community feels NARAS snubbed them by having their hit artists, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood, sing covers, while other artists, who sold many fewer records, got to sing their own songs at the Grammy awards. 

Music Row says Grammys snubbed country, like always

Actually, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood outsold ALL those acts in "People", the stars of the Grammy show, like Beyonce and Mary J.  Never mind Christina Aguilera and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

But the crackers who buy that music are just too stupid to download.  If only they’d wake up and realize we live in a hip-hop nation!

The ONLY act to outsell these two country acts was the fictitious "High School Musical".

Oh, don’t make it about quality, it’s about disrespect.

Furthermore, someone sent me a brilliant e-mail regarding Grammy voting:

Bob, is the voting for the Grammys online?  If not then they should be!  In order to move to the next category you must listen to all the songs in their entirety (or at least the majority of the song).  It may help as people just check off what they know visually.  Hearing the track can definitely change things!  There’s many songs I don’t know until I hear them.

Oscar Furtado

So simple, yet the backward, in the pocket of the industry, NARAS didn’t think of it.

Meanwhile, country is everything Top Forty isn’t.  The acts can sing, the songs have melody, hooks, changes.  God, country is closer to the rock of yesteryear than anything on Top Forty.

14. Lucinda Williams "West"

Sales this week: 57,155
Debut

Worst reviewed album of her career.

When she took forever between albums, reviewers were more kind.  You give the critics what they want, more music, and they shit on you.

However, Lucinda’s very first record, her debut on Rough Trade, is still her best.

But this record wasn’t made for SoundScan, but Lucinda’s fans.  She’s got a good thing going, she can work forever.  Corinne Bailey Rae?  Maybe she can work Broadway in a few years, like Debbie Gibson.

35. Van Morrison "Van Morrison At The Movies"

Sales this week: 29,306
Debut

How many hits has this guy had?

Well, five that cracked the Top Forty, to be exact.  But only two in the Top Ten, "Brown-Eyed Girl" and "Domino", and the latter charted in 1971!  Hell, "Wild Night", his last track to sneak in the vaunted Top Forty, at number 28, charted in 1971 also!  But many consider Van’s debut solo record, "Astral Weeks", one of the best EVER!  I’ve NEVER heard a single track from it on the radio.  However, I have heard "And It Stoned Me", my favorite cut on the follow-up, "Moondance", on XM.

Then there’s Van’s live performance.  If you don’t think he stole "The Last Waltz", you haven’t SEEN IT!

This is a cheap cash-in, but isn’t it amazing people still care!

But of course they care, because Van doesn’t do what’s expedient, but only what he feels.  They respect this, they believe in Van.

Who do you believe in that’s new?  That can sell records, that doesn’t live in the indie, underground, backwater?

42. Hinder "Extreme Behavior"

Sales this week: 26,87
Cume: 2,060,736

The vaunted Beyonce has only sold TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE DISCS than this horrible rock act.  But it’s a hip-hop nation.  Make me puke.

Just imagine if this act were GOOD!  Think of how many copies it would sell!

Daughtry.  Nickelback.  Hinder.  Something is happening here, and it’s PERFECTLY clear.

66. Patty Griffin "Children Running Through"

Sales this week: 16,158
Cume: 42,992

She’s lost her way.  This is the worst album she’s ever done.

Oh, there are some good cuts, like "Heavenly Day", but this is a far cry from "Living With Ghosts" and "1000 Kisses".
You’ve got to love artists like this, but she needs to DELIVER!

89. Bob Seger "Face The Promise"

Sales this week: 12,356
Cume: 741,203

The record is just the advertisement for the tour, just the SET-UP!

He’s doing boffo box office everywhere.  And the tickets are not at superstar levels.  Working class show for working class people (and for people who THINK they’re working class, but drive luxury automobiles!)

91. Il Divo "Siempre"

Sales this week: 12,14
Cume: 852,969

Simon Cowell isn’t only a star on TV, he’s one behind the desk!

This guy understands high concept records better than the man taking all the credit, Clive Davis.

And funnily, he manages to be in the spotlight without freaking out, like Britney and the rest of the plastic stars.

Is it really about hunting for talent, or is it about coming up with an IDEA!

Shit, it’s easier to come up with an idea…an idea doesn’t TALK BACK!

Then again, all the boy bands left Lou Pearlman…

107. The Wreckers "Stand Still, Look Pretty"

Sales this week: 10,453
Cume: 661,469

Flipping through the country stations on XM yesterday, I heard "Leave The Pieces".

This album and the one by Little Big Town are two of my most played of last year.

Oh, that doesn’t make me hip, in the eyes of the hipsters I’m LAUGHABLE!

But good voices, great changes, I RESONATE!

Records don’t exist on paper, but in your ears, and then your heart and mind.  I want a record that gets inside me, changes my life.  That’s the main criterion, not what something looks like.

Fuck the imaging, give me the MUSIC!

Michelle Branch defied her label and did what was in her heart, to GREAT SUCCESS!  God, her old paradigm, teenage songstress becoming sensitive singer-songwriter…who’s ever succeeded at THAT?  That’s the road to marginalization!

First music’s got to sound good.  This sounds good.

122. Little Big Town "Road To Here"

Sales this week: 8,594
Cume: 945,522

That’s a FUCK of a lot of records.  And if their target audience just knew about this record, this total would DOUBLE!

If you not only liked Fleetwood Mac, but the Eagles, Poco, Loggins & Messina, ANY of the country rock outfits of yore, buy this album on my recommendation ALONE!
My favorite song is "A Little More You".  There’s a groove, a banjo, call and response vocals, changing dynamics…

Oooh, gimme a little more you
Gimme a little more YOU!

More like this please.

123. Lionel Richie "Coming Home"

Sales this week: 8,564
Cume: 400,457

Don’t call it a comeback.

155. Il Divo

Sales this week: 6,363
Cume: 1,528,006

See number 91 above.

157. Panic! At The Disco "Fever You Can’t Sweat Out"

Sales this week: 6,311
Cume: 1,559,078

Wasn’t it mere months ago that the press was heralding this bullshit act as the future of music?  Talking about Warner’s development?

Nobody cares.  A one hit wonder.  Already almost completely forgotten.

163. Decemberists "Crane Wife"

Sales this week: 6,029
Cume: 186,302

Yup, you indie bands, you should sign with the major, they’ll break you BIG!

Utter hogwash.  You’re better off selling the records yourself.  Your cume might be lower, but you’ll have A LOT MORE MONEY, and you’ll salvage your cred.

Don’t forget, you’re in business with your FANS, not your LABEL, which essentially ceased to exist a month ago in this case (not that that hurt the sales of this record…)

164. Pink "I’m Not Dead"

Sales this week: 5,927
Cume: 599,476

The economics probably don’t work.  Her deal is probably too rich.  I’d drop her.

All the publicity in the world couldn’t break this album big.

And she’s aging every day and MTV no longer plays music and do you want to drop a million bucks on a new record?

The machine is propping her up, without the machine she’s…nothing.

165. Beck "Information"

Sales this week: 5,920
Cume: 358,534

I don’t care if you like him, even think he’s breaking ground.  It appears most of the public is not with you.

Although on a major label, Beck can be categorized as the ultimate indie white boy.  And with all this reverence and hype he can’t even go gold…MAYBE THIS IS A DEAD END!

THIS WEEK’S TIPS

1. Bang Camaro

This’ll bring you right back to the 80s.  In a GOOD WAY!

That guitar on "Pleasure Pleasure" will go straight to your gut.  You’ll start nodding your head.  Are we ready for a hair metal renaissance?

Well, we don’t have MTV to help us along, but the music delivers!

Can you hear it on Top Forty?  God, I’m thinking not.  Then again, if you’re making rock for the Top Forty is it really rock?

This is to play at home, LOUD!

Sure, it might not change the world, it might be close to meaningless, but it FEELS GOOD!

2. The Wyrd Sisters

Back in the seventies, it wasn’t about hits, but FULFILLMENT, stuff that touched your SOUL!

Now people only want to touch bodies.  It’s about the flesh, not the mind.  But we can’t switch our minds off, they need food too.

This also feels right, but in a completely different way from Bang Camaro.

Back in the day, a major would sign stuff like this.  Hoping it would find its own way.  Not worried that there wasn’t an obvious way to sell it, just figuring its STRENGTHS would help it garner an audience.

Imagine being at a show.  There’d be no lasers, no fog, but you’d bond with the music, you’d ascend in the auditorium.

FINALE

IMPALA…  What a bunch of poseurs.

Posturing as the last chance for the musician, as the protectors of music, they’re just interested in saving their own little companies.  God, the more consolidation there is, the better it is FOR INDEPENDENTS!

But they fought the Sony BMG merger.

And now Edgar Bronfman, Jr. has finessed them.  I’d say to the benefit of both.  Finally, I no longer have to hear IMPALA whine.

Warner has to merge with EMI.  Maybe this is the satellite radio paradigm.  Let them merge before one of them goes out of business.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t GOOD BUSINESS if you reconfigure your company to fit market realities.

Edgar is also getting into management.  But anybody who makes a deal with Irving Azoff does so at his peril.  Because Irving never loses.  He’s always got an escape clause.  He always manages to reincarnate to his own benefit.  He’s like Michael Cohl that way.  How many times has Michael Cohl sold his company?

Yes, the labels have to be in management.  And this is a good move by Edgar.  Because if it weren’t for the cash payment, Irving would NEVER share in touring revenue.

But Warner MANAGE such a company?  Is it NIMBLE ENOUGH?

If you’re a manager, you’ve got to be in it WITH the acts.  Whereas today the labels are banks that acts are afraid of, fearful of having, if not their loans recalled, their careers.

No, the future will be run by different people.  Trusted by their peers and acts, willing to work on sweat equity in order to reach critical mass, make it.

As further evidence of the death of the major label paradigm, look at the White Stripes deal.  Who WOULDN’T take that deal?  For billing purposes, Warner is handing over a boatload of cash and allowing the White Stripes to ultimately own their material.

This is the paradigm so prevalent in the U.K.  Once you stop developing acts, once you fork over millions for minimal/short term rights, you’re beginning to write your own obituary.