Topic: The real reason My December didn't sell as expected

[Admin]

Following articles are from Rolling Stone Magazine. Simular articles are in other publications. Music reviewers often overlook the real reasons, as they are more critics of the music and the artist, and not business folks.

CD SALES FALL FIFTEEN PERCENT
The embattled record industry took another hit in the first half of 2007, with CD sales down fifteen percent and digital singles leveling off after years of explosive growth. "There's no crisis - there's no panic" insists Tom Coorson, general manager of the RCA Music Group, adding that blockbusters by artists such as Alicia Keys and Carrie Underwood could turn things around by year's end. "It's a little steeper than we forecast, but it's not shocking to us.".
Yet compared to 2005 (when digital-single sales grew by 150 percent), digital singles' first-half growth of forty-nine percent this year is troubling because labels make less money on each ninty-nine cent download than they do on an entire CD. Sales were down in every genre, from hard rock to hip-hop, with the best selling album, Daughtry, moving jsut 1.7 million copies - Compared to last year's High sChool Musical Soundtrack, which sold more than 2.5 million copies by midyear. "It's going to turn around" says Duncan Browne, CEO of New England music chain Newbury Comics.

Internet Radio vs. Record LAbels
On July 15th, new royalty rates for Internet radio were supposed to go into effect, which could have cost online stations more than $1 billion a year - potentially driving manu out of business, including Pandora and Yahoo Music. But two days before the deadline, Sound-Exchange, the organization responsible for collecting royalties on record labels' behalf, agreed to delay enforcement of the new rates for the time being. The move came after major internet broadcasters staged a "Day of Silence" protest on June 26th - stopping programming for twenty four hours and asking listeners to contact congress, which overseas royalties. "One million people called, faxed, or e-mailed congress since the Day of Silence" claims Pandora founder Tim Westergren. "That's what happened here. Public outcry equals congressional pressure equals intervention." Members of ocngress have proposed a September deadline for the parties to reach an agreement.

There you have it. Record sales are hitting bottom, people are not buying, they are downloading (mostly ilegally), cause prices to be raised. This makes it harder for artists to reach multi-platinum albums as well, and causes 'disagreements' between artists and labels, as the labels are trying to continue making money, any way they can, knowing, sales are so bad. They are all in danger of going out.

While KElly fans keep blaming Clive for everything, most are failing to realize, he's doing what he's always done, and he's actually right about how he does things, unfortunatly, Kelly wanting to record what she wants and how she wants, she's also right. There is no one 'wrong' in these situations, it's a simple matter of business itself. If albums and singles were still selling liek they used to, not even Clive would be worried about it, but with the downfall in sales (over 56% in the last 10 years over-all), I personally can't blame him for his concern, and even Kelly herself has said over and over since MY December began that he's right (maybe some need to re-view some of her interviews).

My December sales aren't lower then they should be because of the msuic, or because RCA hasn't promoted it at all, people are simply not buying msuic these days. When Breakaway came out in 2004, sales were up alot from what they are now, the album did very well, if it were to be released now instead of 3 years ago, it's safe to say, it would not have done as well as it did then.

[mego18]

WELL said....very well said

[KellyisAmazing]

sigh of relief...i knew plwere diong that, i knew it! hmm well i gues i kindve owe clive a small small apology, "sorry clive"!  but i luv this cd! i told all my friends to buy it after live eart and they did they luv HIF, cuas ekc sang it on LE!! yay!! i should be promoting her cd...anyway thanx alan!

[herdarkerside]

yeah..but i heard many people say that they didnt buy the cd..because of all the controversy .of clive saying her cd sucked...but your right..anyways...i love md..i love kelly..and support her all the way.

[SuperNatural1901]

Yup... many people think, "why buy the cd when I can just download it." it's pretty sad but I think that if MD was released instead of Breakaway as her second album that it would have done really well... but yeah... people really should buy the album instead of downloading everything but you can't change what mostly everyone does...

[Admin]

fact: Clive never said the CD sucked.. those were words put in his mouth by the media.
Why do you think Kelly kept saying there was never realyl a battle, and it was all blown out of proportion?

even now, the media twists it into 'Kelly appologizes to Clive on her website'.. did they read the same message we all say? it said 'TO MY FANS' not 'TO CLIVE DAVIS'.

for 5 years, what has the media had on KElly that's bad? she gained a few pounds? she ate a cookie in Holland that had pot in it and she didn't know till after? she went to a metal school concert? they've been waiting for something to twist into 'Kelly's fault', and this was it for now. Kelly herself said many times Clive isn't wrong, and it's all a matter of this is the album she wanted to do. It did get promotion, espceially when the tour was set, it was everywhere, she did alot of radio and tv on it (mostly radio).. fact is, stores didn't order alot, people didn't order alot, CD sales themselves are down, digital sales are ven down becuase of illegal downloading, so Clive has to think about the company and get the most out of the artists.. including Kelly, if he can't, they have to drop the artists because they can't keep them on payroll anymore.. all labels are doing the same thing. That's why indie labels are getting so big now, artists have no where else to go, and indie labels dont get the publicity as the major labels, they dont have the money to put into it, or the range to reach.

[Tina]

interesting!!

but i just think it's completely normal that when you really like an artist, you buy the cd, to support him/her.

anyway, i'll always support Kelly!!!! MD is an amaaaaazing CD and i'm really proud of her!

[kellbell_SCORE]

well said alan! bout time some1 put this straight!

[!jUsTiNe!]

very well said...

[KCFreak]

way to go..finally we have the record set straight! Its all business and we'll never know what was said behind closed-door meetings between Kelly and Clive. So lets just let MD sell as it is, it will sell what its supposed to sell, and Kelly will record many, many more albums that will be as good or better then her last three. All we have to do as fans is support her and Kelly will be around for years. The only way Kelly wouldn't record anymore is if she chooses not too! Go Kelly we're supporting you for years to come.

[Kelly_for_life]

well said Alan...very well said...

[Lauren]

yeah, im also glad someones put it straight, so many people have different explanations to it but thats the best one ive heard

[NaiCha]

agree! 100 %!!!

[Kellylvr5]

I agree with you Alan. I also think all the controversy had a little to do with it, though. Its a shame how CD are falling. Its really going to hurt the music industry and all of the artists. Hopefully CD sales will rise again soon!! 

[Artamous]

I think this explains why sales in total are down and maybe ppl think it makes it look like the album is verysuccessful, the only thing that still shows it not as successful is where it stands on total sales in comparison to ones like hannah montana and the others that are now ahead of it. There are the same download issues with all of them reducing their sales as well