No simple reason why RS catalog sales are down, but one thought is they get very little radio play for their (even biggest) songs, old or new. And there have been times that, say, Joplin (a good decade or more) or The Doors (til 1980 when the Hits comp & "Never Get Out..." came out) were very dated-sounding. Death sometimes ensures a comeback. Then, the Stones have pushed Hot Rocks and Forty Licks into massive hit albums...Frankly I dont understand it - who's buying "Dark Side Of The Moon" at this late date???

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slew
Because young people have no taste!

2nd biggest selling artist in the US in this decade (and amongst the biggest everywhere else) by some distance are The Beatles, so I doubt it's just young people buying those CDs

Even though their catalogue is entirely old material, isnt on i tunes and has been overdue a remastering for a decade or more.

The top 20 selling artists in terms of album sales in the US in that time would suggest that rock n roll is on its last legs there - and maybe the Stones should do an album of watered down country songs (with a token rap song) to help sales...

#20.........Celine Dion..........17,579,000
#19.........Kid Rock...............17,606,000
#18.........Johnny Cash........17,860,000
#17.........Dixie Chicks..........18,293,000
#16.........N-SYNC.................18,402,000
#15.........Alan Jackson.........18,479,000
#14.........Metallica................18,490,000
#13.........Rascal Flatts..........18,831,000
#12.........Josh Groban...........19,115,000
#11.........Nickelback..............19,158,000
#10.........Jay-Z......................19,379,000
#09.........Creed.....................20,398,000
#08.........Linkin Park..............21,125,000
#07.........Nelly.......................21,206,000
#06.........Kenny Chesney......21,396,000
#05.........Britney Spears........22,937,000
#04.........Toby Keith..............24,189,000
#03.........Tim McGraw............24,295,000
#02.........THE BEATLES..........27,591,000
#01.........EMINEM..................31,127,000



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009-06-11 02:50 by Gazza.

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Gazza

Quote
slew
Because young people have no taste!

2nd biggest selling artist in the US in this decade (and amongst the biggest everywhere else) by some distance are The Beatles, so I doubt it's just young people buying those CDs

Even though their catalogue is entirely old material, isnt on i tunes and has been overdue a remastering for a decade or more.

The top 20 selling artists in terms of album sales in the US in that time would suggest that rock n roll is on its last legs there - and maybe the Stones should do an album of watered down country songs (with a token rap song) to help sales...

#20.........Celine Dion..........17,579,000
#19.........Kid Rock...............17,606,000
#18.........Johnny Cash........17,860,000
#17.........Dixie Chicks..........18,293,000
#16.........N-SYNC.................18,402,000
#15.........Alan Jackson.........18,479,000
#14.........Metallica................18,490,000
#13.........Rascal Flatts..........18,831,000
#12.........Josh Groban...........19,115,000
#11.........Nickelback..............19,158,000
#10.........Jay-Z......................19,379,000
#09.........Creed.....................20,398,000
#08.........Linkin Park..............21,125,000
#07.........Nelly.......................21,206,000
#06.........Kenny Chesney......21,396,000
#05.........Britney Spears........22,937,000
#04.........Toby Keith..............24,189,000
#03.........Tim McGraw............24,295,000
#02.........THE BEATLES..........27,591,000
#01.........EMINEM..................31,127,000

Gawd the 2000's sucked!!!

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slew
Because young people have no taste!

So true. It's no wonder the Beatles are in the #2 spot. Back in middle school and high school, kids used to buy Beatles CD's and bring them to school to "prove" they were cool. But not a single one of them could name a song that wasn't on the Greatest Hits CD. Not a one of those tasteless beings would even know a song like "I Wanna Be Your Man". I cannot stand shows and magazines like Rolling Stone that always put the Beatles in the number one spot on any Top Ten list (probably even in the Top 10 Metal songs ever) and hail them as the greatest band there has ever been in the history of the universe. The masses have horrible taste. Examples: The Beatles selling so many records, the Wolverine movie being number one at the box office (you need an IQ of 3 to understand the movie), and the Jonas Brothers also selling buttloads of albums like their heroes the Beatles. This explains why the Stones' back catalog doesn't sell very well. If the Stones were a appeals-to-the-masses, pop band, then their catalog would sell incredibly well like the Beatles. But thank God, they are not.

That list is really horrific, so glad the Stones aren't on it.

This is just a personal observation on this subject title.

Without a word of a lie, there is not 1 person I know [say in my top 40 of friends / family / relations] that do not own a Stones album.

Some own just 2 or 3, and others own 10+, with others virtually all of the catalogue.

I cannot honestly recall ever being to a party in my life where there has not been a Stones album residing in the hosts collection. Whether it got played that night is a different story, however the fact is that even homes I have been to where I do not know the invitee, there is always a Stones album or more on tap.

In my work, I can often visit homes of clients & I admit I do try to have a quick peek at their CD's etc if I get the chance, and there they are, the Stones sitting in the collection. of course this is not 100%, that would be rediculous, but I have no reason to make up a story like this.

In my travels in life, Stones albums are owned everywhere by many many people, whether I know them or not at all.

My point is being, that I truly believe that anyone & anyone at all that is into music from the 60's & onwards would typically own a Stones album. As they might another big name artist like Dylan, Elvis, Floyd etc.

One of my friends manages a CD section of a major CD retail store in Sydney & often mentions to me that the Stones can sell bucket loads in a month or two & then it can dry up for a while, but overall the records sell & sell well.

OK, this could definately mean that Stones albums are not selling too well today, because based on my personal situation within those people that I know in both Sydney & Brisbane, I would most likely expect this subject header as a fact, as everyone has them already & or has the 2 or 3 Stones records that they are happy to own & play when the Stones urge hits them. So yes, maybe sales are not that crash hot. I can see that point of view, but for me there is a possible reason why [as noted above].

Anytime at all I go to my local pub or a club with a Stones Tee on, I can also guarantee 100% without fail I will get in a conversation with 1,2 or 3 different people on the night over favourite album? / did you see them last time? / how fantastic they are etc etc.

In fact, I can give 3 actual accounts of this exact thing happening to me just in the last 2 weeks alone when on a night out.
1] A bar tender at Norths Sydney Leagues Club - talking to me about how great he thinks Black & Blue is as well as GHS & IORR [a young guy around 25].
2] A punter at my local Hotel - talking about the 60's classics & how good the ABB tour was [a guy around 50+]
3] A young babe stopped me in a club & was in my ear about the Stones for 30+ minutes. That story didn't end there...what a great night. Won't guess her age, but I am still smiling.
4] I could go on with hundreds of these similar situations.

I used to socialise with a girl [who actually did not own a Stones record, but was more U2 inclined] and she could not actually believe that every single time we went out, people would talk to me about Stones albums they own or the band etc. She was totally gobsmacked by it. She eneded up owning ABB & loving it, but that was it I think for her, but hey there's another to add to the list.

Never ever any negativity towards them, always more like awe & inspiration & wonderment of their music & albums & band members.

I am going out tonight [Friday night] in about 4 hours & I will bet my entire Stones collection, another Stones fan or 3 turns up for a album story & a chat.

I hope that puts a smile on a few faces for this coming weekend.

It is a unbiased and true scenario of how I see the Stones in my society at least, which proves to me that these guys sell & have sold bucketloads of records, despite some of these absolute rediculous stats we sometimes are expeted to believe.

Have a great weekend everyone, I am going home to play a few Stones records, probably ABB & UNDERCOVER, & then head out for a great night.

I hope you all do the same.

In answer to "Why do they sell bad"? - simple answer - they don't & haven't & won't.

Stay happy & rockin' with the Stones!!!

Cheeers & Beers to ya all!

Silverstones

Without going into too much detail it has long been my opinion that although the Stones get a massive amount of press in the tabloids (I mean who actually cares if Ronnie is having an affair etc) their music gets precious little airplay here in Australia and the promotion for their product is almost non existent.

While it is true that their longevity has had a somewhat 'negative' impact on their legacy (had they stopped in 1982 etc etc) I for one am pleased that they have kept on going because a new Stones album is still worth waiting for (although the long lay off periods between studio releases is frustrating!).

It also should be remembered that they do not fit into a particular pop bracket and that traditional R&B/blues music (their real roots) is not really the easy listening coffee table music that generally tops the charts. Having said that they are still ranked in the bracket of artists that have sold between 200 - 499 million units in the world and that is a fairly small group!

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akgameboy

Quote
slew
Because young people have no taste!

So true. It's no wonder the Beatles are in the #2 spot. Back in middle school and high school, kids used to buy Beatles CD's and bring them to school to "prove" they were cool. But not a single one of them could name a song that wasn't on the Greatest Hits CD. Not a one of those tasteless beings would even know a song like "I Wanna Be Your Man". I cannot stand shows and magazines like Rolling Stone that always put the Beatles in the number one spot on any Top Ten list (probably even in the Top 10 Metal songs ever) and hail them as the greatest band there has ever been in the history of the universe. The masses have horrible taste. Examples: The Beatles selling so many records, the Wolverine movie being number one at the box office (you need an IQ of 3 to understand the movie), and the Jonas Brothers also selling buttloads of albums like their heroes the Beatles. This explains why the Stones' back catalog doesn't sell very well. If the Stones were a appeals-to-the-masses, pop band, then their catalog would sell incredibly well like the Beatles. But thank God, they are not.

Theyve sold over 250 million albums and are the biggest selling and biggest grossing touring act of all time. For decades now theyve been generating millions of dollars on merchandise alone - possibly more than any other act with the exception of Elvis. How is that not 'appealing to the masses' ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-06-14 19:47 by Gazza.