Early projections show Nas “Magic 2” to do around 15-20k first week

[L. Deezy]

I understand her argument but my pushback is that when you look at the sales of other successful legacy or older acts, they prioritize album sales and activate their fanbases very well. As an example the Foo Fighters did 62k last month, 55k of which were physical sales. That same month, Dave Matthews Band did 44k first week, 40k of which were physical sales. Those artists spend more time promoting their albums and ensure their tours announcements align with the release window. They know their fans aren't super active on Twitter so it takes more time to get them up to date on things.

Expecting a predominantly older fanbase to stream makes no sense, and even less sense when they keep doing these surprise drops with no (or limited) promo, no single, no video. I don't get it. I'm not even sure they've done a sit-down interview where they're both present, which is mind boggling.

I agree..

 

[Ziggiy]

I understand her argument but my pushback is that when you look at the sales of other successful legacy or older acts, they prioritize album sales and activate their fanbases very well. As an example the Foo Fighters did 62k last month, 55k of which were physical sales. That same month, Dave Matthews Band did 44k first week, 40k of which were physical sales. Those artists spend more time promoting their albums and ensure their tours announcements align with the release window. They know their fans aren't super active on Twitter so it takes more time to get them up to date on things.

Expecting a predominantly older fanbase to stream makes no sense, and even less sense when they keep doing these surprise drops with no (or limited) promo, no single, no video. I don't get it. I'm not even sure they've done a sit-down interview where they're both present, which is mind boggling.

I’d also bet that Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters are on Major Labels which means

1)z. That they’re marketing budgets are higher

2). That they probably have access and opportunity to make SURE that they’re physicals (CD, Cassette, Vinyl) are ready to ship DAY 1.

What I noticed about a lot if independent rappers I fukk with, is that they’re physicals are almost NEVER ready to ship day 1, which impacts when those sales count towards billboard

 

[malbaker86]

I’d also bet that Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters are on Major Labels which means

1)z. That they’re marketing budgets are higher

2). That they probably have access and opportunity to make SURE that they’re physicals (CD, Cassette, Vinyl) are ready to ship DAY 1.

What I noticed about a lot if independent rappers I fukk with, is that they’re physicals are almost NEVER ready to ship day 1, which impacts when those sales count towards billboard

Nas gonna do w/e the hell he wants to do; results be damned. Nas was never a 5x plat person even in his PEAK so for him to continue to do what he's always done, should be of no surprise. Idc if he/mass appeal put a mill each into promoting these last 5 tapes, i'm sure he and his team know what ballpark he's going to push "sales" wise and are ok with that, otherwise they'd go about it differently.

 

[Ziggiy]

Jayz would never sell that low
Tell me I'm lying
Album was good tho

Hov would partner with Bath & Bodyworks to buy a gazillion copies so he’s platinum in the first day before letting the buying public decide his sales fate….

 

[prophecypro]

Anthony Saleh is great I don’t know how involved he is though anymore.

And you have a point also the albums don’t seem expensive to make.

Anthony I think works strictly on the business and venture and touring side of things with Nas now

I think during the Def Jam years he took an active role in the rollout of stuff but later on it was more the QB venture stuff

 

[CrushedGroove]

If y'all say one more slight against the GOAT, I'm nuking this site. Then I'm renting an RV and coming to see you one by one. Or, to be more climate friendly, I'm going to throw a I Hate Nas convention because I know y'all gon show up near a solar farm and fade all of you one by one.

 

[semicko82]

As a lifelong Nas fan who finds many of the Nas fans on this site to be completely ridiculous, just be happy you’re getting new music you like.
The fact that every suburban white girl in America streams Drake nonstop doesn’t enhance the quality of his music.
A 50 year old rapper is never gonna be “what’s hot”.
Enjoy the fact that you’ve found a community who agrees with you on Nas.

Exactly
I thought Life is Good was going to be the last Nas album.
Those six years between LIG and Nasir the fans were starving, but between the Hit-Boy albums and guest verses we're eating again

 

[Zero]

If y'all say one more slight against the GOAT, I'm nuking this site. Then I'm renting an RV and coming to see you one by one. Or, to be more climate friendly, I'm going to throw a I Hate Nas convention because I know y'all gon show up near a solar farm and fade all of you one by one.

 

[Stick Up Kid]

Lil Baby, Durk, out there doing 200k a week but cancelling the same arena concerts that Nas/Wu are selling out

 

[diggy]

Something to do between buying businesses for him at this point.

 

[prophecypro]

I understand her argument but my pushback is that when you look at the sales of other successful legacy or older acts, they prioritize album sales and activate their fanbases very well. As an example the Foo Fighters did 62k last month, 55k of which were physical sales. That same month, Dave Matthews Band did 44k first week, 40k of which were physical sales. Those artists spend more time promoting their albums and ensure their tours announcements align with the release window. They know their fans aren't super active on Twitter so it takes more time to get them up to date on things.

Expecting a predominantly older fanbase to stream makes no sense, and even less sense when they keep doing these surprise drops with no (or limited) promo, no single, no video. I don't get it. I'm not even sure they've done a sit-down interview where they're both present, which is mind boggling.

Rock fans still lowkey support. Its wild also how much younger fans in tht genre still fukk with the older bands (Probably cause their parents put them on...but that also is probably people say that genre has finally become stagnant after 70 years cause the new acts aint coming out)
100% for that reason they will support, cop vinyl go to shows etc and like you said they have time to build anticipation, they go on radio, online shows, talk shows etc etc.

....and thats all with the help of a label they gotta recoup too, I have no idea if they're working at a loss though. Im presuming some of them do eventually go gold and cost wise maybe they're doing everything at home so its okay but yeah


And this is only drawback for Nas going independent....Mass Appeal is not willing to do any promoton and that 20-50k first week that this albums live or die on is just all US, doesnt even count his fanbase frm overseas which as we saw with his shows in Europe he has.

 

[Lil Bape the PostGod]

Lil Baby, Durk, out there doing 200k a week but cancelling the same arena concerts that Nas/Wu are selling out

Why don’t you post the tweet that you post in every first week sales thread ..don’t worry, I got you



Look at the way the world works

 

[prophecypro]

I’d also bet that Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters are on Major Labels which means

1)z. That they’re marketing budgets are higher

2). That they probably have access and opportunity to make SURE that they’re physicals (CD, Cassette, Vinyl) are ready to ship DAY 1.

What I noticed about a lot if independent rappers I fukk with, is that they’re physicals are almost NEVER ready to ship day 1, which impacts when those sales count towards billboard

All done with made to order and then after a year or so you find them at stores

I copped Magic, KD 1 and 2 on vinyl only just this year finding them at different places

 

[prophecypro]

I’m not saying everyone SHOULD stream i’m just saying I get where’s she’s coming from.

The labels are basically FORCING artists towards streaming and doing everything they can to take the leverage of pure sales and physicals away. Even though Vinyl sales have soared in recent years and with the rising popularity of cassettes and CD’s there is still clearly a demand for physical media.

Its a fukked up game but artists in some shape for form are being forced to play it

This is something thats happened this year which I think they announced which kinda fukks the game up

They were talking on the Budden podcast a couple of months back about how Billboard/RIAA was trying to change some rules on physical purchaes/bundles which had been in the air since 2018. After the Travis/Niki shyt they started not counting bundles which is why you saw those montster first week numbers cool off. Everything was pending this year in terms of new rulings, which played a big part in why big albums were not dropping and why we didnt have any number 1s (Drake, Travis, ASAP, Nikki all holding off till they got the word). This now hurts any artists who have fans who wanna buy physical pruchases (Aka underground, older acts, niche R&B etc)
Basically the artist who will survive are the ones who stream high (And weather thats because of the labels have streaming farms or not idk though Ive seen stories on them like that Vice piece) so now you have what you have.

 

[scorpino]

Lil Baby, Durk, out there doing 200k a week but cancelling the same arena concerts that Nas/Wu are selling out

Facts. Nas isn’t stupid. These hit boy joints are passion projects at this point. He’s still making major bread touring with Wu and investing