'45' and 'Handwritten' (the album) on the charts!

The drop was also bigger than that of AS. I feel like they're floating just under the surface and for whatever reason they just can't break through. I mean, I know rock isn't the most popular genre right now but King of Leon did it. What did they do that TGA isn't doing? Their 2 singles were "slightly" more radio friendly, yes but I don't think that was what made all the difference. I feel like someone's not doing their job right but I don't know who.

Also, why haven't they properly released another single at this point? (in the US I mean). I don't know how this stuff is supposed to go but I feel "new single from #3 album on the Billboard charts..." sounds better than "New single from that album that was #3 weeks ago and is now #150..."

their sex isn't on fire

steph wrote:

their sex isn't on fire

I knew that was the problem.

I can't stand this man...but I love this sketch, and seeing Sex Is On Fire mentioned...

Klown wrote:

Good, that happened me once....itched for days.

that's what happens when you bang everything that walks past you!

steph wrote:

Klown wrote:

Good, that happened me once....itched for days.

that's what happens when you bang everything that walks past you!

Haha, I changed my post, but I KNEW someone would quote it haha

11 on the alternative songs this week. That's up like 3. Might crack top ten next week!

Meanwhile the album slides to 57 which is rather sad but still not completely terrible for a third week performance.

http://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs#/charts/alternative-songs?begin=11&order=position

12 on Alternative Songs. Not bad, still not overwhelming. What do you think they should do to enlarge their fan base? They got on NHL 13 Soundtrack, which isn't bad, and also 45 was airplayed at the Etihad Stadium... hope it will do them good!

But the album has fallen to #98 on the top 200, #32 on Rock Albums and #22 on Alternative Albums...

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

The drop was also bigger than that of AS. I feel like they're floating just under the surface and for whatever reason they just can't break through. I mean, I know rock isn't the most popular genre right now but King of Leon did it. What did they do that TGA isn't doing? Their 2 singles were "slightly" more radio friendly, yes but I don't think that was what made all the difference. I feel like someone's not doing their job right but I don't know who.

Also, why haven't they properly released another single at this point? (in the US I mean). I don't know how this stuff is supposed to go but I feel "new single from #3 album on the Billboard charts..." sounds better than "New single from that album that was #3 weeks ago and is now #150..."

Given that a high chart performance was expected, I still wonder why they did0n't announce a big tour in time with the album's release, when people might have bought the album and the ticket, rather than sell out a good-bye-to-small-venues-tour prior to release. Come next year, will enough people be bothered to still buy tickets for an arena tour?

As for the drop, the high showing was clearly based on pre-orders and an existing fan base, albeit one that has grown since AS was released. The album itself though didn't have that much impact as such, and the reviews were worse than for AS (not many record of the month listings). To be honest, HW just isn't upbeat and summery enough, and I'm not surprised it didn't catch on more widely (sad to say, it's my least favourite TGA album - AS was so much better). And Brian coming across all weird in interviews doesn't help (too big for his own boots).

steady now steady now wrote:

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

The drop was also bigger than that of AS. I feel like they're floating just under the surface and for whatever reason they just can't break through. I mean, I know rock isn't the most popular genre right now but King of Leon did it. What did they do that TGA isn't doing? Their 2 singles were "slightly" more radio friendly, yes but I don't think that was what made all the difference. I feel like someone's not doing their job right but I don't know who.

Also, why haven't they properly released another single at this point? (in the US I mean). I don't know how this stuff is supposed to go but I feel "new single from #3 album on the Billboard charts..." sounds better than "New single from that album that was #3 weeks ago and is now #150..."

Given that a high chart performance was expected, I still wonder why they did0n't announce a big tour in time with the album's release, when people might have bought the album and the ticket, rather than sell out a good-bye-to-small-venues-tour prior to release. Come next year, will enough people be bothered to still buy tickets for an arena tour?

As for the drop, the high showing was clearly based on pre-orders and an existing fan base, albeit one that has grown since AS was released. The album itself though didn't have that much impact as such, and the reviews were worse than for AS (not many record of the month listings). To be honest, HW just isn't upbeat and summery enough, and I'm not surprised it didn't catch on more widely (sad to say, it's my least favourite TGA album - AS was so much better). And Brian coming across all weird in interviews doesn't help (too big for his own boots).

is your love affair with TGA starting to strain ?

Theyve had some great exposure but unfortunatly its not sticking HW is my least favourite album so far but hoped the guys would do well from it

If it makes you guys feel better, I got at least 3 or 4 new people to like the band due to the new album...

Thats cool. they should be die hard fans when they hear the best stuff then lol

brucesboots wrote:

steady now steady now wrote:

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

The drop was also bigger than that of AS. I feel like they're floating just under the surface and for whatever reason they just can't break through. I mean, I know rock isn't the most popular genre right now but King of Leon did it. What did they do that TGA isn't doing? Their 2 singles were "slightly" more radio friendly, yes but I don't think that was what made all the difference. I feel like someone's not doing their job right but I don't know who.

Also, why haven't they properly released another single at this point? (in the US I mean). I don't know how this stuff is supposed to go but I feel "new single from #3 album on the Billboard charts..." sounds better than "New single from that album that was #3 weeks ago and is now #150..."

Given that a high chart performance was expected, I still wonder why they did0n't announce a big tour in time with the album's release, when people might have bought the album and the ticket, rather than sell out a good-bye-to-small-venues-tour prior to release. Come next year, will enough people be bothered to still buy tickets for an arena tour?

As for the drop, the high showing was clearly based on pre-orders and an existing fan base, albeit one that has grown since AS was released. The album itself though didn't have that much impact as such, and the reviews were worse than for AS (not many record of the month listings). To be honest, HW just isn't upbeat and summery enough, and I'm not surprised it didn't catch on more widely (sad to say, it's my least favourite TGA album - AS was so much better). And Brian coming across all weird in interviews doesn't help (too big for his own boots).

is your love affair with TGA starting to strain ?

there has always been an element of strain; no doubt Brian is my favourite songwriter in a generation, but how that talent and his work is expressed, packaged & marketed (by the label or by himself) is another matter and will inevitably vary; moreover, I have always been a critical friend, not a sycophant, especially as I am in this for the long haul

steady now steady now wrote:

there has always been an element of strain; no doubt Brian is my favourite songwriter in a generation, but how that talent and his work is expressed, packaged & marketed (by the label or by himself) is another matter and will inevitably vary; moreover, I have always been a critical friend, not a sycophant, especially as I am in this for the long haul

For the love of god, would you stop stirring shit??!!!??!!

Shrewsbury_Stars wrote:

steady now steady now wrote:

there has always been an element of strain; no doubt Brian is my favourite songwriter in a generation, but how that talent and his work is expressed, packaged & marketed (by the label or by himself) is another matter and will inevitably vary; moreover, I have always been a critical friend, not a sycophant, especially as I am in this for the long haul

For the love of god, would you stop stirring shit??!!!??!!

I'm really getting the hang of it now

steady now steady now wrote:

Given that a high chart performance was expected, I still wonder why they did0n't announce a big tour in time with the album's release, when people might have bought the album and the ticket, rather than sell out a good-bye-to-small-venues-tour prior to release. Come next year, will enough people be bothered to still buy tickets for an arena tour?

I've heard from a couple people that the "good bye to small venues" US tour was actually a "woops, our album was supposed to be out at the start of this but now it's been pushed back" tour. They're also a long ways from small arenas in the US with the exception of a very few markets (maybe even just NYC/NJ).

Quote :

As for the drop, the high showing was clearly based on pre-orders and an existing fan base, albeit one that has grown since AS was released.

This is pretty much what I thought too. The overall numbers are up which can be due to both organic growth and Mercury's presence but it's not like the major label pushed them into the main stream. It's pretty amazing to me that there's been just one single (released 3+ months ago).

Here's an update on Handwritten

Week	#	Sales	Overall
1	3	41159	41159
2	38	9673	50832
3	57	6147	56979
4	98	4790	61769

steady now steady now wrote:

Given that a high chart performance was expected, I still wonder why they did0n't announce a big tour in time with the album's release, when people might have bought the album and the ticket, rather than sell out a good-bye-to-small-venues-tour prior to release. Come next year, will enough people be bothered to still buy tickets for an arena tour?

As for the drop, the high showing was clearly based on pre-orders and an existing fan base, albeit one that has grown since AS was released. The album itself though didn't have that much impact as such, and the reviews were worse than for AS (not many record of the month listings). To be honest, HW just isn't upbeat and summery enough, and I'm not surprised it didn't catch on more widely (sad to say, it's my least favourite TGA album - AS was so much better). And Brian coming across all weird in interviews doesn't help (too big for his own boots).

I agree with the tour thing. You'd think the way to go would be to be like "Here we are, you can't ignore us anymore!" not "uh, here ya go, we're gonna go run off and do some festivals in Europe now. Catch ya later".

It's interesting what you said about it not being upbeat and summery enough. I never thought of that but I think you're dead right. I mean I picture late summer/early fall for Mulholland and Mae but overall because it's so deep and heavy it seems like it'd be better for an early fall release. I think this album is tied for my favorite with AS but it feels more right to be blasting AS or one of their other albums in the car with the windows down in the summer heat.

Personally, in my humble not-an-expert-in-the-music-industry opinion, I think this is a great album surrounded by extremely mishandled marketing/promotion of the band and the album, bad timing of release dates and tour dates, and while I love all the songs and they have catchy elements, 45 is the only one that sounds like a single to me. Unless you count Blue Dahlia, which in the world of album singles, you can't because it's a bonus track.

Last week, Handwritten fell to 139 on the Billboard chart, 44 in rock albums and 19 in tastemaker albums.

Perfect time to release another single.

njguy99 wrote:

Last week, Handwritten fell to 139 on the Billboard chart, 44 in rock albums and 19 in tastemaker albums.

Perfect time to release another single.

Yeah, idk, might be a good idea to do so before it's off the charts completely.

Anyone have the updated sales figures year to date?

njguy99 wrote:

Anyone have the updated sales figures year to date?

I haven't seen any yearly sales lists yet but I don't think Handwritten has been on the Billboard 200 since October. Back then the total was something around 70-75k sold. It's a lot harder to find overall numbers since then when the album isn't actually charting.

ral wrote:

njguy99 wrote:

Anyone have the updated sales figures year to date?

I haven't seen any yearly sales lists yet but I don't think Handwritten has been on the Billboard 200 since October. Back then the total was something around 70-75k sold. It's a lot harder to find overall numbers since then when the album isn't actually charting.

That's what I figured. We need to find someone with access to Soundscan.

My educated guess is something in the 100k range, but that could be way off.

Bumping a really old thread but I came across a number from SoundScan for the overall sales of Handwritten that I hadn't seen before - 122k sold as of a month ago.