smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: Ashlee Simpson Meets Milli Vanilli |
| Date | Mon, 25 Oct 2004 18:04:05 -0400 |
[Part 1 text/plain (2.2 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
At Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 14:43:09 Jeff wrote:
>Yeah, but chew on this...
>"Welcome Interstate Managers" has been out since June of 2003
>and hasn't even sold 400,000 copies. Ashlee's album is almost platinum
>at 955,000 (according to SoundScan). If I were Clive Davis or some
>other big shit peddler, I'd bank on the latter. Fortunately, I'm not.
>
>If the kids like crap...keep feeding it to them. Those that want to come
>around for something better will...if they really want to.
Looks impressive on the surface for Ashlee Simpson. But, it's longevity
that's going to be the tell all. Let's assume Ashlee sells 2 million of this
new album. Next one's going to sell less than half because her fans, even
prior to the SNL debacle, will have grown up, moved on, or gotten bored
(typical of the teen pop market and something the labels have always
neglected). She will be cast out/thrown aside by record number three...at
the most. That's 3 million units with Ashlee looking a career hosting
children's TV shows or Entertainment Tonight to fall back on.
If Fountains of Wayne can maintain their shit, and endure several more
albums with a steady fanbase once the novelty/boredom factor parcels out the
non-fans they may be expected to sell an average of 250,000 units
indefinitely.
It's worked for The Tragically Hip, 54.40 and Blue Rodeo in Canada -- all on
major labels -- for nearly 15 years each. Constant touring drives constant
sales....and in a nation that can't sustain careers big enough to sell
250,000 of any act. And yet, they do.
In the US, it should be a no-brainer...that is, of course, if the American
major labels weren't looking for the million seller each and EVERY time they
released an album. There's something to be said for consistant, albeit
predictable, releases. Give the fans what they want, stop second guessing
your output in the name of the A & R department's decree, and you too can
live as long in the major-label system. It's working for Tears For Fears,
Fastball, et al.
Jaimie Vernon,
President, Bullseye Records
http://www.bullseyecanada.com
Author, Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicPopEncycloPages
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.