Has Billboard’s make-it-up-as-you-go chart qualification process finally backfired? Once upon a time, Billboard had a pretty simple job when it came to counting and ranking weekly album sales. Using its retail-scanning sidekick, Nielsen Soundscan, Bil…
Category archives: Sales Data & Stats
One Month Later — Where the Hell Is Rolling Stone’s Charts Release?
After getting heavily hyped, the industry is feeling a distinct sense of buzzkill. But is Rolling Stone’s chart release finally arriving? Rolling Stone owner Penske Media spent so much effort hyping up its chart release in May, you’d think the Music C…
Rolling Stone’s Charts Release Remains Missing — What’s Going On?
Rolling Stone’s heavily-hyped charts release remains M.I.A., with rumors pointing to numerous snags and even in-fighting. It was the chart release that promised to finally challenge Billboard and Nielsen Music. Just one problem: it’s still mysteriousl…
Is Rolling Stone In Trouble? Charts Delayed After Top Executive Departs
Rolling Stone’s much-ballyhooed charts release has been delayed — just days after a splashy announcement and the departure of the magazine’s Publisher/CRO. Last week, Rolling Stone magazine bid adieu to its Chief Revenue Officer and Publisher Andrew Bu…
Weekly Vinyl Record Sales Surge to 827,000 Following Record Store Day — a Brand-New ‘Record’
A Nielsen Music report says Record Store Day drove record-breaking vinyl sales, with more than 827,000 sold that week. Nielsen Music says this year’s Record Store Day — held on April 13th — was the third-largest sales week for vinyl albums since 1991 (…
Despite Billboard’s Antiquated Opposition, Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ Tops Hot 100, Breaking a Drake Record
Thanks to TikTok – as well as a slight nudge from Justin Bieber – Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ became an overnight sensation last month. The popular hybrid hip-hop/country song soon debuted on several Billboard charts, including the famed Hot Country So…
BTS Becomes the First Group from Asia to Cross 5 Billion Streams on Spotify
Spotify partly fueled this fire with some plum playlist placement. BTS remains dominant among Kpop fans and broader Asian audiences, though Spotify has been promoting the group worldwide within powerful playlists like Teen Party. With nearly four mill…
Streaming Overtakes Physical In France for the First Time Ever
Digital revenues exceeded physical revenues for the first time ever in France last year. Digital revenues in France now account for 57% of the market, with sales of €335 million ($380 million) in 2018. National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing (SNE…
South Korea Has 8.5 Million Paying Music Subscribers — But Physical Is Growing, Too
BTS isn’t the only thing booming in South Korea. But you can thank K-pop for the explosion in streaming — and growth in physical. A new report focusing on the music industry in South Korea has revealed that not only is streaming on the rise, but phy…
Streaming Music Grows 40% In Germany — But Vinyl Sales Decline 7%
Germany still remains a strong market for physical formats — at least for now. According to a new report, streaming music has sharply grown in Germany. Physical sales, including CDs and vinyl, however, have experienced a significant decline. That’s acc…