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One Direction sales - not actually that huge?
InMyArms
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If we consider their UK sales to Leona's second album, which people seem to consider a flop for some reason, has outsold 1D second in the UK. Her first album on it's own eclipses both albums combined - and would even if you doubled the sales of both of One Direction's albums and combined them.
Note: I'm not trying to make out that 1D are unsuccessful, that would be absurd, but they're not as successful as many assume.
As with many fans of young males, they're just very loud.
Note: I'm not trying to make out that 1D are unsuccessful, that would be absurd, but they're not as successful as many assume.
As with many fans of young males, they're just very loud.
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Not sure why you have immediately cited Leona Lewis as a comparison (especially a 3 year old album).
Yet funnily you make no mention of her latest album sales which as you know are a shadow of what 1D are currently selling.
In the US, they have 2 platinum albums in less than a year.
And overall Take Me Home (second album which was released in November) is looking to overtake their debut both in the UK and internationally.
I'm no 1D fan, but you can't deny how successful their second album has been so far in the UK. Looking at the XF acts general sales thread they've sold something like 600,000+ albums haven't they? I was quite surprised seeing that number. And the album has only been out since November.
I Tunes has revolutionised the way records are bought now. It is way cheaper than having to buy a physical record both LPs and singles.How many of these sales are actually on a physical medium compared to a few years ago when physical sales were the only medium and they were more expensive? I know people are saying they had 2 platinum albums in a year in the US, but really the last LP was from 2011, and it was released rather later in the US.
Their singles releases havent seemed to set the US alight, the first single sold for about 3 weeks before disappearing and the second release hasnt done particularly well.
But even then it is different times and didn't albums sell better in Leona'sera with no down loads?
Leona's second album sold 563,000 copies in a similar timeframe in 2009. Those sales made it the 15th best selling album in the UK of 2009. Where 20 albums sold more than 500,000 copies in 2009, only 8 did so in 2012. So it's a big shift in the market.
Echo's UK sales were actually alright even for 2009. But they were underwhelming and a lot more was expected. Syco/Sony shipped 600,000 units for the release. I think some people (myself included) believed 1D would see a bit of a dip this time around but instead their sales have improved. They're actually quite a bit bigger in the UK that I'd have thought a few months ago.
The other factor is international. Take Me Home has raced to become the #5 album in the world in 2012. One of the albums in front of it is their debut but it looks like TMH could improve on that total.
I don't think on their first album 1D were as huge as Leona was in the UK in 2007/08. But that has probably flipped for their second albums, 1D's sales are better in a far weaker market and vitally, they have the momentum. And while the UK was by far Leona's key market, 1D have always been more evenly spread and that is proving to be the case again.
They have spent most of their time stateside and indeed are doing a 40 venue USA tour right after their UK tour,
http://www.onedirectionmusic.com/tourannouncement/
ONE DIRECTION HAVE HAD TO RESCHEDULE 4 OF THE DATES ON THEIR SOLD OUT 2013 UK ARENA TOUR
For labels, music sales are still be all end all, unless the artist has 360° deal. in any case, music sales still matter and unfortunately, the situation is getting worse and worse every year. To get a general impression, compare the year.end charts at the link below. Those are only estimated numbers, but you get the picture.
http://www.mediatraffic.de/previous2.htm
I remember reading that 1D were collectively already worth £100 million, are they heck.
Albums have never sold millions a week. Oasis hold the record for the fastest selling album in the UK with 760k.
I would say that One Direction are now the most successful UK x-factor act over Leona, as they have sustained their worldwide success past one album and probably haven't peaked yet. Whether they are the most talented is a different story.
Their success in the US has been unprecedented. They are the first UK band to debut at the top of the billboard charts in US history for a start.
I think people are underestimating just how much they have achieved over the last year.
I think people are overestimating their ability and underestimating how much Simon Cowell and co have spent in their shameless promotion
Leona Lewis was the first UK female to debut at the top of the same chart just a few years ago. Yes, it's a huge achievement but things can and do change.
It's a hyperbole. Maybe I should've used billions or something. :rolleyes: