It seems that people are so concerned about "how many units ____ sold"...It's like everybody wants to know business that really doesn't involve them. As a fan just support the music and do your best to spread the word that what ever artist you like is a talented person that needs to be heard. First of all major label #'s are usually fudged and made to look greander then they really are just for unit counters like those I am speaking of. Master P did it quite offten, tossing out grand #'s that were not the truth...plus alot of stores don't follow the soundscan system just as alot of radio stations don't use BDS (all clear channel stations use media base to track spins)...In the music industry #'s do lie. Mom & Pops sales only count for 1/3 of a chain store soundscaned sale...who does this affect most....urban artist who depend on these record stores that are close to their homes. Anyway, just enjoy the music and let the labels and artist worry about the #'s.
QUESTION: AT WHAT POINT DID FANS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT SOUNDSCAN #'S?
- Thread starter Ear2DaStreets
- Start date
Soundscan Numbers don't tale the the whole story...If you have high scans 1. your are on a major label 2. that major lable has to put millions into your project for promotion (videos, radio, magazine covers, t.v...). Plus you have to base numbers on what the norm of the reigion are...20,000 records sold in the Bay as an independent artist are great numbers, but that would be shitty numbers in Texas...Just enjoy the music and be happy you as a fan of music don't have to deal with the shit we have to deal with.
peace
peace
I dont "WORRY" about the numbers but I am curious. I like to see how many units +\- are out there. I know the #'s are not accurate but 10 years down the line that UNDERGOUND CLASSIC may be rare and HTF and it would be eaisier to judge what the cd is worth (If I remeber, lol). BUT you guys are right, who cares, its not making me money.....
People in the industry use soundscan for many different reasons. They can track where there biggest markets are, as well as see how their album is selling and the regions they are selling in. But overall, Soundscan really does not reflect how well an independant or artist that is not pushed by a major thats spending big dollars like Left said. I would say for an independant artist using Soundscan to find out where your album is selling would be the biggest benefit. Also, proving to a major that you pushed some Soundscan as an indy shows them you probably doubled or tripled that Soundscan number from mom n pops and out the trunk shit...
What's wrong with the fans caring? People just wanna know. No, I'm not gonna go buy an album based on its soundscan numbers, but I've ALWAYS been interested...I mean, i've bought Brotha Lynch's Season of tha Siccness brand new 4 different times, in major record stores...If i found out it went platinum, thats just cool, kinda feels like u help. i really dont see what the big deal is? Yeah, it's not that important to me, but all im saying is its cool to know.
p.s. "everyone wants to know business that doesnt involve them"-thats the biggest piece of bullshit i have ever read on this site. Me buying music DOES involve me, shit.....i thought thats why most rappers put out albums, to break bread off of it...and where does it come from? the consumers...so it does involve me. and shit, thats the LEAST i can know, how well it does. fuck.
p.s. "everyone wants to know business that doesnt involve them"-thats the biggest piece of bullshit i have ever read on this site. Me buying music DOES involve me, shit.....i thought thats why most rappers put out albums, to break bread off of it...and where does it come from? the consumers...so it does involve me. and shit, thats the LEAST i can know, how well it does. fuck.
The reason why we care about soundscans is because most of you rappers used to be fans, so the business side says worry about your scans if you want bragging rights, if you want to get a distribution deal greater than the one you have, and of coarse shows you where your units were sold so you know where to promote the hardest. Yes, they do lie, because a lot Mom and Pop stores are not soundscan. So an independent artist has to struggle till he can show 2,000 soundscan, before he even gets his first distribution deal. The #'s are important to the whole industry, the artist, the label, the distributor, the consumer-you.
I cant wait till they revemp that Soundscan system.. Clearly it is outdated and being abused by a few large label "buybacks programs" to float their #'s on fake sales... If anything the albums should have some sort of identifier "Hologram sticker" to certify genuine product from the bootlegs (inside and out)... Then base the numbers on shipped and returned units from all distribution locations after 1,3,6 month intervals.. That would represent a clearer # for the artist to be held accountable.. Indy or major.. Holla
No, that aspect of it is okay, IMHO.
But when fans start using Soundscans as the ONLY basis on whether or not they buy an artist's CD, that's foul. I mean, just because an artist's CD hasn't sold well does NOT automatically mean that that particular CD's wack--it might just mean that this-or-that CD hasn't received the best promotion or distribution (and don't anyone kid yourselves--those things can and do make a difference between whether or not a CD sells well). Similarly, two million copies sold does not automatically equal a classic (or even a "pretty good") CD, either. Just my five cents.
PEACE!
But when fans start using Soundscans as the ONLY basis on whether or not they buy an artist's CD, that's foul. I mean, just because an artist's CD hasn't sold well does NOT automatically mean that that particular CD's wack--it might just mean that this-or-that CD hasn't received the best promotion or distribution (and don't anyone kid yourselves--those things can and do make a difference between whether or not a CD sells well). Similarly, two million copies sold does not automatically equal a classic (or even a "pretty good") CD, either. Just my five cents.
PEACE!