Comments on: Country Album Sales Increase in 2011; New Music From Emily West; Stream The Little Willies’ New Album

By: bll

bll — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:22:18 +0000

I suss in the past certain artists provided a large amount of their record labels income; Elvis and Sinatra come to mind. At one point in time Garth was something like 86% of Capitol’s bottom line; the difference was Sound Scan. With Sound Scan labels/charts were able to get accurate numbers of what was truly selling, and that was the game changer.

By: nm

nm — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:59:00 +0000

I do think it’s relatively new (= started with Garth Brooks) to have one artist out of the leading handful so very far ahead of the others in sales.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:31:48 +0000

Hasn’t it usually been the case that one artist was “carrying so much of the retail sales load all by (him/her)self–whether it was Willie, Garth, Shania, Tim or Kenny?

It’s about as true now as it was then, which is to say, not. If Rick weren’t so Swiftophobic, he’d notice that Jason Aldean’s album was just a couple of notches below hers. What’s been true for the last 20 years or so is that a handful of artists (handful > 1) have vastly disproportionate influences on the overall sales figures.

By: luckyoldsun

luckyoldsun — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:20:48 +0000

Hasn’t it usually been the case that one artist was “carrying so much of the retail sales load all by (him/her)self–whether it was Willie, Garth, Shania, Tim or Kenny?

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:51:15 +0000

I would like to see the annual country music album sales comparisons over the last few years that excluded Taylor Swift. Its not encouraging when a single artist is carrying so much of the retail sales load all by herself…

I’m glad Emily West was finally able to release an indie EP of the type of music she really wants to make. The songs are radically different in style from the material on her original Capitol label album. I saw her perform in LA a couple of years ago in a Capitol showcase where they were hoping to stir up some interest with the Hollywood TV and film industry types. That obviously didn’t work out. Now the question is what type of radio stations will play Emily’s new music? Hmm…

That Bluegrass Underground artist roster is quite impressive. If only Jesse McReynolds were there instead of Doyle Lawson, they’d really have something! (lol)

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:34:17 +0000

How can one read this:

“‘At the end of the day, it matters very little what music is called,’ says Pandolfi. ‘What we’re really trying to create is an experience.’”

and conclude this:

The Infamous Stringdusters are more interested in being called “an experience” than a bluegrass band.

Hmm?