InfoAnda - Music biz casts hopeful gaze on Swift's next album

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Kyrgyzstan buries its dead, U.S. halts troop flights | | 10 April 2010
Activist: US missionary crosses border into NKorea | 27 December 2009
Oil prices end volatile year below 40 dollars | 31 December 2008

Rare Roy Rogers guitar heading for auction block | 12 March 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Music biz casts hopeful gaze on Swift's next album

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Music biz casts hopeful gaze on Swift's next album Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Send IM Story Print By Ed Christman NEW YORK - Fan anticipation is already building for Taylor Swift's "Speak Now," after the pop-country superstar revealed on Ustream that the follow-up to her multiplatinum album "Fearless" will be out October 25. But anticipation of a different sort is building among music retail and label executives: Can "Speak Now" top U.S. debut-week sales of 1 million units? And if Swift can't attain that now-elusive milestone, can anyone? The last album to do so was Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III," which sold slightly more than 1 million units in its first week, the period ended June 15, 2008, and has sold 3.5 million units to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Since then, the closest any album has come to matching that performance was AC/DC's "Black Ice," which bowed with 784,000 units in the week ended October 24, 2008, and has sold a total of 2.2 million, according to SoundScan. Eminem's "Recovery," the sales champ of 2010 so far, debuted with 741,000 units in the week ended June 27 and has racked up total U.S. sales of 1.5 million, according to SoundScan. Other highly anticipated albums to be released later this year include titles from Susan Boyle, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Linkin Park, Kid Rock, Norah Jones, Diddy and Lil Wayne. In an informal survey of a dozen recording industry executives conducted by Billboard, Boyle, West and Wayne each drew votes as contenders for million-unit debut weeks. But most said they believe Swift has the best shot. 'SHE COULD BE THE ONE' "It feels like if anybody can do it now, she could be the one," said Will Botwin, president/CEO of Red Light Management and ATO Records. "She has the sales base and heat from the last few albums. And with all the amazing things she has going on, she is as likely as anybody to reach a million units, especially with the efforts of Big Machine and Universal behind her." Executives at Swift's label, Big Machine Records, and her distributor, Universal Music Group Distribution, couldn't be reached for comment. But retail sources said UMGD expects to ship 1.5 million units for the album's release date and that it's projecting first-week sales of 750,000 units. Swift's self-titled debut album, which came out in the final week of October 2006, has sold 4.8 million units, and "Fearless" has sold 5.9 million after debuting with 592,000 units sold in the week ended November 16, 2008, according to SoundScan. But since the release of "Fearless," Swift has proved to be not only a country-crossover star, but a media superstar as well. A major-label sales executive who asked to remain anonymous said the perception in Nashville is that Swift's popularity has peaked, adding, however, that the 1 million mark is still within reach. "She has created mass appeal, she has a bigger profile than anybody in music," the executive said. "I am betting that as we get closer to the release date -- with all the deals that Big Machine is probably working on falling into place -- she will be so in-our-face everywhere we turn that she will hit the critical mass that could see a million-unit week." SALES SLIDE CONTINUES According to SoundScan, U.S. album sales are down another 12.1 percent so far this year from the corresponding period in 2009. Given the continued sales slide, another major-label sales executive who asked to remain unnamed said he doesn't believe anyone -- "not Jay-Z, not U2, not Eminem" -- will ever again reach 1 million units in their debut week. The specific challenges facing Swift are threefold, the executive said. "I don't think she can get enough , depending on the song, and maybe top 40. But that's always the dilemma because there are not many slots for nonrhythmic music on top 40 radio in the major markets." Secondly, the executive speculated that Big Machine probably will price the album at a full $18.98 list price. That means it won't be price-friendly to Walmart, the largest U.S. physical music retailer, and thus won't be heavily discounted by the mass merchant to drive sales, unless it wants to forgo its profit margin. Finally, the executive didn't think Swift's digital sales will be strong enough. Digital sales accounted for 21.8 percent of the debut-week sales for "Fearless," short of the 34.4 percent digital share for first-week sales for Eminem's "Recovery," according to SoundScan. But that may not be a fair comparison, given that digital album sales have surged since the release of "Fearless." A distribution executive at a major label suggests that a better barometer of debut-week performance may be to include track-equivalent album sales, where the sale of 10 digital tracks equals an album. "I would still bet that she comes under a million units," the executive said, adding, "It's not our album, but I would be the first guy to stand up and cheer if it does happen." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. tour has staying power Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Bret Michaels cited for marijuana on tour bus Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Ex-Semisonic frontman steps into solo spotlight Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Sheryl Crow finds new groove as "Memphis" belle Reuters - Saturday, July 24 News Search Top Stories BP to start drilling off Libya Solar drone lands after record 14 days aloft Seven banks fail EU health check, most cleared Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'critical condition': publicist Telecom group sues San Francisco over mobile phone law More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Unique coral reef spurs Mexico tourism battle European banks face moment of truth Monaco's playboy prince sets wedding date Ford posts $2.6bn profit in second quarter Health watchdogs sound alarm over TB/HIV deaths More Most Viewed » Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Saturday, 24 July 2010
U.N. rights forum names team to probe Israel ship raid
Last five freed Cuban dissidents arrive in Spain
Apple starts doling out iPhone 4 cases to solve 'death grip'
Medvedev urges joint nuclear, space projects with Italy
Hypo Real Estate only German bank to fail test: central bank
Most Greek banks defy doomsters, passing stress tests
Iran aims to put man in space by 2019: Ahmadinejad |
Italy's banks pass EU stress tests, banks announce
US-TECH Summary
Greece's ATEbank pays price for farm sector deadweight
Google search share slips, Baidu gains: report
Venezuelan military warns Colombia against attack |
Dutch court fines firm over Ivory Coast toxic waste
Bashir returns to Sudan after defying ICC in Chad |
Notorious UK killer jailed on child porn charges
Amazon's weakness only for short term, say analysts
Major Spanish banks 'pass stress tests': reports
China's star blogger treads fine line
Kosovo and Serbia launch rival diplomatic offensives |
Apple again delays white iPhone 4 debut
Progress seen at talks on world arms trade treaty |
India develops 35-dollar 'laptop' for schools
France and Mauritania raid Al-Qaeda kidnap gang
Bettencourt to be questioned by police: lawyer |
Apple's white iPhone 4 delayed in latest headache
Israel tells U.N. N.Korea hurting Mideast stability |
Judge tells Conrad Black to stay in U.S.
India develops 35-dollar 'laptop' for schools
Pakistan face anxious wait for victory
China taking 'more aggressive' stance at sea: US admiral
Report says Uighur journalist jailed in China for 15 years
Japan defends costly visit by ex-N.Korean spy
Thailand to roll back emergency rule 'gradually': PM
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Google search share slips, Baidu gains: report |
KISS hits the road, betting on spectacle and classic hits
Prosecutors to quiz Japan ruling party's Ozawa
Italian expose on gay priests 'troubles' the church
Unique coral reef spurs Mexico tourism battle
Botswana opens path for Bushmen to study at university
Bosnian Oscar-winner's film opens Sarajevo festival
U.S., Pakistan cooperating more, can improve
India's Jet Airways flies into profit
Top Indian economic panel urges stern action on inflation
Japan telecom firm KDDI posts 16.8 percent earnings drop
Taiwan eyes closer Japan trade ties after China pact
Thai central bank upgrades economic outlook
Audi striving to meet Chinese demand: chairman
JAL's turnaround plan features huge cost cut: report
Pakistani stocks up; rupee flat; o/n rates down
India unveils prototype of $35 tablet computer
KISS hits the road, betting on spectacle and classic hits |
Zsa Zsa Gabor in critical condition, husband says |
Bosnian Oscar-winner's film opens Sarajevo festival |
4 US soldiers killed in Afghan bomb attack: NATO
One killed, two injured in Russian mine blast
Tablets may allow 're-set' for media: News Corp.
BP to start drilling off Libya
N.Korea declares sacred war on U.S., South |
Solar drone lands after record 14 days aloft
Telecom group sues San Francisco over mobile phone law
Roadside bombs a daily menace for troops in Afghanistan |
US Admiral Mullen to urge Pakistan action on militants
Dutch court fines firm over Ivory Coast toxic waste
Seven banks fail EU health check, most cleared
Australian govt consolidates lead over opposition: poll |
4 US troops die in bomb blast in south Afghanistan
U.S. looks to improve disabled access to Internet
NATO: 4 international troops die in Afghan blast
6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines: USGS |
Online tool launched to find aliens in US custody
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'critical condition': publicist
Chavez says U.S., Colombia seek pretext for invasion |
Disney in talks to buy game startup Playdom: report
Telecom group sues San Francisco over mobile phone law
Bashir returns to Sudan after defying ICC in Chad
News Corp. plans MySpace relaunch, will 'go younger'
Evacuation underway as storm heads to Gulf spill site
17 wounded in blast targeting Afghan candidate
Brazil's Rousseff pulls ahead in election |
Apple's white iPhone 4 delayed in latest headache
Most Greek banks defy doomsters, passing stress tests
One dies, 42 hurt when Swiss tourist train derails |
Dell holds steady after $100 million SEC deal
US drone kills 12 militants in Pakistan: official
6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines
Boxer Pacquiao now eyes Margarito fight
Delay in US marines' move from Okinawa to Guam: report
Irish photographer recalls day he met Khmer Rouge torturer
Australian govt consolidates lead over opposition: poll
25 die as bus plunges into Kashmir river: police
N.Korea threatens 'powerful nuclear deterrence'
Dismissed Gen. McChrystal gets hero's send-off
Maldives: Politics spark trouble in paradise
Flight crashes in Lake Mich.; 4 missing, 1 rescued
China to reduce number of capital crimes: media
NKorea vows nuclear response to US-SKorea drills
TRON:Legacy movie brings video game world to life |
Woman, 23, charged in Facebook-feud fatal crash
Disney in talks to buy game startup Playdom: report |
Calif. town outraged to learn of officials' pay
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. tour has staying power
Taiwan to be exempt from European panel tariff
Bret Michaels cited for marijuana on tour bus
Ex-Semisonic frontman steps into solo spotlight
China floods put pressure on Three Gorges Dam
U.S. looks to improve disabled access to Internet |
Sheryl Crow finds new groove as "Memphis" belle
Music biz casts hopeful gaze on Swift's next album
Casey Affleck sued for sexual harassment
Folk-rock duo takes its Warhol soundtrack on tour
"TRON:Legacy" movie brings video game world to life
Farmer takes on despot in compelling documentary "Mugabe"
Music biz casts hopeful gaze on Swift's next album |
Sheryl Crow finds new groove as Memphis belle |
Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan collapses onstage |
TRON:Legacy movie brings video game world to life |
Casey Affleck sued for sexual harassment |
Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. tour has staying power |
Bret Michaels cited for marijuana on tour bus |
Ex-Semisonic frontman steps into solo spotlight |
Russia insists on tech transfer in French warship deal
Iran won't trade with countries imposing sanctions
Iran plans to build nuclear fusion reactor
Taliban say 2 U.S. soldiers captured in Afghanistan |
Senior officers among seven killed in Caucasus: reports
Turkish PM proposes amending sensitive army law |
Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attacks in Iraq
5 US troops die in blasts in southern Afghanistan
Iran plans to build nuclear fusion reactor |
Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attacks in Iraq |
France, Mauritania end Mali operation: source |
Iran won't trade with countries imposing sanctions |
Brazil poll shows Rousseff and Serra tied in election |
China evacuates 100,000 as rains swell rivers
Sanctions will draw strong 'physical' response: N.Korea
US missile strike kills 12 militants in Pakistan
North Korea declares "sacred war" on U.S. and South
Bangladesh zoo mourns 100-year-old elephant
Quake off Philippines, no damage reported
Australia PM offers 'cash for clunkers' climate policy
India carmaker Maruti posts quarterly profit fall
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01