Billboard results are in...

[nastygrant]

Way to go, sister! But, did they count each album as two units?

"Shania Twain's latest Mercury release "Up!" soars straight to the top of The Billboard 200 this week on sales of 874,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The total is the second-largest opening of the year, behind rapper Eminem's "The Eminem Show" (Shady/Interscope), which moved 1.3 million copies in its first week in May. Along with her Billboard 200 No. 1, Twain achieves the same position on Billboard's Top Country Albums tally, where her 1997 album "Come on Over" logged 50 weeks at the top.

Although "Come on Over" never rose above No. 2 on The Billboard 200, the set has sold 14.4 million copies to date, more than any album tracked since SoundScan began tallying sales in 1991. The new set was led by Twain's latest single, "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!," which became a top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in less than seven weeks."

[minnesotastfan]

i think that they counted each copy which contains 2 cds so the RIAA .. which counts the cds... says that she actually sold 874,000 times 2 ...

and the thing about 14.4 million.. is that number from 1999 because it has sold 19 million in the u.s

[Wolsey]

They will not of counted two for every one sold. Thats just ridiculous, I've never heard of that before. the 2-disc will just be counted as 1. :) :) :)

[bluegrassman]

19 million wre shipped to stores.

[kwokster]

If the soundscan figures say 14.4 million and the total shipped is 19 million then there must be a heck of a lot of CD's still sitting around in stores unsold.

I wonder how much of that discrepancy can be accounted for in sales *outside* of soundscan....

[MinorityBoiPA]

I've seen so many debates on whether this cd should be counted as 2 or not. Now, I will agree that each disc has the same songs/order of songs on them, but if you listen to the instrumentations, they are quite a bit different. I was in marching band for 5 years and concert band for 9 when I was in school (yeah, I was a real dork, lol :funny: ) but I have a pretty good ear for music. In many of the songs the differences are VERY extreme if you listen close enough. Don't listen to the words or the singing, listen to the actual music, and you'll see what I mean.

As far as being counted as a double-disc set, I think it should be. If the songs were actually recorded with different instruments and in different areas of the world, and not just remixed, then I think they should count as 2. Heck, she could have split the 19 songs up and put half of the songs on one cd and the other half on another. Artists have done it in the past. If you look at the Top selling albums of all time, 3 of the albums listed in the top 10 are double disc sets, and wouldn't even be in the top 10 had they not been counted as such. Pink Floyd - The Wall is a double disc set. It sold actually 11.5 Million but is counted at 23 million because of being a double disc. They are at #3 on the all time list. Billy Joel is at #5 on the all-time list with his Greatest Hits Volume I and II. Sold 10.5 million copies but is counted as 21 Million instead. Both of these albums are above Shania Twain's "Come on Over" which is only a single disc album, selling 19 million copies by RIAA standards in the US. The Eagles have the number one position at 27 million. If Shania Would have split "Come on Over" into 2 discs, she would have the #1 album of all time in the US with 38 million albums sold. I know that sounds rediculous and I am stretching this a bit to make my point, but I AM trying to make a point. Pink Floyd's - The Wall is barely a double disc set with it being 81:24 in length, as compared to Shania's "UP!" at what, 72 minutes or so? I think they should count it is double, but I will not be upset if they don't. I know Shania's great, and whether or not they count it as 2 discs, she WILL have one of the best selling albums of all time, with this album!! No doubt in my mind! :] :] :D :D

[razorbac]

good sales numbers :)

[kerawal]

Also, just because a CD is not counted as 2 units by soundscan, does not mean that it will not be by the RIAA. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no way she only sold 437,000 copies of Up. She sold 874,000 and it has not been doubled,yet. Whether it will be or not by Soundscan is yet to be determined, but it more than likely will be counted twice by the RIAA.

[AngelGuy]

Sales and certifications are two different things. When you're talking about a 2-CD set like UP!, sales don't get doubled, but certifications do.

So Shania had 874,000 over-the-counter sales. For sales purposes, that number is the actual number. It doesn't get doubled, and you don't double 437,000 to arrive at that figure. 874,000 is the number of sales, period.

RIAA Certifications is the only thing that gets doubled. But most people concentrate on actual sales, not certifications.

So Shania actually sold 874,000 units of UP!, regardless of whether each unit contained 1, 2, 3, or more CDs inside. 874,000 is the magic number. :)

[kerawal]

True, But in Fact, Garth Brooks Double Live sold 540,000 and was shown, by Soundscan and Billboard, as selling 1,080,000 million the first week. The 437,000 comment was lettingpeople know it was not doubled, not that I actually thought that. So,Soundscan sometimes does get doubled.

[kerawal]

You know, after thinking about all this, and listening to Shania last night on Katie Couric, it really doesn't matter how much it sells. In the grand Scheme of things, someone's album sales mean nothing. If it is doubled, if it is counted as one, if RIAA counts it as two, none of this really matters. What matters most in this situation is that we as the fans know she made the best album she could. We know she put her sweat, blood, tears, and time into it and that should be good enough for us. Take for example country singer Kelly Willis. She has probably never had even a gold record, but there are those devout fans who love her music so much, they buy her album because it is new music from her. (I know this, one of my groomsmen loves her). Right now, at the holidays, is the best time to take into account what our priorities are. Family, the goodness of mankind, our beliefs.. this is what counts. Why Shania and album sales are entertaining, just take all of this into account this holiday season. Don't get me wrong, Shania is by far, my favorite artist. I have been following her and her success for over 8 years now. I just realize though, there is a time and a place for everything. Come On Over had mediocre debut, but look at it. Look how much it sold. There is no indication of how well an album will do based on its first weeks sales total. Again, the important thing reguarding this album, is if you think it is good, to stand behind it. We know the album is superb, let's just leave it at that! Happy Thansgiving everyone! Talk to you Sunday night when I get back.

[Andrew]

OK... FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WONDERING ABOUT THE COME ON OVER SALES NUMBERS....
The original version of COO (American Version) has sold 14 million copies in the U.S. The International version has sold 5 million in the U.S., added together that makes 19 million. :)

[nds76]

I really don't see what the big deal is here. Why does it seem to matter if Up! is counted as 1 or 2??

[DJMc]

I agree...it's so ridiculous how much sales matter so much when Shania's music is concerned just because Come On Over sold that much...

I hope she won't be considered a failure from now on if she cannot achieve those numbers anymore. That'd suck! LOL

[nastygrant]

I think the point here is that the sales are incredible, as is Shania! It proves that people still love her and her music. And for me, I just find sales statistics fascinating. Will it sell as much as COO? I don't really care, but it's good to see that people are still high on Shania!

[shmoopie]

Originally posted by kwokster
If the soundscan figures say 14.4 million and the total shipped is 19 million then there must be a heck of a lot of CD's still sitting around in stores unsold.

I wonder how much of that discrepancy can be accounted for in sales *outside* of soundscan....

Soundscan apparently does not count every retailer, only the really big ones, like Wal-Mart (I might be wrong on this). Soundscan also doesn't count sales from music clubs like Columbia House.

So the "real" sales are somewhere in between 14.4 and 19 million.

[Eilsel]

Congrats Shania and Mutt!

[shanilia]

The album should NOT be counted twice. The 2nd disc does not consist of completely new music. All it is is the same songs done to different music. That is not a different "album," so to speak. There are practically the same songs on 2 discs.

I just wish Billboard or someone would clarify this matter once and for all. Maybe in the coming weeks, hopefully.

[jonno]

Gold in the first week is excellent. Is this the a record number sold in the first week by a country album?

[AngelGuy]

I'm pretty sure it's a new record by a female country artist. Garth Brooks probably holds the record for overall country sales.

[Shaniafannum1]

Is this the a record number sold in the first week by a country album?

I've read that it IS in fact the biggest debut by a country female artist...

As for the thing with as to count UP twice or not- sales DO matter-there's no denying that. They may not matter to Shania but I'm sure they matter to SOMEONE. But, the songs on Disc 1 and Disc 2 are pretty much the same- just some noticable instrumentation. So, if I were doing the counting- as much as I LOVE Shania- I'd count UP as one :)

[Cheyenne55]

Originally posted by Shaniafannum1
I've read that it IS in fact the biggest debut by a country female artist...

As for the thing with as to count UP twice or not- sales DO matter-there's no denying that. They may not matter to Shania but I'm sure they matter to SOMEONE. But, the songs on Disc 1 and Disc 2 are pretty much the same- just some noticable instrumentation. So, if I were doing the counting- as much as I LOVE Shania- I'd count UP as one :)

That is how Soundscan counted it. I'm interested in how the RIAA counts it for certification. They usually count a 2-disc set as two disc. Guess we'll have to wait and see huh:smirk:

[aFinn]

Hopefully it will be counted as one by RIAA.

[Cheyenne55]

Originally posted by aFinn
Hopefully it will be counted as one by RIAA.

I'm not sure that would be fair to Shania, but like someone else said, it doesn't really matter. It'a a good CD either way you play it..Right?

[aFinn]

Right :D

Oh, I was mainly referring to the endless silly naysayers who will moan about it counted as double if it will be...
I just would rather not start hearing those... :smirk: