Billboard Explains Lady Gaga/Amazon Deal, The Blackout Controversy, and Criticizes Britney Fan Twitter Attacks

Billboard sets the record straight about Britney Spears and Lady Gaga

Billboard, the company that analyzes music sales in the United States, has published an article in response to the Twitter uproar caused by some Britney Spears fans.

Bill Werde, the editorial director of Billboard, wrote the article after some fans of Britney accused Billboard on Twitter of bias towards Lady Gaga and her new album, Born This Way. The alleged bias stemmed from the company's decision to count the sales from Amazon's 99 cent sale of her album, which have pushed first week projections of her album to over 1 million copies.

Some fans are also still upset over Billboard's 2007 decision to change the chart policy that prevented sales from one sole retailer from counting towards the album chart. The decision resulted in The Eagles topping the Billboard 200 instead of Britney's album Blackout, which was originally projected to hit the top.

Although the situations are different, fans are arguing that Billboard is unfair in not changing the rules against Gaga, when they were changed against Britney. To retaliate, some Britney Twitter users were trying to trend #Billboardcorrupt and #FraudThisWay.

In response, Werde called out Britney fans directly for spreading misinformation about the Amazon situation: "In the hope of clearing up misinformation I've seen around the web -- Britney fans, I'm looking at you, or at least at the evil ones who keep cursing me on Twitter without asking questions -- I'll share a few guiding dynamics, as well as some specifics for this week."

He explained in detail both situations, and gave his stance that Billboard examined situations on consumer interest, not on prices. He also wrote that Billboard had no intention of setting a lower-bound price limit in its analyses. He did concede, however, that Billboard is always looking into new changes and shifts in the market, and adjusts the methodologies accordingly.

Essentially, he told Britney Spears fans to stop crying over spilled milk.

While I wonder if the shade was necessary, it was a well-written article that definitely put all of the information out there. It should clear up any confusion (or lies).

Here is the link to the article: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/why-billboard-isn-t-revising-chart-policies-1005205422.story

Do you guys think that Billboard is right? To fans of Britney, are you guys upset over the Blackout incident in 2007, or about Gaga's Amazon deal counting? Share your thoughts with me!

So, Joe Won X Factor, But Will He Get Snubbed For The Christmas #1?

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If there is one thing you can count on every year, its that the winner of Britain's X Factor contest will have the Christmas #1 single, regardless of how crappy it is.

That might not be the case this year.

Joe McElderry, a lovely 18-year old from North London, took the crown this Sunday and simultaneously released his winner's single "The Climb", a cover of the Miley Cyrus track. I personally think the choice is crap and does nothing for Joe's voice, but I was still expecting it to slaughter the competition for this year's Christmas chart battle.

Well, as of today, his single is trailing Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" by 60%. Why? Well, there is a Facebook campaign out to dethrone the X Factor winner with the 1992 single, and do far, it's working. Simon Cowell has denounced the campaign as "stupid" and "miserable", and Joe admitted he would be gutted if he lost the #1 spot (he's right to feel that way; I mean, freaking Steve Brookstein got there!). Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine has found humor in the situation, calling it "a grass roots effort" and "a little dose of anarchy" for the festive season.

Yet, hope is not lost for the Geordie teen. His CD single is released today, and industry experts believe that will not only help close the gap, but clinch the #1 for Joe. Remember, RATM don't have a CD single to help their sales, and physical singles are still popular sellers, even if its dying market.

In the end, Joe will most likely get the top spot for Christmas, and all will be well with the world.

But "The Climb" will still be a hideous song choice.

U.S. Album Chart Update: Susan Boyle Owns Again; Brown, Timbaland Fail Miserably

Reality TV sensation Susan Boyle has snagged the top spot of the Billboard 200 again, while this week's biggest and most controversial release falls incredibly short.

Boyle sold a staggering 582,000 copies this week to top the U.S. album charts, bringing her 3-week total to 1.8 million sold. With two weeks left in the year, she is close to surpassing Taylor Swift as the best-selling album of the year. She is expected to remain at #1 next week, even with stiff competition from Alicia Keys' fourth album The Element of Freedom.

Chris Brown, who sparked controversy over the weekend by accusing retailers of blackballing his album on Twitter (ironically, Billboard proved him false and afterwards, his Twitter was deleted) enters at #7 on the charts with Graffiti, selling around 101,000 copies. His last album Exclusive came in at #4, with sales of 294,000 copies.

Timbaland, the mega-producer who saw massive success with 2007's Shock Value fails to match it with the sequel. Shock Value 2 comes in at #32 with sales of 39,000 copies. The former came in at #5 with sales of 130,000 copies, and went on to go platinum.

Chart Battle: Demi Set To Outsell Jordin Two to One!

This isn't a good week for American Idol alum Jordin Sparks.

This past week her sophomore album Battlefield was released. Also released this week was the sophomore effort of Disney's pop/rock princess Demi Lovato, titled Here We Go Again.

Blame it on the mega-marketing machine aided by Disney, the MJ effect, or the overall lackluster content of Jordin's album, but it appears that Demi will not only beat Jordin to the top of the charts, the teen will double her sales. Trade magazine Hits Daily Double is predicting sales of Here We Go Again to range from 110k to 120k, while Battlefield is expected to stall at 50k to 55k. The lead single and title track "Battlefield" has received mild success, despite television performances and critical acclaim. However, with a pop radio placing of #11 and growing iTunes sales due to the album's release, it is possible that it could rebound and break into the Hot 100's Top 10. She is also due to release her second single "S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)" within the coming months.

In MJ chart news, he will most likely reclaim the top of the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart (the chart that includes both old and current releases) with sales of his Number Ones compilation ranging from 175k to 200k, thanks to Sony restocking record stores. Last week, Daughtry pushed Michael from the top of the charts with their second album Leave This Town. That album is expected to bring in at most 105k this week, coming in at #2 on the Billboard 200 behind Demi.

The complete sales chart will be released on Wednesday, with the Billboard chart positions coming in on Thursday.

Chart Battle: Miley Trumping Mariah and MJ on iTunes!

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Everyone expected Mariah Carey's latest single "Obsessed" to top the iTunes chart this week, but it seems like that won't be the case, at all.

Right now, "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is sitting pretty at #1. That's no surprise. What is surprising is who is #2, and no it's not Michael (he and "Man in the Mirror" are at #3). At #2, is Hannah Montana, with the song "He Could Be The One", off the third HM soundtrack.

So, why is Mariah flogging with the sales, her strongest ally?

UK Charts: X Factor Trump 4-Way Diva Battle

People still love the combo of Mariah Carey, X Factor, and charity.

"Hero" the single by the 12 finalists of the reality competition remained at the top this week, despite huge competition from four of the biggest female artists in pop music.

Speaking of the chart battle, Beyonce comes out as this week's winner, peaking at #2 with downloads only. Britney finishes second with "Womanizer", coming in at #4. At #5 is Leona with "Forgive Me". Christina Aguilera finishes last and out of the top 10, entering at #14.

Girls Aloud stand strong with "The Promise", only slipping one spot down to #3.

Chart Battle UK: Beyoncé, Leona, Britney, and Christina Fight For #1

   

What happens when you have four of pop music's biggest artists releasing a song in the same week?

A chart battle, of course!

Yes, less than two months before the coveted Christmas number one is up for grabs, the lady leaders of the industry are engaging in a chart race to the top! Beyonce has released "If I Were A Boy", the first single from I Am...Sasha Fierce. Leona has sent out "Forgive Me", which precedes the release of Spirit: The Deluxe Edition. Britney, fresh from a US #1, releases "Womanizer" from Circus. Finally, Britney's longtime chart rival Christina will be releasing "Keeps Gettin' Better" from her greatest hits package of the same name.

So, who will be on top?

Right now, Beyonce is topping the UK iTunes chart, with Britney close behind at #2. Leona is a bit farther down at #5, being separated by "Hero" and Girls Aloud's "The Promise". Christina is out of the top 10 completely, settling for #12. Leona and Christina have the benefit of a CD single to help their sales, so its possible that Leona may pull a #1 upset. 

Still, the four divas are facing other competitors. "Hero", the Mariah Caey cover sung by the X Factor finalists, will probably sell well into its second week after topping last week's chart with sales of over 310,000. Girls Aloud's "The Promise" is also holding on tight as well. Strictly Come Dancing contestant Alesha Dixon also has a new single out, "The Boy Does Nothing".

Right now, here are my chart predictions:

"If I Were a Boy" - #1 

"Womanizer" - #3

"Forgive Me" - #4

"Keeps Gettin' Better" - #8

Stay with BWU for the latest on the chart battle!

300K In Sales Expected For X Factor Charity Single

The X Factor charity single is expected to bring in some of the biggest sales of the decade!

"Hero", a Mariah Carey's 1993 hit, was covered by the 12 X Factor finalists for two charities; the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and Help For Heroes. It was released last week, and is so popular, its being called one of the biggest singles of the decade.

The success of the single has many British retailers scrambling to fill out orders to refill their emptying shelves. UK retailer HMV has reported sales of over 100,000 in just two days. According to the chain's spokesman Gennardo Castaldo, "the only thing that may hold back sales this week is whether the manufacturers can keep pace with the growing demand for the CD single."

Amazon UK revealed earlier in the week that they sold out of the CD single within a few hours of release. It is also #1 on UK iTunes and Play.com.

The single, which was performed live on the live results show on Saturday, is seeing sales projections of over 300K, making it one of the biggest opening week sales of the year, if not the decade. This isn't the first time that the X Factor has yielded huge sales. Leona Lewis' coronation single "A Moment Like This" sold half a million copies in its first week.

Take That Launch UK Chart Battle With Britney Spears

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The pop chart battle of the year has been launched across the pond.

Earlier this year, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Leona Lewis dueled it out on the US charts with their new singles, with Leona ultimately winning. Now, the ever-important holiday market is the stage for another chart battle, this time between a recovering pop princess and the elder statesmen of UK pop.

Take That, arguably the biggest boyband in recent UK history, premiered their new single on the Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 yesterday called "Greatest Day". Group member Gary Barlow revealed that the single would be released on November 24th, the same day Britney's potential US chart-topper "Womanizer" drops in the UK.

It gets even better. The name of Take That's new album is The Circus. Britney's album title is Circus. Coincidence? Both albums will be released on the same date; December 2nd.

It's a tough chart battle to predict. Take That made a huge comeback in 2006 with their album Beautiful World. It is their best-selling album to date, with 2.1 million copies shifted in Britain alone. They also garnered two UK #1s from the album. Britney's chart fortunes are less inspiring. Her album Breakout only sold 10% of Take That's, despite the top three placings of "Gimme More" and "Piece of Me". Still, her comeback is more than impressive.


We'll see in a month, but my money is on Take That. Their fanbase is too great to ignore, no matter huge Britney's return is slated to be.