Taylor Swift attends 'The Giver' premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on August 11, 2014 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
It's not just about popularity, but the mechanics of the modern record business.
What other acts could follow Beyonce and her surprise
self-titled album release last December? Well, just about anybody. But
who could do it and find tremendous success — like Beyonce? (2 million sold in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.) That’s a different story.
So, Billboard looked to its charts to determine the top five acts -- based on their weekly performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Social 50 -- that could, effectively, pull a Beyonce.
We recapped the top artists on the weekly Billboard 200 going back five years, along with the top performing artists on the Social 50 (which measures the most active artists on social media) from the chart’s launch in December of 2010. Justin Bieber is the highest-ranked act on both recaps, followed by Taylor Swift. (They are two of five acts that are among the top 10 artists on both charts, followed by Eminem, Lady Gaga and Adele.)
The
assumption is that the higher ranked the artist is on both chart
recaps, the more likely they have a super-engaged online fan base that
would purchase full albums (instead of individual tracks, or, opt for
streaming songs).
selling 22.8 million in total. But, would she cut physical retailers
from the equation in the short term, like Beyonce? Swift’s last album,
2012's Red, sold 71 percent of its 4 million on physical CDs.
(She even sold the CD through Papa John's Pizza outlets, Walgreens and
Starbucks.)
of his albums have sold at least 2 million apiece. Like Beyonce, he
takes the less-is-more approach when it comes to communicating through
social networks. Beyonce has 13 million followers on Twitter, but she
barely uses the account (she has only tweeted eight times). Eminem has
18.5 million followers on Twitter, but has Tweeted less than 400 times.
The lack of social interaction from Eminem and Beyonce actually works in
their favor. Fans who want to engage with them have to do it the
old-fashioned way -- by listening to an album, or seeing them on tour.
has shifted 725,000. Like Beyonce, Gaga is a highly visual artist.
Thus, a visual album (as Beyonce dubbed her self-titled set) with
multiple music videos would be an attractive lure for album buyers.
has moved 10.97 million in total. It’s safe to say that her upcoming
album is one of music’s most anticipated releases. But, like Swift,
would Adele (and her parent record labels, XL and Columbia) dare leave
physical retailers out in the cold? 72 percent of 21's nearly 11 million
were physical CDs, with 4.9 million of those sold through mass
merchants like Walmart.
Honorable mentions (acts that ranked among the top 25 in both the Billboard 200 and Social 50 recaps), ranked alphabetically: Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, One Direction, Katy Perry and Rihanna.
self-titled album release last December? Well, just about anybody. But
who could do it and find tremendous success — like Beyonce? (2 million sold in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.) That’s a different story.
So, Billboard looked to its charts to determine the top five acts -- based on their weekly performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Social 50 -- that could, effectively, pull a Beyonce.
We recapped the top artists on the weekly Billboard 200 going back five years, along with the top performing artists on the Social 50 (which measures the most active artists on social media) from the chart’s launch in December of 2010. Justin Bieber is the highest-ranked act on both recaps, followed by Taylor Swift. (They are two of five acts that are among the top 10 artists on both charts, followed by Eminem, Lady Gaga and Adele.)
The
assumption is that the higher ranked the artist is on both chart
recaps, the more likely they have a super-engaged online fan base that
would purchase full albums (instead of individual tracks, or, opt for
streaming songs).
1. Justin Bieber
He’s the top performer on the Social 50 chart since its launch, and the third-biggest act on the Billboard 200 in the past five years. When he tweets, people listen.2. Taylor Swift
She’s been the most successful albums artist of the last five years,selling 22.8 million in total. But, would she cut physical retailers
from the equation in the short term, like Beyonce? Swift’s last album,
2012's Red, sold 71 percent of its 4 million on physical CDs.
(She even sold the CD through Papa John's Pizza outlets, Walgreens and
Starbucks.)
3. Eminem
Whatever he releases turns to gold… well, platinum. OK, double platinum. All eightof his albums have sold at least 2 million apiece. Like Beyonce, he
takes the less-is-more approach when it comes to communicating through
social networks. Beyonce has 13 million followers on Twitter, but she
barely uses the account (she has only tweeted eight times). Eminem has
18.5 million followers on Twitter, but has Tweeted less than 400 times.
The lack of social interaction from Eminem and Beyonce actually works in
their favor. Fans who want to engage with them have to do it the
old-fashioned way -- by listening to an album, or seeing them on tour.
4. Lady Gaga
Her devoted Little Monsters fan base has helped her sell 9.7 million albums. Her most recent release, ARTPOP,has shifted 725,000. Like Beyonce, Gaga is a highly visual artist.
Thus, a visual album (as Beyonce dubbed her self-titled set) with
multiple music videos would be an attractive lure for album buyers.
5. Adele
Her 21 album was the top seller of both 2011 and 2012, andhas moved 10.97 million in total. It’s safe to say that her upcoming
album is one of music’s most anticipated releases. But, like Swift,
would Adele (and her parent record labels, XL and Columbia) dare leave
physical retailers out in the cold? 72 percent of 21's nearly 11 million
were physical CDs, with 4.9 million of those sold through mass
merchants like Walmart.
Honorable mentions (acts that ranked among the top 25 in both the Billboard 200 and Social 50 recaps), ranked alphabetically: Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, One Direction, Katy Perry and Rihanna.
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