SOE enters UK chart at No 5.

After a mid-week showing at the top, the album chart is now out and SOE is only Number 5.  That's a surprise because I thought it might get to Number 1 for a week at least. 
Sam Smith has gone back to No 1 and Ed Sheeran is No2.  Although SOE is the highest new entry, it shows that
a) U2 aren't perhaps as commercially viable as previously
and
b) The Christmas shopping syndrome has started - along the lines of 'let's get XXX the Sam Smith/Ed Sheeran/Alfie Boe [insert other appropriate artist names here] album because I know they like those sentimental songs they can sing along to'.
and
c) Do we need to shout that SOE is an album full of sentimental songs you can sing along to?  It's just that they don't sound like Ed Sheeran, Pink etc etc

After a mid-week showing at the top, the album chart is now out and SOE is only Number 5.  That's a surprise because I thought it might get to Number 1 for a week at least. 
Sam Smith has gone back to No 1 and Ed Sheeran is No2.  Although SOE is the highest new entry, it shows that
a) U2 aren't perhaps as commercially viable as previously
and
b) The Christmas shopping syndrome has started - along the lines of 'let's get XXX the Sam Smith/Ed Sheeran/Alfie Boe [insert other appropriate artist names here] album because I know they like those sentimental songs they can sing along to'.
and
c) Do we need to shout that SOE is an album full of sentimental songs you can sing along to?  It's just that they don't sound like Ed Sheeran, Pink etc etc

this says a lot.

Quote from: 73October on December 08, 2017, 01:59:56 PM

After a mid-week showing at the top, the album chart is now out and SOE is only Number 5.  That's a surprise because I thought it might get to Number 1 for a week at least. 
Sam Smith has gone back to No 1 and Ed Sheeran is No2.  Although SOE is the highest new entry, it shows that
a) U2 aren't perhaps as commercially viable as previously
and
b) The Christmas shopping syndrome has started - along the lines of 'let's get XXX the Sam Smith/Ed Sheeran/Alfie Boe [insert other appropriate artist names here] album because I know they like those sentimental songs they can sing along to'.
and
c) Do we need to shout that SOE is an album full of sentimental songs you can sing along to?  It's just that they don't sound like Ed Sheeran, Pink etc etc

this says a lot.

Yes and Noel Gallagher went to number 1 for a week.  So that says something.
Looked at the Irish album charts and SOE is Number 1.  But in their charts is stuff like Christy Moore and Picture This who have limited appeal outside of Ireland (Ed Sheeran & Sam Smith are also in there too).  I noticed Taylor Swift is in the top 10, and the Swifties must be out in force with their Verified Fan sales because she's not long announced a date at Croker for next Summer.

Ouch. That's got to be a bit of a slap to the face to Bono. He wants hits, he wants relevancy, he wants the kids to love U2. Number 5 for a band of their stature isn't good. Maybe it'll be the wake up call that the kids don't care about U2. Make music for yourselves and your fan base.

Apparently streaming has a lot to do with what number an album gets to in the charts these days, and perhaps the low showing of the album merely reflects the fact that  U2 fans being old and crusty haven't worked out how to stream yet 

As if u2 give a toss what happens in the UK charts....

They will care about the USA showing and nothing else.

Just stop embarrassing yourselves and end the nonsensical pandering. U2 is only soiling its legacy by acting so desperate for pop relevance.

You care more than U2 does, Wookie.

You care more than U2 does, Wookie.

I guess the inclusion of lyrics about moles digging in holes is proof of this...

As if u2 give a toss what happens in the UK charts....

They will care about the USA showing and nothing else.

Theyre going to #1 in USA I think, but none of this translates into anything but the core audience all buying the album on week 1

Quote from: an tha on December 08, 2017, 05:09:15 PM

As if u2 give a toss what happens in the UK charts....

They will care about the USA showing and nothing else.

Theyre going to #1 in USA I think, but none of this translates into anything but the core audience all buying the album on week 1

They hit #1 on Hits for sales + streams at 176k, actual sold units at 169k.  But, a percentage of the 169k sold albums in the US were tied to giveaways with concert ticket sales.  They were #1, but I'm not convinced they have a lot of staying power on the charts - it could fade pretty quickly.

Billboard is projecting similar numbers.  I am not sure this album will be as commercially successful as even No Line...
Part of that is the industry today.

http://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming

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U2 are a global band.

Why does the UK chart matter?

Why do any charts really matter in today's world of streaming and pirates?

U2 are a global band.

Why does the UK chart matter?

Why do any charts really matter in today's world of streaming and pirates?

Just an example of how iffy charts are nowadays, currently, SOE is #1 on iTunes rock chart (deluxe version) and #15 (standard version). Oh, and TJT is #11 on that chart.

Number 5 on the ARIA (Australian) Chart.

I dunno I feel the lads highly value the UK chart and always wanted to be #1 here, especially with the first single and then album.

Given SOI went in at #6 even after the free giveaway, this does seem disappointing. Maybe SOI physical formats were released in a very poor month for music sales.