Michael Jackson's latest greatest hits album has sold just 8,000 copies in the US in its first week of release, reaching number 128 in the chart.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41358000/jpg/_41358981_jacksonap_203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41358000/jpg/_41358977_jacksonafp_203.jpg
The Essential Michael Jackson is the star's first release since he was cleared of child abuse a month ago.

Jackson's two-disc set went straight to number two in the UK - but he failed to match that success in his home country.

The number one US album, multi-artist compilation CD Now 19, sold 436,000 copies in its first week.

Jackson faces a struggle to repair his image and repay debts that prosecutors in his trial claimed amounted to $300m (£170m).


British public relations supremo Max Clifford has revealed he turned down a request to represent the singer after his trial.

"He came to me a month ago and I turned him down," Mr Clifford said.

"It would be the hardest job in PR after Saddam Hussein and I would be astounded if he could turn things around.

"People were extremely offended by even some of the things he admitted in court.

Record sales

"The final judgement is with the record buying public and they have made their verdict clear."

Jackson has sold more than 135 million albums during his career, including 60 million copies of Thriller.

His last original album, Invincible, sold two million copies when it came out in 2001.

The Essential Michael Jackson is the latest in a string of greatest hits packages that has also included HIStory, Number Ones and The Ultimate Collection.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4730407.stm

8,000 copies? Ouch.

I actually think #128 is quite impressive for only selling 8,000 copies

How many Greates Hits albums can one artist crank out?

:lol:

Another article:

Michael Jackson's new album has sold just 8,000 copies in its first week in the United States.

The singer's sixth greatest hits album, The Essential Michael Jackson, limped into the charts at number 128 as fans appeared to snub the star.

The figures will come as a huge blow to the one-time King of Pop, who had hoped to make a comeback after being acquitted of child sex abuse last month.

Publicist Max Clifford said he was not remotely surprised by the lack of interest.

"He came to me a month ago and I turned him down," he said. "It would be the hardest job in PR after Saddam Hussein and I would be astounded if he could turn things around. People were extremely offended by even some of the things he admitted in court. The final judgement is with the record buying public and they have made their verdict clear."

The Jackson album was beaten by the likes of 1970s star Carly Simon, whose new CD Moonlight Serenade entered the chart at number seven, and the Dukes of Hazzard soundtrack.

A spokeswoman for Nielsen Soundscan, which monitors US record sales, said: "Michael Jackson is quite a way down there. Carly Simon sold 50,000 albums more than him.

"Christian singer Guy Penrod even sold 11,000 copies of his new record."

Jackson, 46, has sold more than 300 million albums since he first hit the charts as a child with the Jackson 5. His new album was launched by Sony BMG last week.

The two-disc set includes songs spanning his entire career, from 1970's I Want You Back to 2001's You Rock My World.
http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/050729/344/foi42.html&e=l_news_dm

I guess Mike is looking for a quick payday...

well, how many freaking MJ Greatest Hits do they expect? A lot of people are already satisfied with HIStory (which went to #1) or Number Ones (which went to #13)

IMO, Michael Jackson has been using the trial publicity to explain his lowered sales figures. He did that throughout the trial, claiming that the official who pressed charges against him did so partially to hurt Jackson's newest CD sales. Say what? Like the man gave a hoot about that. Heh!

Michael Jackson's sales figures have decreased through the years ("decreased" being a relative term; he still sells lots and lots) because he never changes. He never grows. His music sounds the same now as it did back when he made Thriller.

Though his music is very good, it is also redundant.

well im a fan but im not going to buy another stupid cd with songs that i already have.

Wow! I think the "Essential Michael Jackson" came out recently that it was sold 8,000 copies in the first week alone. That was indeed a failure. The 2 CD set is part of the Essential series of artists that put out on 2 CD's. The first "Essential" CD was Barbra Streisand has all of her great songs. I have the Johnny Mathis "Essential" CD with Streisand.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005V3WH.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000219986.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I dunno, if I didn't have any MJ albums, I would spring for this set, it's easily the best one on the market and the only one to offer ALL the hits from Thriller and Bad. But, I think most people are either 1. MJ'd out right now or 2. already sprung for HIStory or Number Ones when they came out because they were the best MJ compilations when they came out.

I think this set will be a decent catalog title in the long run. Right now, people just aren't hungry for a new MJ Greatest Hits cd considering they just had a box set last year and a #1's cd the year before, and a single disc version of HIStory two years before that. However, I can see the album eventually going gold in a year or two, it will probably slowly but steadily sell because it definately is the best MJ compilation out on the market and it is reasonably priced.

poor mikey- well id get the cd but i have all of his albums and greatest hits so i dont really need it

Im waiting for "The essential Cathy Young and the innocents" :lol: ( One hit wonder with 1000 stars in the skies )

But, I think most people are either 1. MJ'd out right now or 2. already sprung for HIStory or Number Ones when they came out because they were the best MJ compilations when they came out.

I'm sure Mike's already at work on his "Absolutly Positvely Ultimate Definative 100% Without A Doubt Bestest Dang Diddly Superiffic Please God Worship Me Again I'm Not A Monster Greatest Hits" Album.

;)

I'm sure Mike's already at work on his "Absolutly Positvely Ultimate Definative 100% Without A Doubt Bestest Dang Diddly Superiffic Please God Worship Me Again I'm Not A Monster Greatest Hits" Album.

;)
:rofl:

The album has jumped to number 96 on the album chart.

He'd make more money trying to sell copies of that hilarious pic of his old man there - looks like a clown!!! A little over-done on the brow and mustache waxing there Joe!! :eek: :lol:

He'd make more money trying to sell copies of that hilarious pic of his old man there - looks like a clown!!! A little over-done on the brow and mustache waxing there Joe!! :eek: :lol:
:lol:

The album has jumped to number 96 on the album chart.


The comeback begins...

:lol:

I actually think #128 is quite impressive for only selling 8,000 copies

Even John and Yoko's Two Virgins - an experimental avant-garde record - got up to #124! :lol:

LOL@Michael coming out with another greatest hits cd. I don't think it's his fault that the cd was released. The record company released it without his permission i'm sure. Record companies are always releasing greatest hits albums by artists without their permission. Did ya'll hear about Michael moving to a foreign country recently? He said he's tired of the american media doggin him so he wants to move outta america. What a pu**y he is. He runs away from america just because the media won't leave him alone? Foreigners are gonna be dissin his ass too at whatever country he's moved to. They're gonna be dissin him in their language & he won't know what they're saying LOL.

He'd make more money trying to sell copies of that hilarious pic of his old man there - looks like a clown!!! A little over-done on the brow and mustache waxing there Joe!! :eek: :lol:

:rotflmao:

Foreigners are gonna be dissin his ass too at whatever country he's moved to. They're gonna be dissin him in their language & he won't know what they're saying LOL.[/QUOTE]

:lol: (Imagines them saying in their langauge("Michael jackson is such a punk. Why did he run away from his own country?", and Michael is staring with a blank face, like "What"? :confused: .

:p

LOL@Janice Johnson hahahahahahahahahahahaha. I knew you were gonna have somethin funny to say about Michael. Your jokes about him crack me up.