vashti1999
12-27-2005, 02:42 PM
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
CD sales off in '05,
but rap recovered
by Jim Farber
Tuesday, December 27th, 2005
The most telling thing about 2005's best-selling album list is right at the top. The year's heaviest draw (50 Cent's "The Massacre") lagged behind 2004's prime mover (Usher's "Confessions") by more than 3 million. The R&B singer's CD pushed roughly 8 million copies, compared with the not-quite 5 million figure from the bullet-happy rapper.
Overall sales for 2005 were likewise down a full 10% from 2004. But the year in sales won't make everyone feel small.
Rap advocates have reasons to rally, especially if you compare top 10 sellers for the last two years.
Not only did a hip-hop star take 2005's No. 1 slot, three other rap acts appear in the top 10, including Black Eyed Peas (5), The Game (8) and Kanye West (9). In 2004, just one rap album made it - Eminem's "Encore" (at 3).
Rockers held their ground this year, snagging the No. 4 and No. 6 slots (Green Day and Coldplay, respectively). In 2004, rockers held positions 7 and 8 (Maroon 5 and Evanescence). The difference this time is that 2005's rock acts have more credibility, and likely more staying power.
Things aren't nearly so copacetic in the world of country. Last year, the genre hogtied the midsection of the top 10, with Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw maintaining a stranglehold on slots 4 through 6. This year, just one country cousin turned up on the entire list - Rascal Flatts, who barely made the grade at 10.
R&B likewise held its meager quota from the year before. In '04, Usher was the only genre star to appear in the top 10, though its huge numbers could account for several slots by itself. This time, Mariah is the sole R&B devotee. But her sales continue to be so strong that she might well wind up No. 1 before her "Mimi" CD wanes (especially if she wins all those Grammys for which she's nominated).
In the world of pop, just two albums appear (Kelly Clarkson, No. 3, and Gwen Stefani, No. 7). In '04, three turned up (Norah Jones, Ashlee Simpson and one of those "Now That's What I Call Music" compilations). Then again, anything popular enough to make the top 10 might be considered "pop." Given a year like '05, such things pass for good news.
Top-selling albums 2005
1) "The Massacre" 50 Cent 4,805,105
2) "The Emancipation of Mimi" Mariah Carey 4,576,141
3) "Breakaway" Kelly Clarkson 3,182,857
4) "American Idiot" Green Day 3,163,741
5) "Monkey Business" Black Eyed Peas 2,719,642
6) "X&Y" Coldplay 2,503,914
7) "Love.Angel.Music.Baby" Gwen Stefani 2,381,327
8) "Documentary" The Game 2,260,162
9) "Late Registration" Kanye West 2,250,854
10) "Feels Like Today" Rascal Flatts 2,154,647
2004 top sellers
1) "Confessions" Usher 7,978,594
2) "Feels Like Home" Norah Jones 3,842,920
3) "Encore" Eminem 3,517,097
4) "When the Sun Goes Down" Kenny Chesney 3,072,224
5) "Here for the Party" Gretchen Wilson 2,931,097
6) "Live Like You Were Dying" Tim McGraw 2,786,840
7) "Songs About Jane" Maroon 5 2,786,840
8) "Fallen" Evanescence 2,614,226
9) "Autobiography" Ashlee Simpson 2,576,945
10) "Now That's What I Call Music 16" 2,560,316
CD sales off in '05,
but rap recovered
by Jim Farber
Tuesday, December 27th, 2005
The most telling thing about 2005's best-selling album list is right at the top. The year's heaviest draw (50 Cent's "The Massacre") lagged behind 2004's prime mover (Usher's "Confessions") by more than 3 million. The R&B singer's CD pushed roughly 8 million copies, compared with the not-quite 5 million figure from the bullet-happy rapper.
Overall sales for 2005 were likewise down a full 10% from 2004. But the year in sales won't make everyone feel small.
Rap advocates have reasons to rally, especially if you compare top 10 sellers for the last two years.
Not only did a hip-hop star take 2005's No. 1 slot, three other rap acts appear in the top 10, including Black Eyed Peas (5), The Game (8) and Kanye West (9). In 2004, just one rap album made it - Eminem's "Encore" (at 3).
Rockers held their ground this year, snagging the No. 4 and No. 6 slots (Green Day and Coldplay, respectively). In 2004, rockers held positions 7 and 8 (Maroon 5 and Evanescence). The difference this time is that 2005's rock acts have more credibility, and likely more staying power.
Things aren't nearly so copacetic in the world of country. Last year, the genre hogtied the midsection of the top 10, with Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw maintaining a stranglehold on slots 4 through 6. This year, just one country cousin turned up on the entire list - Rascal Flatts, who barely made the grade at 10.
R&B likewise held its meager quota from the year before. In '04, Usher was the only genre star to appear in the top 10, though its huge numbers could account for several slots by itself. This time, Mariah is the sole R&B devotee. But her sales continue to be so strong that she might well wind up No. 1 before her "Mimi" CD wanes (especially if she wins all those Grammys for which she's nominated).
In the world of pop, just two albums appear (Kelly Clarkson, No. 3, and Gwen Stefani, No. 7). In '04, three turned up (Norah Jones, Ashlee Simpson and one of those "Now That's What I Call Music" compilations). Then again, anything popular enough to make the top 10 might be considered "pop." Given a year like '05, such things pass for good news.
Top-selling albums 2005
1) "The Massacre" 50 Cent 4,805,105
2) "The Emancipation of Mimi" Mariah Carey 4,576,141
3) "Breakaway" Kelly Clarkson 3,182,857
4) "American Idiot" Green Day 3,163,741
5) "Monkey Business" Black Eyed Peas 2,719,642
6) "X&Y" Coldplay 2,503,914
7) "Love.Angel.Music.Baby" Gwen Stefani 2,381,327
8) "Documentary" The Game 2,260,162
9) "Late Registration" Kanye West 2,250,854
10) "Feels Like Today" Rascal Flatts 2,154,647
2004 top sellers
1) "Confessions" Usher 7,978,594
2) "Feels Like Home" Norah Jones 3,842,920
3) "Encore" Eminem 3,517,097
4) "When the Sun Goes Down" Kenny Chesney 3,072,224
5) "Here for the Party" Gretchen Wilson 2,931,097
6) "Live Like You Were Dying" Tim McGraw 2,786,840
7) "Songs About Jane" Maroon 5 2,786,840
8) "Fallen" Evanescence 2,614,226
9) "Autobiography" Ashlee Simpson 2,576,945
10) "Now That's What I Call Music 16" 2,560,316