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http://blogs.forbes.com/zackomalleygree ... nnelforbes
Michael Jackson Fails to Outperform Living Artists, For Once
Dec. 23 2010 - 12:12 am | 21 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By ZACK O'MALLEY GREENBURG

Michael Jackson's album landed at No. 3, which is not bad for someone who's dead.
There aren't many living musicians who'd be disappointed with opening week album sales of nearly a quarter of a million units and a No. 3 spot on the Billboard chart. Of the artists who've passed on to another world, there's probably just one for whom such a performance would be a letdown: Michael Jackson.
The King of Pop's posthumous Michael moved 228,000 copies in the U.S. its first week, trailing only No. 2 Susan Boyle's The Gift and No. 1 Taylor Swift's Speak Now, which sold 254,000 and 259,000 copies, respectively. Those numbers are certainly respectable, especially considering that Jackson's work always tends to sell well overseas, but they're well short of last year's This Is It soundtrack, which sold 373,000 copies in its first week despite having only one unreleased song.
For a change, Michael Jackson has failed to surpass all his living peers from beyond the grave. Over the past year Jackson earned $275 million — more than any other entertainer, and more than Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Madonna and Jay-Z combined. And his latest effort sits behind Swift's and Boyle's on the charts, the new album's performance is better than many industry insiders expected.
Despite the controversy surrounding the album, Jackson's long-term earnings prospects are looking better than ever. Michael was the first of many albums of new material scheduled to be released over the next seven years as part of the Jackson estate's deal with Sony Music, which should bring in $200 million to $250 million over the course of the contract.
Jackson's estate also received a $60 million advance for last year's film This Is It; sales of a Jackson-themed videogame, memorabilia and a re-released autobiography brought in an additional $50 million. The estate still owns the rights to Jackson's music, which took in nearly $50 million on heavy radio play and album sales over the past year and should continue to throw off cash.
And then there's the Jackson estate's 50% interest in the Sony/ATV catalog, which contains half a million songs including titles by Elvis Presley, Eminem, Bob Dylan and Beyoncé. Insiders estimate the catalog generates $50 million to $100 million per year, giving it a total value in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion. That means an annual $25 million to $50 million for the estate's coffers, on top of the considerable sums coming from Jackson's own music and merchandise.
Even after earning the bronze medal in last week's album sales derby, the King of Pop's postmortem reign seems secure.

Sony did not have interest to kill MJ.They well knew killing Michael will not return them their 50%, nor catalog.The only way they can get them back if they buy back offering estate much more than revenue generates now .

[willddoMJ]

well if it wasnt leaked as such, it may of had better sales, though i havent bought it yet :? anyways wait til after the bam, sales going everywhere  :lol:

[GINAFELICIA]

"Of the artists who've passed on to another world, there's probably just one for whom such a performance would be a letdown: Michael Jackson."  yes that's our Michael OK :D

Please don't be dissapointed Michael, your movie will be nb. one for sure!!

[MJonmind]

"Of the artists who've passed on to another world," to "beyond the planets and the stars". :) What a traveler he is!

[hopi]

...well No 1 in Germany...  :D

[voiceforthesilent]

Thank you for sharing this with us.

I think the title is very misleading and it bothers me that the journalist chose this wording. This article could be taken as a slap in the face to Michael or the opposite by his attempt at using sarcasm to say that for Michael "being #3 is a failure" (not so by any means).

He does fail to mention that Michael was the #1 album worldwide for 2010 after only being released for 1 week. That is astounding. It reminds me of Invincible - where they made a lot of us believe that it wasn't worth the money and made it sound like a failure. Hmmm...it was just recently named as album of the decade, I believe, and I love the album but didn't pay it much attention when released because of what was being said about it.

I am glad that I clicked on the link and read some of the comments regarding the article - it made me feel a little better.

Here are some:

Comments

1:16 am on 12/23/10
cawobeth
cawobeth

hmmm...I think you missed a few factual statistics-
" * MICHAEL shipped Platinum in 14 territories including the United States, UK, Germany, France (2x), Italy (3x), Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Czech Republic (4x), Canada, Korea and the Middle East.
* The album debuted at #1 in Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden.
* And on top of the # 1 album chart entry in Germany, sales of MICHAELbroke the country's 2010′s first-week record with over 85,000 units sold.
* Opening week sales of more than 113,000 in the U.K. scored the biggest opening week for a new Michael Jackson studio album since 'Dangerous' nearly 20 years ago.
* In Japan, the album is the fourth Michael Jackson album to ever debut in the top 3, joining Bad, Thriller and last year's "This Is It" companion album.
* The album is in the top five in Belgium (#2), US (#3), Japan (#3), the UK (#4), France (#4), Denmark (#4). In the US, the album shipped platinum and debuted at #3 of the Billboard Album chart with just under 230,000 copies sold.
* The album went Gold in 17 territories on arrival in Japan, China, Australia, Ireland, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, India, Philippines and Taiwan."
compliments of LegendaryMichaelJackson dot com
Enjoy the songs from it. It's a wonderful holiday gift. Happy Holidays.

1:50 am on 12/23/10
Zack O'Malley Greenburg Zack O'Malley Greenburg The Beat Report

Thanks so much for the details! The number I referenced in the story was U.S.-only, and I didn't have the international figures handy. Very impressive, and yet another indication of Jackson's staying power worldwide.

1:23 am on 12/23/10
cawobeth
cawobeth

"Let down" ? What let down ?
This is pretty astounding.
3 is my favorite number, anyway.
Michael was grateful for any & all appreciation of his music and surely pleased as number 3.
If this isn't enough for MJ fans...oh well.
They should enjoy the songs themselves more than care about ratings.

Zack O'Malley Greenburg Zack O'Malley Greenburg The Beat Report

A letdown only by Jackson's lofty standards, and I fully expect his legacy to withstand the test of time. I think in 20 years we'll look back and Jackson will be more highly-regarded — and financially successful in the afterlife — than anyone, even Elvis.

What do you think — who will go down in history as the true King?

[Bee Bee]

Hmm, what's wrong with the US? I think they're just much more brainwashed when it comes to being biased against Michael. Plus, the Jacksons probably messed much of this up because of their babblings about the Cascio tracks not being Michael, ending up in some people boycotting the album. Grr, that just makes me angry, it's nothing but stupid. Even if those tracks weren't Michael's, it'd still be his album sales suffering from the boycott, because the album has his name on it.

Anyway, I'm happy the album is charting well around the world. :)

[suspicious mind]

ok perhaps my brain has not taken it all in correctly but is this not like the 3rd report on this and everyone has said something different . admittedly it could be be idk.

[backstager]

I think it would have done so much better if people hadn't boycotted it. It certainly had the potential, but because of the controversy ... it didn't quite make it to No. 1. Maybe next time.

[MJonmind]

My comment from TS redirect thread:

It struck me about 'Michael' being in third place. How could that be? But there are no accidents or coincidences IMO. There are two before him, Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now' and Susan Boyle's 'The Gift'. Interesting names don't you think, in all this discussion about seals, trumpets and vials.
I believe MJ is "speaking now" about "The Gift", and right before Christmas, which is the church's recognized day of Christ's birth.

I think also this article shows how against all odds, many hurdles, opposition, mountains of ridicule and character assassination in the way, "Michael" has risen to the top, and will in the US as well hopefully (MJ's home country and where his family lives as well, who have opposed this album). The Bible quote of Jesus comes to mind,

Matthew 13:54-58 (King James Version)

54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

[badria]

Dec. 23 2010 - 12:12 am | 21 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By ZACK O'MALLEY GREENBURG

good time  hah!  8-)  ;)

[Cameron]

Maybe not number one in the us... but you know, Michael Jackson albums made better sales overseas, to be number one all around the world... I think Michael will be number one in the world.
But ratings are not important, what's important are the messages in the songs of the new album... and that Michael will be number one when he will be back !  :D