Comments on: The Music Industry Learns About Oprah’s Strength

By: Babs

Babs — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:15:29 +0000

Oprah also gave a big boost to Josh Groban’s “Noel”

By: Chris Molanphy

Chris Molanphy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Agreed that Whitney’s numbers in this climate are seriously impressive. Clearly the public has picked up on the “story” as well as the music, which is fine. Good for her.

The Oprah bounce is real, I think, but it depends on the act (or product) in question. Leona Lewis got a real bounce from her last year, but then the story for “Bleeding Love” in the weeks thereafter was all about radio and sales, which were very real. In other words, Oprah gave a leg up to an act/song that was poised to be big but was helped by that breakthrough moment. Same goes for Whitney in this case — different situation, sure (not an ingenue like Lewis), but the matchup of audience/story/recording is right in O’s wheelhouse, kinda like Celine Dion 5–10 years ago.

By: juiceandgin

juiceandgin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:37:39 +0000

Happy for her.

By: Asiankid

Asiankid — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:32:54 +0000

@dusty vinyl: I think the Oprah effect is being negated by the Nick Cannon effect for Mariah...

By: slowburn

slowburn — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:31:11 +0000

@dusty vinyl: Not to mention the fact that Whitney's particular kind of "redemption" story is catnip to Oprah's audience. Hell, it's catnip to every audience. I remember so many commenters on here dissing Whitney's chance for a comeback, and I said back then that she was going to surprise everyone. Looks like I was right.

By: dusty vinyl

dusty vinyl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:51:37 +0000

Too true. Think it’s also clear that there’s a huge amount of goodwill for Whitney and her comeback. Absence, heart, fonder etc

By: Thierry

Thierry — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:24:50 +0000

It also helps that Whitney’s performance on Oprah was one of her best-sounding in years.

By: dusty vinyl

dusty vinyl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:56:32 +0000

Very good numbers for Whitney, particularly in this climate.

Always thought the Oprah bounce was a bit of a myth – certainly hasn’t helped Mariah’s Foreigner cover which the hype would suggest might explode on downloads post-Oprah yet limps onto the digital chart at #51 with 27k sold in first week of release.