- Idolator Comments

Chris Molanphy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:06:54 EST

Also! A heads-up to chart-watchers: Daughtry will still have the No. 1 album of 2007 according to Billboard - because of the December-to-November "chart year" the magazine uses to calculate its charts.

Chris Molanphy

Chris Molanphy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:04:17 EST

@DHMBIB: Right on all counts and seconded by me. Total apples-and-oranges garbage from the Post.

If this article had been written by my man Brian Garrity (late of Billboard, now Lauria's peer at the Post), he wouldn't have cocked that up so badly.

Chris Molanphy

bbernardini — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:35:04 EST

I think the more pressing issue here is that either one of these sold more than 100 copies each. I've found only two redeeming things about the "High School Musical" franchise:

1. It's given Robbie Nevil some work. (He co-wrote one of the tunes in the first one.) Actually, I'm not so concerned about Mr. Nevil's work status, as much as I am about the opportunity to toss around his name to other knowing people while exchanging sly, deprecating winks.

2. It's choreographed and directed by Kenny Ortega, who used to choreograph and dance for The Tubes WAY back in the day, when they were doing big elaborate stage shows. If you were involved in anything called "Mondo Bondage," you automatically get a free pass from me for being involved with "High School Musical."

bbernardini

Rob Murphy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:46:50 EST

I call shenanigans.

The article uses bad data to make an inappropriate comparison, and then conflates that comparison with the overall downward trend in CD sales.

First problem -- "HSM2 will not sell as many copies in 2007 as HSM sold in 2006". This is probably true. But HSM was released in January of 2006. HSM2 was released in mid-August. So it's not surprising that HSM2 has only sold about 2/3 the number of copies that the original did in 1/4 the amount of time [digest that for a moment].

Second problem -- the implication that HSM2 will not equal or surpass it's older sibling. I suspect the opposite is true. Look at the numbers I cited above. Come back in a year and we'll revisit the numbers.

Third problem -- "If HSM2 does not sell 100K copies a week for the rest of the year, it won't even hit the 3 million mark for the year, and the industry will be doomed! DOOMED!". Seriously. HSM2 moved 183K copies last week. It's well on pace to move 3 million units in barely 4 freakin' months. Seriously NYP'ers, get a grip!

Rob Murphy