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[XXX.]

We always discuss what a flop is, but I feel a lot of us are stuck in the 2000's when albums were actually selling.  Now, SPS (streaming plus sales) is the new standard of sales.  Actual album sales are pretty much dead. 

I was looking at some sales data from major releases that came out late 2016 through today in 2017.

0 albums sold over 1 million
4 albums sold over 500,000


So, what determines a flop now?  Is it any release that doesn't get a certification?

What is a flop first week SPS wise?  And what is a flop album in total SPS?

Do you have to at least reach 500k SPS? 


Top Tier

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. First Week: 603,000 SPS / 353,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 2.3 million SPS / 820,000 pure sales)
Ed Sheeran - DIVIDE. First Week: 451,000 SPS / 322,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 1.9 million SPS / 856,000 pure sales)
Drake - MORE LIFE. First Week: 505,000 SPS / 226,000 pure sales (TOTAL:  1.9 million SPS / 360,000 pure sales)
Bruno Mars - 24KMAGIC. First Week: 231,000 SPS / 191,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 1.089 million SPS / 598,000 pure sales)
The Weeknd - STARBOY. First Week: 348,000 SPS / 249,000 pure sales(TOTAL: 1.2 million SPS / 621,000 pure sales)
Jay-Z - 4:44. First Week: 262,000 SPS / 174,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 558,000 SPS / 344,000 pure sales)


Rap

Migos - CULTURE First Week: 131,000 SPS / 44,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 1.2 million SPS / 121,000 pure sales)
Future - FUTURE First Week: 140,000 SPS / 60,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 910,000 SPS / 123,000 pure sales)
             HNDRXX First Week: (TOTAL: 540,000 SPS / 77,000 pure sales)
Big Sean - I DECIDED First Week: 151,000 SPS / 65,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 730,000 SPS / 148,000 pure sales)
DJ Khaled - GRATEFUL First Week: 149.000 SPS / 50,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 540,000 SPS / 105,000 pure sales)

R&B

Khalid -First Week: 37,000 SPS, 12,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 759,000 SPS / 92,000 pure sales)
SZA - First Week: 60,000 SPS, 25,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 466,000 SPS / 87,000 pure sales)
Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)
John Legend - First Week: 38,000 SPS / 26,000 pure sales (TOTAL: 180,000 SPS / 100,000 pure sales)
Tamar Braxton - First Week: 20,000 SPS / 18,000 pure sales

[FAMÈ]

Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)


I'm shivering

[XXX.]

Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)


I'm shivering

OMG!   

To think each one of her albums cleared 3 million easily.  Now, she can't even sell 200k. 

[FAMÈ]

Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)


I'm shivering

OMG!   

To think each one of her albums cleared 3 million easily.  Now, she can't even sell 200k. 

gggggggggggggggjkkllllknnnn

And she still thinks she's some HUGE seller  girl your music sucks now

[XXX.]

Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)


I'm shivering

OMG!   

To think each one of her albums cleared 3 million easily.  Now, she can't even sell 200k. 

gggggggggggggggjkkllllknnnn

And she still thinks she's some HUGE seller  girl your music sucks now

NNNNVBBbvbbvbBBBB

So, what do you consider a flop?  Like, what is the new bar of measure?

I can never really figure it out anymore.

[FAMÈ]

To me, If you can't get 100k SPS+ and you have a HIT single, it's a flop. Singles basically are everything now.

[BAPHOMET.]

yea....If you can't even get 500k SPS you pretty much flopped.

I can't believe there is only ONE honky on this entire list

not even in the lower level

[Killaxmt]

For Tamar to do 18k pure albums that's not bad for a independent artist!

[XXX.]

To me, If you can't get 100k SPS+ and you have a HIT single, it's a flop. Singles basically are everything now.

I kinda like that.  So, what about an R&B mess?

Can we even call them flops anymore?  It's almost like they just sell whatever they sell.

It's so confusing!

That's why I almost feel the real bar of measure is getting that cert in your hands now.  Because it at least gives you something to show for your album/era.

[XXX.]

For Tamar to do 18k pure albums that's not bad for a independent artist!

See, this is what I"m talking about.

So, does Tamar get a pass if she ends up only ever selling 100k SPS when it's all said and done?

I feel like it's definitely a flop, but I understand how some see it as a bOOK!

[XXX.]

yea....If you can't even get 500k SPS you pretty much flopped.

I can't believe there is only ONE honky on this entire list

not even in the lower level

Well, I didn't include any Pop or Rock acts.  And I think I skipped Post Malone's last albums.  Tried to just include stuff we care about.

I am literally SHAKING at how low sales are.  How has Kendrick not even sold 1 million?

That's why I feel like we have to change what we consider a flop.  We're all stuck in a mindset form 10 years ago. 

[XXX.]

So, if an R&B artist like Ciara drops and she gets a Top 20 hit out of her first single..... let's say #11-#13.

The album opens with 50k-75k SPS and goes on to sell 500k SPS (she gets a Gold plaque) with 200,000 pure sales, is that a flop?

[Rxxf]

Alicia Keys - First Week: 50,000 SPS / 42,000 pure sales (TOTAL: ???,??? SPS / 138,000 pure sales)


I'm shivering

OMG!   

To think each one of her albums cleared 3 million easily.  Now, she can't even sell 200k. 

It's terrible.
I have a friend who is a fan of Keys.
She did not buy her album because she said she has Apple Music and could listen to it there.  Well, she did not like the latest album that much -- and she rarely plays it, if at all.  So Keys missed out on not only a PURE SALE, but also STREAMS from my friend.  I'm sure there's more like her who did the same.

[FAMÈ]

So, if an R&B artist like Ciara drops and she gets a Top 20 hit out of her first single..... let's say #11-#13.

The album opens with 50k-75k SPS and goes on to sell 500k SPS (she gets a Gold plaque) with 200,000 pure sales, is that a flop?

For Ciara, that's a comeback

[Drogon]

Depends on budget spent on album and what the label was able to recoup.

There is no magic number