Currently, Alicia Keys‘ first week sales for new album ‘The Element of Freedom’ stands at a hefty 405,762 copies. As a result of these sales, the ‘Fallin’ singer also beat out her projected HDD prediction which initially stood at 330-350,000. I did hope for this to happen so I am pleased she successfully managed it. This will land the album at #2 on the Billboard 200. This is the highest number this year for a female artist after Susan Boyle (who sold another 659k) and her very first time missing out on the no 1 album…
In my opinion, these are great numbers for Alicia! As with the case with Beyonce’s ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’, she will undoutedly go Gold in her second week which is still amazing.
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Ms Keys dabbled in no gimmicks of the sort, proceeded to put out good music, and had no big chart smash as back-up. There was of course the unintentional drama with the homewrecker accusations, and I’m sure this probably hurt her a bit. After all, folk do admire a squeaky clean image; something Alicia was well known for. Some would say a 300K drop (from her 2007 release) is quite a mountful. But in this day and age, everyone’s numbers have dropped significantly this year. It’s not an artist thing. It’s an industrial climate thing.
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Given that both of Alicia’s two lead singles ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything’ and ‘Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart’ have underperformed on the charts, these numbers are really respectful. Bear in mind, when Alicia sold 740,000+ units with ‘As I Am’, those numbers were pushed at the back of a massively successful smash in the form of ‘No One’. None of Alicia’s singles this year have repeated that success.
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Lastly, I just need to stress how much I love Alicia’s new album, and if you have not heard it yet, you’re missing out on some really good music. Click here to read my album review.
Ah this is so good to see, gwaarn Alicia!
im so proud of her. the whole FAM is. Check out the FAM video I made for Alicia. she is loved in so many places! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5O7cz5zm3g
I haven’t listened to it enough yet to decide how I feel because I’m waiting to buy it legally.
I’m an AK stan but it usually takes me a while to fully get into her albums, which is the case with nearly all my favourite artists, so I won’t know 100% how I feel for a bit.
I have skipped through it several times though and so far I don’t like it as much as her first three albums, but we’ll see.
It’s her most commercial one but it is a bit safe. That’s my only issue with it. I think she really needs to do something different, she is supposed to still be a Neo-Soul singer.
I do LOVE the album by the way. I wanted 5 copies. But I have to settle for one regular and one deluxe…
Once billboard releases its final figures i expect it 2 do abt 420k. Either way this is still very good. Its the largest sales for a female ths year apart from suzan bt we dnt count her cuz we duno who buys her albums. Lol hm just playin.
Lol Susan Boyle hate needs to stop. She’s talented and her album is good, I love it and I’m 22, and my mum loves it and my family members and they’re in their forties. I think a lot of people enjoy it or else it wouldnt be selling this much.
And I agree Aalexis, it feels like AK’s most commercial album yet. People said that As I Am was too commercial but I didn’t think so, I think that Songs in A Minor is more commercial than As I Am.
Anyways I love all her first three albums and I own them all, including the Songs in A Minor deluxe version with the remix album attached, and I own MTV unplugged as well. I’ll buy The Element of Freedom eventually to, but so far it’s my least fave and isn’t nearly as good as As I Am.
Btw Diary is my fave.
Toya you gotta stop using that people aint selling like they use to crap! Susan Boyle is man-handling bitches on billboard!!! People still buy music! Another 659K last week? Brutal!!! lol
whats robin thicke #s? im disappointed in him. he went all commerical/watered down on us! I do NOT like the album…back to bumpin his first 3 albums
Its good for Alicia but she was saved by the holidays also. Just like Rihanna is. Oce January hits, thats it. It was a good album but its my least fav!
@ yoobin. Toyas rte. Beyonce only did 400 n sumin k last year with a number 1 single and a market that was alil beter than it is now. And if rir n alicia r benifiting from holiday sales then so did bey cuz iasf came out end november last year. And robin did 120k
So I may have to add to Susan’s success and go pick up a copy or two. I love AK but this album falls a bit short for me. It drags in certain areas and the Beyonce song is just AWFUL and extremely cornball-ish! Anyway, I may download Chris Browns album too which is better than Rihanna’s IMO.
she going to need a few hits which i dont see on this album keep it stable the album the album so bloody boring same old alicia tracks it me or has she lost her voice alittle.
Good luck to her. I’m still scratching my head on the whole Susan’s album sales thing. I guess old people gotta jam too. I swear I could out my son to sleep with that album. Its boooriiing! (just like a lot of the music that comes out now-a-days.)
I still think Chris Brown’s album should have done better! Pass Out is my effin jam! sighh…wishful thinking.
Go Alicia, you get it girl!
Alica Also sold 70k this week in the UK, more than Beyonce, Rhianna, Whitney and Mariah sold in their first week here.
I’m happy for Alicia! Each year the record industry declines at least 15% in sales. 4 years ago, the top record would sell 7 mil, 10 years ago 10-15mil. Today it’s 3!
Anyhow, Rihanna will also do nicely on this week’s chart selling 81,000 copies, up 62% in sales – they second biggest increase of the week. All the promo is paying off.
Susan Boyle is a holiday phenomena. I’m very happy for her and she’s talented, but it’s far beyond the industry norm these days.
Stop throwing Beyonce had a massive single, because Single ladies was not number one when her album came in Nov. 2008. Single ladies did not become number one until December, so don’t try to use Beyonce numbers to justify the huge decline in A. Keys first week numbers. A. Keys is a homewrecker and her album is boring.
This album for one is way better than most of Beyonce’s music period that hoe only sold 482k first week with Rihanna type promo! I don’t think anyone is making any excuses for A keys or needs to. 400k+ is nothing to make an excuse about! And how much u wanna bet this album will sell and go platinum and beyond without having to re-release it 3-4 times. Folks are funny, how can u be a fan of an artist and say they are so much better than someone else when they are releasing the same music over and over, and u go buy it like a retard! Check RIAA and see how many of those diamond albums were re-released with deluxe, super deluxe, platinum deluxe and all those other variations!
HAHAHA!!! Where is all the haters now????
All that talk about “karma is a bitch!! Her album won’t sell”
IN YO FACE BITCHES!!!
Go Alicia!! I’m gonna purchase 1 more album!
Please, let’s not make this post a Bey vs A.Keys thing. I love them both and they are EQUALLY talented. They’re both on their ways of becoming legends in their own right so cut that buill shit out!
I’m so glad they are becoming friends too! My 2 favorites!
In a perfect world we would all agree that these are good #’s but people gonna hate!
Oh haters kill me let me give y’all something else to hate on AK has sold over 30million ALBUMS!!!!
@Prophet,
Really? I think this one is great too, it’s her lowest key and she doesn’t have to strain her voice as much. But I must say her first and second albums are my favourites, I like As I Am too. But this one is fast becoming one of my favourites. It’s very melodic.
fact is some artists like ak and whitney sell by name only, they dont have to have a mega hit to sell. and please beyonce did wonderful stop hating. and yes sales have gone down i mean 20 years ago if u sold 3 million units u were a flop, now u would be lucky to do that much.
i see hardcastle is back…
Alicia will never b able to sell like Bee ,,Bee sells more worldwide..so stop comparing plz
llowell were did come from? does it matter who outsells who? cause generally speaking we all know who the better singer is and artist. and notice i didnt say performer.
@llowell
you most be slow jackass Ak has sold 30million ww that’s more than b stupid ass….
DAMN. I thought this would be her “flop” album but I guess not
The only reason i mentiond beyonce is bcuz im sick of people saying a.k only releases during xmas 2 get high sales. Do not 4get iasf was released closer 2 xmas than aia was. And if a.k released teof earlier there would be no unthinkable, esom p2 and more cuz those songs wer recorded after the album was pushed back
I’m happy for AK but SB’s album is way better.
I like try sleeping with a broken heart but I did get sick of it fast. Still need a wow song. Havent heard that one yet, and yes Diary was the shiznit.
I hated Alicia’s album but congrats to her.
Robin did not go commercial. He has always wanted to make an album showcasing his love for hip hop. Any true Robin Thicke fan knows he is a hip hop head to the fullest. He is not one dimensional nor does he play it safe. He has always crossed into many styles.
Be disappointed in him all you want but it was your assumptions that projected on him not who he really is. Besides, Robin will never be a hit on the charts. Even when he goes off and does what he wants, people will always hate him for it.
With ABW, you chose Justin. TEORT he had to be suicidal for that to become a hit and even then it took two years. SE they called him bland and a copycat. ST he is a sellout, although he has always done this type of music, just never released it because of reactions like this. People will never love his directions probably why he no longer gives a shit.
Why do people have to hate on Alicia? Or Rihanna. IMO the person who deserved hatred is Chris Brown. Period. And the WORLD has collectively shown that they are done with him.
Alicia Keys album is the best album of 2009. Stop comparing Alicia and Beyonce they are the only two artist from this generation that will go into the hall of fame when its their time. lol THE ONLY TWO!
BEYONCE IS ON 5.4 MILLION WORLDWIDE AFTER A YEAR …SEE IF ALICIA KEYS CAN KEEP UP WITH HER!!!! Since she is the only female artist that can be ”considered” her qaliber
Congrats to Alicia. I luv the album. I was hoping she woulda debuted at no. 1 but oh well..
And who cares how much Bey sold? This post is about Alicia.
And, who are these people buying Susan Boyle?..lol No disrespesct but…damn! She seems like her album would be boring.
well AK been doing it and why would it be AK need to keep up with her when AK sold way more….. HELLO over 30million ww
Na beyonce has already proven she cant keep up with ak. As i am was a.ks 3rd album and iasf beys 3rd album. As i am sold more. In a few months wen bey releases her new album we wil compare it with the element of freedom
@llowell
you just made your self look so stupid once again…..b on 5.4million after a year well great for her hahaha AK on 6million check your facts before you want to come at some body lame!!!!!!
@ BOBBY
I’m happy Billboard/ Rolling Stone recognised her as the better female artist this decade..because what beyonce has achieved not only solo ,but also as the lead singer destiny’s child..is incredible..Not forgetting alicia career started 2001 …
and soon she will be beating Alicia on grammy counts hehehe
There is only space for one black queen at a time..and since alicia is clearly losing her creativity and singles popularity..if just got one thing to say ”’to the left”..”to the left”…
Goes to show that as long as the music is exceptionally good, even with two poor singles, you’ll still sell well. I’d love to see her go gold in the next week.
wow okay good for beyonce the only reason she got best artist of the decade is because she was in a huge band which i loved and shes a huge solo artist that’s how she got it….we are talking about beyonce as a solo artist with that said tell beyonce to get like AK maybe she would sell more.!.
@lloweel: LMAO and SMH
While you keep on hating on Alicia and singing ” to the left”.
Alicia is making her money and doing what she loves. 20 years from now, we’ll be singing along Alicia’s song, while you will continue to remain a no body.lol
@ bobby…
use common sense…;;
alicia career started 2001,,beyonce solo career started 2003…no wonder Bee hasn’t sold as many records as Alicia ..I bet she is closing in…I’m just happy Bee gained (yet again)more fans from her last album..I’m not sure if i can say that from alicia’s latest effort…:)
wow your talking about grammys well as far as that goes Ak did not has a album out to get grammys and b is still pimpin her old ass album and puttin out singles so yea she would get them.
so what AK start in 2001 and b started in 2003 what the hell does that have to do with anything
Alicia and Beyonce are NOT to be compared, you guys sound like idiots. They BOTH have proven themselves, and are HIGHLY respected.
Lool,,that means people had 2 more years to buy alicia’s records compared to beyonce..Give Bee two more years..:) see if we talking 30 million worldwide then..:P