Madonna to buck industry sales trends?

On a day in which the record industry is releasing what is sure to be one of the biggest albums of the year -- Madonna's "Hard Candy" -- the Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA) dampers the party with some old-fashioned statistics.

"Hard Candy" is expected to debut at No. 1 next week, and should supply continued good news for the music biz this April. But while Mariah Carey just scored the biggest first-week sales total of the year --  with her "E=MC2" selling 463,000 copies last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan --  the RIAA's 2007 year-end stats arrive to remind us all just what an aberration that was. Overall CD shipments in the U.S. dipped 17.5%, after  a 12.1% decline from 2005 to 2006.

There was, however, some good news. Vinyl shipments were up 36%, rebounding from a 7% dip from 2005 to 2006. Distribution of digital albums was up 54%, and digital music videos also saw a huge jump, climbing 43%. Subscription services, however, don't seem to be taking with consumers, as they were up just a tiny 7%.

Overall, though, digital sales accounted for 23% of the industry's revenue, compared to just 9% in 2005. Mobile sales, which includes ringtones, downloads and ringbacks, among other new media tchotchkes , experienced a 14% increase.

The strength of the mobile market, in fact, is illustrated this week by none other than Madonna herself. She'll be broadcasting four songs live via Verizon from her New York club gig Wednesday  evening. Billboard notes this is the first live mobile simulcast. But those who miss it -- or have to take a call once Madonna takes the stage -- can access the content for up to 30 days.

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Moron]

Madonna is over! Mariah rules!

[carter]

Poor Mariah. She can't keep up with a women a decade older than her. After a quater of century, Madonna sits comfortable on her throne of The Queen of Popular Music without a worthy challenger in sight.

[dee]

question. when mariah hits 50, do you think she can sing like everyone likes her now ? iguess NOT. she still has along way to go to reach MADONNA level. Madge is the QUEEN and she is just a song bird who bitches other song bird like her. A queen remains a queen even after her reign. her title never change. a song bird can never be called a song bird once she looses her voice.

[Ronald]

Everyone is expecting that Madonna wil dislodge any other singers off teh top chart! Her album received warm VERY WARM REVIEWS from the critics! Even her single 4 MINUTES can top the charts by downloads alone!

[Ronald]

The album is good. Keep downloading the new single 4 MINUTES!!!

[Dee-Dum]

better question. When Madonna was 38 (Mariah's age), did she have 18 #1 singles and sell over 160 Million albums.. NO! So looks like Mariah is well on her way to defeating Madonna by the age of 50.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

I'm still waiting for her latest hit:
"Justify my career"

[lover]

Ms dee. get a life with all your Queen talk!
Let's talk about your so called queens face, what's up? Is she the New Cat Lady of New York??? She is so pull,
I think it's so funny to see her trying
to hold on to her past self.
Let's face it Ms dee
IT'S NOT IOOKING GOOD.

[bodge]

MADONNA!!! THE QUEEN IS HERE TO STAY!!!ANOTHER OUTSTANDING CD

yawnnnnnn Mariah

[Brian Quinn]

Personally I feel that Madonna is overrated. She is more of a businesswoman than singer/entertainer. Neither Madonna or Mariah Carey will be heard of in 50 years time.

[Robert Wilkes]

Madonna and Mariah are both music legends and are on top of their game after all of these years. Let's give them both a lot of credit. I'm sure it hasn't been easy.

[Stone Groove]

Question, Dee: When Madonna even debuted, could she sing like Mariah does at 38? She's an entertainer; gimmicks and publicity stunts generate her album sales more than vocal technique. =)

[Allan Angel]

Madonna's set to break Rihanna's Umbrella record for most singles sold with 4 minutes. Mariah made 30 mill on her last concert and had to cancel shows. Madonna made 200 million. She already sold her current singels from Hard Candy for commercials here and abroad for about 20 million and is going to be used again in the Get Smart movie. Yeah.. she's over.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

Bottom-line?
Mariah: Million-dollar
vocals, Fitty-cents worth of Class.

Madonna: Well, um,
Forty-Five cents worth of Class.

[Jose Nungaray]

Madonna's biggest rival is herself. I' ve followed Madonna since the days of "Holiday". Many have competed with Madonna; yet Madonna is still around; they're not. Madonna isn't a hello-good-bye. She's here to stay. Many history reference books already have Madonna as a living legend. In the future, she will remain in these history books as one of the greatest personalities the world has ever known. GET THE PICTURE EVERYONE!

[Mariano]

Dear Ronald, please do not tell me that Mariah is NOT an entertainer okay ?

Allan Angel :
Bottom-line?
Madonna: Well, um,
DANCING, 50 cents worth of Class.

Mariah: Million-dollar
DANCING, 20 cents worth of Class.

[Gypsy Latrell]

I wish this woman would retire already. This woman has "reinvented" herself so many times, I am surprised she is not schizophrenic and spends most of her free time talking to herself.
I didn't get the hype of any movies she has been in, other then the one with Richard Gere. She's like what, 60 now? Man... when you get old enough that you may qualify for Medicare, its time to retire.

[paolo miguel]

everyone get a life. dance and sing like madonna and mariah. these two superstars have been with us for the past 20 years, have married and divorced and are going strong, looking great and singing fabulous. they have slept and enjoyed more candymen that we ever did because of your nonsense bickering. buy their albums; sing and dance and blow as many candybois as you can. that is a sweet life these two gorgeous women are singing and dancing about. get laid and look gorgeous.

[Kate]

Give me a break, I have listened to and enjoyed Madonna's music for decades now and ever since day 1 people have said that Madonna is just a gimmick and no-talent pop tart. That all Madonna did was sell sex. That she couldn't sing.

Well she's never been that great looking anway, but whenever I go to the mall, turn on the radio, walk into a business and such, it's MADONNA'S music I still hear playing wherever I am. And after all this time, it's her great pop hits I enjoy far more than 'real' singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Madonna's records have held up much better. Now that the dust has settled most popular music critics regard Madonna as a major artist while few take Mariah's or Whitney's recordings seriously.

[rockpimpster]

i love how everyone's fighitng over mariah and madonna. The fact remains, Madonna is noted in the guiness book of world records many more times than mariah. Madonna is also an international artist unlike mariah who is only popular in America. Madonna's Hard Candy debuted at number 1 in more countries in the world than i can count, including the U.S.
Honestly, Mariah's voice is her money maker but that will fade once she hits 40. She cant dance and sing at the same time like madonna and her weight changes more than oprah's.... What now?

[MIke]

did kate just say in the same sentence that madonna can sing and dane. as far as Mariah being an international star watch the news she's famous everwhere!