I wonder if THIS thread will attract the same number of DC fanatics that the last one did. (Where did they come from? Did some DC fan forum link here?)

And just to intercept the argument they made over and over since none bothered to read the thread: yes, the Dixie Chicks have the right to speak their opinions. And we have the right to call them and their opinions idiotic.

I've never listened to them and frankly don't care, but Kevin you seem to be ignoring an important factor here.

Re: drop in album sales from previous album:

Have you been asleep the last three years? Did you not notice that in that time all album sales have gone down 7-9% every year due to online downloading? This would easily account for most or all of the drop in sales from their last album.

An album debuts at #1, and you seem to be trying to find any reason to claim it's a failure. Interesting. I'll bet most bands would love that kind of failure.

Wow, debuted at number 1. I guess the big bad boycott was a major flop. Chalk up another failed attempt to persuade the public.

Oh wait - I bet we'll soon see a post here stating that the MSM lied about the "number one" ranking - my bad....

Kevin,
I heard Harold Ford, Jr. say he bought the new Dixie Chicks album. I can't help but wonder if he was a fan back when they were doing real country, or if his purchase was a political statement. Just wondering.

About the comment above that all album sales have dropped, I haven't looked at the country vs. rock sales, but country music has been growing in popularity, and I assume, sales. Just ask Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Gretchen Wilson.

The whole point of the article was to use the same facts and figures see if they the could logically lead one to a conclusion diametrically opposed to the record company's take.

I think I proved it was possible...

It might be a great album, I don't know since I've not heard it, but it's not selling as well as their last album. It's still going to sell a boatload of copies, something that will be hard to call a failure.

The interesting compare and contrast case is the case of "The Da Vinci Code" which was proclaimed by the mainstream media as an abysmal failure, even though it has ended up doing very well at the box office.

Also, MI3 staring couch jumping freak Tom Cruise, was widely proclaimed a flop after opening well below the debut numbers of MI2, even though it was "Number 1 at the Box Office."

Just sayin...

Look more like "Dixie Pigs".

Don't overlook the fact that rankings are affected by the competition an album is facing. Just as a 'bad' movie can open at #1 despite lousy box office numbers, so too can an album (or a book) open at #1 if there's not a whole lot else out there right now.

And looking at the Billboard results for the week, it doesn't seem as if the DC faced a whole lot of competition for the top spot.... some albums that had been in the stores for a while already and an American Idol soundtrack... it's not as if they opened DC against Springsteen or anybody else with draw, did they?

Lorie, you mention that country sales have been growing in popularity but none of the artist have hit the charts anywhere near the DC. The only country group to sell more cds on opening week was Rascall Flatts. Huge artists like Toby Keith or Tim McGraw only sold 330K and 243K with their last album.

The boycott may have had an impact but the DC certainly aren't hurting.

Well, they got the timing right. Maines basically recalls her apology, and the non cross-eyed one outlines the trendy "following" that she wants all between 7 and 10 days before the album is released. A cascade of attention from Time magazine to Larry King builds them up and presto - they're number one! What a surprise - hell if they weren't they'd be the laughing stock of the Music world if they aren't already.

Why didn't they just say that they were doing Brad Pitt, or converting to Scientology and attempting to bear children with Tom Cruise? I'm really wondering now when the movie about them will come out?

Just so they know, I am ashamed that they are from Texas.

I'm no fan of DC (okay I'm not a big fan of most music groups), but the bottom line is selling albums. The sold 526,000 copies. Thats way above #2 at 175,000.

I did a quick search and came up with #1 country music album debut (aka what the DC did) that was selling at 99,000 for the week. Since that is lower than the number 5 for this week, I am assuming it was an atypical slow week.

http://www.thatscountry.com/artman/publish/printer_2395.shtml

Rascall Flatts was at 721,000 the first week recently.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1528558/04122006/rascal_flatts.jhtml

Bottom line is going to be how many sales they can pull in total. While I recognize that a misleading headline ala MSM could be written (DC sales slump 33%), why should their record company care if they are selling to people who are making a political statement with buying the album or really like the music?

Missing from your post is the inconvenient fact that there has been no airplay of this album, unlike the previous efforts.

As a previous commenter pointed out, I am missing from the sales because I listened to this great album on Rhapsody.

Furthermore, as a real Texan (unlike the pres, who is from Connecticut) I am proud they are from Texas. Again unlike the pres, they uphold the real Texas values - independence, integrity and honesty.

Lee: Are you so stupid you don't really know the antique MSM phonies up everything they put out? They are always 99% wrong or just put out plain made up lies. If you haven't learned that in the past few years there is no hope for you.

Borrow a dixie chumps album, make 50 copies and put them outside the record shops in a box marked free. I think that'll work.

They had no radio play and still came out at number one - pretty impressive.

Music, Movies and books sale debut are often misleading, especially if it is a controversial one. Most of the supporters will buy or see them when they are first release. The positioning and sales are often manipulated to produce a positioning result. Give it a month and we will see a more valid picture either way.

Scrapiron: I know several people who work in the MSM. Nobody I know dummies up anything - nobody.

If you're stupid enough to believe they do - that's your problem. I could care less. Just be sure to repeat your claims often to anyone who will listen. Tell your neighbors, friends, and your coworkers at the junk yard. Tell them about the great MSM conspiracy Scrapiron - it's your civic duty. Do it for America! Let the truth out! Engage!

The pathetic grunting of the right-wing sows as they slide further into the mud pit is amusing, but not instructive.

Lee,
Lighten up on the coffee, will ya ?

Lighten up on the coffee, will ya ?

I don't suffer fools gracefully, but I'm working on it, honest.

Debuted at #1 out of 2, that aint all bad as You consider the major newspapers are in a similar quandry.

Who cares! Not me. The Dixie Chicks are arrogant stuck up bitches who've gone goth since they alienated 90% of their fan base.

Screw em. They can re-invent themselves and spout their bullshit all they want, but I won't listen to their crap or buy their stuff.

Too bad musicians won't just shut up and sing. They are right up there with the folks from F.A.G. (Film Actors Guild).

DC listed as # one album on sale at iTunes Store today.

Just FYI.

Having scanned the lyrics, I have no desire to buy this one no matter how sweet the music might be. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

Debuted at #1 out of 2, that aint all bad as You consider the major newspapers are in a similar quandry.

Translate this into English for us Virgo, so we can all share in the fun.

Mantis raised the point I was going to make; they haven't released a studio album since 2002 according to the website, and we all have heard about what the music industry has been going through.

Also wanted to mention that while I do not listen to country or the DC, I think plummeted is a pretty strong word for what amounts to the group's second-best first-week showing. 526,000 albums without radio support seems pretty good, especially considering the fact that according to Forbes, they have the 2006 second-best first-week to date for all country albums.

As yetanotherjohn says, the real test will end up being the overall sales.

Notice that the post is filed under "Fun With Numbers," which could just as easily be title, "Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics."

Clearly this is a successful debut, arguing otherwise would be futile, BUT much like big-budget Hollywood movies their sales are measured against expectations and their past successes. In that respect the "success" of the album (and more importantly the tour) is still anyones guess.

Why were they listed in the country charts if they say they aren't a country band anymore?

It debuted at number one. No matter which way you spin it that pretty much says it all. As hard as the right-wing blogosphere tried, they had little or no impact on dampening the release of the album -- in fact, the DCs spun it to their advantage.

What's next? Why not attack Disney due to its liberal employee benefits plan? -- just let me know in advance so I can buy stock in the company before you guys launch your attack, ok?

The "buzz" and media hype has obviously helped, and I'm sure lots of moonbats who can't stand country music bought it out of solidarity. Album sales will be clearer in six weeks or so - if it's still selling strongly, there won't be any argument.

Performers typically make the largest portion of their income from concerts, though. Their record deals pay them a % after x sales, on a sliding scale, but most stars have already received a substantial advance on their contract by the time each new album is released. Concerts = quick cash.

We'll have to see how they draw on their US tour - that will be the best measure of whether or not their controversies have hurt them where it counts.

A lot of people seem to think all country folk are Republicans - I'm true _blue_ country not "red" country, I like the Dixie Chicks music _and_ politics. I would've been pretty embarassed if I thought that whole nazi CD burning thing had something to do with my country roots - fortunately there's a lot of us out there that don't get involved in that kind of nonsense. I'll definitely buy the CD. Some of us here in rural states actually have independent minds and don't have some robotic chip implanted in our brain that makes us listen to Toby Keith and vote Republican.

and I'm sure lots of moonbats who can't stand country music bought it out of solidarity

Likewise many "wingnuts" didn't buy it out of solidarity with their wingnut compadres. Actually, probably far more wingnuts swore off the record than moonbats who did buy it.

One small point many may be missing here is the power of Clear Channel, the right-wing communications company that banned the Dixie Chicks. Maybe they aren't as powerful as they thought. Are they the radio arm of the so-called MSM, fading from power because there are so many other distribution channels for music?

People don't tune in to listen to Clear Channel stations because they love the conservative executives and who they decided to ban. They tune in to listen to the music made by the artists. I know Wall Street doesn't much like media companies who let their politics run the company and Wall Street ain't dumb.

Better sell your Clear Channel because it was already a dog. Now it's looking like a dog with fleas.

I watched the Dixie Chicks interview on Larry King last night and they did pass up a number of opportunities to take shots at Reba McEntire, Toby Keith and George W. Bush. They were really very restrained given the trashing they've taken.

Still, this morning the talking cadaver, Don Imus, and ugly-ass Bernard (don't know and don't care about his last name) were taking cheap shots at Natalie Maines about her looks. God, what irony.

This is how absurd you are, if #1 is something to be ashamed of, i guess you think Tobey Keith is a total failure. And Bruce springstin need to quit.

I am glad someone else noticed the cross-eyed dixie slob on king last night. I guess it is from concentrating too much on that record industry cock before felating it. Could we therefore say that she's cock-eyed?

It appears that some people need to have an encounter with something I like to call "reality."

Some actual facts: it is utterly common for a new album (or a new movie) to open at # 1. Stop. Think. Pay attention. Any new media event with the requisite hype will usually open at the top. How many times have you heard the phrase "the # 1 movie in America" used to describe a horrid flick that a week later had vanished? Movies like "Scary Movie Four," "White Chicks," and the last cheesy Rob Schneider movie were all #1 - for about five minutes. In short, it is utterly meaningless. And if you have a brain and a pair of ears, you already know this. (Unless you actually think "Freddy Got Fingered" was worthy of # 1 status ...)

More actual facts: the Dixie Chicks were once the biggest act in music; in fact, they still hold the title for best-selling all-female group ever. Something like 11 Grammy nominations, countless ACM and CMA awards. So anything they do should be HUGE, right?

Fact: wrong! Despite all of the above, despite enormous publicity, the first single topped out at #36 on the country charts - and died. It reached # 32 on the adult contemporary charts - and died.

These are facts, kids. Some of you may not like them, but they remain indisputable.

This album - and the Dixie Chicks - are massive failures. Almost unprecedented failures, in fact, in light of their equally unprecedented earlier success.

Obviously, they will still sell albums. Millions of them, in fact. If you want to be intellectually dishonest and compare them to some no-name wannabe band, they will always appear successful. They will continue to make a living.

But judged with an ounce of intelligence, they are now abject failures - when they are compared to where they SHOULD be in terms of sales. That is the only comparison that matters.

Rest assured, their record company does not consider them a success.

The group will disband within four years, and your children will watch Natalie Maines on the Surreal Life Part 42 (and they'll all wonder who the hell she is.)

Reality, kids. Deal with it.

Rest assured, their record company does not consider them a success.

They opened at number one, have been getting great press, and this moron tells us that in his "reality" he's resting assured that the DCs record company doesn't consider them a success? I won't even address the rest of his blatherings -- he's not "reality-based" in any sense of the word.

Professor Blather is certainly appropriately named.

The above is total, utter blather of the kind not ordinarily seen. This is an argument so dumb not even John Gibson of Fox News would attempt it.

natalie maines on surreal life part 42--classic!! I can see it now....she falls in love with dennis rodman and ends up bitch slapping rosie o'donnell...

Success is a relative thing. If their first album sold 15 million copies and their second album sold 20 million copies they would hardly be considered a "success" if their third album sells 1 or 2 million copies, even if that would be wildly successful for a band without such high expectations. The notoriety helped them with a good start, time will tell if the album has legs.
Mission Impossible III is a record setter for Tom cruise because it continues his string of movies that have earnen $100 million plus but you will have a hard time finding anyone who thinks the movie is a success.

I wouldn't walk across the street to see the Dixie Chicks but I felt the same way about them before any political talk started.