February
20
'Thriller' Blocked From The Pop Chart
When is the second highest selling album of the week nowhere to be found in the top 200?
There used to be a number of reasons but now it's down to one: When the disc has been classified as a catalog release.
The 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Epic/Legacy) sold 166,000 copies in its first week of release, which would make it the second biggest seller of the week that ended Sunday. Despite it containing a DVD and five newly reworked versions of the songs, it is considered a catalog release by Billboard, which categorizes sales data collected by Nielsen SoundScan.
In much of the rest of the world it has been categorized as a new release and debuted at No. 1 in France, No. 2 in Germany, Australia, Holland, Norway and Switzerland, and No. 3 in the U.K. “Thriller,” which has sold 27 million copies, is No. 1 on Billboard’s catalog chart. Most catalog chart toppers sell between 15,000 and 20,000 copies per week.
Last year, Billboard eliminated its rule that barred from the top 200, releases available at a single retailer. That was in response to the Eagles selling more than 700,000 copies of "Long Road to Eden" at Wal-Mart outlets.
Billboard continues to make decisions on bonus packages that mystify many people in the industry. In many cases, a major star - Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, etc. - can release a second version of a hit album that includes new songs, new mixes and videos, but its sales are included with the initial release.
Other discs - and this often affects soundtracks - are almost always split between regular and deluxe editions, regardless of their time of release. There have been exceptions, though, and that seems to drive some execs bonkers. Just like the folks who want the world to know "Thriller 25" is the No. 2 seller in the country.
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Thats screwed...MJ should have been able to show the world he is still number one!
Posted by: Justine | February 20, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Will never trust Billboard again for top songs.
Posted by: Uknown | February 20, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Geez. You guys need a proofreader: "Last year, Billboard eliminated its rule that barred from the top 200, releases available at a single retailer."
I also saw mistakes in the American Idol recap and the No Depression story. Weak.
Posted by: JB | February 20, 2008 at 08:22 PM
Perhaps because he is a pedophile?
Posted by: Casca | February 20, 2008 at 09:03 PM
We all know that thre real reason is that Michael likes young boys, while the staffers at Billboard like their boys much older.
Posted by: Olden Atwoody | February 20, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Dumb. The charts should reflect what's selling regardless of whether it came out today or last century. The concept should be... what sold the most this week. Plain and simple.
Posted by: Sam | February 20, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Billboard DOES have an album chart which displays ALL albums, new and old, it's called the Comprehensive Albums Chart and is issued every week as well. Perhaps if the media just used that chart instead of the Billboard 200 people wouldn't have to complain about this.
Posted by: Jim | February 21, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Billboard is not reporting the true sales statistics across the board, but picking and choosing exceptions. They are unbelievable. Billboard has eliminated themselves now from credibilty and integrity. They are now a magazine that has no relevance, they just destroyed their reputation.
Posted by: the voice of truth | February 21, 2008 at 02:19 AM
I just wrote Billboard, and hope to see Michael at number 2 on the Top 200 - if not I won't believe anything they publish anymore - regardless of their rational - if something sells the second most in the week it should be number two - PERIOD. A travesty to artists, producers, musicians to think their works can be pigeonholed by some formula the publication comes up with just boggles my mind. Michael Jackson - YOU ARE NUMBER 2 according to sales.
Posted by: Robert | February 21, 2008 at 02:27 AM
The worldwide units sold of Thriller 25 are impressive, regardless of what chart it is listed.
Posted by: GB | February 21, 2008 at 03:20 AM
Congratulations Michael and Sony! Billboard should be ashamed of themselves. They made an exception for the Eagles. What's up with that? Thriller 25 SHOULD be on the Top 200 list, so folks can remember what good music is all about. I have lost all respect for that publication!
Posted by: NewYorker | February 21, 2008 at 05:42 AM
Indeed Congrats MJ!! Billboard appears to have screwed themselves and you end up getting lots of positive press via Drudge.
Posted by: QuasiQuirky | February 21, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Michael Jackson is the number ONE for me.
Posted by: Dan | February 21, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Who thinks Billboard is still relevant?
Posted by: Gob Bluth | February 21, 2008 at 08:33 AM
Only in the eyes of typical white racist is MJ a pedophile. Most folks with common sense was able to see that he was the victim of scam artist. One family most rednecks here probably does not want in the country. Imagine that, you want to export this "immigrant family" when you find out the tried to scam JC Penny, but you believe them about MJ? Well, I tell you what...You get my attention when you same pale faces accept that Woody Allen is a pedophile. Not only did he molest his adopted daughter...HE MARRIED HER and you typical people ignore this fact!!!
Posted by: Nat | February 21, 2008 at 09:09 AM
People, this is Michael Jackson, supporting a pedophile??? His music is good but comon. Are you going to support Charlie Manson because he helped write Bee Gee songs??? Open your eyes.
Posted by: Jay | February 21, 2008 at 09:15 AM
What a hypocrite organisation Billboard is! wow! I wasn't expecting that! I'm amazed!
Posted by: Sophie | February 21, 2008 at 09:16 AM
I think some people here have obviously not followed in detail the Jackson court cases or at least read the court documents... He was found not guilty for a reason: he was simply innocent being set up by a family of con-artists. Nobody here is supporting a "peadophile"! At least put the word "suspected" when you'd like to make such a reference!
Posted by: skdut | February 21, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Yeah Nat only to white racists is MJ a pedophile (and to a few little white boys). He's bought enough white children to keep him going for a while now. Obviously he's not too concerned about blacks except when he's in trouble. Like OJ.
Posted by: Jojo | February 21, 2008 at 09:55 AM
JoJo, no offense, but you sound SILLY! Although this article is not about the trial, I will add my 2 cent just the same. If anybody should be charged with a crime, it should be the D.A., who spent $4+ MILLION on a case with no merit. I can't believe that a seasoned D.A. would put his reputation on the line, after issuing OVER 100 SEARCH WARRANTS, and still not be able to come up with any concrete evidence to present in court. YES, I said OVER 4 MILLION DOLLARS AND OVER 100 SEARCH WARRANTS. That case was so bad that they couldn't even get 1 of the 4 lesser charges to stick. Anyone who wants to discuss this case, needs to read the transcripts first. Then and only then can you discuss the FACTS of the case and not what you read in the TABLOIDS!
Posted by: NewYorker | February 21, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Thanks New Yorker, you are as relevant and unbiased as the New York Times and the New Yorker put together.
Posted by: Jojo | February 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I remember quizzing some Radio and Record guys in 1980 about a phenomenon I witnessed at in a nearby college town - Ann Arbor, Michigan. The best store in town had cases of a double "Nuggets" cut-out album with all the garage bands of the 60's. These were flying out of the store faster than anything that was listed "current" on the Billboard charts. I said that if this is what people were buying, it must be what they wanted to hear. The reps from both sides of the industry argued and said the Charts were the real reflection of what the Pop/Rock audience wanted to listen to. What a joke! After working in stores, I came to know that "sales" never equated to what was reported. I'm sure the industry quickly learned how to fix Soundscan reporting, too. After all, it is pretty easy to swap one barcode for another, so long as the prices remain the same. If the fix is in with Billboard and how it charts Soundscan data, what prevents them from simply altering the data in the first place? Who would know? Who is crying for the RIAA and these Music industry dinosaurs?
Posted by: worldmikel | February 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Billboard is staring down its historical accuracy and credibility for all future popularity listings. Who won the 2008 Superbowl, Billboard? Right, the Greenbay Packers, of course, of course...
Posted by: Tom | February 21, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Right on keep that alleged pervert off the charts
Posted by: Richard Fortin | February 21, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Timothy White would have been proud of this crap. As the bow-tied editor of Billboard he smeared 2Pac in a racist editorial after 2Pac was killed. Fortunately for music lovers White dropped dead of a heart attack.
Billboard has become as relevant to the music industry as the RIAA.
Posted by: Chucky in Jersey | February 21, 2008 at 04:08 PM