OFFICIAL Ye fka "kanYe West" x G.O.O.D. Music Thread - ¥$ (AKA YE X TY DOLLA SIGN) - VULTURES (NOW AVAILABLE WOWWWW)

[rndom grenadez]

most people didn't even know the album was dropping until it dropped. Laughable

when I say the snl demographic isn't kanye's, i mean that most snl watchers are in the midwest, white, and 30+.  that's not Kanye's demographic. This is the EXACT demographic that buys albums

he NEEDS the sales and the media marketing machine to be successful. You realize Kanye is all about the media and marketing machine. Why do you think he's with Kim.

give it away for free essentially and still sell damn near gold the first week. How did he give it away for free? Last time I check it was $12 at the iTunes store.

How many rap artists can do that today?  Kanye and...?  Jay-Z?  Maybe, Drake? I don't know he eats way too well off the catchy singles. Eminem probably can, and the reason being is that middle america, white 30+ year olds buy albums.

What Kanye accomplished is a feat.  You guys are speculating that he's pissed because of slumping sales?  No.  If anything, this just justified his ego.  This album proves he can do whatever he wants and still come out with nothing but profit. My only reaction was 

 

[nako xl]

most people didn't even know the album was dropping until it dropped.

when I say the snl demographic isn't kanye's, i mean that most snl watchers are in the midwest, white, and 30+.  that's not Kanye's demographic.

Him performing two incomplete songs on the show didn't help his sales that much.  he wasn't on bet, mtv, cw, etc pushing his record.  He literally played the songs once on the sides of buildings, once on snl to let you know he had something in the works, then once at governors ball to let you know they were done.  then he talked about them in the arts section of the newspaper and that was it.

Your first statement is false. Stop it.

Do you have any data that supports your 2nd statement? Dead serious. I'd like to see who their demo is.

Either way, Kanye is more of a pop artist now. So white 30 year olds most certainly do buy his music. Or you thought the "hood" was buying his albums?

SNL is a massive promo + marketing vehicle. NY Times was a big buzz piece.

Kanye is constantly in the news. Flipping on paparazzi. Ranting and raving anytime a mic is in front of him. Let's not act like he's some low key recluse who's album was flying under the media radar.

The way some of you warp and weave your perception of this album is ridiculous. Everyone want to write an essay explaining the direction, the music, the sales, the promotion.

Sometimes an album just isn't great. And performs as such. Great albums don't have that problem.

They sell without promotion (remember Macklemore? He didn't have a single on the radio until AFTER his album debuted at #1. Mac Miller debuted at #1 with no radio. COUNTLESS examples).

It's not like Kanye only did 50k but everything about this album, from the music to the sales is underwhelming.

Sorry to you funny style types that get upset about negative things being said about the album. I know you just want this to be a sandbox of Kanye worship. But if it's an actual discussion about the project, suck it up and deal with some contrary opinions.

When I say no one knew Kanye's album was dropping, I mean, almost everyone who is a hip hop fan or was watching the NBA finals knows Jay is dropping an album July 4th.  There's been a big marketing campaign.

Most casual fans didn't know Kanye was dropping on the 18th.  Unless they were checking for Kanye, aside from seeing the NY times article where would they have come across that?

Off the top of your head can you tell me what day Wale's album dropped?  I can't.  For most people that's how they experienced Kanye's album.  It leaked and then it was here.  That's it.

and I took media development courses in college and grad school, and got my SNL info from a research paper I did during then.  SNL's core demo is 25-34, with 35-44 next and then 45-54.  They've been experiencing a drop off in 18-24 and <18 for years.

I don't know where I'd find an official cite of those stats right now or I'd post it.  but a google search will pull up tons of unofficial corroborating info.

And people always use Macklemore as an example but he isn't typical.  He didn't have a radio single until after his debut but he had a major viral video and he was HUGE on blogs and the summer tour circuit prior.

He also didn't debut at #1. You're incorrect there.

 

[dipsetgeneral]

I wouldn't mind a sequel.

 

[nako xl]

most people didn't even know the album was dropping until it dropped. Laughable

when I say the snl demographic isn't kanye's, i mean that most snl watchers are in the midwest, white, and 30+.  that's not Kanye's demographic. This is the EXACT demographic that buys albums

he NEEDS the sales and the media marketing machine to be successful. You realize Kanye is all about the media and marketing machine. Why do you think he's with Kim.

give it away for free essentially and still sell damn near gold the first week. How did he give it away for free? Last time I check it was $12 at the iTunes store.

How many rap artists can do that today?  Kanye and...?  Jay-Z?  Maybe, Drake? I don't know he eats way too well off the catchy singles. Eminem probably can, and the reason being is that middle america, white 30+ year olds buy albums.

What Kanye accomplished is a feat.  You guys are speculating that he's pissed because of slumping sales?  No.  If anything, this just justified his ego.  This album proves he can do whatever he wants and still come out with nothing but profit. My only reaction was 

"laughable" but he announced the album was releasing 4 weeks before he released it. and didn't have a single prior. but laughable? ok.

no. 30+ white people in the mid west are NOT the exact demo that buys albums and not the demo that buys hiphop albums.

why do i think he's with kim? i don't know. i didn't realize you knew the two of them personally.

kanye proved that he could stop album leaks if he wanted. watch the throne didn't leak until 3 hours before it was for sale. this go around he sent out demo cds to blogs and magazines to review the album a week ahead of time. he didn't care if it leaked. he let us film full videos of his govs ball performance.  he had an open air listening party in manhattan.  for all intents and purposes he basically gave this **** away.

eminem probably can. you're right. i forgot about him. so... 3 artists in a pool of thousands? it's a feat.

 

[jking0821]

I agree with you Nako and think you are correct in your thinking but there aren't really hard numbers to prove anyone's point.

I didn't know Kanye had an album coming out until i saw the NT thread like a week or so ago titled "Did you realize Kanye has an album coming out next week" or something.
I'm 25 and never watch SNL my 50 year old Caucasian mother watches it all the time.....and she hates kanye and hated the performance....she only knows him from the Taylor Swift incident.

And i like Yeezus and hope to see a sequel

 

[flossb15]

I agree with Nako as well, usually a person like Kanye wanting to really sell

Not only does SNL, but does Ellen , David letterman, jimmy kimmel, jimmy Fallon, Sway, good Morning America , power 106, hot 97 , the view, Wendy Williams , funk flex , 106& park, jay Leno , Ryan seacrest
Etc

To go along with that, a real single that has been in rotation for 5 weeks prior and gaining spins
He also didn't join a brand like Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Samsung to pay for big rollouts campaigns

To say Kanye didn't accomplish a feat is to ignore the truth

I'm thinking if he really used the tools he has, a catchy single and Kim kardashian resources to the fullest, he does 700,000 first week easy

A lot of people simply just didn't know this album was dropping, and once they did probably read reviews or heard from friends it was average

 

[incredibleev]

The story of Yeezus' sales success is really just another in proving the power of the internet w/ little-to-no marketing plan over traditional marketing methods in today's music industry

 

[illphillip]

I agree with Nako as well, usually a person like Kanye wanting to really sell

Not only does SNL, but does Ellen , David letterman, jimmy kimmel, jimmy Fallon, Sway, good Morning America , power 106, hot 97 , the view, Wendy Williams , funk flex , 106& park, jay Leno , Ryan seacrest
Etc

To go along with that, a real single that has been in rotation for 5 weeks prior and gaining spins
He also didn't join a brand like Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Samsung to pay for big rollouts campaigns

To say Kanye didn't accomplish a feat is to ignore the truth

I'm thinking if he really used the tools he has, a catchy single and Kim kardashian resources to the fullest, he does 700,000 first week easy

A lot of people simply just didn't know this album was dropping, and once they did probably read reviews or heard from friends it was average

But has he really ever done most of those things though? Not that I can recall. Maybe I'm mistaken.

Only exception being the single on the radio. Fine. As I stated, plenty of artists have done major units without that.

Generated a ton of press either way. SNL, projections on buildings, NT Times article. People buzzing about him bringing in Rick Rubin.

To act like this album was a secret, as if Kanye West can even have such a thing, is to ignore the truth.

To act like this album just dropped with NO notice and NO promotion at all is laughable. He may want you to believe that, that his "strategy is no strategy" but it's just not the case.

Who does this guy think he is, Bruce Lee?

 

[illphillip]

You love the album, but out of 10 tracks, you don't listen to 3 at all, and don't listen to another 3 "very much"?


But play 5-8 consecutively?


That's puzzling......

I've listened to it straight through without skipping anything a few times now and I really enjoy it. But, that was in my car on a long drive when I had time. I don't usually have time to just sit down and listen to an album straight through like that.

If I'm listening to this album casually, and not as a whole, I'm not going to listen to the 3 songs I don't like.

I don't listen "very much" to the other 3 I mentioned because 5-8 are my favorite.

Why is it puzzling I don't listen to every song equally or don't listen to some at all any more? I still love the album.

Sorry. I didn't realize you meant tracks 5-8.

I thought you meant you listened to 5-8 songs. Which would have been tough mathematically. I stand corrected.

 

[illphillip]

He also didn't debut at #1. You're incorrect there.

#1 on Itunes and #1 Rap/Hip-Hop is still #1.

The story of Yeezus' sales success is really just another in proving the power of the internet w/ little-to-no marketing plan over traditional marketing methods in today's music industry

C'mon man. It's Kanye West. I can't believe you guys are really in here acting like this is some underdog project that went to #1 with no publicity at all.

 

[flossb15]

But has he really ever done most of those things though? Not that I can recall.

Only exception being the single on the radio. Fine. As I stated, plenty of artists have done major units without that.

Generated a ton of press either way. SNL, projections on building, NT Times article. People buzzing about him bringing in Rick Rubin.

To act like this album was a secret, as if Kanye West can even have such a thing, is to ignore the truth.

To act like this album just dropped with NO notice and NO promotion at all is laughable. He may want you to believe that, but it's just not the case.

yes, during late registration and graduation, Kanye was EVERYWHERE (SNL is dependent upon people being home to watch, NY times is an older demographic)

and illphil - i agree this album was not a secret, but more like a grassroot topic amongst early adapters like us, which is just as good because we all like putting people up on the latest

and you're right no notice and no promo is lol, but lets not act like Kanye did everything in his power to promote like he wanted to put up big numbers

 

[flossb15]

#1 on Itunes and #1 Rap/Hip-Hop is still #1.
C'mon man. It's Kanye West. I can't believe you guys are really in here acting like this is some underdog project that went to #1 with no publicity at all.

by no means am i shocked that kanye went number 1, i'm IMPRESSED in the route he took this time around

 

[shoeking2101]

The story of Yeezus' sales success is really just another in proving the power of the internet w/ little-to-no marketing plan over traditional marketing methods in today's music industry

This is true

 

[incredibleev]

C'mon man. It's Kanye West. I can't believe you guys are really in here acting like this is some underdog project that went to #1 with no publicity at all.

All I'm saying is the internet has opened new marketing techniques of which Kanye exploited. I'm probably more on your side in that Yeezus DEFINITELY DID NOT just come out of nowhere. But the buzz was built almost exclusively by non-conventional marketing strategies which are becoming the new norm in the music biz.

 

[quietmoney]

Sorry. I didn't realize you meant tracks 5-8.

I thought you meant you listened to 5-8 songs. Which would have been tough mathematically. I stand corrected.

I was wondering why you were calling me out. No worries

 

[illphillip]

The story of Yeezus' sales success is really just another in proving the power of the internet w/ little-to-no marketing plan over traditional marketing methods in today's music industry

This is true

Not really. Like I said, artists like Mac Miller, Macklemore, even Drake early in his career are that.

If Kanye had done the same # of units as he had when he had done MORE promotion, with the marketing plan he used on this album, then you could say that.

But selling less while doing less isn't really a success story to me for a guy like Kanye West, who CLEARLY already has a passionate fanbase.

This is actually more than 1/2 the first week sales on some of his other albums. Even if he had done like 400+ like he did on MDTBF or 808's, you could call it a success.

This is less than anyone expected even with the marketing strategy he employed.

#1 on Itunes and #1 Rap/Hip-Hop is still #1.
C'mon man. It's Kanye West. I can't believe you guys are really in here acting like this is some underdog project that went to #1 with no publicity at all.

by no means am i shocked that kanye went number 1, i'm IMPRESSED in the route he took this time around

This I can cosign. I appreciate the minimalism to an extent.

I'd appreciate it more if he just shut the **** up and did it without tell you what he's supposedly "not" doing.

 

[ihust1e]

Truthfully, I cant speak for the rest of the world...or who ever follows Kim's show/life.

But I dont see how that's connected to album sales. Publicity....certainly. But sales?

My sister watches her show religiously and didnt care when his album dropped.

But then again,...shes just one person

I think publicity in general generates sales. It's the nature of the beast.

I see what you're saying b.

Just skeptical is all lol

 

[nako xl]

#1 on Itunes and #1 Rap/Hip-Hop is still #1.
C'mon man. It's Kanye West. I can't believe you guys are really in here acting like this is some underdog project that went to #1 with no publicity at all.

by no means am i shocked that kanye went number 1, i'm IMPRESSED in the route he took this time around

This I can cosign. I appreciate the minimalism to an extent.

I'd appreciate it more if he just shut the **** up and did it without tell you what he's supposedly "not" doing.

I admit if it was most other artists I'd probably

at how much explaining of "what he's not doing and why" has been going on.

But it's Kanye.  He likes to talk.  Even when he allegedly isn't.

 

[shoeking2101]

Not really. Like I said, artists like Mac Miller, Macklemore, even Drake early in his career are that.

If Kanye had done the same # of units as he had when he had done MORE promotion, with the marketing plan he used on this album, then you could say that.

But selling less while doing less isn't really a success story to me for a guy like Kanye West, who CLEARLY already has a passionate fanbase.

This is actually more than 1/2 the first week sales on some of his other albums. Even if he had done like 400+ like he did on MDTBF or 808's, you could call it a success.

This is less than anyone expected even with the marketing strategy he employed.

I don't think you're getting it. What my man said though was

"The story of Yeezus' sales success is really just another in proving the power of the internet w/ little-to-no marketing plan over traditional marketing methods in today's music industry"

Those artist you mentioned definitely did that, that is true...however that has nothing to do with what he said. He said Kanye coming in at number 1 is ANOTHER in proving the power of the internet w/little to no marketing plan and that he didn't use the traditional method of an album campaign.

That is true. That is undisputable. That's exactly what he did. Ye coming in at number 1 is just another artist (along with drake, macklemore, mac miller) proving that one can put out an album minus the archaic strategy that album rollouts typically have. That's all he was saying.

 

[julesbeats]

SO I guess you're a musical genius when u have 8 people work on one techno beat and have four other ppl write your lyrics on each song, and turn it to an album huh???

is this the moral of the story???

This dude is the hip-hop version of Lady Gaga

 

[nako xl]

SO I guess you're a musical genius when u have 8 people work on one techno beat and have four other ppl write your lyrics on each song, and turn it to an album huh???

is this the moral of the story???

This dude is the hip-hop version of Lady Gaga

i see your name is julesbeats.

you make music bro?

 

[julesbeats]

Indeed I do, and if you're pointing this in the direction of good collaborative and mixing efforts, I beg to differ

 

[jking0821]

SO I guess you're a musical genius when u have 8 people work on one techno beat and have four other ppl write your lyrics on each song, and turn it to an album huh???

is this the moral of the story???

This dude is the hip-hop version of Lady Gaga

But how do you know what each person actually did. Why is everyone so quick to say oh there are a ton of names listed....kanye must have done nothing.....and either way why should it matter listen to the music...like it or don't....its just music

 

[Hahahaha]

This album had plenty of promotion just not your typical promotion.

Why he sold....

-Kanye has an established fanbase, shouldn't be hard to sell more than 200K first week.
-PLENTY of push from the E channel, Kardashian familiy and TMZ has been following him more than ever.
-Then his random 66 screens and events to get people hype
-The "i'm not doing any promo" promotion


300K is good but I'm not surprised. I would bet money that Kanye expected more sales with his "no promo"

 

[Hahahaha]

But how do you know what each person actually did. Why is everyone so quick to say oh there are a ton of names listed....kanye must have done nothing.....and either way why should it matter listen to the music...like it or don't....its just music

No one knows who did what. If you read the credits, there's almost 10 producers on each song. 2-4 people get producer credits on each song almost and then you have lists of who did what instruments. It's also been knows since his second album that he has a lot of writers with him. Not really much to dispute here.