[ikky99]

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Sinking sales for the Tragically Hip show that music ownership belongs to the past

Marc Weisblott
Published: October 11, 2012, 1:30 pm
Updated: 6 hours ago

The Tragically Hip seemed to be trying hard to build awareness for their twelfth studio album — Sunday afternoon flash performances in Toronto’s Kensington Market, a concert to bid farewell to Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton and the kind of mass media interviews that frontman Gord Downie avoided at their peak.

When the numbers came in for first-week sales, however, the act managed to sell less than half the number as their last release. Now For Plan A sold 12,000 discs or downloads last week, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Yet, over 25,000 people have streamed at least one track via SoundCloud, where the album was posted in its entirety a month ago.

These statistics compare to an opening sales hits of around 27,000 for We Are the Same in 2009 and World Container in 2006, a rebound from the 22,500 debut of 2004′s In Between Evolution.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that the band, which released its debut record a quarter-century ago, have an entrenched older following that is still inclined to buy recordings in the format they grew up with — or at least pay for the download rather than making an effort to avoid paying.

When the band’s album Music @ Work was released in 2000, it was considered one of the casualties of Napster, where it leaked prior to its first-week sales of 45,000. At the time, it was considered a major disappointment, especially compared to the earlier Hip albums that sold over a million copies in Canada alone.

Those days are long gone — but the preferred digital delivery systems may not be entirely in place yet. While some people are arguing that all music should be free, and live performances the route bands make their money, others are arguing that the age of ownership is done and access to products on-demand is now more important that owning it for eternity.

Canada is still waiting to get proper access to Spotify, the streaming music service from Sweden that launched in the U.S. over a year ago, although its eventual expansion was assured in August. New material from veteran acts may have a better chance being heard via platforms which continue to have their virtual border crossings delayed.

The other question raised by the sales for Now For Plan A is whether an act needs to lean on the album format when new tracks can be disseminated at will.

At this rate, Plan B might be the best approach next time.

[direwolf74]

Holy crap, that's quite a drop in first week sales. The sad part is that Now for Plan A is a superior album to WATS...at least judging by the majority of opinions around here. However, I suppose this isn't exactly surprising news, especially considering the steady decline of physical media over the last few years. Just more proof that live performance and touring is where the real money is made these days.

[mookytc]

Looked at tickets for Rochester and the whole balcony is left. Wondering if those will go? In 2007 the place was packed. I am wearing out the CD so I know where I stand.

[Escape@Hand]

For band's like the Hip, this obviously isn't great news, but it won't kill them. They make tonnes of money from radio play, and of course touring. The real issue is the development of new bands; how can new groups/artists who don't have the history and name recognition of a band like the Hip have a real career? Sure you have one off pop sensations, but the apathy of the general public to pay for music is really concerning. Look at all the top earning touring artists; the vast majority are older groups who have firmly established careers.

[Rye]

I always think that the first week sales are more indicative of the previous album than the current one. Pearl Jam is my other favourite band so I often try and draw similarities between the two. It seems like The Hip have lost a lot of die-hard fans over the years. I know a lot of people in the 29-40 bracket that bought Day For Night and Henhouse the day the came out but lost interest in the band over the years. It seems like PJ has gained steam with a rabid following after dropping off in mainstream popularity between 1996-2006.

One thing that I think has had a negative impact on The Hip is how they've used the internet. I remember in the mid 1990-s until the Napster leak they were innovators as far as bands using the internet to connect with fans. Since then they started The Hip Club which had no steam to it and refused to officially release their live shows (save for four Live From The Vaults). I also remember what a big stink there was with fans when In Between Evolution came out as far as a lack of touring goes. That record came out June 2004, they played around Toronto around Canada Day and then it took forever to get a tour announcement out. Plus with each passing record since Henhouse people casual fans have pretty much said "I wish it sounded like their old stuff."

Sorry, that's kind of all over the place but I think the reason for their declining popularity is in some of those bits and pieces.

[longseason]

That's disappointing — as I too feel this to be a superior album to the most of the albums they've put out in the past ten years. I would have expected sales to be stronger, especially considering the generally strong press they've received with this release.

[nomadic]

The amount of albums sold does not reflect its quality. Now For Plan A is fucking fantastic - people who are choosing not to buy it are really missing out.

[Gunn]

Well, I'm proud to say that I'm 3 of the 12,000. hahaha. I'm doing my part, at least.

[restlesssoul]

when you decide to stream an album, it makes it VERY easy to record said album for free, thus removing the need to purchase. i wouldnt be too worried about the number.


that being said...

it may be disheartening to be playing the new stuff live to fans who are waiting for "hits" so I dont know. its tough these days to lure peoples dollar.

[chris]

When did Jake Gold and The Hip part ways? Late 2002/early 2003...

I wonder how management plays into sales. I'm a huge fan of the guys at Eggplant - they've been very good to me, and they are nice people - but perhaps The Hip code them because The Hip no longer wanted to be the sales machine they once were??

[mintgreenbird]

On a side note. Now for plan a is listed as a top seller on the us iTunes Store.... If that's true music as a whole mist reAly be hurting...

[longseason]

And it was a top seller on iTunes Canada for a week during the Canadian pre-release.

[direwolf74]

And it was a top seller on iTunes Canada for a week during the Canadian pre-release.

It's a top seller on Maplemusic as well.

[WesleyC.]

I have bought the Vinyl AND CD. Plus paid nice money for the Hamilton show , they were totally worth it.
Part of the problem I think is that the radio stations also are only playing At Transformation. Granted thats a great song, the general public is not hearing other stuff on the radio to see how good the album is. World Container had In View and WATS had Morning Moon as singles, I recall during Fully Completly and Road Apples and Phantom Power that the radio stations were playing lots of songs off the albums. Mabey the Hip need to release 5 singles off the album at the same time and then the radio stations will probably play more than 1 song.

Im sitting here listening to Now For Plan A for the 3rd time in a row on my Ipod as when it finishes I want more.
Us here on this board constantly blow the horn for The Hip and we pick apart records and songs and tend to like all the albums and say they are great, so mabey all the hype on the last couple CDs had the "boy who cried wolf" effect on this one for sales to drop like that.

[sean.bonner]

Any song can be a single if marketed correctly.