Despite reports that predict Beyonce‘s lowest first week sales ever, Columbia Records has slammed any claims of disappointment in the singer’s 4th studio album ‘4’.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the label’s chairman Rob Stringer detailed its response to the album’s early leak, their commercial expectations for the LP, and preparing Beyonce for a whopping 18-month promo of the project.
Get ready! King B is back in full swing.
See what else Stringer had to say after the jump:
“The story about us being unhappy with the record and stuff is just not true. There’s never been any doubt or conversations about moving the record or changing it… Those conversations never existed. We’re really, really happy with it.”
“The main concentration for the next few months is to get this record working everywhere,” Stringer says. “She’s well versed in being a global artists. The touring plan is extensive. The promo plan is extensive. We also know we’re going to put out a lot of singles and…shoot a lot of videos from the record. There’s enough positive information that we think we can work the record for another 18 months, and hopefully over that period we’ll all be proved right that this is an important record and a commercially successful record.”
Read the interview in its entirety here. And with that said, are you ready?
3x platinum in Brazil, they should be
so much for 4 flopping
It’s B’ Rihanna who? and Katy Perry who????? Britney coke-w**** who??????
Only one that is on B’s level is GaGa! point blank!
LOL it sucks. The U.S. is where she aims for, yet, no top 20s? Sad. She’s done here. Unless she makes dance music. That’s where it’s at. Obviously, too many artists haven’t gotten that memo…
The first week may be lower than her other albums, but no one can deny the obvious momentum that this album is picking up despite the early leaks and late start on promo. The album has good material that will give it longevity in sales. The Columbia execs. are smart enough not to consider the first week sales as the sole determining factor. In the end, the charting of all the releases and sales as a whole will determine whether the album will be regarded as successful down the line, NOT the first week sales. It’s already clear that the album is not the flop that the haters were hoping for.
This is PR spin @ it’s best. Yes, so far things are looking decent for “4”, however, 1st week sales are usually fueled by fanbase so a real measure of how successful cannot be determined for weeks. Even Kelly Clarkson’s “My Decemeber” did well its 1st week …
So sick of her!!! Her & her team is so scadalous!!! Y did she release her Deluxe album releasing on the internet the same day Kelly CD drops!!! So triflin! She changed her dates… then u have Kelly tweeting to support this broad cd! Complete dummy bcuz she will not return the favor back to u sweetie! I used to be a huge fan of Beys but I will no longer support her at all!
people can say what they want this album is not good to me THERE IS NOT ENUFF SONG, there is no UP TEMPO beside until the end of time and girls and i dont even like girls lol,there is only ballad and what beyoncé is best at is make us dance or felling s***, im disapointed but not worried only because beyoncé have enuff power and money to : make a 2e deluxe album and to drop a video for all of her songs loool so wether u like it or not she will still be evrywhere…
18 months of beyonce? wow im happy lol
@rick
no rick she doesnt aim for the US, judgin from her promo stops. i bet if she was doin well in states n so so in europe, you’d say she’s only big in the US
yeah she has no top 20 single yet so what? her album is still sitting pretty atop US and no1 WW, that overrides the purpose of a hit single
and no she doesnt need to make dance music, real musicians dont compromise their passion for fastfood music go to usher for that. it’s more important to make memorable music than generic hits that will be forgotten in no time
I was here <3
@ GOJIRA, Though I agree that the fanbase often generates the first week sales, the first week usually is also buffered by the fact that the songs with the most potential are usually released early-on, before the album, causing non-fans to also consider the album. I am convinced that in the case of ‘4’ the strongest singles were not released first. That’s why I think we will see a resurgence in sales for this album once the stronger singles and accompanying videos/performances are rolled out.
The album starts with “1+1,” a ballad ripped straight from The Bodyguard-era Whitney Houston. Beyonce does a sufficient impersonation but fails to add anything new or unique to the sound. It’s the type of track that would fit at home on some forgotten cassette tape next to the acid-wash jeans in my basement. The rest of the first half of the album feels like a trip down memory lane to the early ’90s, complete with cheesy electric piano and guitar riffs lifted from a cancelled sitcom. In one of the most troubling spots on the album, Beyonce channels “Do the Bartman” on the song “Love on Top.” (Seriously, listen to them together. They both have the Janet Jackson-inspired rhythm and early-’90s dance synth bassline.)
Beyonce Knowles “4″ ReviewWritten by Eric Rice on June 12, 2011 in Album Reviews – 25 Comments 0diggsdiggShare on TumblrEmail
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•EmailBeyonce’s back with 4, her follow-up to 2008’s I am… Sasha Fierce. Since Sasha, the vocalist announced that she would be killing off her alter ego and merging her disparate personalities to create music that fused all of her influences into a new, unique sound. It’s an ambitious vision but, unfortunately, one that 4 fails to deliver.
4 has been in production for two-and-a-half years and has involved many mega-producers, including Babyface, Kanye West, Ryan Tedder, and The-Dream. At the end of the project, Beyonce submitted a staggering 72 songs to her label, though the final album has been pared down to just 12. You’d think that with the talent involved and abundance of material that the final cut would be a well-edited, polished collection of exciting music. You’d be wrong.
The album starts with “1+1,” a ballad ripped straight from The Bodyguard-era Whitney Houston. Beyonce does a sufficient impersonation but fails to add anything new or unique to the sound. It’s the type of track that would fit at home on some forgotten cassette tape next to the acid-wash jeans in my basement. The rest of the first half of the album feels like a trip down memory lane to the early ’90s, complete with cheesy electric piano and guitar riffs lifted from a cancelled sitcom. In one of the most troubling spots on the album, Beyonce channels “Do the Bartman” on the song “Love on Top.” (Seriously, listen to them together. They both have the Janet Jackson-inspired rhythm and early-’90s dance synth bassline.)
I’m sure that Beyonce finds great value in the early ’90s music, but it comes off as self-indulgent on 4. If you’re going to retread familiar musical territory, you either have to do it with exceptional style and ability or add some new twist to make it fresh. 4 does neither and falls into the same pitfall that Lady Gaga’s recent release, Born This Way exhibited: It blatantly copied her influences without adding much of her own voice. Although the songs are all originals, 4 smacks of karaoke night for Beyonce as she revisits her favorite memories from the early ’90s.
Later, the album shifts somewhat abruptly with “Countdown.” It’s almost as if her label, Columbia, was worried that the early-’90s R&B escapade might not carry the album, so they hedged their risk by throwing some club songs on the end. The effect is jarring and throws the listener from a slow trip down memory lane to decent, but not overly compelling, club music. The album peaks with the first single, “Run the World (Girls),” and “Party,” which features Andre 3000 and Kanye West. The second half of the album doesn’t drag as much, but still leaves something to be desired. Beyonce fails to make the music her own and comes off as a weak tribute to the early-’90s music that inspired her.
The hope is that 4 represents strides by Beyonce to expand her skills into new areas and ultimately develop greater artistry. Perhaps 4 will be viewed as a necessary transition to something better, similar to how Green Day’s stylistically confused Warning preceded their breakthrough American Idiot. Without the foresight of Beyonce’s artistic arc, however, 4 is utterly 4-gettable. It represents not a step forward, but a step back. If you like this music, go get the unfiltered version — Whitney, Janet, or even Salt-n-Pepa — and leave this one on the shelf. Oh well, here’s to the next one, B.
thats good, most artists promote their album for 4-6 months then disappear.
i’m sure she’ll rerelease it too & with picking the right singles (End of Time, Countdown, Love On Top, I Care) she’ll resolidify her legacy
lets stop stan hate, i STAN for Gaga but Beyonce is just as good an artist/performer
WELLL I LIKE “I miss you” thats it.
This album is thus far Beyonce’s Best.
Only stupid people want Bey to dumb down her music and make a dance album. #JustSaying
Singles should be
1. Run The World (Girls)
2. Countdown
3. Best Thing I Never Had
4. End Of Time
5. Party
6. Lay Up Under Me
7. I Care
8. 1+1
9. I Miss You
10. I Was Here
thats 18 months of Singles
I will say my fav songs are “I Miss You” and “End Of Time”
@FAMEKILLS,
IF ONLY THEY WOULD LISTEN TO YOUR SUGGESTION, that would be great b/c I get tired of all the hateful people that click onto someone’s post just to make hateful comments. Why can’t the fans be as positive as the artists are about each other, most of them are actually friends while their fans are arguing or hating on an artist just because he or she is not your fav.
I Agree with @FAMEKILLS #GAGA&HONEYBEE
@ANNE Grapejuice thrives on people clicking on pots and ahting. Rihanna is used by the site in just this way. Its all good .It keeps the site going I guess
“Posts ” “Hating”
i was here is my favorite from the cd
@FameKills
EXACTLY!
ITS NOT ABOUT BE AN HATER !
nobody asking beyonce to do a dance album but how come she records 72 SONGS and there is only this much in the cd?
BEYONCE is the queen of entertainement how is her nex cd entertainement?
I THOUGHT she was supposed to come with a new sound ( like evrybody in the label was claiming) is run the world a new sound? NOPE evrything is always exagerate when it comes to beyonce
how is best thing ive never had different from irreplacable?
beyonce is a great artist but im sorry 4 isnt a good cd to ME
@FRENCH GAL
“End of Time,” “I Care,” and “I Miss You” are certainly different from anything I’ve heard. Have you even listened to the whole album? “Rather Die Young”, “Party”, & “Love On Top” offer a throwback R&B sound that we haven’t heard in a long time and are in that sense different if not new. The album offers a rare mix of R&B, Pop & Soft rock and new and old school. I think it’s unique and definitely different from her prior albums.
It’s funny how her Biggest Critics/ 4 Haters are the first in line at Target to buy the cd & the first to click on her posts.
Good. They should be pleased. Just because an album doesn’t smash records left and right doesn’t mean that it’s a flop.
thats my girl u make me proud the haterz and their predictions such rubbish she will do excellent way to go best cd u have produced
18 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!! May God help us all
Hurricane B has no mercy
Predictions are already up (390-310k) before her royal ass grace stages in america
I told you,once she performs #rapture
LOL, all record labels spin failure. 275-300K is a FLOP, especially when Gaga sold 3x that amount without amazon.
LOL, taylor Swift sold 1 million her first week, Gaga 600K (without amazon), those are hit albums. 4LOP has no other major releases to compete with this week, so it’s #1 by default. which means it will drop at least 50% next week, then die a quick death just like XTina’s “Bionic”-only quicker. so enjoy this week while it lasts, stans, because Adele will snatch that weave next week, if Gaga doesn’t do it first LOL
18 months? Damn, and folks called Gaga overexposed. I can’t help but feel like you shouldn’t need to work that hard to promote/sell.
Either you’ve created a good piece of work, you’re proud of it, put it out there for the public and you do a little promo and let it evolve naturally.
Or you’re like a snake oil salesman who’s hustling product wherever they can find a stage and an open ear.
If the company and B is proud of their work then they need to ease up, hit the big spots (which they’ve already done) to promote. I suspect they don’t think the album has natural longevity so they’re making sure to talk about it for 18 months to keep it in the media.
Time to focus on the music videos and let it come naturally.
Even Whitney Houston sold more copies of her last album during the 1st week … just sayin’.
THAT HALLOWEEN GAGGG GAGGGG IS OVER EXPOSED 3 YEARS 3 ALBUMS SHE IS GETTING OLD AND PEOPLE ARE FED UP OF HER SHOCK VALUE IS GETTING OLD AND ITS THE TRUTH SHE SAID ALBUM OF THE DECADE MORE LIKE ALBUM OF EVERYTHING THAT IS CRAP ITS LAME AS HELL ITS A GOOD THING I TOOK THE 99 CENTS DEAL
@Those That Cannot Do, Stan – You hit it right on the nose. I’m all for her promoting her album. But a whole year and a half? That sounds like a bit much to me. Let’s hope is doesn’t backfire and cause people to get sick of her quickly. You already hear people saying that their tired of her or that she’s over exposed. 18 month is a long time. You were right in that they (the record company), obviously don’t have that much faith in her work this time around to feel like they have to go on a 18 month promo for it. That’s 6 months shy of 2 years! I’m not trying to be negative about this, but I have a feeling it’s eventually going to start turning people off. Promoting the album is a good thing. By the same token, Bey needs to be careful. Because, if you all ready hear people saying that their “tired” of you or that you’re “over exposed”, then she needs to keep that in mind so as not to turn people away. Promote if you must, but keep it steady and balanced.
@Sasha Flopped Adele Will Stay #2 regardless of what you say and where is taylors swift album after the first few hits she fades away! and Gaga i love her but to tell you the truth without the amazon deal she would have sold 400k-450k! and her sales are plummeting by the week so you need to look up your facts just face it beyonce is gonna enter at #1 and stay there for quite some time! and the best part is that you all havent even seen her do any serious promo! i like what her new managment is doing starting overseas where the fan base is EXTREMELY HEAVY for Beyonce good Job Parkwood… Matthew who???
She needs to die–her and her selfish husband.
LOL @ “BS” and “Sasha Flop!”
Next time you try to pull a fast one by posting under a different name, to make it seem like someone shared your erroneous opinion, at least cover yourself a little better. 😉
Your mom flopped the day she gave birth to your dumbass. lol
Whats so funny, HDD changed your prediction today..from 290 to 310………and Target as not released their numbers to anyone……
I don’t think she is nearly done in the USA. This is all of the beginning. All she has to do is make some ignorant ass booty shaking music throw on a thong to expose her ass, and curse on every song….. then the US will jump back on her nuts.
I personally thought the album was quite boring when I listened to it. I love her. But I’ll jam to the cd more once the songs grown on me. But I’m happy she’s back. Maybe some of the 70+ songs she recorded will leak and she’ll have some dance tracks buzzing around. The album is a bit slow for me.
So is it true she is dropping her deluxe album online on July 26 the same day as Kelly? If so she is shady as hell. I wish Kelly stop giving this girl so much props cause she does not do the same.
@JR, the Deluxe album is already available….
Besides, even IF Beyonces Deluxe was on the same day as Kelly those dates are planned months in advance. PLUS it could actually do Kelly a favour – buy Beyonce’s CD why not support Kelly at the same time?
Still a flop!
😀
a year and half promo , i believe mostly comprises a world tour, if she’s performin at award shows, that’d be because she’s nominated or they just want a real performer on their stage
if you’re not a fan, whats it to u? she’s not performin right in front of ur house, so just avoid/ignore her. her fans such as myself would love to see her at every promo stop. pls live and let live
HDD predictions:
*Beyonce (Columbia) 290-310k
Adele (XL/Columbia) 90-95k
*Big Sean (Def Jam/IDJ) 85-90k
*Selena Gomez & the Scene (Hollywood) 75-80k
Jill Scott (Blues Babe/Warner Bros.) 50-55k
Jackie Evancho (Columbia) 50-55k
Bad Meets Evil (Shady/Interscope) 40-45k
Jason Aldean (Broken Bow) 40-45k
*David Cook (19/RCA/RMG) 38-43k
*Scotty McCreery (Interscope) 38-43k
Lady Gaga (Interscope) 35-40k
Justin Moore (Valory) 30-35k
Blake Shelton (Warner Bros. Nashville) 30-35k
*Limp Bizkit (Interscope) 30-35k
*Taking Back Sunday (Warner Bros.) 28-32k
Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar) 28-32k
18. EIGHTEEN! That’s amazing. I hopeshe is releasing ‘Countdown’ as her next single soon! ‘I Care’, ‘End Of Time’, ‘I Was Here’, ‘Love On Top’ should be follow-up singles.
18 months of Beyonce music videos, performances,etc all I can say right now is, YES!!!
@RosaRubbel
I agree!
i cant believe chris brown forgot to pull up his pants…… his ass was on display….. check it out at http://kelsnetwork.b*******.com/
BEYONCE – 4
COMPLETE ALBUM LYRICS
including deluxe edition and japanese edition
ONLY HERE:
http://lyricboss.b*******.com
@lb – look at my post above.