October 11th marked the long-awaited release of Fantasia‘s sixth studio effort, ‘Sketchbook.’
Coming as the Grammy winner’s first project released without the backing of a major label, the era was kicked off by the high-powered R&B ballad, ‘Enough.’ As critical acclaim rolled in for the single’s follow-ups, ‘PTSD,’ ‘Bad Girl,’ and ‘Holy Ghost,’ Fannie hit the promo trail in support of the LP. Touching TV, radio, Web, and print in the blitz (click here to read her interview with That Grape Juice), the diva revealed ‘Sketchbook’ is not only her most personal album to date but also her best work yet.
Did fans agree? Look inside to see just where the set landed on the refreshed Billboard 200:
Fantasia’s ‘Sketchbook’
First Week Sales (SPS): 10,000
First Week Chart Placement: #62
With sales equivalence of 10,000 units shifted in its first week of availability, ‘Sketchbook’ marks the singer’s lowest inaugural week sales to date. Debuting at #62 on the Billboard 200, it not only ranks as her lowest first week placement but also comes as the first of her six studio efforts to debut outside of the top 20.
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Wow, maybe if she had put that song with brandy and Jasmin on the album it would have done more or more promo ?
Yeah right cause the names brandy and jasmine Sullivan sell albums.
You guys are delusional
DEAD at this comment
???
Still sold more than Ciara’s Stretch Marks.
Level up sold over 1 M copies alone so it didn’t
But u tried
They both sold more than lil phlegm
And Kim sold more than 460 first week
Level up is a single.
Stretch Marks is an album.
Fantasia’s Sketchbook sold more than Ciara’s Stretch Marks in one week. Period.
?????
@Jasmine’s Grape Juice Ciaras’ Beauty Marks album sold 18,000 first week. She sold more than Fantasia
Beauty Marks debuted at #87 selling <5K units. The official numbers were never released, but it's a good estimate based on what other artists sold at the same time.
@Swirly That’s not true. Ciara sold 20,000 pure sales copy her first week
Which one is it? 18K or 20K? And where are your receipts? I find it hard to believe she sold 20K and debuted at #87.
I didn’t like this album at all
Good she’s very arrogant and cocky hasn’t been hot since American idol
Lies all around. She won a Grammy 7 years after winning Idol, and “Side Effects of You” was a very successful R&B album in 2013.
Decent numbers for a 15 year veteran who no longer gets mainstream AirPlay. Fantasia could feed her family just by touring & performing for the rest of her life. The Sketchbook Tour is currently selling very well.
Gurl ur consoling yourself.
This is a flop.
The album couldn’t even hit the top 50. That is sad.
Really What do you expect for someone who is indie and considered Urban AC? All things considered, the numbers are decent for her situation. Her tour is doing well and that’s all that matters.
Fantasia just finished a major movie and still out singing your favorite artist who’s record company manipulated stream to make their artist look good. Fantasia is on a sold out tour right now! 6 thousand people a show! These new RB chicks can’t even draw that! Popularity contest will be over and y’all will leave them too
Wow Fantasia sold more than Kim.
The industry just isn’t here for great R&B artists much like they use to..
Summer walker
Sza
Say hi.
Summer Walker and SZA are newbies and trendy at the moment. Let’s see where they are 15 years from now. SZA is already struggling vocally lol.
Erykah badu is a veteran who has been in the business for several years, longer than fantasia
Her genre of music (neo soul) is even more niche than fantasia but erykah is still selling alot.
Alicia keys also has been in the game for several years but she doesnt flop this badly.
But sis……. Erykah Badu hasn’t released an album since 2010 and that one barely sold anything. Her last successful album, released in 2003 went gold. Alicia’s last album didn’t even sell 50K but Fantasia has NEVER been on Alicia’s level which is fine.
Swirly, this Clarkson person clearly has no idea what they are talking about. Probably doesn’t know one single Erykah Badu song but yet wants to use her as a standard. The truth is, there are very few R&B artists who are selling large amounts. I like SZA, but she does not count. She had a hit or two but what since then, but yet this person wants to try and discredit people like Fantasia or Brandy. Go and educate yourself.
:sips truth tea:
I’m tired of R&B artists and stans putting out the new direction/cheap songwriting albums then complaining when they don’t sell like classics. This was just truly a bad album. I bought three R&B album this week (not streamed) and couldn’t convince myself to wast money on this one.
Her rock soul vibe worked only well on one song. If she wants to be Tina Turner, she needs to pay for better song writing and melodies. This material was beneath her.
Fantasia has always been creative/not cookie cutter with her mid-tempos, which per usual are hits (e.g. Baby Momma, When I See U, Lose to Win) or mega misses (Hood Boy, Crazy, Holy Ghost on this album, don’t get me started) but those cuts are always blended with what Fantasia does well. Rich ballads you can feel in your bones.
This album had none of that except maybe Bad Girl, which is why they didn’t push that.
IF there was any good, classic Fantasia material, they would have pushed it on Hot AC and sold more than 10,000, but instead he got these bootleg Tina Turner rock-soul songs, this trap soul mess (PTSD and Holy Ghost) and some run of the mill mid tempos. Does she sound good? Sure and I want her to try some different things, but don’t expect folks to put money behind things that are not memorable. If she wants to push a new sound, she needs to come hard with solid material.
“Enough” was a horrible intro to her new sound and it fell on deaf ears.
:sips truth tea:
I’m tired of R&B artists and stans putting out these new direction/cheap songwriting albums then complaining when they don’t sell like classics. This was just truly a bad album. I bought three R&B album this week (not streamed) and couldn’t convince myself to waste money on this one.
Her rock soul vibe worked only well on one song. If she wants to be Tina Turner, she needs to pay for better song writing and melodies. This material was beneath her. We’re there songs I liked? Sure (Believer, Take Off, to name a few) but not ones I would stream again unless I was putting in serious effort into this album to find decent songs I liked. They were songs I’d probably not play again and skip on shuffle if I did put the album in my catalogue.
Fantasia has always been creative/not cookie cutter with her mid-tempos, which per usual are hits (e.g. Baby Momma, When I See U, Lose to Win) or mega misses (Hood Boy, Crazy, Holy Ghost on this album, don’t get me started) but those cuts are always blended with what Fantasia does well. Rich ballads you can feel in your bones.
This album had none of that except maybe Bad Girl, which is why they didn’t push that.
IF there was any good, classic Fantasia material, they would have pushed it on Hot AC and sold more than 10,000, but instead he got these bootleg Tina Turner rock-soul songs, this trap soul mess (PTSD and Holy Ghost) and some run of the mill mid tempos. Does she sound good? Sure and I want her to try some different things, but don’t expect folks to put money behind things that are not memorable. If she wants to push a new sound, she needs to come hard with solid material.
“Enough” was a horrible intro to her new sound and it fell on deaf ears.
We want a new album
We want a new album
Drop the album
Now she has released the album, no of yall bought it.
This is the same thing that’s gonna happen to brandy.
How do you know who purchased the album tho? 10K people purchased and/or streamed. I am one of them and it’s not a favorite of mine. The album is just OK. She’s done better in the past.
People aren’t feeling this one plain and simple. Same thing is happening to your girl Camilla
And this is why not everyone should go independent. DAYUM! Fanny, the album isn’t good. We want Side Effects of You Part 2. But she won’t have any trouble with money because her fans will be going to see her tour. But these sales mama…no. Get back with a label or focus on just performing your old stuff. 10k…no.
Tinashe thinks being independent will help her, but Tinashe is about to pull even worse numbers than before. I see 1,305 copies being sold of Tinashe’s album…SPS. Watch.
Why do artists think they’ll be successful if they go independent after flopping on a major label??!! IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT HUN!
Artists normally go independent because of the artistic freedom it provides, or they have no other option. In Fantasia’s case she worked better with a major label. Her new album isn’t terrible, but the replay value isn’t there compared to her previous efforts.
I see Camickys album debuting around the same numbers.
When you lack talent and no hits for the era, you have nothing to fall back on
“Señorita” by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello has now broken the record for longest running #1 on the Worldwide Apple Music Song Chart, with 121 days.
The record was previously held by Camila’s own “Havana” with Young thug
CAMILA DETHRONED HERSELF. Lol.
Normani can never achieve such success in her life.
Camila is the UK right now, she was invited to Kensington palace to met prince William and Kate Middleton. Lol. The royal couple posted about Camila on their official Instagram page.
My faves out here interacting with royalty, where is normani?
Now what are the stats for all the solo singles she’s been releasing since Senorita?
Exactly. Nice try tho lol.
How old is this Clarkson person? Like you sound super dumb commenting on people are calling them flops when you have probably never accomplished anything for yourself. The album didn’t sell because people don’t like it. No need to be a jerk and certainly no need to bash Brandy. You clearly are not a part of the fanbase that would appreciate it but people were really looking forward to that collaboration. Go comment on a pop site because you clearly have no knowledge of R&B and how many of these artists are treated by the industry.
And SMH is right, what has Camilla done successfully as a solo artist besides Havana? I’ll wait…
Talent is losing again while Trash is being rewarded I strongly feel like numbers are being manipulated when it come to certain artist that’s why I don’t care for charts I say ppl should just make quality music and forget about these Billboard charts it doesn’t represent your talent or how good the music is anyway so Im just going to keep supporting the music from artist I like.
YAS BIH I agree with you the sales don’t compare to the numbers of loyal fans she has and the views on youtube etc , This is her best work bet and she went for quality over quantity . I will always support true talent like her and admire that she’s forging her own lane in music and doing it well , plus she kills a live stage like no other , I love her
I guess if she sold her soul , her #’s would be higher, trust and believe, she good.
Why are people in this comment section engaging with t***** clarkson that thing hates anything that involves black women. ???
Stop using t***** as a way to insult someone please.
So many old school artist music are not performing well unfortunately, its mad how white artist who all came out during the late 90s and early 2000s get more support from their communities when they release new music in this day an age, why can’t black people support our own for once and continue their greatness and legacy, we are so quick to move on to the next.
Like who? Cause Justin Timberlake, Britney, and Christina are struggling.
I wasnt expecting her to sell that much, but fantasia is in her 30’s should we be expecting anything more from her at this point of her career, and her definition of rock soul dont add up to what we think rock soul means, she has to find her own sound. We already have tina. Patti. And aretha, prince, james brown, she flopped and that’s it. I will say. She tours in a variety states, unlike many of the other girls get to to do, like ciara, kelly rowland. But those girls are holding their own and more popular than fantasia, lord when cynthia erivio comes aboard on the music front, sorry to say, fantasia wont haven’s chance
Fantasia has a LOYAL fanbase. What she lacks in sales she makes up for in other areas like touring. Her fans expressed their disdain with the new material but still purchased tickets lol. Cynthia Erivo can sing but Black Twitter is on her ass about insensitive comments she made about African Americans. She will never ever ever ever ever EVER reach Fantasia’s level musically.
I’m no exec BUT it’s blindingly obvious! These girls and lots of them Ashanti, Fantasia, Monica blah blah blah all AMAZING talents but had their limelight. They had their big moment and record companies know it.
They moan ‘i want out’ they go indie! If you go indie i don’t See writers giving them those big songs no more. Find a lane that makes money and stick to it. Do what Brandy does and kill that lane without moaning! She’s killing it in royalties and will always do but these girls come on these numbers are right.
I said 12k so I was more or less right.
For her label situation, these numbers are ok. No artist stuck and pigeonholed strictly into Urban AC will pull out better numbers than this. I bet this is why Monica is taking so long to release Chapter 38, her team is probably trying to think how to promote her without mainstream Urban radio support.
I wish R&B music fans would stop blaming the artist though. Even if the music was stellar with the way labels shun the artists away from radio and streaming playlists, it won’t sell better than this.
Thank you. It’s not the artists fault. I do think this album could have been much better, but you are right. I bet there are a lot of her fans who don’t even know she has an album out.
Ms. Sullivan’s does
Changing the subject – where’s the article on Ciara working with Major Lazer and IZA as we speak? Don’t be tardy TGJ
That will flop
Fantasia will never be in the. Company of beyonce, Alicia keys, rihanna. Janelle monae, jennifer Hudson. Ciara, nicki minaj. And cardi B, they don’t even know fantasia or her music lol, anytime they are about to do an unsung fantasia. That means her career is over, she will have money in her pockets from touring and if she is smart this time around to save her money, but the girl dont even have a prenup, she will be good for tributes, and legendary funerals that’s all we need her for, and maybe she will but out a gospel album, and Broadway
Rihanna and Cardi B are definitely aware of Fantasia. Rihanna was bopping to her debut album on IG live and Cardi was singing Fantasia on her story. Fantasia needs no ones company. She’s in her own lane. She has a fanbase, formula and R&B classics under her belt. She will go down as an R&B legend a la Patti LaBelle – who took her rightful place as a legend THIRTY YEARS into her career. Oh and btw Fantasia does have a pre-nup w/her husband. Please double-check your sources.
Fantasia does have a prenup. I watched one her interviews where she talk about how she fell in love with her husband. She said he asked for one because he wanted the public to know he wasn’t after her for the money.
BILLBOARD chart success much like TGJ is a relic of its former self and no longer relevant. There, I said. BILLBOARD IS NO LONGER RELEVANT except to perhaps the major record labels and the artists recording on those labels. The NEW relevant charts are Spotify and Apple Music playlists. When streaming grew and its percentage in determining Billboard chart placement grew it no longer mattered how much an album or single SOLD. That tradition was thrown out in favor of STREAMS back in 2014.
So let’s say you sold 1 million copies in a week but you have less than 5 percent in streaming numbers. A record can sell half (or even less) of what you did but if its STREAMING is triple or quadruple your 1m sold guess which albums debuts at No.1 based on Billboard’s chart metrics?
You wonder how the charts are so abysmal? You wonder how nearly every album in the Top 50 is mostly Male dominated trap rap? You wonder how Travis Scott and Post Malone can stay lodged in the Top 10 for months moving less than 5k a week? You wonder how albums released 10, 20, 30 years ago by The Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, AC/DC etc are currently in the Top 200 in 2019?!!!
Like I said, Billboard is only relevant to record labels snd artists. It shouldn’t matter anymore to fans of the many, many artists who will no longer experience success on these charts. It is NOT a level playing field if the most popular music charts are no longer based on pure sales. Folks over 30 DO NOT consume music the same way a 12-24 year old does. A music lover over 30 does not have the time or energy to stream a song or album the same way a t*** or young adult does. I for one refuse to allow a chart dictated by 12-24 years olds decide for me if an artist is successful. I’m way too grown for that ish.
??????Totally agree!
This!
totally agree the playing field is rocky
Fantasia only appeals to chitterlings circuit i expected these sales
Lil kim didn’t even sell 1000 copies, so who does she appeal to?
Your stripper h** t***** father
Y’all in these comments LOOOOOOOVE to keep Ciara name in post that have absolutely NOTHING to do with her is she the only name that come to mind when comparing sales anyways her name gets mentioned good or bad so she definitely doing something right “I’m not gonna let your words defeat me. I am who I believe I am. I am who I know I am and you know who I am too but you just got nothing but negativity in you and I’mma let you have that” -Ciara
Yikes….wasn’t expecting a FLOP this hard ??The tour will keep her afloat.
I think Monica is the only one that will come out on top.
Monica may do 15K, 20K at the most SPS. She’s in the same boat as Fantasia. Urban AC and indie.
How does fantasia expect to he at all the award shows, met gala, getting magazine covers, selling only 10 000 , she should be more submissive to her career, I feel like fantasia fells as though she needs a man to complete her, she wanted love so long, now she got it, it’s like I hear her talking about her husband before her own kids, let’s me know she is not capable of standing on her own, she is needy for a man, of course she deserves happiness, but dont be desperate for one, you married him after 3 weeks, u letting him control some aspects of your career, fantasia has seen all of this happen with other female stars, so she knows what shes in for, fantasia could do better networking at these parties, getting her name out there. It’s like her excuse for putting much to her career is having a husband and her kids which I respect that, but come one tasia be real
I dont fully agree with this, but I understand where you are coming from. But it could of been worded differently any way, I feel like she barely post about her album on Instagram, like she is scared to or something, i mean find creative ways to promote, I dont care about her personal life
Well I must be in the minority bcus I love fantasias album. It shows versatility in her vocals and production. The problem with fans is they don’t allow their favorite artists to grow. Fantasia doesn’t wanna be pigeonholed into the heartbreak soul anthems. She feels as though there are enough of them in her discography. Being indie allowed her to do what she wanted with her career. Do you understand how many barriers have been placed in front of Fantasia since she won American Idol fifteen years ago? She could have lost her mind or been strung out on drugs like a lot of artists, but she persevered throughout it all. Pointless banter about sales is delegated to teenage stans who sit on Twitter all day living vicariously through their diva faves who more than likely aren’t selling much themselves these days. As a grown ass man my only concern is the music. I’m looking forward to seeing what Fantasia has up her sleeve for the future since she’s doing things her way now.
What do people expect when the top consumers of music in the USA is white teens? White gays with terrible taste, and females who dont really care about the talent and would rather lust after the artist, instead of actually listening to them. Add in social media and you can see why R&B probably wont ever make a comeback again.. R&B doesn’t get any airplay or sell well because the target audience continues to neglect them. Social media doesn’t equate to sells and black people still don’t get it. This whole moody weak vocal R&B females of today can’t get sell what Fantasia’s 2nd album did and that was considered a flop. It’s time for Fantasia to focus on touring and maybe giving us the gospel album she’s destined to record. Her numbers are no surprise seeing as how Fantasia technically only has one successful era and that’s her debut era.
“This whole moody weak vocal R&B females of today can’t get sell what Fantasia’s 2nd album did and that was considered a flop.”
☝?This.
Just this morning I tried listening to Summer Walker’s record. It had a few cute moments yet overall the PRODUCTION on each song felt the same. It felt like one loooong song stretched over 19 tracks. I cant wait until this trap, moody, depressing phase of R&B dies so we can get back to hearing actual MELODIES and textures beyond the SZAs and Bryson Tillers of the genre.
I can’t even read that whole essay. If gays and girls were the majority of the record buying public Post Malone Drake and country male acts would not be the most popular and thriving acts in the USA for the past few years. You don’t know what you are talking about
I actually do know what I’m talking about idiot! Rap is the #1 genre over 85% of it is purchased by white males. Basic marketing 101 will show you that white males and white females are the top purchaser’s of music today. You might be one because it seems I touched a nerve. Black people have the numbers to make every black artist go platinum every release, instead they would rather pirate music, not support our artist at all, trash black artist to lift up mediocre white and other artist, then in the same breath act like they don’t know why genres that we are supposed to support are drying up. You gays are so delusional!
Yes @bysis finish him lol
I understood your ‘essay’ the first time. And you’re right, traditionally, for some reason African Amderican music consumers are more likely to bootleg or pirate their favorite artists instead of actually purchasing the content. Hence why for soooo long rock, pop, and country dominated the Billboard charts. But now that streaming is available rap is the dominant genre. Why? Because these supporters can stream music for FREE.
I had no idea she even had a lead single out, yet alone 3 follow up singles, yet alone an entire new album, until just now – and if I hadn’t decided to check out this blog this evening, I’d still be nonthewiser. In this day and age where there’s more musical choice, more platforms on which to access those choices etc, artists need to promote their music more than ever before, and lack of results in lack of awareness which translates in sales.
Y’all some haters let her be Great never seen so many of your own talking down on you why tho? She’s doing good why all the hate tho? Let her be support her or just stfu I’m Proud of Fantasia I will forever be by her side til I die
Then you’ll die a flop
I’m glad Fantasia is doing whatever she desires. Her, like 98.9% of R&B artists new and olds days of moving big units are over. This is the same woman who gave us Truth Is, Free Yourself, Baby Mama, When I See You, Bittersweet, Collard Greens & Cornbread and Lose To Win all R&B classics. May she continue to flourish in her lane!
It’s a very solid CD but unfortunately r&b doesn’t sell unless it’s pop or watered down most top 10 CDS lately aren’t that great but with companies buying them before being shipped already in a good charting spot plus by the time They condition you with playing it even if you don’t like it at 1st you will
The worst I’ve ever heard from Fantasia it doesn’t even sound like her. The only good song on there is the one with her mom called Looking for you and her mom sounds better than Fantasia does even on that song.
I will always love Fantasia. The album starts out using the “b” & my “n” word then another track talks about the Holy Ghost!
Let’s just say Free Yourself will always be a winner!!
Fantasia was number one in r & b album sales.
it was #2 on Sirius xm
The album has barely been out a week with no promotion at all and is number 1 on the R&B Charts , I don’t think she will be worrying too much plus her tour is going to bring in more sales . Bad Girl should have been the first single though
Man, I’m a fan of Fantasia’s singing abilities, but she just does not put out good music. TO ME, the first CD was her best work, and, of course, I like the single: When I See You, but nothing after that. It’s like her voice is her Achilles Heel and no one in the industry knows what to do with true talent… they can’t produce quality, classic songs to suit her voice… just MY opinion.
Did you even listen to Bad Girl , there’s nothing remotely like it being played on the radio . The vocals alone stop you in your tracks
Love this Album
Reading these comments are sickening, numbers don’t mean nothing, billboard pick by popularity, plain and simple. Like “frankie Beverly said make music you like,” Anita Baker too, their music is still timeless music. Fantasia making timeless music.
I honestly am a Fantasia fan but I was not impressed with this album. I applaud her for taking the chance to do something different but I prefer the old sound.
Isn’t she independent now?….no label to push her, her numbers will be lower….still respect her for being independent.
Love FANTASIA am a big fan. Do not like Sketchbook CD. Enough as lead single was a mistake. Best songs are Bad Girl ( a great single) an Looking For You with her mom. I loved her 1st CD, Free Yourself, Loved CD Side Effect Of You and I love her Christmas CD, After Midnight. This Rock Soul vibe not working for me I didn’t care for her CD The Definition Of . Patiently waiting on her Gospel Blockbuster!!