Frank Ocean crowns a week of surprises with a definitive win atop of the Billboard 200.
Full story on how the crooner’s sophomore album ‘Blond’ blazed the charts after the jump…
The surprise set, which arrived after visual pre-cursor ‘Endless,’ officially opens at #1 on the US tally with 276,000 (sales-plus-streaming).
Of that figure, an impressive 232,000 are pure sales. The rest (44,000) were earned by way of streams. [Per the new rules, every 1500 plays of a project equals 1 “sale.”]
As reported, the Apple Music exclusive caused a huge wave across the music industry. Not just because of its “surprise” arrival, but more broadly due to the ramifications of its roll-out.
Ocean pulled the ultimate coup by using the chart-ineligible ‘Endless’ to fulfil his Def Jam contract. A move which freed him up (quite literally) to release ‘Blond’ independently. That power play, sources say, will see the singer earn 70% of revenue accrued from sales and streams. A point noteworthy due to the fact that his take-home would have been 14% of 70% on a major label.
The episode has been cited as the main catalyst for Lucian Grange (head of Def Jam’s parent company Universal) sanctioning a ban on streaming exclusives.
Whatever the case, the 28-year-old has ample cause to celebrate.
Because, with 2012’s ‘Channel Orange’ opening with 131k and peaking at #2, ‘Blond’ sees him earn his first #1 with double the numbers.
The project also serves as the third highest premiere of the year thus far, with only Drake‘s ‘Views’ and Beyonce‘s ‘Lemonade’ ahead.
Checkmate!
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That’s great Frank! I really love the business genius of fulfilling his contractual obligation with Endless only to make the full release of Blond on his own independent label. He’s got those old Jewish execs shook! Nevertheless, the music on the album is still melodramatic sh*t tho
The tables have turned. lol Artist don’t need labels anymore.
Come through h o m o
Good For Him!
Come on Britney Pull Thru Queen
Chiile…
sources say, will see the singer earn 70% of revenue accrued from sales and streams. A point noteworthy due to the fact that his take-home would have been 14% of 70% on a major label.
.
And they call Anti a flop. Rihanna got $25M from Samsung, a high % off of Anti sales and deals from streaming sites since she owns the masters. I been saying this, own your ish and get that money. Then you don’t have to do 3 back to back to back tours and s**** away with another one 2 years later.
☕☕
He pulled it off very intelligently…. Im sure music execs will try to sabotage his next project though.. he really pissed off alot of big wigs, so much so that one of them released an official statement to ban exclusive deals to streaming sites….. He better play smart chile, Dont end up like Mike
Yes indeed! Frank Ocean is pretty impressive I must say! I honestly havent been a fan of his but now i definitely am! Im gonna give his music a shot now…
So does this mean Britney will debut @ #3 or #4 with that barbara Streisand release blocking her further?
Congratulations.
.
I hope the album has longevity.
.
Anyhow, I can’t wait for Barbra Streisand to debut within the Top 2 next week – FIVE DECADE and FOUR YEARS into her career. If it wasn’t for F.G.L she would’ve been #1. Poor Britney, I love her but…
Listen, if you can write and produce, why sign to a label? Adele is a fool for doing that deal with Sony.
Werk BITACH‼️ Lol naw but kudos to Frank. F*** the big wigs.
This is what I think the Grammy Album Of The Year nominees will be, SO FAR…
James Blake – The Colour In Anything
Beyonce – Lemonade
Adele – 25
Frank Ocean – Blonde
David Bowie – Blackstar
My e-mail address was wrong, thus that weird avatar lol
Blackstar should win AOTY, my Starman deserves that.
I think they will give it to him because he passed away, no more no less.
Oh
Mark, shut the hell up.
STFU thot
FROM EARTH TO MARKEISHA…
Amazing artist and songwriter
I still don’t get the title and cover of the album.
I’ll try. I read something about Blond is fem and blonde is masc. I’m guessing the green is his life covering up who he is, yet you can see a lil bit of blond. I tried.
It’s a little complicated.
Adele should get it. And no Adele is smart with the deal that she’s made because she writes & produces.. Also, she’s no fool. She has a lot of say so when it comes to her music.
No she doesn’t lol. Thats why she had to come out with 21.5. The label wanted to milk all they could from her whole emotional album crap.
She was supposed to do an upbeat album, it took them 2 years and a reminder that she had an album release left with them to get 21.5.
So I wonder if this will become the new play now, major artist breaking away from record labels and creating their own to release independently? It would be a nice way for the artist to gain more profit from their music and have better control over it on so many levels. I mean once you have brand awareness, why not depart? In truth I’m surprised no one major has done this yet, especially someone like Madonna, Mariah or even Beyoncé. Kudos to Frank!
That’s great for Frank oncean