When I started in the TV biz, you could buy a 6, 7, household rating in daytime without blinking. Today? Try and buy a 2. I dare you? I double dare you?
The two biggest indie albums of the year, Contra and The Suburbs, won’t break platinum. Neither will Kings Of Leon. Taylor will, but she is at 1.5M at the moment, aiming for Fearless’ 6M or better, and guess what? She ain’t getting there. If she doesn’t find another two hit singles she will have to settle for 3M to 4M tops. And if that sounds pretty good, look at it this way: would you be happy with a 35% cut in pay?
It is a brave new world out there folks. If AF can sell out an American tour and then come back in April and do it again? The Suburbs is a hit. If they can’t? It ain’t.