The Together Chart Position Meltdown Thread

[Drico One]

Well, for tradition's sake. After last year's Christmas EP Chart Position Seppuku thread, it's only right that we open a new strand to fulminate over precipitous midweek collapses, playlist exclusions, and sage recommendations that EMI should tell Neil and Chris to sit on a beach for two years until Simon Cowell rehabilitates them with a televised karaoke night special.

For what it's worth, we could be looking at their first failure to make the top 40. Last week, 7,000 sales were needed to make number 40. That shouldn't be beyond Neil and Chris - especially as they've gone for a two-CD strategy, but it could be tighter than baker-era Andy Bell in a 22-year-old leotard.

Before anybody makes their predictions, consider that the last four releases have each managed at least 7,000 units in the first week. Did You See Me Coming? shifted 10,400 units (even though 2 million souls already had the single as part of the free Daily Gas Chamber CD), the Christmas EP managed 9,250 units, Pandemonium was snapped up by 7,250 loyalists, and Ultimate by 8,850 diehards.

Given the truism that all PSB records pretty much sell in the same quantity to the same Refuseniks, you'd hope that they'd manage 7,000 sales this time around. With that in mind, I'm going to suggest a new entry at number 37 - but I'd not be amazed if it failed to go top 40.

Predictions, please. We can then flay each other alive over the next 10 days as we go through the ritual lunacy one more (last?) time.

Drico.

[Palpatine]

I'll be very optimistic and predict 28.

[jasonjohn]

oh how i hate all this chart analysis

[York Minster]

I can't think the strategy of all this promotion long before release was the best idea.

[Undertaker]

Well, the last two single releases (Christmas & Did you see me coming??) Were in the top 5 pre order chart. Together is only at number 8. It's also already been downloaded about 1,000 times when it was made available. With PSB's singles selling roughly the same, these two stats will be quite significant imo.

On that bombshell, I think this will be their first single to chart outside the top 40. However, they have done well to hold on this long. Bigger acts lost their top 40 run a while ago.

[retrofuturist]

I'll go for #33, and suggest that it would have gone Top 30 if there was an accompanying 12" single (as per DYMSC)

Retro.

[Undertaker]

Well, the last two single releases (Christmas & Did you see me coming??) Were in the top 5 pre order chart. Together is only at number 8. It's also already been downloaded about 1,000 times when it was made available. With PSB's singles selling roughly the same, these two stats will be quite significant imo.

On that bombshell, I think this will be their first single to chart outside the top 40. However, they have done well to hold on this long. Bigger acts lost their top 40 run a while ago.

[Drico One]

Two bombshells for the price of one, Dave? What's this, shock and awe?

Drico.

[Ramzy]

Christmas, Pandemonium and Ultimate only came in single formats, though, so the fan sales tended to be equivalent to the number of fans. You've already mentioned it, but I'd be surprised if the multiple formats didn't get PSB into the top 30, simply because they'll be selling two-to-six times the number of copies to each "diehard".

PS I can't believe I posted in this thread.

[Drico One]

Oh, you're in tremendous company. The majority of the fanbase will have posted in this thread by the time NJTom calls on Parlophone to drop Neil and Chris for crimes against commercialism. I'm sure this thread will also feature a reference, before too long, to BBC Radio 2's unwillingness to a-list the single. I strongly suspect Weird Al Jankovic's sales strategy will be invoked at some stage too. It's what makes us what we are.

Drico.

[York Minster]

I'm actually interested in chart placement, but the main issue for me is airplay. It's like the dance chart in the US. To Step Aside and Did you see me coming?? went to number 1, but how many times did they get played in the clubs? Possibly NONE (mainstream clubs)? But I'm still interested if they can get the sales, since they have the consecutive thing going. Honestly, with this release, if it doesn't make top 40, at least it's the single that deserved it.

[markus]

It wont do well that's for sure, the song's too european for the Uk snobs and too mellow for the after-ski in the alps, it wont be a big hit anywhere. It's just a treat for the fans, a little candy cane for those who like it.

[markus]

I'm actually interested in chart placement, but the main issue for me is airplay. It's like the dance chart in the US. To Step Aside and Did you see me coming?? went to number 1, but how many times did they get played in the clubs? Possibly NONE (mainstream clubs)? .

I've read somewhere that chart is compiled by Dj's sending in a weekly list of their fave tracks, doesn't mean they actually play them. There are just many Psb fans among them.

[tottenhammattspurs]

IF and thats a very big if we all buy the two cds and the download options plus the video, thats 5 sales per fan. A number 22 smash. If glad all over gets Blackpool FC behind it (which , so far , looks like they havent), the extra downloads from those fans would nudge it towards number 10 or 11.....

[Patrick Bateman]

Honestly, with this release, if it doesn't make top 40, at least it's the single that deserved it.

Only in the sense that their most commercial and radio-friendly single in over a decade proves that they have no relevance to the contemporary pop market.....which everybody but the most rabid PSB fan knew already. I hope it makes the top forty for old time's sake so everybody buy at least one download and the (excellent) video.

Anyway imagine how the Duffy forum is feeling.....

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/ ... sales.html