Sales Discussion

[Mael]

Fellow Second To None members,

Due to the inactivity on this forum, I thought I'd start a new thread, "Sales Discussion" - It is my belief that discussions, in most cases, leads to something good - Hopefully conclusions. So, this is the thread to take up sales-related thoughts/questions etc.

Martin

[Mael]

First off...

We have the two singles:

1. Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog


Certified : 4xP - 4.000.000

This single reportedly sold in excess of 5m during the 50s (the question is; was it in the US or WW?). Here are a couple of sales reports from Billboard/RCA Victor:

* July 31, 1956: Certified for sales in excess of 1,000,000
* September 15, 1956: Certified for sales in excess of 2,000,000
* November 3, 1956: RCA Victor claim sales of 2,600,000+ for Don’t Be Cruel (Don’t be Cruel only? Or Hound Dog incl.?)
* January 9, 1957: Variety presents an award, recognising 3,000,000 sales of Don’t Be Cruel.
* July 1, 1957: RCA Victor reports: “well over 4 million”. (US or WW?)
* October 3, 1958: RCA Victor reports: “now near the 5 million mark”. (US or WW?)
* July 20, 1959: Vice President of RCA Victor reports: “has now gone over five million”. (US or WW?)
+ July 6, 1963: Is mentioned in Billboard: “having sold more than 5,000,000 copies”

So, how much did the single really sell? The confusion for me lays in the ‘November 3 report’ contra all the ‘1957 RCA Victor reports’ which suggests sales in excess of 5,000,000. What are your thoughts?


2. It's Now Or Never / A Mess Of Blues


Certified : 1xP - 1.000.000

This single was reported by Billboard (on July 18, 1960) to have sold in excess of 700,000 copies in the US in its first week - And has always been regarded as one of Elvis’ best selling singles (even one of the world’s best selling singles of all time). Certifications & sales’ reports outside the states suggest huge sales, but when it comes to the US, it’s only certified 1xP (1,000,000).I’ve seen claims ranging from 1-9 million for this one in the US. But what’s really the accurate one? Once again, I’d like your thoughts

[memphis]

With regard to the 'Hound Dog'/'Don't Be Cruel' sales the following article throws some light on this lingering problem:

www.elvisnews.com/articles.aspx/a-busy-man-or-project-increase-putting-the-record/257


Brian

[jbnva58]

I think a stronger case can be made for "Hound Dog"
As you noted,it has recieved the multi plat award for 4XP,and in this case I can well imagine that missing paperwork being the culprit for not getting a 5XP award.Who knows,it may still be upgraded.
As for INON,the situation is problematic.I compare this to the situation with the Beatles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" single.It has also repotedly sold 5XP,yet its only award is for 1XP.Now we all know this single sold at least2,and probably 3M,but has never been upgraded further.When you compare the chart runs INON and IWTHYH,they are both similer,"Hand" was #1 two weeks longer,but "Never" was in the top ten longer,and overall chart run was longer.
The problem is,the single which followed it (Are You Lonesome..)did get a MP award,which makes the missing info bit a little shaky.But based on first week reports,and its chart run,I see no reason to doubt that,indeed,it probably sold3-5M.

[jbnva58]

From "EDU" at UKMIX;

Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Posts: 536
Location: Portugal
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:55 pm
I was searching the net for Beatles sales related stuff and suddenly I just found out an PDF document aparently not very interesting but that in the end had a worldwide sales breakdown for "Elv1s : 30 #1 Hits".
The date of the document is August 2009 but probably the figures are from some time earlier judging by the US figure.

Elv1s : 30 #1 Hits

Worldwide = 10,072,940

USA = 4,205,405

International = 5,867,535
including:
Remaining English-Speaking Markets (non-US) = 2,663,834
Continental Europe = 2,110,656
Latin = 468,843
Asia = 654,202

Some round figures for specific markets:

UK = 1,400,000
Canada = 635k
Germany = 595k
Australia = 390k
Brazil = 270k
Japan = 260k
Spain = 220k
Netherlands = 215k
Italy = 205k
Sweden = 185k
Switzerland = 110k
Ireland = 90k
Austria = 85k
Denmark = 80k
Finland = 80k
Belgium = 80k
Singapore = 75k
Thailand = 75k
Mexico = 70k
Argentina = 65k
New Zealand = 60k
Norway = 60k
South Africa = 55k
Poland = 55k
Malaysia = 55k
Rep. Korea = 55k
Taiwan = 55k
Chile = 50k
France = 40k
Russia = 30k
Hong Kong = 30k
Indonesia = 30k
Portugal = 20k

Great Stuff.Dont know if this is official,looks that way though.