How badly does a leak affect album sales?

[bigmac]

I been wandering this for a good while now. What type of numbers would these albums be doing if they didn't leak on the net prior?

Take Care moved 640,000 first week and I remember that leaked about a week before it dropped. The thirst for that was mad too, plenty n*ggas had that in the e-streets before it hit stores and iTunes.

I remember watching that Carter III documentary when someone said it had been downloaded 1,000,000 times illegally before the album even came out. I remember Lupe once saying The Cool went plat before it hit stores too. I know this Kendrick about to do similar e-numbers.

Obviously once it's out someone will buy the CD, go home and re-upload it for dudes to feast but how different would the numbers be if you COULD NOT hear an album before it's release date? I know y'all will just say WTT is the prime example of this but that album had no physicals in stores for like the first week so the 436,000 it did first week isn't wholly accurate.

I reckon these leaks could be taking at least 50%. Maybe even more. Discuss brehs.

 

[notorious8562]

I don't think it affects sales much at all. If anything it gives the artist more exposure.

 

[Never Broke Again]

it doesn't really

folk would still illegally download it, they just get it 6 days earlier with a leak

 

[SummerNights]

a leak can only help if it was not for xzibiit's album leaking i would not had known it was even coming out, and GKMC has got my money next week too which i was unsure of before the leak
if you have the "am pirate that cd" mindset
you will do it regardless only that instead it would be done after the release date

 

[Fredrick Thuglas]

I been wandering this for a good while now. What type of numbers would these albums be doing if they didn't leak on the net prior?

Take Care moved 640,000 first week and I remember that leaked about a week before it dropped. The thirst for that was mad too, plenty n*ggas had that in the e-streets before it hit stores and iTunes.

I remember watching that Carter III documentary when someone said it had been downloaded 1,000,000 times illegally before the album even came out. I remember Lupe once saying The Cool went plat before it hit stores too. I know this Kendrick about to do similar e-numbers.

Obviously once it's out someone will buy the CD, go home and re-upload it for dudes to feast but how different would the numbers be if you COULD NOT hear an album before it's release date? I know y'all will just say WTT is the prime example of this but that album had no physicals in stores for like the first week so the 436,000 it did first week isn't wholly accurate.

I reckon these leaks could be taking at least 50%. Maybe even more. Discuss brehs.

sooo, nobody is gonna tell our good brother that it's "wondering" not "wandering"?

 

[BStapies]

Depends on how early it leaks.

I remember curtis leaked like a month or two before its release date and it caught a brick.

 

[Loose]

no people will buy whatever they want,no science behind album sales.

 

[Harry B]

Not at all, I would assume that people that decided to buy the album will still buy it.
People who decided to download will download. I've downloaded every album that I was gonna buy cause it's faster than putting in the cd and copying the songs.

As far as iTunes sales, I think that might be affected, why would you buy the same iTunes copy that you already have on your computer? .

 

[Versa]

I think in some ways it can help. People who were initially just going to download listen to the leak and are blown away so they want to go out and support the artist with their money.

On the other hand it can hurt because people can listen, feel it's not worth their money and say screw it. OR they can love the album, but that cheap/lazy side tells them "fukk it...I already have it I ain't buying that shyt."

 

[Marvel]

Was talking about album sales with my coworkers earlier this week. Its obvious that downloading has hurt album sales. Whether it leaks early or not, it doesn't matter. The people that buy albums will continue buying and those that download only... will do that same. That is why we should only judge the quality of the music on this board and not the sales.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rohiggidy]

people have no money = no buying power to buy cds

 

[Kimo_bud]

Depends on how early it leaks.

I remember curtis leaked like a month or two before its release date and it caught a brick.

it coulda leaked a day before release and no one woulda bought it anyways

 

[jaguar paw]

It relies more so on the artist's fan base. If they believe in the brand they will support the artist.

Leaks hurt weak artists.

 

[L. Deezy]

people have no money = no buying power to buy cds

*looks at white acts sales vs black acts sales*

you must be saying blacks are broke??

 

[Spurs91]

If someones gonna buy it they gonna buy it regardless of the leak, these days Its not about paying for the music to hear its more buying into the artist and supporting.