Music Box
Album – Certification – Date – Soundscan – Unsold units – Gap
Music Box – 4xP – 12/15/1993 – 2,900,000 – 1,200,000 – 0
Music Box – 5xP – 01/19/1994 – 3,600,000 – 800,000 – 600,000
Music Box – 8xP – 01/19/1995 – 6,050,000 – 150,000 – 1,800,000
Music Box – 9xP – 01/29/1996 – 6,500,000 – Irrelevant – 2,500,000
Music Box – 10xP – 11/05/1997 – 6,850,000 – Irrelevant – 3,150,000
Analysing Music Box in details, we can once again notice the rules change jump as it went from 4 to 5xP in January despite very few shipments happening at this period, even for a #1 album. The album was available on Clubs from the very end of 1993, obviously moving copies there at a fast pace. Until the release of #1’s, it never stopped. Reminding the album sold 735,000 units at BMG Music Club, this lets a massive 2,5 million copies for Columbia House.
An additional 450,000 units have been sold since at Soundscan end. There is no doubt the album gained a few more sales at Clubs. How much? Please refer to Daydream below.
As a reminder, Merry Christmas wasn’t available at Clubs. Up to 4,3 million when certified to 5xPlatinum, there is still a 700,000 units gap. The specific nature of the album impacted the accuracy of its Soundscan tally – we will see every limits of Soundscan tracking system on an upcoming Understanding article.
I noticed that – against the analysis that you give in this article – that both Mariah’s “Merry Christmas” and “Rainbow” actually were available through the Columbia House music club. They even had regular catalog numbers: Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas (Columbia) – 112789 Available as of 1995: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/82467713/ As of 2001: https://archive.org/details/universityofmemp2001unse –> page 142 Mariah Carey – Rainbow (Columbia) 324608 Available as of October 2000: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-oct-22-2000-p-857/ As of 2001: https://archive.org/details/universityofmemp2001unse –> page 137 “Rainbow” is even presented with a picture, which sets it apart from less popular albums. How does that go together with your claim that both… Read more »
Hi Luminator! The last 3 links you provide are all ads of BMG Music Club (CDHQ) rather than Columbia House. I’m not able to read the first one. I once posted the full catalog of Columbia House as of 1997 and Merry Christmas wasn’t there. Clubs availability (just like Spotify availability nowadays) hasn’t always been constant, some albums could have gone in and out their lists one or two times. I went through that full 1997 catalog and also hundreds of old Columbia ads, still it isn’t impossible that there is albums I never saw that were available at some… Read more »
hello i dont really understand whats the unsold units?
Hi puffygucci!
They refer to the amount of copies shipped by labels but not sold to consumers so far, they are copies remaining on shelves / stocks of retailers!
Hey MJD, can you post a breakdown for Ariana Grande sales, please?
P.S.: I loved the new site <3
Hi dear MJD !!!
congratulations for the beautiful articles for Music Clubs 1 and 2. This weekend do you will realize CSPC analysis of some singer or groups ?
I hope you realize CSPC analysis of The Beatles !!!
Hi Anthony!
There is two classic male acts CSPC studies in the making, plus two relatively recent bands which will be treated next. As we are nearing Christmas, I’ll try to drop such an article for every major act releasing a new album. I’m already collecting various information about The Beatles at the same time, as soon as I have a free week spot I’ll post their article!
Sting is about to release a new album, let’s hope he – along with his band, The Police – are among those who will be treated next!
Fantastic job, as usual. I would like to see how high “Merry Christmas” can get if Sony requests an audit for it + streaming inclusion… it could easily get 7 platinum.
I also wonder if Eagles’ “Greatest hits” can keep up the competition with “Thriller”… it seems unlikely now that streaming is a factor.
I have one further remark: I totally agree with you on all your estimations, but i find Rainbow’s shipment of 3,5 million a tad bit too low. Isn’t it reasonable to estimate 3,6-3,7 million considering the inaccuracy of SoundScan and further shipments?
I would be very grateful if you’d have a word on this remark!
Thanks in advance!
Hello Luminator! As you can see there is slightly more than 4,4 million units confirmed. As the album is dead now, hardly stocked anywhere, nearly all copies shipped have either been sold – and track on its Soundscan tally – or returned. Also, in 1999 Soundscan was way more reliable than in the first half of the 90s. This being said, nobody – except owning all Sony bills related to the album – can know the to date net shipment number with less than a 2% margin. Considering known information and the lack of later certs to refine non-Soundscan sales… Read more »
Thank you! I guess the 4,…. numbers were a typo! Of course we’re talking about the 3,…. -range 😉
This is so well explained. Must have taken a lot of time too. Seriously, thank you!
Thank you so much MJ! You really invested a lot of your time for Mariah and cleared up all the stupid discussion concerning her “fake diamond albums”!
I hope to see her overall CSPC article very soon! It’s about time 😉