CSPC: Fergie Popularity Analysis
After Black Eyed Peas‘ victory in our poll regarding the next band to be studied, here is a little introductory gift with a study of Fergie‘s career. How big was she she decided to go solo, although always with the contribution of her band mate Will.i.am?
If we think about it, the feeling is that she is one of the rare female singers that left a band to find success as a solo star. We remember very well how the members of the Spice Girls, Sharleen Spiteri (Texas) and Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls) flopped in their attempt to go solo. In reality, lots of singers who began in bands achieved great success as solo artists. The thing is though, that we often forgot their early days.
Janis Joplin (Big Brother & The Holding Company), Diana Ross (Supremes), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), Gloria Estefan (Miami Sound Machine), Annie Lennox (Eurythmics), Lauryn Hill (Fugees), Beyoncé (Destiny’s Childs), and Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) they all achieved multi-Platinum albums as solo artists and in bands. Then there is Cher and Tina Turner, both big with their respective husbands until finding bigger success as solo singers. Career-wise, the closest to Fergie is likely Lauryn Hill as we are still awaiting for their sophomore efforts. Where are they?
As usual, I’ll be using the Commensurate Sales to Popularity Concept in order to relevantly gauge her results. This concept will not only bring you sales information for all Fergie’s album and songs, physical and download singles, as well as audio and video streaming, but it will also determine their true popularity. If you are not yet familiar with the CSPC method, the next page explains it with a short video. I fully recommend watching the video before getting into the sales figures. Of course, if you are a regular visitor feel free to skip the video and get into the figures.
Let’s go!
I think something is wrong, the digital single sales for The Dutchess are 32,900,000 according to this data, which means 3,29 million equivalent album units, and not 4,935 milion.
Hi Dan!
The ratio is 10 to 1,5 between one album and one digital single. The explanations are posted here.
Hey MJD
I don’t know if you’ve heard of an artist zara larsson, but her debut album is doing phenomenal in streaming and single sales (especially in Europe). However her album sales are Very low compared to previous singers. Every artist you’ve done so far has at least one well selling album, I think it’d be interesting to show a new artist that came up in the age of streaming. Also it’d be cool to see how it compares to albums of previous formats
Hello MJD, you say the The Dutchess did wonders in Russia but you don’t mention how much the album sold there in the breakdown. How much did it sell in that country? Thx.
Thanks for the full breakdown!
One correction regarding Cher though, she doesn’t belong in the group of artists going solo after their group/duo broke up because she had numerous charting singles and albums as a solo artist while being part of Sonny & Cher.
Just to illustrate, during the 1965-1974 period she had 11 SOLO top 40 Billboard Hot 100 entries, while as Sonny & Cher she had 10, during the same timeframe…
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hi Angelogilly,
Yes, the “after” word isn’t exclusive, for example Beyoncé too released a successful debut solo album and then a new Destiny’s Child album. Same for Gwen Stefani and others too. They all started big as part of a duo / group and are last remembered for big solo hits!
Hi but!
The Dutchess went 3xPlatinum in Russia for more than 60,000 unit shipped, making it her third European market after the UK and Germany!