CSPC: Foo Fighters Popularity Analysis

Digital Singles Sales – Part 1

As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 1,5 ratio between albums and digital singles.

Foo Fighters (1995) – 105,000 equivalent albums

This Is a Call – 200,000
I’ll Stick Around – 100,000
Big Me – 300,000
Remaining tracks – 100,000

The Colour and the Shape (1997) – 810,000 equivalent albums

Monkey Wrench – 700,000
My Hero – 1,100,000
Everlong – 3,300,000
Walking After You – 150,000
Remaining tracks – 150,000

There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999) – 338,000 equivalent albums

Stacked Actors – 75,000
Breakout – 250,000
Learn to Fly – 1,700,000
Generator – 75,000
Next Year – 75,000
Remaining tracks – 75,000

One by One (2002) – 405,000 equivalent albums

All My Life – 850,000
Times Like These – 1,650,000
Remaining tracks – 200,000

In Your Honor (2005) – 765,000 equivalent albums

No Way Back – 300,000
Best of You – 3,600,000
DOA – 500,000
Resolve – 100,000
Cold Day in the Sun – 200,000
Remaining tracks – 400,000

It isn’t because a single sells poorly in physical format that it isn’t a success. Some singles move 2-track CDs, others sell albums. The 1997 hit Everlong became an all-time 90s Alternative music classic and has sold a stunning 3,3 million units in the downloads and ringtones format. My Hero, Learn To Fly and Times Like These are all million sellers too.

Indeed, from the 4 pre-digital era, only the debut album has no big seller. The greatest total is signed by The Colour and the Shape, with its songs are now over 5 million units combined.

Then there is In Your Honor, an album released during the very early days of iTunes. At the time, Gold and Platinum awards in that format in the US were still awarded for only 100,000 and 200,000 units respectively. It didn’t stop Best Of You though. That song perfectly stood the test of time and now rides on 3,6 million units.