It's so very sad...

[richdudley]

Last night I found myself speechless, looking at page 535 of Ceefax for nearly five minutes.

"Aftermath", the new single from R.E.M., failed to hit the top 40 Chart.It just missed out by going in at number 41

Comments

[zooniverse]

The thing is, Rich, most REM punters tend to go straight for the album.

it's the bubble pop-trash or indie upstarts that get single sales these days.

there was a report only last week onhow the singles sales have plummeted dramatically, while album sales are the highest ever. and REM always come high in the albums.

so ner
:p

[dan_g]

You have to bear in mind that the singles chart bears little to no relation to the music scene. most music lovers will be more likely to buy the albums rather than the singles, the singles chart is aimed solely at the radio play and kids market. With the exception possibly being in the downloads segment, which does not affect the normal charts anyway.

You will have to wait for them to grow up and stop pissing on buses before they appreciate them.

If you want a better guideline check the album or download (if there is one) charts.

[richdudley]

It's just frustrating though because this was never the case with R.E.M. They always charted and were one of the saving graces when it came to decent music in the singles chart. It's obviously changed now.

Bloody Charts!!

[purplekelly]

Another thing to note is where people buy singles from. A few years ago Woolworths had 2/3 of the "Computers" that went towards the charts. I daresay Asda have a fair share now.

You would think Music stores would have the majority but the sad fact is stores which only stock a limited number of releases (about 5-10 per week) have the lions share.

In the papers last week they said Nadia had sold 800 singles (number 32ish) but after a surge (a further 1000 sold) went up to 22! I truely don't believe R.E.M. sold less than 1000!

Re: Freeze Dried pop

[richdudley]

Any other middle of the road artist, you could understand them not making it but R.E.M.?!! Come on! They sold out their tour in less than a day which means that their fans snapped up concert tickets like hot cakes. Now, where were these fans last week when the single hit the shelves?! Grrrr... >:o(

[thewordsihate]

It's had virtually no airplay, not even on Radio 2. In fact unless you were a die hard fan, there was almost no clue that the single was out. Especially as 50% of the space set out for new singles at one of the HMVs in town dedicated itself to the Band Aid single.

I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised one bit.