http://www.billboard.com/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.story#/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.story
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE
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Artists in this Article
/artist/chris-brown/679240
Chris Brown
Albums in this Article
/album/chris-brown/graffiti/1301974
Graffiti
Chris Brown
Chris Brown 's
rant that U.S. music retailers are boycotting his new album "Grafitti,"
appears to be unfounded. Brown took to his Twitter account -- which is
now inactive -- over the weekend to complain about the fulfillment and
display of his album in a series of posts.
"im tired
of this sh*t. major stores r blackballing my cd. not stockin the
shelves and lying to costumers. what the f**k do i gotta do... ... yeah
i said it and i aint retracting shit im not biting my tongue about shit
else... the industry can kiss my ass," read messages posted.
He
also noted specifically that he "JUST WAS AT WALMART IN Wallingford
CT,844 north colony.. the didnt even have my album in the back... not
on shelves, saw for myself."
A survey and store
visits find that Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Trans World, Newbury Comics are
all carrying the Brown record and sources say that his album received
widespread distribution and promotion by his label, Jive Records, and
his distributor, Sony Music Entertainment. Jive shipped over 400,000
units of "Graffiti," and also had it positioned in prime stores space
at all key accounts, according to sources. In fact, sources suggest
that Jive may have overshipped his record, as sales are slow.
'Overstocked' "Not
only am I carrying it, I am over carrying it, because it isn't
selling," says the head of purchasing at one large chain. "I wish I
could return it." He says the album's first week sales only reached 40%
of expectations. At 27-unit Newbury Comics, Carl Mello head of
purchasing, echoes that sentiment. "We have it; it's not selling much."
He
says the chain never even considered boycotting Brown -- an accusation
leveled by the artist on Twitter. Brown pleaded guilty to charges in
connection with his attack of former girlfriend
Rihanna in February, just before the Grammy Awards show. "We never considered
not bringing it in," Mello says. "If we stopped bringing in records
from every unsavory character that puts out an album, there would be
tumbleweed floating around our stores."
When ordering
the record, Mello says he took into account Brown's altercation with
Rihanna from a sales perspective, only. After saying, "Let's see what
has happened with his sales since the incident," Mello reports that
"Exclusive," which was issued in November 2007, sold 11 copies
chainwide in October 2008, 8 copies in November, 5 units un January, 4
in February, 2 in March, and 0 copies in April, May and June. "From
July until now, we have sold 3 copies," Mello adds. "When you see an
artist is going to release a new album and then you go back and see
these kind of sales, alarm bells go off. You don't feel over confident
about bringing in a lot of records."
Nevertheless,
"we brought in the new album because you know you are going to sell
some," Mello says. "We let the consumer vote on it."
And
so far, consumers aren't flocking to stores to vote on behalf of Brown.
Sources project that Brown sold about 100,000 units last week, well
below the 150,000-175,000 units he was expected to sell. Mello says
that the album is probably about the No. 40 best-selling title at the
chain.
Even Wal-Mart -- which was singled out by
Brown on Twitter as one of the so-called merchants boycotting his
record because the Wallingford, Conn., store didn't have it in stock --
says they are carrying the Brown album. "We are surprised at the
comments on Twitter, since all Walmart stores carried the CD since its
release, including the Wallingford store mentioned in the post. This
store had in fact sold through their copies over the weekend. The
majority of our stores are showing today they have copies on hand.
Likewise Billboard found plenty of Brown in stock at Best Buy in Union
Square and on Broadway by Houston Street, in Manhattan, as well as at
the J&R Music World superstore in downtown Manhattan. Jive declined
to comment.
Assistance in preparing this story was provided by Crystal Bell.
http://www.billboard.com/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.story#/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.storyhttp://www.billboard.com/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.story#/news/chris-brown-s-twitter-rant-against-retailers-1004053561.storyLIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE http://www.billboard.com/photos/stylus/100544-chris_brown_617_409.jpg
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Artists in this Article /artist/chris-brown/679240http://www.billboard.com/images/pref_images/p71354m54g0.jpgChris Brown
Albums in this Article /album/chris-brown/graffiti/1301974http://www.billboard.com/images/album_images/cov75/pop/cov75/drn300/n312/n31246hmzp7.jpgGraffitiChris Brown
http://www.billboard.com/news/artist/chris-brown/679240Chris Brown'srant that U.S. music retailers are boycotting his new album "Grafitti,"appears to be unfounded. Brown took to his Twitter account -- which isnow inactive -- over the weekend to complain about the fulfillment anddisplay of his album in a series of posts. "im tiredof this sh*t. major stores r blackballing my cd. not stockin theshelves and lying to costumers. what the f**k do i gotta do... ... yeahi said it and i aint retracting shit im not biting my tongue about shitelse... the industry can kiss my ass," read messages posted. Healso noted specifically that he "JUST WAS AT WALMART IN WallingfordCT,844 north colony.. the didnt even have my album in the back... noton shelves, saw for myself." A survey and storevisits find that Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Trans World, Newbury Comics areall carrying the Brown record and sources say that his album receivedwidespread distribution and promotion by his label, Jive Records, andhis distributor, Sony Music Entertainment. Jive shipped over 400,000units of "Graffiti," and also had it positioned in prime stores spaceat all key accounts, according to sources. In fact, sources suggestthat Jive may have overshipped his record, as sales are slow. 'Overstocked' "Notonly am I carrying it, I am over carrying it, because it isn'tselling," says the head of purchasing at one large chain. "I wish Icould return it." He says the album's first week sales only reached 40%of expectations. At 27-unit Newbury Comics, Carl Mello head ofpurchasing, echoes that sentiment. "We have it; it's not selling much." Hesays the chain never even considered boycotting Brown -- an accusationleveled by the artist on Twitter. Brown pleaded guilty to charges inconnection with his attack of former girlfriend http://www.billboard.com/news/artist/rihanna/658897Rihannain February, just before the Grammy Awards show. "We never considerednot bringing it in," Mello says. "If we stopped bringing in recordsfrom every unsavory character that puts out an album, there would betumbleweed floating around our stores." When orderingthe record, Mello says he took into account Brown's altercation withRihanna from a sales perspective, only. After saying, "Let's see whathas happened with his sales since the incident," Mello reports that"Exclusive," which was issued in November 2007, sold 11 copieschainwide in October 2008, 8 copies in November, 5 units un January, 4in February, 2 in March, and 0 copies in April, May and June. "FromJuly until now, we have sold 3 copies," Mello adds. "When you see anartist is going to release a new album and then you go back and seethese kind of sales, alarm bells go off. You don't feel over confidentabout bringing in a lot of records." Nevertheless,"we brought in the new album because you know you are going to sellsome," Mello says. "We let the consumer vote on it." Andso far, consumers aren't flocking to stores to vote on behalf of Brown.Sources project that Brown sold about 100,000 units last week, wellbelow the 150,000-175,000 units he was expected to sell. Mello saysthat the album is probably about the No. 40 best-selling title at thechain. Even Wal-Mart -- which was singled out byBrown on Twitter as one of the so-called merchants boycotting hisrecord because the Wallingford, Conn., store didn't have it in stock --says they are carrying the Brown album. "We are surprised at thecomments on Twitter, since all Walmart stores carried the CD since itsrelease, including the Wallingford store mentioned in the post. Thisstore had in fact sold through their copies over the weekend. Themajority of our stores are showing today they have copies on hand.Likewise Billboard found plenty of Brown in stock at Best Buy in UnionSquare and on Broadway by Houston Street, in Manhattan, as well as atthe J&R Music World superstore in downtown Manhattan. Jive declinedto comment. Assistance in preparing this story was provided by Crystal Bell.
