Final sales figure for in the meantime
 

Does anyone have reasonably authoritative figures for sales of the in the meantime CD? And/or downloads of individual cuts from iTunes and elsewhere? I assume by now the sales have dwindled to nothing, and I'm wondering how well it sold.

I think it sold around 20,000 copies. I'm not sure about iTunes figures.

Not much. From what little I know about the music business (nothing, really), she probably got zero income from it. Btw, can music retailers return unsold CDs the way booksellers can return unsold books? And if so, is that 20,000 figure gross or is it net of returns?

Sometimes. The returns are usually for highly anticipated artists and certain allowances are given to retailers.

But for a CD like In The Meantime, they would probably only purchase a small amount; large chains, about 4-12 units (per store) and individual retail stores probably 1 or 2, if that.

I'm sure she did get income from it. From the way she presented it, it probably didn't cost much to go in the studio and cut tracks (wasn't this a home recording studio anyway?). The record label probably paid her a advance to record and in her contract was guaranteed some sort of additional pay when the CD was manufactured and then dropped to the consumer market.

I'd better buy myself a copy before it goes out of print.

I think that's probably right. She recorded the album in her barn/studio on her property. It probably cost her very little to make. It was mostly her and her nephew who worked on the album...maybe she added a little something in her will for Dan.;) She might have even made a tiny profit from the whole thing. This wasn't like Fleetwood Mac in the old days who had to sell a lot of records because they spent an obscene amount of money. Fleetwood Mac probably didn't make any money on SYW because they spent alot of money. If you don't spend as much, then you don't have to sell as much to make a profit.

By the way, that 20,000 sales figure was as of the end of 2004. The album may have sold a bit more last year. I doubt it's selling anything much anymore. It's been 2 years since it was first released.

For shame that you don't have it, David. For shame....:distress:

Well at least I heard it.

there are so many musics to buy, homer....like today I am going to tower to buy the waldstein & appassionata performed by walter geiseking. Although I'd like to keep it, I need to give it to my niece for her birthday tomorrow.

But how can you be obsessive about FM, and not have this album? :shrug: It's classic Christine.Gazuntight(how the hell do you spell that word?)!:laugh:

Does anyone know what the UK sales are?

I'm guessing not very much.

I think I might have everyone who bought it in the UK round to mine for a party! I need to know how many sandwiches to make

Gail

PS My house is quite small

Mass popularity is well, for the masses. FM is about the only band I ever followed that ever HAD mass popularity. I think that much of the time, being really popular simply caters to the lowest common denominator.
Other than for Christine's own sake, I couldn't care less about sales figures. I wish, for HER, that ITM had sold 5 million copies. But for me, I've got a great album, that I love. And that's all that matters to my ears.

wellllllllllll................. I'm not obsessive any more. I don't have LB soundstage, FM live in boston, mick's recent solo cd (although I hated his 3rd cd), john's lola thomas cd, or christine's 3rd solo cd. I never even bought the dance on dvd. and I didn't buy that last book on fm. nor have I yet bought that bbc thing with christine material (although I'd like that one).

however, I did buy the three reissues as well as the "very best of"......though god knows why. prolly for the pictures or the liner notes.

so as you can see, my fanatical days where I wanted everything are behind me.

If she would of released a single from the album!!

You are, had such radio potential :(

lets hope its not her last album!

You Are was released as a single in the UK. It's just that not many people bought it!

Gail

Are you sure?

I never saw an actual physical CD single in the shops (or I would of bought it :D)

I want it if it was :p

I am sure there were promo copies but no official release

Thats right :nod: But often we return items that have not sold in the store for some time back to the smaller distribution companies, because the company tells them they have to take it back otherwise we will no longer order from you - thus resulting in a major loss for the small company

Christine is in my store (thanks to me) and I am sure after 12 months if it has not sold it will be returned to the company by bribery :laugh:

I have a promo CD of "You Are". As far as I know, there was no official release. It's the same thing with "Friend" here in the U.S.

I don't have any of those things, EXCEPT I do have 2 copies of In The Meantime.:p

Wow! I can't believe you don't have the Dance DVD.:shocked: I have a feeling that you'd like the Madison Blues box set, especially "Hey Baby". Chris plays fantastic blues piano on that track. And, while Chris does struggle with her live vocals, her keyboards are top notch throughout.

I thought it had been released as a single in the UK but I may be wrong.

It did get played on Radio 2 a few times.

As far as I know she did some press interviews here but only one radio interview with that pratt Steve Wright (who thought the songs were about Dennis Wilson and asked her how much money she had)

It seemed to be doing OK on the pre-release ratings but then when it was released I think everybody who intended all along to buy it got their copy and no-one else was very interested. (Their loss)

It would be interesting to see how many copies have been sold to date worldwide but I doubt she was relying on sales to pay the bills! I imagine she still has enough to feed Dougal and George.

Gail

She did mention in several of those interviews that she didn't expect ITM to sell very much & that she was fine with that. And, yes I'm sure Dougal & George have all the dog biscuits they need.:D

What, no one from the states is invited? At least offer to send some of those sandwiches to us! Your American cousins need to party too.

the half a dozen who bought it in the UK I could manage but 20,000 americans?

Gail

Some additional ITM info

It did not make the Billboard top 200, but made #32 on the independant album charts!

The single 'Friend' made #29 on the Adult Contemporary chart

I have the official UK chart position now!

#133 for 1 week on 03.07.04 :(

I now highly doubt it sold more than 500 copies that week, let alone 500 copies so far!!

I still see them refilling it in Best Buy. :)

The low sales are pretty sad, especially since it's a fantastic record. If she'd released it in the mid-80s, ITM would have charted very well, I think--even more so than her second solo album.

Hey folks. I know thread is a few months old, but I guess this could be a reminder to people that never got around to buying ITM, to do so sooner rather than later, since as mentioned, it could go OOP soon (if it isn't now).
jr.com and amazon both have it for $10.


Also wanted to mention that I heard Friend a few times on the Hot AC/modern rock station here in Nashville, back when it was released. I remember seeing it listed on their playlist online back then too (wrlt.com). They played the singles from SYW, and are playing Lindsey's single now (you'll see it listed there).
I also heard Friend played over the PA in a couple different grocery/dept. stores around here.

I've also heard "Friend" in the grocery store. I think it made its way onto an adult contemporary music compilation to be played in retail businesses. I've heard other Christine songs over the years in the same grocery store.

As for In the Meantime's lackluster sales figures, that has nothing to do with the quality of the music and everything to do with the lack of promotion.

I second the motion to go out and buy ITM now, before it is unavailable. The reason to buy it has nothing to do with some silly idea of being a 'Fleetwood Mac completist' -- the reason to buy it is because it is a really great album. Anyone who enjoys Christine's music with Fleetwood Mac will enjoy this album.

Yes, I've heard Friend several times in various stores.:nod:

I've also heard "Friend" in the grocery store. And, "Don't Stop", "You Make Loving Fun", "Hold Me" & "Little Lies". Just about about all of the Fleetwood Mac related songs that I've heard while grocery shopping have been Christine McVie songs.

awww :distress:

It was just re-released here in Aus on 2 October.

The previously released copies must have sold, otherwise why would they print new CDs. I don't think it's going out of print here in the U.S. even though it's only selling for $10. Amazon has lowered the price on alot of their CDs. I got an older Paul McCartney CD for $10 not too long ago.

Not sure - it's actually being released through a different distributor. The 2004 release was through BMG. This re-release is through a small distributor called Shock, who seem to be picking up a lot of Sanctuary releases.

Well it is good that it's being picked up by another distributor, though sorry to hear that BMG dropped it.

BTW, for the record, I was never saying it was going OOP, just reiterating earlier mentions in this thread suggesting that it was possible.