Can Stevie break the trend?

[DestinyRules]

The pragmatist in me does not expect much in the way of In Your Dreams sales beyond her hard core fans. Sure, the music may be some of the best she's ever done. The collaboration with Dave Stewart might have energized her creativity in ways that you can't imagine, but that part of me can't fathom the record selling much more than 100,000 copies.

The Nicks fanatic in me imagines an era when "Secret Love" might have soared up the charts to the point where even I'd get sick of it to the point I've gotten sick of "Landslide" or the studio version of "Stand Back." And that's zooming for the skip button as fast as my 30-something fingers can go sick of those songs.

As for Red Velvet Car, I bought it off iTunes, even though I don't consider myself a dyed in the wool Heart fan the way Heartboy is, for instance. But of the songs on that record, the two I play the most often are "There You Go" (and yes, I *know* it isn't Stevie singing the harmonies, but it sounds so much like her that I imagine it's her) and "WTF". I can see myself playing "Hey You" if I'm in the right mood, but having only one song burrow into my music playing brain means the rest of the record isn't earth-shattering.

To me, if IYD sells well among Stevie's fan base and draws in any new audience, or at least earns critical acclaim, that will make it a success. Success for IYD won't be bucking the odds and going double-platinum. Success will be making a record that we as fans will be proud to play even if people ask "who's he" when we mention the name Stevie Nicks.

[Jondalar]

I have to say that 2011 mirrors the 70s sales wise. It used to big thing in the 70s to get a Gold Record. Not many people could even achieve Gold Status. I think that if Stevie gets a gold record, record execs will conisder it a big success.

[DallasDude]

Most radio stations are pre-programmed now, and often broadcast across various markets. In many instances, some of the DJs are not even sitting in the same city as they are being heard (and DJs do not pick songs to play any longer, they just banter and do spots.) Thus, this new age way of doing radio spelled the end to most song requests from local listeners.

More than likely, Stevie's new music will be heard on satellite stations and online radio. I suspect we may also hear a tune or two being played over the speakers in movie theaters (prior to the movie) and in lounges. With WB long reach into other media, her songs could end up on a TV show or movie soundtrack too.

I think her better bets for "success" with IYD is great reviews and possibly Grammy nominations for 2012. Maybe a guest stint on AI or Glee. I suspect total CD sales will be in the 150-250K range.

[markolas]

I still don't understand why people are so hung up on "hit singles" and "gold albums." Those are not indicators of anything worth caring about. For IYD to do as well as TISL is about as close to "hit status" as she can be expected to get. She's almost 63 years old, and people over 30 (especially women) simply do not get played on the radio, or have hit singles or albums. Again, those are not indicators of good music. The fact that a song referencing plastic bags in the wind went to #1 kinda says it all to me.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by markolas

I still don't understand why people are so hung up on "hit singles" and "gold albums." Those are not indicators of anything worth caring about. For IYD to do as well as TISL is about as close to "hit status" as she can be expected to get. She's almost 63 years old, and people over 30 (especially women) simply do not get played on the radio, or have hit singles or albums. Again, those are not indicators of good music. The fact that a song referencing plastic bags in the wind went to #1 kinda says it all to me.

Kind of like the movie forest gump. Kept referencing a feather in the wind.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by markolas

I still don't understand why people are so hung up on "hit singles" and "gold albums." Those are not indicators of anything worth caring about. For IYD to do as well as TISL is about as close to "hit status" as she can be expected to get. She's almost 63 years old, and people over 30 (especially women) simply do not get played on the radio, or have hit singles or albums. Again, those are not indicators of good music. The fact that a song referencing plastic bags in the wind went to #1 kinda says it all to me.

Here is why "people are so hung up" over this:

-A hit album for Stevie would validate her hard work and efforts on this project.

-A hit album means WB will try to keep her on their roster.

-A hit album means Stevie will feel motivated to keep making more music.

-A hit album leads to better attendance at concerts, which means more Stevie concerts and tours.

We all have suffered dearly when Mama feels unmotivated and uninspired to create new music. Don't you want more new Stevie music and tours? Isn't that something to get worked up about? I would hate to see her release this (hopefully) wonderful album and then watch it nosedive into obscurity upon release. It's in all of our besst interests to make this album into a hit.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

There was a time in mid and late 90s when female singer songwriters ruled the charts. However, now it seems like some of them are in danger of getting dropped by their record companies. Sheryl Crow, Melissa Ethridge, Tracey Chapman, Jewel, Alanis Morrisette cannot even sale enough records to earn Gold status, forget about platinum. Can Stevie break this trend? Both her and Lucinda Williams are releasing albums this year and it will be interesting to see just what happens. I think if Stevie gets a gold album it will give record companies some hope that older singer songwriters can sell records.

I'm going to directly answer the question and say "No."

Those artists were popular in the mid-to-late 90's because they were the voices of that generation. I was 20 in the summer of 1994, and you could not get away from Crow's "All I Wanna Do (Is Have Some Fun)" or Sarah McLachlan's "Posession" on the radio. It was everywhere, and the people listeing to and buying that music were the 16-22 crowd - my friends. Alanis was the -IT- girl all through 1995. Tori Amos was huge with Boys For Pele, and Under The Pink before that. We were -way- into our own angst and melodrama.

Part of this is simply the shift in musical tastes. Through the late 80's and early 90's, many of the female artists on the radio were fairly poppy in terms of sound and style, and the mid 90's brought a shift in sound that appealed to a younger crowd. The music of the mid-90's was generally more serious and the lyrics spoke to the personal trials that many young people were going through - we wanted to hear songs about lost love and deception, not songs about dancing in the steets or shaking our booties to the Conga. Good grief - remember Expose and Bananarama? My friends and I laughed at the older (and by older I mean those who were 26-32, lol) people listening to Gloria Estefan and Janet Jackson. Like, get with the times!

I guess what I'm saying is that these days the trends in popular music by female artists are with R&B, hip-hop and dance-pop. Thats' why the mega sellers continue to be Gaga, Beyonce, Britney and others like them....but I think that by the end of this decade we'll see another shift in music. Teenaged fans and early 20-somethings set the musical trends we hear on the radio. As they grow older, the trends they helped drive become part of the past as another musical trend moves in. We get older and forget to follow every word spoken by our musical heroes. We forget they might still even make music, and sales decline to abysmal numbers.

Just like the hair bands of the 80's. The world changed forever when Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the radio waves. By 1994 the glam rockers were jokes from an earlier era....much like many people these days consider Stevie to be...and Janet...and Madonna, Sarah, Tori, Kate, Heart. It never ends - someday Britney and Gaga and Adele and Florence & The Machine will be has-beens too, who can't sell more than a couple hundred thousand albums on their best years. There are rare exceptions but Stevie is not one of them and the generation that Stevie represented is far from being the generation setting musical trends.

But I'm a fan for life.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by markolas

I still don't understand why people are so hung up on "hit singles" and "gold albums." Those are not indicators of anything worth caring about. For IYD to do as well as TISL is about as close to "hit status" as she can be expected to get. She's almost 63 years old, and people over 30 (especially women) simply do not get played on the radio, or have hit singles or albums. Again, those are not indicators of good music. The fact that a song referencing plastic bags in the wind went to #1 kinda says it all to me.

it motivates her and keeps her going, and it also motivates her record company to champion her

[TerraRhiannon]

Originally Posted by DestinyRules

As for Red Velvet Car, I bought it off iTunes, even though I don't consider myself a dyed in the wool Heart fan the way Heartboy is, for instance. But of the songs on that record, the two I play the most often are "There You Go" (and yes, I *know* it isn't Stevie singing the harmonies, but it sounds so much like her that I imagine it's her) and "WTF". I can see myself playing "Hey You" if I'm in the right mood, but having only one song burrow into my music playing brain means the rest of the record isn't earth-shattering.

As a dedicated die hard Heartmonger Imma take a second to gush & say RVC is probably one of the best albums they've done since Heart. My favorites from Red Velvet Car are Red Velvet Car, Queen City, Hey You, Safronia's Mark & Sunflower Okay basically the whole album to me is flawless

Back on topic, I believe that Stevie could get a Gold album, with this new Rod/Stevie tour and everything going on it's safe to say she'll definitely get a good number of sales. PLUS, Secret Love is already at number 13 on the Rock iTunes chart. I believe at one point today it had a high of 12 Yayayayay.

[greendaze5]

Originally Posted by TerraRhiannon

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]As a dedicated die hard Heartmonger Imma take a second to gush & say RVC is probably one of the best albums they've done since Heart. My favorites from Red Velvet Car are Red Velvet Car, Queen City, Hey You, Safronia's Mark & Sunflower Okay basically the whole album to me is flawless

Speaking of Heart and 'Red Velvet Car', the band is selling the CD on their web site for only $10, and $25 for an autographed copy:

http://www.heart-music.com/store/

Nice if Stevie does likewise when 'IYD' comes out, or at least do another 'Barnes and Noble' signing.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Here is why "people are so hung up" over this:

-A hit album for Stevie would validate her hard work and efforts on this project.

-A hit album means WB will try to keep her on their roster.

-A hit album means Stevie will feel motivated to keep making more music.

-A hit album leads to better attendance at concerts, which means more Stevie concerts and tours.

If record sales is the only thing that validates her or makes her feel motivated, then I'm not really sure what to say about that. Lots of artists continue making records and touring even tho they don't sell anything. And even if WB dropped her, she could always find a smaller label to distribute her music. That may not fit with her "arena rock star" image, but if she really wants to continue making new music, she certainly can. Besides, didn't WB just get sold? It seems like it might not be long for this world. The music industry is changing, and it sounds like Stevie is having a hard time with that.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by markolas

If record sales is the only thing that validates her or makes her feel motivated, then I'm not really sure what to say about that. Lots of artists continue making records and touring even tho they don't sell anything. And even if WB dropped her, she could always find a smaller label to distribute her music. That may not fit with her "arena rock star" image, but if she really wants to continue making new music, she certainly can. Besides, didn't WB just get sold? It seems like it might not be long for this world. The music industry is changing, and it sounds like Stevie is having a hard time with that.

I agree with Garbo. What's the point of having been a rock n roll superstar if you don't now get the privilege of making your art--and enjoy knowing that there will be people who will listen and respond?

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by markolas

If record sales is the only thing that validates her or makes her feel motivated, then I'm not really sure what to say about that. Lots of artists continue making records and touring even tho they don't sell anything. And even if WB dropped her, she could always find a smaller label to distribute her music. That may not fit with her "arena rock star" image, but if she really wants to continue making new music, she certainly can. Besides, didn't WB just get sold? It seems like it might not be long for this world. The music industry is changing, and it sounds like Stevie is having a hard time with that.

Well, wouldn't you, as a hard-working musician, feel demoralized if people were stealing from you, i.e., illegally downloading/copying your work? And wouldn't you feel demoralized if you went from having one of the best selling albums in history to barely being able to sell anything at all? It's not necessarily about the money- it's the principle. It's pride. It's bragging rights. It's holding onto your legacy and continuing your track record of success. You could be the richest and most successful person in the world, but a flop is a flop- nobody wants to feel like they've been rejected or disrespected.

And as far as her making a bunch of cheap little garage-tape recordings just for kicks and putting them out on an indie, don't you think that defeats the purpose of being a Stevie fan? Say what you will about her songs and her voice, but one thing you cannot deny is the fact that her albums are produced and polished to perfection- there is nothing raw or edgy about them. She doesn't go about anything half-assed, and that's something she can always be proud of. So for her to spend the better part of a year and hundreds of thousands of dollars to record new music and then have nobody buy it would be heartbreaking, to say the least.

[Jondalar]

I remember Heart talking about this subject in the 1980s. Nancy said she just liked to make music, but Ann said she liked to make music too, but as a singer she wants to be heard.

[TerraRhiannon]

Originally Posted by greendaze5

Speaking of Heart and 'Red Velvet Car', the band is selling the CD on their web site for only $10, and $25 for an autographed copy:

http://www.heart-music.com/store/

Nice if Stevie does likewise when 'IYD' comes out, or at least do another 'Barnes and Noble' signing.

Oh I know. I definitely know. I got a signed copy by Ann & Nancy at the concert last week.

Pertaining to the topic, this a quote that Ann said during their performance on the 3rd in Halifax:

"You know, we've had maybe 13 albums, our new album marks the 13th album we've made....and none of those albums have been hit albums, if you know what I mean. Some of them sort of under the radar, some of them made simply because we felt like it, without any expectations. This next song, is a title song to an album that we made because we were crazy, crazy with desire....to make music. This is called Desire Walks On." ----and then they performed Desire Walks On.

So, I think it's great when artists keep making music, even if none of it's a hit.... Stevie needs to make music, it's what she does and is passionate about, like the Wilson sistas. And no matter what I will always think it's fabulous.