Thursday, July 16, 2020

OVER AND OUT: THE BIBLE’S BUNDLE DISASTER

With the relevance of Billboard at an all-time-low ebb, the Bible’s brain trust has offered a further slap in the face to artists and the rest of the biz with its abrupt and wildly ill-timed decision to cut off bundles for charts in early October, making 2020 the first year ever to have different metrics during one calendar year—and creating an uneven playing field once again by wiping out historical comparative data.

This shows such an utter lack of respect for—and understanding of—the business by civilians Deanna Brown and Modi Wiczyk that major labels are already threatening to stop doing business with the Bible. This move on bundling, which will make their charts so much less meaningful, exemplifies just how out of touch they are.

It’s pretty clear that nobody cares about the Bible anymore; while its own charts once ruled the biz, they’ve been eclipsed by the only ones that really matter now: the Spotify streaming charts and the Mediabase airplay charts. While getting a Top 10 or Top 20 record on a Billboard chart used to be significant, now it’s meaningless—they made themselves irrelevant with their own methodology. Ask yourself: When was the last time you heard someone say, “We’re Top 20?”

Removing these bundles is an anti-rock and anti-country move, and means that a #1 chart debut—the only meaningful spot on a Billboard chart, make no mistake—is now out of reach for all but the top-streaming artists. What’s more, the revenue from merch bundles has been offsetting lost touring revenue for these acts, whose income has overwhelmingly come from the live side.

The branding opportunity that merch bundles offer artists has been a real career booster for more than a handful of acts. Having appealing merch associated with an album can significantly spike its cool factor.

Looking beyond the present squeeze, marketing dollars fronted by labels are dwarfed by the monies spent promoting tours. Tour marketing money is massively important in creating awareness and interest around new releases. Ticket bundles enable labels to benefit from that sizzle—now taken away by the Bible cabal. An opt-in model would let these acts compete for top chart positions, get their new music more easily to fans and maintain these revenue streams more effectively.

Instead of starting these big changes in October, why not wait for the start of 2021, so everyone gets to reset with a level playing field? Their awful handling of this incredibly sensitive issue is just one more middle finger flashed at the biz—causing many observers to wonder aloud: if Billboard disappeared tomorrow, would anyone care?

hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=322293&title=OVER-AND-OUT%253A-THE-BIBLE%25E2%2580%2599S-BUNDLE-DISASTER

I mean, a lot of people do care about them though.

:sixcards:

That’s a lie but ok

cap everybody cares about billboard charts

It’s true

You can still bundle merch to make money. It just won't count disproportionately towards chart position like it has been. Blogger really pissed that Billboard would try to correct for packaging schemes.

HDD are hypocrites, they were for removing bundles until Billboard removed them. They just hate Billboard

CHART BEEF :pog:

literally every artist cares about them tho

today i learned there are other music charts than billboard

HDD the GOATS, they been delivering first week sales ever since I could remember.

Never heard anything from Billboard except over marketed brain degenerative music

only people that should care about charts are the artist

fans shouldnt

billboard is more relevant than its ever been

How are they calling Billboard irrelevant when the artists are literally doing all this to chart in Bilboard?

Niggas make long ig posts for their first #1...

I know for sure none of my friends have mentioned or cared anymore tbh. Only thing worth checking is who got #1. There was a time just 3 years ago when artists like Tyler debuted in the 80's and fans were so happy because he had rarely placed on the charts. No one's looking that low anymore

the fact that its at the point where some artists get made fun of if they don't debut #1 tells everything about the lack of significance of other placements.

artists, labels, stan twitter and sites like this will always care tho

We was praisin' Billboard but we were young
Now I look at Billboard like 'Is you dumb?

Definitely not true lol pop artists fanbases are obsessed with Billboard

If only KTT stans would agree

what does this have to do with the Bible?

who the hell is hitsdailydouble