The album currently resides at # 65


LAST WEEK
56
PEAK POSITION
5
WKS ON CHART
9



Yes WE love the record
Critics LOVE the record
But the public ain't buying the record
Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On outsold BM this weekend

No way this record can go out like that....

What would you do to get it to gold status?

For a D'Angelo song to pop today he'd have to be somewhat clear like the singles on the first album.

...or you could use the cheat code of having him get naked in a video again.

>The album currently resides at # 65
>
>
>LAST WEEK
>56
>PEAK POSITION
>5
>WKS ON CHART
>9
>
>
>
>Yes WE love the record
>Critics LOVE the record
>But the public ain't buying the record
>Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On outsold BM this weekend
>
>No way this record can go out like that....
>
>What would you do to get it to gold status?
>

It probably won't blow up until much later if/when younger/hip artists say his name out loud regularly.

They could buy some endorsements for him in that way. Get a few key athletes to say that he's what they listen to. Russell Wilson. A not-hated NBA guy.

How about a couple of star singers sharing a live performance on social media. Something. It can't be too squirrelly (little dragon) or other artists that skew towards older audiences (old girl who was on snl with Prince). It doesn't have to be Taylor Swift. Sam Smith maybe. Or someone with a bigger footprint...Adam Levine? Aubrey? Pharrell?

I don't know if 'this kinda old guy is awesome and this last record is sooo super duper genius' works on anyone anymore. Aka the A. keys plan except with an old dude...ehhh, prolly not.

Last thing: get the right movie/show placement for one of the straight-ahead choruses on the album...the door or another life for instance. Folks get all in on the song, hear the 'you idiots missed out on this super good album from the dude who got nekkid 15 years ago' propaganda, and then it grows.

get dangelo on some prime time tv shows. like prince going on new girl. something like that.

I couldn't see that spacey classic Drake sound, maybe a hip-hop version. As long as it isn't trap drums we good.

amount of radio play, but that and "Another life" are really the only ones close to radio, and it's really only for Contemporary Adult R&B stations.

We all know it sold so much early because of the shock, and it was mainly his fans who had been waiting for 15 years. Once they all knew about it, it didn't really expand to any new audience. And I mentioned this several times, yet people came at me like "that's not his goal, he's not trying to cater to the young crowd"....so I mean...if they came in here, maybe they would just say "it doesn't matter." But since we're here....eh.

Putting him with Mustard, Drake, Chris Brown, or anyone else "hot" and trendy ain't gonna help it sell to the younger crowd.

I think his best bet is to keep performing all throughout the country. Maybe not doing 4-5 smaller venues per week, but 1-2 big ones. And it might be a lot, but he might have to go grassroots....selling CD's at each stop, signing each one, and taking Instagram selfies with fans. I get the idea that this wouldn't be his personality...and it's a lot of work...but I think it'll help sustain the sales and maintain/build his base.

<his best bet is to keep performing all throughout the country. Maybe not doing 4-5 smaller venues per week, but 1-2 big ones. And it might be a lot, but he might have to go grassroots....selling CD's at each stop, signing each one, and taking Instagram selfies with fans. I get the idea that this wouldn't be his personality...and it's a lot of work...but I think it'll help sustain the sales and maintain/build his base.>

For me there's a concern that in this day and age, the label's looking to recoup the amount of $ spent on making the record. Someone's looking for a return on their investment. He might have to drop his mystique and get grass roots with his fans before and after the shows. Campaign like a mofo!!!

Doing a lot of live tv appearances and festivals

No doubt he will kill it live
Like DJR said..he should drop the mystery man role and get in touch with the common folk
NO SOCIAL MEDIA WHATSOEVER
Keep it simple like a sign and sell at the show
SOMETHING to keep the momentum going
I don't see the label supporting another 14 years in the making record

IMO...A great record like BM needs to sell in order for things to change.......

>No doubt he will kill it live
>Like DJR said..he should drop the mystery man role and get in
>touch with the common folk
>NO SOCIAL MEDIA WHATSOEVER
>Keep it simple like a sign and sell at the show
>SOMETHING to keep the momentum going
>I don't see the label supporting another 14 years in the
>making record
>
>IMO...A great record like BM needs to sell in order for things
>to change.......
>

I'm surprised there hasn't been a bit more radio push. The record is *far* more radio friendly than most are making it out to be. I mentioned this elsewhere, but I've heard Betray My Heart once or twice now (one time in rush hour r&b mix) and thought it worked exceptionally well.

Ultimately though, I don't think there's any reason to be worried. Dude came out of nowhere and charted high for several weeks? And I'm convinced a lot of that fanbase was new... this is where the mystique and the hype does pay off, as I think that the praise for the album and the story behind the album (plus the nostalgia trigger of, "hey, it's that guy who did Crusin and How Does It Feel!") made casual fans much bigger fans. He's got a tour ahead of him that will probably sell out (or come close) at just about every stop, vinyl of the album is *just* being released. This isn't making Taylor Swift money or anything, but it's not doing bad by today's standards.

A strong single --- strongest option might actually be Another Life --- and one or two well-placed soundtrack options will suit him just fine. No one expected the record to break any records. Wouldn't be surprised if we see a deluxe edition or a live album (or something similar) to extend the lp's life.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

the vocals on that song are pretty cartoonish, so a bugged out weird video would make it a "thing" to pop and hip-hop audiences.


If that video goes far (and I do think it could) then he could do videos for "til it's done" and "another life".


Yeah, the key is some bugged-out eye-catching videos.

The moment I head that song, I thought: this should be in an insurance commercial.

I like that song and think it would work well in a commercial setting.

nm

Produced by DJ Mustard.

#basedgawdchanson

Needs a video

Pick the money record.. Do an acoustic version as the single for pop radio.. Make it clear and concise 3m 25 sec

Rap features will do nothing..

Have taylor swift gush over him and bring him on tour..

A T Swift and crew co-sign and singalong/camera swoon would push it
Kinda serious with that one


Award season would have been perfect time to push the record
Do some shows, after shows, parties....anywhere
NBA All star show would have worked too
Just show up kill, sign cd's out the trunk and bounce to the next gig

He'll prob do BET AWards AGAIN
But by now the WOW factor has prob worn off with that crowd unless there's a recreation of Untitled or a good ass tribute

People are failing to realize that people who are savvy enough to find it and download it for free - may be in the majority of those that actually know it exists.

Some people still rely heavily on tv/radio to get news on music are hardly exposed to a single/video/promotion.

Brother took of for 14 years. Dropping at album out of nowhere ain't gonna work for him like a Drake or Beyonce.

But in all honesty, I don't feel as though he cares....he tours heavy from what I gather.

A Taylor Swift co-sign? Really? Seriously? Okay player?

He doesn't need to be in the top 10 again.

He needs to keep his ass on the road in the fucking states.

If he tours strong he can creep his way to stable on the charts through the summer.

█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄▁▃
Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." � Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

This post is a train fucking wreck

lol...


Touring is not enough to cut it. Rolling Stones are still one of the biggest draws around and they won't see anywhere near a stable chart position in the top 10.. D will have a crazy successful 2015 on the road and I'm sure this is actually all he wants...

BUT if we are gonna talk sales and Top 10

The top 10 is reserved for people in the larger cultural zeitgeist. VERY few have any power in that space currently. Drake has proven that he can break an act at urban (and sell a mixtape with no video) but in the case of D he isnt new, doesn't have a club hit and can't rely on an urban audience to scale.

Taylor Swifts power hits a much larger audience and she doesn't rely on "club hits" to do so. He STILL needs a version of a song that is much more stripped down and can easily play within radio formats. An acoustic version could be that. There is precedence ever since Rihanna hit with "Stay" (John Legend, Great Big World, Bruno, Rihanna again). So he could jump to that format but a TS cosign and or tour/show would sling shot that shit..

She's done it before see.. Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj

>A Taylor Swift co-sign? Really? Seriously? Okay player?

Yeah that was a weird statement, personally I hate the chick but obviously people are liking her shit & popularity, but my suggestion is maybe go on tour with either Madonna or Beyonce.

>He doesn't need to be in the top 10 again.

Agreed, today's billboard charts & album positions are different than 15 years ago, albums come & go, radio is now corporate, illegal downloads & sharing is at an all time high, as long as he's in the top 200 for a few more months he's doing better than 75% of the artists out there now; but I do think a solid video will increase some sales & attention to those who forget or never got on-board.


>He needs to keep his ass on the road in the fucking states.

Yep, he needs to tour in every major city in the US, doing those overseas shows do help but not in the US, it works for hip-hop artists but that's cause the money is there but in the US r&b & pop artist can still be big & do plenty of shows in the US and sell-out dates.


>If he tours strong he can creep his way to stable on the
>charts through the summer.

Knowing him if he waits another 10 to 14 years to release another album he better make this new album stretch for three years worth of shows (a year in the US & 2 years everywhere else).

One remix song snd video with Jill Scott.

I'd wouldn't let 9o% of y'all into the building to deliver coffee, much less A&R a record. With a record like this, you slowly build the fan base naturally by hitting the road and knocking shows out all over. Who the hell wants to hear Drake on a D record?
I swear this placed is filled with the most know-everyting-but-don't-know-shit people I've ever see in my life.

>I'd wouldn't let 9o% of y'all into the building to deliver
>coffee, much less A&R a record.

lol

sell a few of the songs to tv commercials.

get D on prime time tv show performing.

You get the Starbucks crowd with those things, it's pretty much downhill from there.

Late Night TV performances don't sell records

sales bump is negligible (unless you perform on the Grammys)

at this stage the road for D'angelo will only maintain an audience not build a HUGE new one (in the US). For that you need songs.. radio songs that can scale through the formats.. D'angelo cannot go through AAA or Adult alternative like Hozier. he can ONLY come through urban and/or cut straight to top 40 (hence the TS suggestion).

There is also streaming.. However it would STILL take a hit to get people to stream it more than they are now.

The only person in the top 10 that does not have a hit currently on the radio is Beck. His record jumped 366% after the grammys... and I'm sure it wont stay there...

So barring a grammy/boost win he's gotta go a different way.

That said I'm sure he'll clean up next February

prime time includes grammys.

but also a joint like DWTS. Idol. Voice. if i could get him on one of those.

more likely a guest spot on like Blackish or som'n - him and her go see D and the band somewhere. or Empire. i dunno. but the point - prime time tv performance.

along w/some songs in tv ads.

but there's not much on this record to sell as jingles. so i dunno.

it's fantasy.

off...thats it...

nothing on there sounds like he's trying to make a hit. not even Sugah Daddy which might be the easiest groove for any listener to digest

dancing to In Another Life???

.

because nobody is trying to hear no David Allen Grier Mumbling turkey who is shaken in his boots on saturday night live like the Repo Man gonna take his ride or something.

He is missing that cut on this album period.

he is one of the cats who has top tier talent, however its like Bootney Farnsworth in "Lets do it again" Bootney you got something but we just can't bring it out of you.

Neither Bruno Mars nor R. Kelly can do anything meaningful for D'Angelo. R. Kelly can't do anything meaningful for himself as of late.

and don't sound like a jukebox lounge act. D'angelo sounds like he is stuck in a 1986 A T and T phone booth time machine.

Bruno can do it...

agree with GP.. Kellz aint got the glow currently..

and get back to me at who channels the old school and the new better. and makes it work.

kellz dropped that one almost 5 years back.

D'angelo needs a real songwriter and Producer in his camp and also switch his game up.

he got top tier talent, but settles for predictable results.

both d' albums that went platinum had lead singles co-produced w/ raphael saadiq. that's what Black Messiah is missing...

It's not "missing" anything.

Love Saadiq and hope they work together in the future but the album's is perfectly fine as is... all these ideas suggesting that he work with X and X to try and chart are foolish. The album works on it own or it doesn't, and if he winds up getting a remix or something with someone, it should be someone of his own choosing because he thinks it fits ---- not someone that's chosen bc he's going to get radio play or extra sales. He spent 14 years getting the album the way he wanted it --- sure way to fuck things up is start pandering now.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

The post was started based on a single question.. How to get the record to a huge pop space...

I think most people agree that he is in the EXACT position he wants to be in and is completely successful at it...

David Allen... WOW.

record sales don't really mean shit, just part of the overall product. he will make his $$ on the tour, the album just pushes that...

the album itself will get a kick in the ass next year when it's nominated for 8 grammy's

please stfu.

a video with a bunch of kids in it running in the sunshine and have a few cameo's by Badu and company...

I'm not worrying about D moving units like Taylor Swift or Maroon 5.

Like a lot of folks on this post have already mentioned,he's doing the right thing by going on tour, hitting the major cities in Europe (in process already), the US and Japan and then sit back and decide what to do next.

If he wanted more attention for the album he should've stayed ripped and in shape like when he first started this comeback. Get over himself and his doubts about bitches just wanting him for his body. Be healthy to be healthy and if women come flocking and you provide great music with it....ain't no problem. But If i was an A&R on this album (which I doubt there was) I wouldve pushed to make a hit that he can actually pull off without feeling like he's selling out. You can get lost in trying to be different and artsy for the sake of it. A&R's job is to make sure they don't get lost or obsessed with that idea.



____

TWITTER : Heinz21st

IG : H_N_Z

This song was catchy enough to make it a hit theres a bigger song in there if he wasnt trying to keep it so minimal and laid back



____

TWITTER : Heinz21st

IG : H_N_Z

and/or someone on "the voice" covering his song that brings all the judges to tears.

idol too.

i wasn't convinced that a video would do it, but then i remembered "blurred lines" happened.

maybe that'll do it???

marvin gaye knew how to make music, moments and hits.

D'angelo ain't figured out making those hits and well written songs and it shows.

D'angelo is lacking a personality that reaches beyond a certain segement and i don't want to hear this is low key

turkey ain't dropping no albums on i tunes at midnight to beat the 10 in the morning first in line at best buy line.

he wanted that hype and shine and problem is he comes up short and its in the songs ,not bad however not a track that says remember what you missed.

marvin gaye on lets get it on understood that and he also allowed other writers on board.
gotta broaden your outlook.