SOUNDSCAN FIGURES FOR REGGAE ALBUMS DISMAL

By Steven Jackson Observer writer
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Data show that the sales for reggae albums are so weak that conscious reggae group Morgan Heritage and dancehall producer turned singer Serani were able to chart on Billboard, despite first week sales of 300 and 1,120 units respectively.
Based on sourced data from Nielson Soundscan, Serani's No Games and Heritage's Journey Thus Far charted at number three and eight respectively on Billboard's Reggae Albums Top 10. Sales usually plummet after the first week which suggests that both albums will not likely sell 10,000 copies, but they are not alone.

Morgan Heritage
No 2009 reggae album has sold over 70,000 copies and most have sold under five figures, according to Soundscan statistics for the week ending November 1. Soundscan is an information system that tracks sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada. Top sellers were Sean Paul's Imperial Blaze (Atlantic Records), Matisyahu's Light (Epic Records) and Reggae Gold (VP Records) which sold some 69,700, 56,700 and 40,000 respectively in North America. Other big-name artistes haven't sold 5,000 US copies, which supports Jeremy Harding's argument that Sean Paul, whom he manages, sold well in a recession.
Paul's worldwide sales however are over 250,000 copies. A globally successful album has sales in the region of half-a-million copies, but other popular artistes have not even sold 10,000 copies:
. Buju Banton's Rasta Got Soul (Gargamel Records) which received publicity from the gay lobby sold 8,000 copies after 28 weeks;
. Ziggy Marley's Family Time (Tuff Gong) sold 35,738 after 27 weeks;
. Marley & the Wailers' B is for Bob (Island Records) sold 35,006 copies after 19 weeks;
. Mavado's Mr Brooks ...A Better Tomorrow (VP) sold 14,405 after 36 weeks;
. Julian Marley's Awake (VP) sold 8,600 copies after
29 weeks;
. Jah Cure's Universal Cure (SOBF) sold 5,193 after 29 weeks;
. Tarrus Riley's Contagious (VP) sold 4,585 after
13 weeks;
. Busy Signal's Loaded (VP) sold 3,393 copies; and
. Sizzla's Ghetto Youth-ology (CP) sold 3,195 after 27 weeks; and
. Queen Ifrica's Montego Bay (VP) sold 2,726 copies after
21 weeks;
Some overseas-based groups have sold slightly better with the Aggrolities' IV (HLCT) selling 7,172 after 22 weeks, Mishka's Above the Bones selling 14,091, Easy Star All-Stars' Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub selling 21,711 after 29 weeks on chart.
Despite the fallout, the biggest winner is VP which had 18 titles in the top 50 Reggae Albums chart. Sean Paul and Matisyahu have dominated the top of the Billboard reggae album charts since they released albums in August. Both artistes are not selling well in US but are aided by international sales.
Matisyahu and Sean Paul's first week sales, however were multiples more than top-selling reggae/dancehall releases this year. Easy Star All Stars scanned 4,500 units in its first week in May which allowed it to top the Billboard Reggae Albums charts, whilst hitting #117 on Billboard's Top 200.
Sean Paul was the first of three dancehall/hip-hop mega artistes to release albums this fall. Matisyahu followed with Light, while Sean Kingston has delayed his original August release date. Previous albums by Sean Paul and Kingston have sold over 1,000,000 copies, while Matisyahu has sold over 500,000.
Sean Paul hit #1 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums for his 2002 and 2005 releases Dutty Rock and Trinity, respectively. The Trinity was his best charting album, peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200.
Matisyahu hit #1 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums for his 2006, 2007 and 2008 releases Youth, No Place To Be and Shattered, respectively.
Youth was his best charting album, peaking at number four on the Billboard 200. Sean Kingston hit #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for his self-titled release. It also peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200.