How 'Glee' Is Kicking Butt on Top of the Charts

By Jo Piazza Posted Jun 20th 2010 09:00AM

There's just no stopping the success of the 'Glee' albums! The show's latest set, 'Journey to Regionals,' edged out 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' soundtrack by 8,000 copies on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. Gleeks: 1 Twi-hards: 0. Oh yeah, they also beat out Christina Aguilera and a little-known tween whose name rhymes with Dweeber.

It's hard to believe it has been less than a year since we were first introduced to the wonder that is 'Glee,' and there is little doubt in my mind that album sales from the show's soundtracks will continue to steamroll their way over more well-known, but growing stale, artists and franchises.

Since the first 'Glee' album, 'Glee The Music: Volume 1,' and through the release of two more soundtracks and two EPs, more than 7.4 million 'Glee' songs have been downloaded in digital format, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

And in a world where actual album sales have been stagnant, the five albums have sold a combined 1.8 million copies.

To put that in perspective, Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now' has been the top-selling album so far this year with sales of 2.3 million. Only about four artists in any calendar year will sell more than a million albums.

"The complete album package is irresistible to 'Glee' fans because it is nothing but hits," explains Keith Caulfield, Billboard senior chart manager and analyst. "You see the songs performed and you know you will like the album as opposed to buying a new album where the consumer is taking a chance with their dollar on something they might not entirely enjoy."

The 'Eclipse' soundtrack debuted at number two on the Billboard chart, selling 144,000 copies. But Caulfield warns that 'Glee' had the advantage this week since 'Eclipse' has yet to be released in theaters.

"Once the film comes out, it will certainly help to propel album sales. People will hear the songs in the film and will want to experience them on the album," Caulfield explains.

But experts say that even after the film's release, 'Eclipse' is unlikely to beat out the feel good 'Journey to Regionals.'

Now, it may seem like these 'Glee' albums are a cash cow, and obviously they are, but it costs more to produce a 'Glee' album than you may think.

While on the surface it may look like a lot of covers thrown together, it actually costs a lot of money to get access to those songs. There are publisher's fees and royalties (god bless the artists whose songs land on those albums, ka-ching!). Even though these aren't original songs, they still require the expertise of a competent producer. Additionally, they have to pay all of the performers.

Still, it is cheaper than producing an album of original material with a well-known star any day of the week.

So cheers to those fine folks at 'Glee' for figuring out how to beat the slow death of the recording industry at its own game!

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Tags: Glee

Comments

(12)

Sunday 20 June

By bstill

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Let's see how long it takes Hollywood to turn something perfectly wholesome into a 90210!!!!!!!!!!!!

By RYAN

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Never heard of this...not ever.

By Jim

The blonde cheerleader is a "must drill!"

By Mary Tina

My Husband and I never watch the show . Don't like shows with a bunch of perverts pracing around .

By mph

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I am so glad I taught my students to be more open minded then you. I can't believe how prejudice some of you are. It is a sad time for us to still have people with such thoughts.

By jany

This is not a show of perverts. It's about high schoolers in glee club. You should watch the show at least a couple of times before you make any statements like that. I thought it was childish drivel before I actually caught a show and now I'm hooked. It's a great show and most entertaining.

By New York

Mary Tina & Todd this show is not about perverted liberals. It's about real people. People that are gay, handicapped, overweight etc who happen to have talent. The show happebs to be a breath of fresh air. So tired of the so called reality shows that make us all look like a bunch of idiots. By the way what is it that you do watch???

By tom

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OMG Except for NY...you people are idiots!

Monday 21 June

By ajschrod

Great show but I'd like to see a little more "straight" singing without any razzle-dazzle dancing. Harmonizing a tune can be good fun for a group of kids all by itself--the kind of stuff music teachers taught before budget cuts meant no more music or art.

By Bonbon

Glee kicks butt!

Tuesday 22 June

By Janet

Sooo in love with Glee. Every week the singing voices of the whole cast just amaze me. Some have been on Broadway some not, but I feel like I have watched a Broadway show every week. Love Love the show and love how they deal with the (real) drama of highschoolers.... being around them all day believe me they are not making this stuff up.........

Monday 23 August

By Maria

I love "Glee". I am so happy fror everone in the cast getting their well deseved publicity.

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