WOW...orb finally appears on singles sales report...and is mediocre!

Well, it's been quite a while since the orb has been able to appear on a sales report. As is quite apparent, his album petered out sometime last year...and hasnt been seen since. But today, orb's latest single, "For You" which was first released for sale on itunes back on Feb. 17th gets a mention over at Roughstock.com "Digital single" sales...

http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-chart-news-top-30-digital-singles-the-week-of-may-30-2012

Country Chart News: Top 30 Digital Singles: The Week of May 30, 2012

"Keith Urban’s “For You” rises up the charts to #45 from #54 with roughly to have a 31% sales increase this week with sales now over 106,000. "

...so...orb's latest single has sold "now over 106,000" singles!? REALLY? Realize that the song has been out for 3 and a half months...or 102 weeks.  That's an average of ONLY 1,068 singles a week! And also recall that the first week it sold about 15k...so adjusting the average minus that first weeks sales...that's only an average weekly sales of 930 singles a week! That is PATHETIC when compared to sales of carrie underwood's  single, "Good Girl." Recall that underwood's single was released to itunes ONLY 3 days AFTER orb's single...and "Good Girl" has now sold 932,000 singles! That's a sales average of 9,137 singles a week. Yes, that's 9 times as many cds sold! So while underwood's single is already nearing Platinum of 1 million...orb IS NOWHERE near even Gold...AND will NEVER be near Gold sales! So there is the proof that orb IS a washed up hasbeen...which I am constantly harping on. No one can sell that weakly...and continue to stay in business. Orb's days as a viable, top tiered elite country "star" are simply numbered...and nothing he can do, concieve or manufacture is gonna change that.

The orb is #1...in Oz...

So, the aussie innertubes are alight with news that the orb's new "Greatest hits" cd is #1 on the ARIA  Country Album chart ...

http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_country.asp?chart=1F20

...the orb's OTHER "Greatest Hits: 18 kids" cd is currently at #5. This previous greatest hits cd was released in the states 5 years ago and has sold x2 platinum in Oz...so in aussie speak, that's cd sales of 140k. So taking a quick in depth look at those sales...this cd sold on average 538 cds per week for 5 years...or 260 weeks...for that total of 140k. I suppose for Oz that is somehow impressive! Recall..."big fish in little pond." Also showing on this week's ARIA country chart, orb's latest cd, "Get Closer,"  is currently at #19 and reveals sales of "Gold"...or 35k. Get Closer was released in the states a year and a half ago...or 78 weeks...and has sold an average of 448 cds a week in Oz. So, again...one can assume that orb's #1 album in Oz today probably sold between 448 cds to maybe 538 cds the past week. Clearly, one can also assume that this is OUTSTANDING for someone in orb's sales class. I am most assuredly convinced that things WONT be as OUTSTANDING for him when he decides to release his next album in the states. Orb  MAY be able to show a somewhat lessened performance in Oz...and SEEM to be accomplishing something impressive...but in the states it really is chump change. Orb CAN NO  longer compete in the US marketplace. I would surely say orb DOES see a promising new future...IN OZ! Which again, as I've maintained before, is what orb was looking to do. Orb is now in a "weight class" more to his speed. Orb can no longer compete with the Heavyweights...so go and compete with some Lightweights! Because...even in Oz...true "Heavyweights" can still out sell the orb. For, swifty's 4 year old album, Fearless,   has now sold x5 Platinum...or 350k...which is MORE than twice as many as orb's best showing.

orb reaches 3 mil "likes" on Facebook...barely.

So, I read at the orb's fawnsite that he has reached the milestone of 3 million "likes" on his facebook page.

http://www.keithurban.net/story/news/keith-reaches-3-million-facebook-fans

"

KEITH REACHES 3 MILLION FACEBOOK FANS"

It's just too bad that NOT EVEN half of those 3mil "fans...by the way, on Facebook it's referred to as "likes"...it's too bad for orb that not even half of them didnt bother to buy his album or any of his singles!  I calculate his album after being out for a year and a half now has only sold about 700,000 cds...about 300,000 LESS than his previous album. And clearly NONE of his singles will EVER get near "Gold" in sales...500k. I've long maintained orb is one of the worst perfroming in "new media" promo. A quick check of country acts Facebook pages...orb is near the bottom.

1. Swift- 31mil "likes"

2. Underwood- 7 mil 

3. Lady ant- 7mil

4. Aldean-5.7mil 

5.Rascal flatts- 4mil

6.Paisley- 4mil 

7. Chesney- 4mil

8. Sugarland- 3.7mil

9. Lambert- 3.4mil

10. orb- 3mil 

11. Shelton- 2.6mil 

Orb only ranks ahead of shelton on the top 11 country acts by 600k. It is NOT irrelevant that both orb and shelton are currently selling about the same amount of cds. Shelton's album is currently selling 687k cds. Orb also no doubt trails in Twitter followers...where he beats only Sugarland and the flatts. Surely this trailing most of the acts in "new media" outlets is part of the orb's problem with sales of his music...but ultimately his bland and superficial personality is the main reason he is faltering. Unfortunately for the orb...that IS NOT something you can buy!

Orb's plan to become "big fish in a smaller pond" continues

When I first read that the orb was all set to join the aussie version of "The Voice"...the reason given was that orb desired a hit in his "homeland." Certainly his wanting to find "success" in his homeland WOULD be a direct result of his decline in the US. As I've described the move to OZ tv...orb was hoping to be "a big fish in a little pond" ie: Australia...as opposed to a "small fish in a big pond" ie: America. With ALL orb's prospects in the US dwindling...a much needed change to find customers for his music was a desperate necessity!  So, it was with no surprise to stumble on this little tidbit courtesy of monkeyland...


http://www.keithurban.net/story/news/the-story-so-far-a-new-collection-of-hit-songs-released-may-11-in-australia

'THE STORY SO FAR' A NEW COLLECTION OF HIT SONGS RELEASED MAY 11 IN AUSTRALIA

"Keith Urban’s new collection of hits ‘The Story So Far’ will be released on May 11 [in Australia], and features 19 of the most popular songs from the Grammy and ARIA Award winning artist’s albums ‘Get Closer’, ‘Defying Gravity’, ‘Love Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing’ , ‘Be Here’ and ‘Golden Road’."

...which is basically a "greatest hits" release to try and capitalize on the show in oz. I most certainly believe orb wants to  find the success in Oz that he was UNABLE to hold onto here in the states. And I relish when the orb's next album comes out. For it will most surely back up my contention that he is losing fan support and will sell even LESS cds. Nothing the orb has done the past 5 years would convine me that he has what it takes...be it songwriting ability...the personality or the wisdom to attract that legion of fans he has lost those past few years.  It is clear, orb's view now is in Oz...and NOT in the US. There is NOTHING that having even a massively successful show in OZ can do for him here in the states...no level of quality in music that can bring those fans back. In fact, the past month's "media blitz" in the press shows me...and no doubt the orb...that it is clearly a lost cause. Because, IT IS true...orb is simply a "small fish" here in the states...no matter how many manufactured press stories he tries to throw out there.

Turns out the orb is too "timid" to Rock out.

A couple of nights ago, I caught Carrie Underwood on David Letterman where she performed her current single, "Good Girl." The song is definately more on the "rock" sounding side than on the country side. Now that would explain why I'm reading on country chart forums that the single seems to be struggling somewhat to get to the top of the country chart. The song though seems to be selling rather briskly...having already sold into the 600k range.
  About a year ago, I was speculating that orb MAY go the heavier "rock" sound for his next album...seeing how his last album clearly did not sell very well. He WAS definitely in need of going a different route for his next album. And based on his rather HEAVY list of old "80's hit" covers on his tour last year...from macca to AC/DC to Tom Petty...and his obvious tendency to "lift" riffs and even lyrics from old 70's and 80's songs...I figured he would go that route. Seems that would NOT be the way orb will go. Already the orb has let it out that he intends to rehash his rehab stint from 2006. But also, more so what tips orb's intention was the release of his current single, "For You." Originally recorded for the film "Act of Valor" end credits...the song was definitely NOT a county song...and more of an ode to 80's pop. Well, the song along with the soundtrack to the film was released on itunes back in Feb...AND did not sell very well. I think it only sold about 15,000 it's first week. And surely, those weak sales prompted orb to "re-record" the song and release it officially to radio as his next single. Seeing how orb is a selling DUD...country radio is the ONLY place orb can "buy" himself a #1 song...BUT...before releasing the song to radio...orb, as I mentioned previously, re-recorded the song to give it a more "country" sound...as the original song was more "pop"...and orb clearly needs SOMETHING to succeed! So, the orb is in a bind...and he's obviously TOO timid to try and "rock out" and be "springsteen!" For it is also clear...orb's past attempts at crossover appeal has failed. He will stick to the country chart and desperately try to regain some very lost traction. But of course, I dont think he will find that redemption...NOT even in country...where his fans are already forsaking him and his music. Getting another radio #1 MAY keep him in the news ticker...and on the country websites...BUT it will definitely NOT save his career!