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'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.