Beyonce's iTunes exclusive becomes Apple's fastest selling album ever

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
Digital music downloads hit a new record with the surprise launch of Beyonce's latest album, exclusively on iTunes, with more than 800,000 copies sold in the first three days.

Beyonce


Apple announced on Monday that the self-titled album from artist Beyonce reached 828,773 albums sold in just three days. It also broke the U.S. first-week album sales record with 617,213 copies sold domestically in the first seven days.

The album, which can only be purchased through Apple's iTunes Store, was also a global success, reaching the No. 1. position in a total of 104 countries.

The surprise "visual album" arrived on the iTunes Music Store last Thursday, alongside a music video for the single "Grown Woman." The album is priced at $15.99 and is available in both clean and explicit versions. Individual songs will be available to buy on Dec. 20.

Beyonce's latest album is her fifth studio recording, featuring 14 new songs and 17 videos shot around the world. Though the album was only available through iTunes, it was the artist's biggest sales week ever.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 31
    Not really that surprising, with 17 videos Supposedly 'explicit' ones. And no pre announcement surely helped as well.
  • Reply 2 of 31
    I liked it better when she was called "Beyonc?"
  • Reply 3 of 31
    Nail in coffin for CDs?
  • Reply 4 of 31

    I mentioned this a few days ago and wondered what Jay-Z will think when this album sets sales records (compared to his stupid Samsung stunt with his album Magna Carta).

  • Reply 5 of 31
    Quote:


     Apple announce on Monday


    That's some good writing right there.  

  • Reply 6 of 31
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by manxman View Post



    Nail in coffin for CDs?

    I don't think quite yet. I still prefer buying CD's to rip to FLAC & Apple Lossless. 

  • Reply 7 of 31
    Originally Posted by manxman View Post

    Nail in coffin for CDs?

     

    Not until the iTunes Store sells ALAC.

  • Reply 8 of 31
    I mentioned this a few days ago and wondered what Jay-Z will think when this album sets sales records (compared to his stupid Samsung stunt with his album Magna Carta).

    So getting a company to buy 1 million copies up front at $5 a piece is considered a stupid stunt? I don't think you'd be saying that if you were receiving that check.
  • Reply 9 of 31

    "Apple announce on Monday..."

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by starxd View Post

     

    That's some good writing right there.  


     

    I was taught that an article should be written for the target audience. I'd say they succeeded.

  • Reply 10 of 31
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    This just shows that iTunes is still incredibly relevant. My guess is we'll be hearing any day now about another "crisis" meeting called for by Samsung's executives. :lol:
  • Reply 11 of 31
    foadfoad Posts: 717member
    supreme wrote: »
    So getting a company to buy 1 million copies up front at $5 a piece is considered a stupid stunt? I don't think you'd be saying that if you were receiving that check.

    In general making money isn't a bad thing but how the campaign was handled and the fact that he even responded that he wasn't happy with how parts of it were handled, is. And on the subject of making money, Beyoncé made more money selling fewer albums.


    Typo edit.
  • Reply 12 of 31
    jumejume Posts: 209member

    Its sad because it looks (and hears) like all the creativity was done in marketing, music never got any chance...

  • Reply 13 of 31

    Does this one have the long-awaited duet with Edward Snowden?

  • Reply 14 of 31
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

     

    Not until the iTunes Store sells ALAC.


    I'm holding out for BTC. :D

  • Reply 15 of 31

    $13 million in 3 days? That's not a bad return on the investment.

     

    Could lead to certain movie stars going the all-iTunes route for marketing and distribution of their own entertainment properties that they develop in-house... bye-bye movie studios.

  • Reply 16 of 31
    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post

    I'm holding out for BTC. :D

     

    Becker Tools Compressed Archive?

  • Reply 17 of 31
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

     

    Becker Tools Compressed Archive?


     

    <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />

  • Reply 18 of 31
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    DOJ to investigate exclusive Beyoncé deal.
  • Reply 19 of 31
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post



    DOJ to investigate exclusive Beyoncé deal.

     

    May or may not be a joke.

  • Reply 20 of 31
    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post

    <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />


     

    The only other thing even remotely close is Block Truncation Archive, which is lossy and for greyscale images (used on the Mars rovers).

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