Metallica should be considered as geniuses when it comes to selling albums. When Metallica released Hardwired…To Self-Destruct in November, we saw it debut at #1 on The Billboard 200 album charts, selling 291,000 copies in its first week. We assumed that had everything to do with releasing a music video for each track prior to the release, not to mention putting out a well-reviewed album, their first in eight year. Roughly four months later, they are back at spot #2. Last week the album reached #14, and this bump is a huge increase jumping in sales by 81,000 units (a 191% increase) and 79,000 in album sales.
The way this worked was simple, Metallica bundled their new album in recent ticket packages for their North American summer tour. Let’s face it, a few fans managed to get a hold of three copies or more of the full-length album. Oddly enough, we recently heard Frank Bello discussing illegal downloads killing record sales. However, an approach like this could be the perfect business transaction for both album and concert tickets, benefiting both the band and fans.
Metallica’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct officially ranks at #2 on the Billboard charts, Ed Sheeran is at #1 and Bruno Mars holds #3. As far as Metallica’s fifth member is concerned, Lady Gaga isn’t too far away on the chart topper at the lucky #27 spot.
