Michael Jackson has always been on the charts until he died...If anyone can really recall U2 Joshua Tree is really their top selling album compared to MJ who will always be there -even before he died....I mean for how many decades was MJ on the International Record selling chart...4 decades...How many platinums, collaborations, tours, sales, etc...I think what these U2 fanatics don't realize is that their idols admire those who come before them and seemed to know the game more than their own fans...MJ have done the same thing U2 has...the only difference is that MJ had a more diverse following of people, whereas U2 is still trying to make that bridge...check out this clip of Bono introducing Jay-Z at the concert...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNh4aHY8xUo   


I think U2 needs to stick to what made them who they are and stop making all these club remixes...play more of their B-sides and trust what the audience wants....MJ included everyone, whereas U2 (Bono) had to make the crowd come alive for some soul at the Rose Bowl...

U2 requires a slightly more eclectic ear than MJ. U2 have been crossing bridges for years as have many of their fans.  It kind of started with the War album but it was really Pride (In the name of Love) that declared what U2 are about. If other people don't want to understand that or enjoy U2's music that's their own problem...but U2 and their message has always been clear.

What i dont get is how much media MJ took up when he died, but someone like Les Paul died and no one cared....Im wondering if Bono (knocking on wood) died would he take up that much coverage?

Well U2 better up their quality then and not blame the public for not linking and buying their latest mediocre album. If they carry on like this they'll end a footnote in music history and when he finally crooks it'll be yeah that guy from that band from the 80's who wrote a couple of songs about something. Bono sure ain't as infamous as Michael jackson. That guy was loved by all races and was applauded universally. You could go to Africa, china, south America Russia and you would sure find people who loved or knows michael jackson. Most people in Africa don't know or care or even heard of U2 or bono but Michael jackson They know and really care about. Bono not so.

Anyway you can compare U2's carreer now to Steven Spielberg's One of the mist brilliant films done in the 70's, 80's and then in the 90's something happened and he became a money hungry and grabbing hack of a ham director. yeah sure he has his moments in the 90's (check: Jurassic park ONE, Shindlers List, and the opening's scene of Ryan) but man did his craft suffer in favour of grabbing those big greeny papers. And Now he's  turning into a footnote of film history.

U2 was good to great to brilliant to a money grabbing boring music for the masses (even that last part seems to fail these days) and if they carry on like they did this decade they'll end up just a footnote.

What i dont get is how much media MJ took up when he died, but someone like Les Paul died and no one cared....Im wondering if Bono (knocking on wood) died would he take up that much coverage?

Well U2 better up their quality then and not blame the public for not linking and buying their latest mediocre album. If they carry on like this they'll end a footnote in music history and when he finally crooks it'll be yeah that guy from that band from the 80's who wrote a couple of songs about something. Bono sure ain't as infamous as Michael jackson. That guy was loved by all races and was applauded universally. You could go to Africa, china, south America Russia and you would sure find people who loved or knows michael jackson. Most people in Africa don't know or care or even heard of U2 or bono but Michael jackson They know and really care about. Bono not so.

Anyway you can compare U2's carreer now to Steven Spielberg's One of the mist brilliant films done in the 70's, 80's and then in the 90's something happened and he became a money hungry and grabbing hack of a ham director. yeah sure he has his moments in the 90's (check: Jurassic park ONE, Shindlers List, and the opening's scene of Ryan) but man did his craft suffer in favour of grabbing those big greeny papers. And Now he's  turning into a footnote of film history.

U2 was good to great to brilliant to a money grabbing boring music for the masses (even that last part seems to fail these days) and if they carry on like they did this decade they'll end up just a footnote.

You can't really equate fame with musical value that way. When Elvis died everyone was shocked and everyone grieved, but I seriously doubt the same level of emotion will follow Bob Dylan's passing.

Fame and emotional attachment is a more an indicator of popularity than musical quality.

What i dont get is how much media MJ took up when he died, but someone like Les Paul died and no one cared....Im wondering if Bono (knocking on wood) died would he take up that much coverage?

MJ's death had more of a shock value - he was only 50 after all. Les Paul was about 90 so it wasn't as much of a surprise. They both had a huge effect on music; Les Paul probably even more so.

The singles havent done very well at all in the Uk , the promotion for the singles [first 2] was awful , magnificent didnt get a cd release , get on your boots didnt have a music video until the single was acutally out. Crazy Tonight had the Blackberry advert so you cannot say the same about that one

Single downloading people [98.6 % of single sales are downloads] are mainly young [below 16]  , people who download basically dont give a damn about U2. U2 havent got a young audience anymore and that has reflected on the singles.

U2 have a massive fanbase but they aint going to be downloading singles unless there an avid fan.

As far as No Line being a failure goes  that is untrue , it hasnt lived up to expectations is the better pharse to use.

Its the biggest selling album released this year by quite a distance. Its the 2nd biggest selling album of the year behind Lady Gaga who does have the massive singles being played 24/7 on the radio and tv.

U2 have never had the biggest selling album of the year and nloth will proably come in 2nd this year , which maybe u2's best ever performance on an end of year chart [tjt and ab werent the biggest seller in the years they came out]

It would be a failure if it wasnt near the top of the list and other artists where selling loads more.

Compare the albums sales to the market not past album sales, cd sales are dying very quickly not just for u2 for everyone
Lady Gaga The Fame 3.811.000
U2  No Line On The Horizon 3.463.000
Michael Jackson Thriller (25th Anniversary Reissue) *since july 2009 counted together at "Thriller" 3.156.000
Kings Of Leon Only By The Night 3.037.000
Michael Jackson  Number Ones (since 2009) 2.962.000
Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. 2.784.000
Eminem Relapse 2.783.000
Taylor Swift Fearless 2.755.500
Soundtrack Hannah Montana: The Movie 2.597.000
Beyoncé  I Am... Sasha Fierce 2.584.000
Michael Jackson The Essential (since 2009) 2.433.500
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown 2.428.000
Soundtrack Twilight 2.194.000
Pink Funhouse 2.119.000
Michael Jackson King Of Pop 1.828.000
Nickelback Dark Horse 1.726.000
Michael Jackson Bad (since 2009) 1.628.500
Bruce Springsteen  Working On A Dream 1.622.500
Lily Allen  It's Not Me, It's You 1.584.000
Jason Mraz We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. 1.469.000
Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends 1.466.500
Michael Jackson Dangerous (since 2009) 1.383.500
Jay-Z  Blueprint 3 1.372.000
Michael Jackson  Off The Wall (since 2009) 1.370.000
Soundtrack Mamma Mia! 1.328.000
Seal Soul 1.275.500
Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted 1.271.500
Britney Spears  Circus 1.246.500
The Killers  Day & Age 1.145.500
Katy Perry One Of The Boys 1.120.500
Depeche Mode Sounds Of The Universe 1.079.500
Duffy Rockferry 1.078.500
Akon  Freedom 1.076.500
AC/DC Black Ice 1.069.500
Rascal Flatts Unstoppable 1.058.500
Whitney Houston  I Look To You 1.048.000
The Fray The Fray 1.010.500

THAT LIST SAYS IT ALL THE ALBUM HAS NOT BEEN A SALES FAILURE ALBUMS JUST DONT SELL ANYMORE

Ok- so according to the above list U2 is at 3.8 and Kings of Leon is at 3.0.  Kings of Leon is getting radio play.  Just think what sales would be if the album was getting airplay.

Ok- so according to the above list U2 is at 3.8 and Kings of Leon is at 3.0.  Kings of Leon is getting radio play.  Just think what sales would be if the album was getting airplay.

That's just for this year, innit? I thought Only By The Night was released last year? For it to still stay on the charts is crazy!

The singles havent done very well at all in the Uk , the promotion for the singles [first 2] was awful , magnificent didnt get a cd release , get on your boots didnt have a music video until the single was acutally out. Crazy Tonight had the Blackberry advert so you cannot say the same about that one

Single downloading people [98.6 % of single sales are downloads] are mainly young [below 16]  , people who download basically dont give a damn about U2. U2 havent got a young audience anymore and that has reflected on the singles.

U2 have a massive fanbase but they aint going to be downloading singles unless there an avid fan.

As far as No Line being a failure goes  that is untrue , it hasnt lived up to expectations is the better pharse to use.

Its the biggest selling album released this year by quite a distance. Its the 2nd biggest selling album of the year behind Lady Gaga who does have the massive singles being played 24/7 on the radio and tv.

U2 have never had the biggest selling album of the year and nloth will proably come in 2nd this year , which maybe u2's best ever performance on an end of year chart [tjt and ab werent the biggest seller in the years they came out]

It would be a failure if it wasnt near the top of the list and other artists where selling loads more.

Compare the albums sales to the market not past album sales, cd sales are dying very quickly not just for u2 for everyone
Lady Gaga The Fame 3.811.000
U2  No Line On The Horizon 3.463.000
Michael Jackson Thriller (25th Anniversary Reissue) *since july 2009 counted together at "Thriller" 3.156.000
Kings Of Leon Only By The Night 3.037.000
Michael Jackson  Number Ones (since 2009) 2.962.000
Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. 2.784.000
Eminem Relapse 2.783.000
Taylor Swift Fearless 2.755.500
Soundtrack Hannah Montana: The Movie 2.597.000
Beyoncé  I Am... Sasha Fierce 2.584.000
Michael Jackson The Essential (since 2009) 2.433.500
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown 2.428.000
Soundtrack Twilight 2.194.000
Pink Funhouse 2.119.000
Michael Jackson King Of Pop 1.828.000
Nickelback Dark Horse 1.726.000
Michael Jackson Bad (since 2009) 1.628.500
Bruce Springsteen  Working On A Dream 1.622.500
Lily Allen  It's Not Me, It's You 1.584.000
Jason Mraz We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. 1.469.000
Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends 1.466.500
Michael Jackson Dangerous (since 2009) 1.383.500
Jay-Z  Blueprint 3 1.372.000
Michael Jackson  Off The Wall (since 2009) 1.370.000
Soundtrack Mamma Mia! 1.328.000
Seal Soul 1.275.500
Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted 1.271.500
Britney Spears  Circus 1.246.500
The Killers  Day & Age 1.145.500
Katy Perry One Of The Boys 1.120.500
Depeche Mode Sounds Of The Universe 1.079.500
Duffy Rockferry 1.078.500
Akon  Freedom 1.076.500
AC/DC Black Ice 1.069.500
Rascal Flatts Unstoppable 1.058.500
Whitney Houston  I Look To You 1.048.000
The Fray The Fray 1.010.500

THAT LIST SAYS IT ALL THE ALBUM HAS NOT BEEN A SALES FAILURE ALBUMS JUST DONT SELL ANYMORE

Thank you.   

...As for the MJ argument by Johnny Amsterdam, same argument different thread.   
DGordon1 and Mr. T said it well - MJ died and those sales are atypical, with people jumping on a bandwagon & the "event" of his death.
That's not to say MJ wasn't talented, popular or well known world-wide but the thread was about U2 sales in respect to today's market of LIVING bands and the reasons for overall decline.      

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

do they still sell singles where you live ?

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

do they still sell singles where you live ?

Very few, but you can still download them from a thing called itunes  . If we assume illegal downloading affects all artists equally, U2's single sales (physical or download) have been poor relative to other artists. They've also been extremely scarce on the radio, which surprised me a bit. I though Magnificent and Crazy Tonight were perfect for radio but they've not made an impact for some reason.

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

do they still sell singles where you live ?

Very few, but you can still download them from a thing called itunes  :

OK, so you're wondering why people don't re-pay to re-download the same song they've already downloaded as part of the album  ?

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

do they still sell singles where you live ?

Very few, but you can still download them from a thing called itunes  :

OK, so you're wondering why people don't re-pay to re-download the same song they've already downloaded as part of the album  ?

if you put it that way....

How many people from Itunes or something by plain songs or singles instead of albums?  and the single ends up selling more than the album?  didnt that happen with Vertigo in the beginning?

Yeah, in terms of the current market the album's doing well. The singles are a different matter however ...

do they still sell singles where you live ?

Very few, but you can still download them from a thing called itunes  . If we assume illegal downloading affects all artists equally, U2's single sales (physical or download) have been poor relative to other artists. They've also been extremely scarce on the radio, which surprised me a bit. I though Magnificent and Crazy Tonight were perfect for radio but they've not made an impact for some reason.

I've heard Magnificent on the radio quite a lot out here...

and oddly enough, NLOTH as well (and it's not even a single!)

When nloth was just about to come out and then after it had come out, I heard a bunch of radio stations in Sydney playing the hell out of Stand Up Comedy. I have no idea what those stations are playing now as I almost never listen to the radio, but it makes me wonder: what's the point of having singles after the album has come out? As someone mentioned above, why would you pay to download the same track you've already got on the album? Sure, there are b-sides, but you can usually purchase those separately on iTunes anyway (and let's face it, there haven't exactly been a bunch of must-have b-sides for the nloth singles anyway). Why doesn't the band put the album out there and let the radio stations decide what tracks they're going to play? Each radio station's demographic is different, this way they can pck tracks to suit their audience rather than having it determined by what the current single is.