Lil Wayne’s “I Am Not Human Being” EP Sale Projections

[lil_bayly]

Retailers Worry Lil Wayne Album Will Set Digital Trend
September 26, 2010 - Retail

By Ed Christman

Lil Wayne is giving himself a nice birthday present on Monday (Sept. 27), but brick-and-mortar merchants haven't been invited to the party. The rapper will release his next album, "I Am Not A Human Being," initially through digital channels only, with the physical release coming out two weeks later on Oct. 12. The physical album will have 12 tracks, two more than the digital release.

Most brick-and-mortar merchants are upset by the move and worry that putting a digital release out early could turn into a trend. "Its disturbing," says one merchant. "Its definitely putting brick-and-mortar second, and we are going to lose business that we would normally get. How is the consumer going to know that the album will have a second physical release?"

This move also flies in the face of a campaign by Anderson Merchandiser, which has been trying to get the major labels to release physical products day-and-date with digital releases. The wholesaling giant argues that the early release of digital singles is cannibalizing album sales. Anderson executives argue that if labels held back digital singles until the physical album is ready, it would generate more overall revenue for the industry.

Another merchant complains that with a little ingenuity, Lil Wayne could have had his birthday cake and eat it too, and still leave some for brick-and-mortar merchants. That merchant wonders why Lil Wayne just didn't have his label get accounts to offer a discount or a premium for fans who pre-ordered the album on his birthday, instead of choosing to alienate an entire retail channel.

According to sources, Cash Money/Universal Motown is projecting first week digital sales of 90,000 units; second week digital sales of 25,000 units, and then the third week of digital and first week of physical is expected to do sales of 225,000 units, with 20,000 of that coming from digital.

By releasing the album digitally only, Lil Wayne appears to have done in his chance to claim the top spot on The Billboard 200. Next week, Kenny Chesney’s “Hemingway Whiskey" is being released and Sony Nashville is projecting first week sales to be roughly 300,000 units, which surpasses the Lil Wayne first week projection. Still, the digital supply can certainly keep up if it turns out that Cash Money/Universal Motown underestimated demand.

Meanwhile, not everyone is annoyed at the two-phase release strategy, or at least won't know how annoyed to be until its determined if "I Am Not A Human Being," sells like "Rebirth" or "Tha Carter III."

"Rebirth," a rock album with some hip-hop tracks, came out in the first week of February scanned 175,000 units, on its way to selling 677,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The all rap "Tha Carter III," which came out in June 2008, scanned 1 million units in its debut week, which was the last U.S. Album to achieve that sales feat. That album has since sold 3.5 million units. Digital sales of the former comprise 17% and 11% of the latter.

[Raids-God]

All Good Then ...
Might Get This Shit ...
Oh Not HAHAHAHa

[Devil'sAdvocate]

not buyin

[slimsoxshady]

i already have the official iTunes copy for free, so not buying either

[Raids-God]

i already have the official iTunes copy for free, so not buying either

Luckey boi

[slimsoxshady]

i already have the official iTunes copy for free, so not buying either

Luckey boi

[dR3]

I expected more tbh.

[Ka0t1c]

thanx, got it already

[LilWayne4Life]

I expected more tbh.

Wtf your talking about, Your not even a fan of wayne. Your talking like this is C4 of some shit.

This EP is legit, been listening to it all day and haven't skipped one track

100k+ Week first digitally for an EP, Unstoppable

Anyone read this part twice

"3rd week it's expected to sell 225k in that week alone once the physical copy drops"

[Raids-God]

I expected more tbh.

Wtf your talking about, Your not even a fan of wayne. Your talking like this is C4 of some shit.

This EP is legit, been listening to it all day and haven't skipped one track

Must be one long EP for all Day !
Ha Powned ! Just messin do

[BILI]

I expected more tbh.

[Almostlity]

its LP..

Rebirth +200k
this +200k


Wayne era is over. move on people

[LilWayne4Life]

its LP..

Rebirth +200k
this +200k


Wayne era is over. move on people

HAHA, I like your determination to hate.

This was meant for a EP, the changed to making it a LP just happened 2 weeks ago. No Legit videos has been shot for this. No promotion (0%) has been done expect mentioning it on his facebook. The single (Right Above It) has also had 0 promotion just magically landed on itunes and upon hours shot to #1 just like this has. When i said "Wayne can release a country album and it will still sell" i was actually right lol This album wasn't meant and thought to sale. Wayne just wanted to give his fans music while he was gone. I want to have this discussion with you when he drops a legit studio rap album with full length promotion and everything (Carter 4) the week after c4 has dropped don't forget to log onto TR and talk the shit you have been doing recently.

"They want me out of the cage, i'll come out in beast mode"
"Try and kick me while im done bitch i will break your leg"

^ Wayen directed that at the haters.

[Almostlity]

Hey, Don't blame me for poor promotion. No-one cares about C4 either. I'm not a hater, i'm just stating facts.


And trust me, i will be here when C4's first week numbers drop. It won't top even 400k, mark my words.

[LilWayne4Life]

Hey, Don't blame me for poor promotion. No-one cares about C4 either. I'm not a hater, i'm just stating facts.


And trust me, i will be here when C4's first week numbers drop. It won't top even 400k, mark my words.

Alight i'm done, C4 will sell more then everyone that lives in your country.
Easily will do 2 Million first week. <-- Serious talk