Testament Record Sales
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one man
Active Member
Not much info. I know it was selling good at the beginning, even though some reviews criticized its production and the fact that it had been rushed. It debuted high on Billboard and managed to remain there for 8 weeks. I'm guessing it's their 3rd best selling album so far, but I've no clue how many copies have been sold, pre- or post-soundscan.
The only thing I can share is a quote from Mark Walters' page:
That isn't much of a source, though.
The only thing I can share is a quote from Mark Walters' page:
(http://www.cashflowinstitute.com/mark-walters-rocks.htm)
That isn't much of a source, though.
one man
Active Member
Have you tried this address too: Info@TuffCds.com or just the direct sludgescans address?
BTW, the contact info for the person posting soundscan info on MetalSucks is below:
vince@metalsucks.net
https://twitter.com/vinceneilstein
https://www.facebook.com/vinceneilstein
Metal Insider can be reached through info@metalinsider.net
One other idea is to perhaps contact the record labels - that would be Atlantic and/or Megaforce for both bands' earlier albums. I doubt anyone at Atlantic would bother to respond you, but Megaforce is a small, independent label that - to my knowledge - is still in the business, so who knows? (http://megaforcerecords.com/) The band managements surely have such info, I doubt they're willing to share it, though.
Perhaps you could inquire the band members themselves via email, FB, myspae or twitter (https://twitter.com/AlexSkolnick, https://www.facebook.com/AlexSkolnickFanPage, https://twitter.com/chuckfcknbilly, https://www.facebook.com/chuck.billy.7, https://www.facebook.com/ericpetersonfans, https://twitter.com/_ericpeterson_, http://www.myspace.com/gregorychristian/music, https://www.facebook.com/greg.christian.395). Maybe if you ask a precise question to which they know the answer, they'll be willing to respond. I don't have any accounts there and never asked any questions, but I know that especially Alex seems to be answering a lot of fan questions on twitter. I don't know about the OverKill guys.
one man
Active Member
BTW, that vakseen info on DROE's current (as of January 16th) sales that I posted is reliable, so I'm sure you can put it on Wikipedia. So is all the missing charts info I put here a couple of times.
Unfortunately, the .xls SoundScan file posted by vakseen seems to be the last one that detailed, as the 2 that followed it (http://vakseen.com/site/nielsen-soundscan-sales-12313/ and http://vakseen.com/site/nielsen-soundscan-sales-13013/) are just pdf files with less artists on it (at least it seems so to me). Hopefully, they will return to posting those xls files so that we get a source of permanent info on DROE (well, at least until it starts selling less than 500 copies a week and ceases to make any charts).
Anyway, I also recommend you to contact those guys, as they clearly get the information directly from SoundScan:
http://vakseen.com/site/contact/
https://www.facebook.com/VakseenLLC
https://twitter.com/vakseenllc
http://instagram.com/vakseen
Unfortunately, the .xls SoundScan file posted by vakseen seems to be the last one that detailed, as the 2 that followed it (http://vakseen.com/site/nielsen-soundscan-sales-12313/ and http://vakseen.com/site/nielsen-soundscan-sales-13013/) are just pdf files with less artists on it (at least it seems so to me). Hopefully, they will return to posting those xls files so that we get a source of permanent info on DROE (well, at least until it starts selling less than 500 copies a week and ceases to make any charts).
Anyway, I also recommend you to contact those guys, as they clearly get the information directly from SoundScan:
http://vakseen.com/site/contact/
https://www.facebook.com/VakseenLLC
https://twitter.com/vakseenllc
http://instagram.com/vakseen
one man
Active Member
Oh, ok. But I guess you could still reach Vakseen, MetalInsider, MetalSludge and MetalSucks via email, right?
BTW, did you get any response from the OverKill or Megadeth forums? I'm really curious about the Overkill worldwide numbers, which - I'm pretty sure - are known to some of their fans on wrecking crew.
BTW, did you get any response from the OverKill or Megadeth forums? I'm really curious about the Overkill worldwide numbers, which - I'm pretty sure - are known to some of their fans on wrecking crew.
None from Megadeth and it wouldn't let me create one for Overkill for some reason. I'm curious too could be more than 16 could be less. As for Testament, I just can't believe them selling only 4 million worldwide. I know 1991-2004 they sold over 1.2 million in the U.S that was 9 years ago and discounts the maximum sales of their first 4 albums I think they easily sold 2-3 million in the U.S Alone.
one man
Active Member
Wouldn't that be the reason:?
( I'm guessing it wasn't the reasons for registering you indicated while filling in the form.)
They're armed to the teeth when it comes to spam. You'll have to find a way past that.
one man
Active Member
. I guess they'd answer this:
one man
Active Member
Here's a forum that's devoted to charts and album sales. They have tons of info from various countries, both current and historical (mostly chart positions, but also a lot of sales data). Try asking there and I'm sure you'll get some answers. Should they fail to respond you, try digging there by yourself: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=27.
Here's some new info I found there - upon debuting at #57 in the UK DROE sold 2,111 copies in the first week (to be certified with Silver album in the UK one has to sell 60.000 copies, which proves it's a long way to go, but no one expects the UK to be the first market where the album will obtain certification, right?). Source: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=92270&hilit=+souls+of+black+testament#wrap. The same info's here: http://www.moopy.org.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-80442.html and here: http://s3.zetaboards.com/Slush_Puppy/search/2/?c=3&mid=141619&month=8&year=2012.
Their search engine is under developement, and should start working better within 2 weeks.
EDIT: some other interesting new info I've found there concerns Japaneese charts and Formation of Damnation, which debuted there on #15 in the international charts (#42 in the overall charts) with sales of 2,837 copies, and continued on #17 (#53) with 2,086 copies sold on week, which makes it 4,923 copies after 2 weeks. (source: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/search.php?keywords=testament&t=15868&sf=msgonly). To get a gold album in Japan you have to ship 100.000 copies.
Here's some new info I found there - upon debuting at #57 in the UK DROE sold 2,111 copies in the first week (to be certified with Silver album in the UK one has to sell 60.000 copies, which proves it's a long way to go, but no one expects the UK to be the first market where the album will obtain certification, right?). Source: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=92270&hilit=+souls+of+black+testament#wrap. The same info's here: http://www.moopy.org.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-80442.html and here: http://s3.zetaboards.com/Slush_Puppy/search/2/?c=3&mid=141619&month=8&year=2012.
Their search engine is under developement, and should start working better within 2 weeks.
EDIT: some other interesting new info I've found there concerns Japaneese charts and Formation of Damnation, which debuted there on #15 in the international charts (#42 in the overall charts) with sales of 2,837 copies, and continued on #17 (#53) with 2,086 copies sold on week, which makes it 4,923 copies after 2 weeks. (source: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/search.php?keywords=testament&t=15868&sf=msgonly). To get a gold album in Japan you have to ship 100.000 copies.
one man
Active Member
One more thing that I think you need to take into consideration in your search of sources is the sales through Columbia House. I don't know much about that, but according to this: http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=49948&sid=c35e384f727dccfaeb823c1a26f2f49a sales through Columbia House (and other music clubs, for that matter) are not tracked by Soundscan, even though in some periods, over 20% of all the American market were divided into Music Club sales (plus sales throught Music Clubs were not allowed on RIAA certifications until 1993). Therefore, many of the well-known artists do not distribute their work through this channel. As of 1996 the following Testament albums were available at Columbia House:
Catalog#: Reg. : Artist : Title
108647 : $15.98 : TESTAMENT : LOW
373175 : $14.98 : TESTAMENT : THE NEW ORDER
386102 : $14.98 : TESTAMENT : PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
438861 : $15.98 : TESTAMENT : THE RITUAL
457119 : $12.98 : TESTAMENT : RETURN TO THE APOCALYPIC CITY.
It's probably impossible for us to measure what impact the sales through music clubs may have had on Testament's chances for receiving a gold certification.
Catalog#: Reg. : Artist : Title
108647 : $15.98 : TESTAMENT : LOW
373175 : $14.98 : TESTAMENT : THE NEW ORDER
386102 : $14.98 : TESTAMENT : PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
438861 : $15.98 : TESTAMENT : THE RITUAL
457119 : $12.98 : TESTAMENT : RETURN TO THE APOCALYPIC CITY.
It's probably impossible for us to measure what impact the sales through music clubs may have had on Testament's chances for receiving a gold certification.
One last request: I heard that Chucky Billy sang for Exodus for a couple of shows, would u happen to have a link to a video of it I've always wanted to see it
one man
Active Member
It was back in October 2004 at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. The show was taped, but it's not up on YT. I'd love to see it myself, even if Chuck had to learn the lyrics overnight and wasn't 100% prepared.
Yeah, wait that wasn't the one where Souza bailed was it? I thought it was on the South American Tour
one man
Active Member
Not quite. Souza was replaced by Steev Esquivel (Defiance, Skinlab), who got injured before the show (I think some substance got to his eyes - it's somewhere here on the forum) and that's how Chuck got the call to step in. I'm sure it wasn't the whole tour, just one show (maybe 2, but I don't think so). Steev recovered quickly and was back in the band. I even think he joined Chuck on a couple of songs at the Warfield gig.
Man! That just adds to the story of this show lol. Also would u believe me if I told you that Bonded by Blood and Fabulous Disaster only sold 100,000 copies (post soundscan) in the USA COMBINED?
one man
Active Member
I'd definitely believe you, this sounds probable, since Exodus sells some 5 times less than Testament, and those were released a few years before SoundScan. I see you added a link to Exo forum on Wikipedia (http://exodusattack.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9899).
Yeah I did and that was actually GARRY HOLT who confirmed it, can't get anymore reliable than the band members themselves
