Janet Jackson :: Charts & Sales History

[TwentyForeplay]

The disrespect for Rhythm Nation!

Control was a consistent seller in Europe. It's her lowest peaking album on the European Albums Chart during her golden years (1986-2001) but it charted over 50 weeks and made the year-end chart twice!

European Albums
#2 All For You
#3 janet.
#4 The Velvet Rope
#8 Design of a Decade
#23 Rhythm Nation
#23 janet.remixed
#24 Control

Rhythm Nation on the other hand had a much different trajectory. It debuted at 25, moved to 23 the following week, and then decended down the chart.

An article here gives some interesting insight into A&M's campaign and goals for Rhythm Nation in Europe:
https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mus...1989-10-01.pdf

"A&M Records has launched it's biggest marketing campaign of 1989 for the new Janet Jackson album, 'Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814’ is aiming for at least one million sales in Europe"

They also shipped over 200,000 copies in Europe before release.

The album was definitely not as successful as Control in Europe but I wouldn't be surprised if it sold decently over time or more than we think. Black Cat was a hit internationally much later in the album campaign and the tour was a big success.

[Nerd Score]

The All For You album:

All For You: 937,000 - 1,029,000 - over 1 million!
Someone To Call My Lover: 262,000 - 276,000
Doesn't Really Matter: 252,000 - 264,000
Would You Mind: 193,000 - 201,000
Son of a Gun: 133,000 - 136,000

Total: 1,906,000

I'm in shock people buying Would You Mind not that it's a bad thing but still

[red3269]

Control was a consistent seller in Europe. It's her lowest peaking album on the European Albums Chart during her golden years (1986-2001) but it charted over 50 weeks and made the year-end chart twice!

European Albums
#2 All For You
#3 janet.
#4 The Velvet Rope
#8 Design of a Decade
#23 Rhythm Nation
#23 janet.remixed
#24 Control

Rhythm Nation on the other hand had a much different trajectory. It debuted at 25, moved to 23 the following week, and then decended down the chart.

An article here gives some interesting insight into A&M's campaign and goals for Rhythm Nation in Europe:
https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mus...1989-10-01.pdf

"A&M Records has launched it's biggest marketing campaign of 1989 for the new Janet Jackson album, 'Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814’ is aiming for at least one million sales in Europe"

They also shipped over 200,000 copies in Europe before release.

The album was definitely not as successful as Control in Europe but I wouldn't be surprised if it sold decently over time or more than we think. Black Cat was a hit internationally much later in the album campaign and the tour was a big success.

Interesting read. Well they achieved their goal as Rhythm Nation did sell more than 1M across the European continent.

[BadMan125]

Was "Janet Jackson" really a flop?

http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1983/bbyearend.htm

It was the #10 R&B album of 1983 and she ranked the #1 Top Black Album Artists - Female and #2 Top Black Singles Artists - Female on the Billboard Year-End.

No telling. Impressive peaks but I don't think sales were actually good overall for black female artists in 1983. Aretha released Get It Right, Angela Bofill released her album (forget the name). Diana Ross had "Ross" and we know how bad that did. Evelyn King was still riding with Get Loose. Janet did better than all of them mainly because of its peak and probably because it probably lasted longer on the chart than the other four. Still its sales were disappointing. Today, I think it's probably around 400,000 US sales, but that's just an estimate.

[oneofone]

It's like the whole RN era never existed in Europe Pretty shocking.

[lovedeluxe]

I wouldn't say that. Rhythm Nation tour had 4 dates at Wembley Arena. Sold 37,602 tickets in Holland. 16,782 in France.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm...orld_Tour_1990


I'm not sure how Europe did it's sales tracking in those days (if anyone knows, tell me).

It is interesting that the singles "under-performed" but her ticket sales were great! 4 nights at Wembley without a top ten single from the album is an interesting feat.

[oneofone]

^^The tour would have sold on the Jackson name itself. Just like tours sells today too. Lots of touring acts haven't had a hit song/album for years but still sell concert tickets. It's not like it's imperative to have a huge selling single/album in order to have a successful global tour.

It's also important to put Janet's concert ticket sales into some perspective, on the face value they may look impressive but if we put them against certain ladies touring Europe around the same time - there is nothing to brag about.

The non-existence of the RN era in Europe will forever be a mystery to me. I had the privilege of living in many counties in Europe when growing up and no matter where we were the radio was obsessed with Whitney, Tina, Madonna and MJ. I may have heard a Janet song once or twice but I'd struggle to remember when and what that song was.

All the above doesn't change the fact, Janet had an absolute mega smash with RN in other parts of the world and that is non debatable, and she was actually more popular in Europe in the 90's than she was in the 80's.

[hun]

The whole RN1814 concept was very American. Even though the social issues she talked about exist globally, the whole thing was marketed towards the American market.

When MJ touched on social issues (Man in the Mirror, Heal The World), they felt global and their videos reflected that, but that didn’t happen with Janet.

[TwentyForeplay]

It's like the whole RN era never existed in Europe Pretty shocking.

Different singles were marketed to different regions more than others. Look at how the top single from the album in all the bigger European markets is different.

UK
#15 Black Cat
#17 Escapade
#20 Alright
#20 Come Back to Me
#22 Miss You Much
#23 Rhythm Nation
#34 Love Will Never Do

Germany
#16 Miss You Much
#17 Escapade
#34 Black Cat
#43 Alright
#83 Rhythm Nation

France
#23 Escapade (15 weeks Top 50)

The Netherlands (Top 100)
#9 Rhythm Nation
#15 Miss You Much
#17 Escapade
#18 Black Cat
#32 Love Will Never Do
#35 Alright

Switzerland
#10 Black Cat
#20 Miss You Much
#22 Rhythm Nation

Escapade charted the most consistently in Europe.
#29 European Hot 100
#12 European Airplay

And it seems like it wasn't even released in some markets like Switzerland or Scandinavian regions?

Black Cat reached in the Top 10 in Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Iceland. Also #11 in Ireland, #15 UK. It took off in most regions after it already finished charting in the UK tho so it didn't get a decent peak on the European chart.

Black Cat - European Hot 100
84-39-42-47-49-59-65
RE: 66-71-74-82-74-87

And while all the singles underperformed in the UK, the album still have a strong opening at #4 and the songs DID receive airplay!

UK - Airplay (Music & Media)
#2 Escapade
#2 Black Cat
#4 Rhythm Nation
#7 Come Back To Me
#9 Alright
#17 Miss You Much

[RayRay]

The Best Things In Life Are Free is available now on Spotify in my country (and hopefully also in other countries).

I guess this will mean more streams in the coming weeks.

[adamf2thedeath]

I’m so happy it’s finally on streaming!!!

[Nerd Score]

Janet Jackson should have still went and toured for the Damita Jo era she still had a loyal fan base wherever she went and some bookings she did the shows was filled up she promoted the shit out of the Damita Jo era more than her All For You era I don't believe she would have had problems selling tickets maybe in the United States but not outside the states especially in Asia.

[lovedeluxe]

I agree with that. She was breaking TV ratings everywhere she went. SNL, Leno, Letterman etc, people wanted to hear and see her. The album still scanned over 1 million copies despite the radio and MTV/VH-1 ban. I believe a tour would have sold well because of all the hype. Imagine a HBO show for "Damita Jo"! Probably would have broke her "Velvet Rope" ratings for HBO.

https://www.billboard.com/music/musi...tings-1440049/

[Nerd Score]

Right exactly Damita Jo is still a successful era she was still breaking records and getting deals and accolades almost every award show was honoring her in 2004 people say the blacklisting completely ended that's a joke it hurted her career yes but she still found success while blacklisted.

[BadMan125]

MOST SUCCESSFUL JANET JACKSON ALBUMS BASED ON WEEKS SPENT ON THE BILLBOARD 200:

1.) JANET JACKSON'S RHYTHM NATION 1814 (108 weeks; #1 for 4 weeks in 1989)
2.) JANET. (106 weeks, #1 for 6 weeks in 1993)
3.) CONTROL (106 weeks, #1 for 2 weeks in 1986)
4.) THE VELVET ROPE (74 weeks, #1 for a week in 1997)
5.) ALL FOR YOU (52 weeks, #1 for a week in 2001)
6.) DESIGN OF A DECADE 1986/1996 (31 weeks, peaked at #3 in 1995)
7.) JANET JACKSON (25 weeks, peaked at #63 in 1982)
8.) DAMITA JO (19 weeks, peaked at #2 in 2004)
9.) DISCIPLINE (16 weeks, peaked at #1 in 2008)
10.) 20 Y.O. (15 weeks, peaked at #2 in 2006)
11.) UNBREAKABLE (11 weeks, peaked at #1 in 2015)
12.) NUMBER ONES (9 weeks, peaked at #22 in 2009)
13.) DREAMSTREET (6 weeks, peaked at #147 in 1984)

578 cumulative weeks on the Billboard 200

MOST SUCCESSFUL JANET JACKSON ALBUMS BASED ON WEEKS SPENT ON THE TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS:
1.) JANET. (97 weeks, #1 for 3 weeks in 1993)
2.) CONTROL (91 weeks, #1 for 8 weeks in 1986)
3.) JANET JACKSON'S RHYTHM NATION 1814 (86 weeks, #1 for 3 weeks in 1989)
4.) THE VELVET ROPE (76 weeks, #2 in 1997)
5.) ALL FOR YOU (53 weeks, #1 in 2001)
6.) JANET JACKSON (45 weeks, #6 in 1982)
7.) NUMBER ONES (45 weeks, #3 in 2009)
8.) DISCIPLINE (34 weeks, #1 for 2 weeks in 2008)
9.) UNBREAKABLE (28 weeks, #1 in 2015)
10.) DAMITA JO (25 weeks, #2 in 2004)
11.) DESIGN OF A DECADE 1986/1996 (25 weeks, #4 in 1995)
12.) 20 Y.O. (23 weeks, #1 for a week in 2006)
13.) DREAM STREET (15 weeks, #19 in 1984)
14.) ICON (11 weeks, #40 in 2010)

654 cumulative weeks on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

[lovedeluxe]

Never realized "Discipline" was #1 for 2 weeks on R&B charts! That's great! Where is it's Gold certification?!

[BadMan125]

Never realized "Discipline" was #1 for 2 weeks on R&B charts! That's great! Where is it's Gold certification?!

No idea. Its sales haven't been updated. Still stuck at 456,000. You'd think Virgin (or Universal?) would've cared to audit by now, especially due to the attention on the documentary.

[BadMan125]

Janet Jackson should have still went and toured for the Damita Jo era she still had a loyal fan base wherever she went and some bookings she did the shows was filled up she promoted the shit out of the Damita Jo era more than her All For You era I don't believe she would have had problems selling tickets maybe in the United States but not outside the states especially in Asia.

I remember being at one of the Janet forums (Velvet World?) and we kept wondering when she was gonna announce a tour for DJ especially for the US, UK and Asia. And...it never came. I don't know if she was struggling with the aftermath of the backlash or not. We all know she was planning to tour for the 20 Y.O. album until she made that sudden announcement that she had signed with Island in 2007 (forget the month but I remember things were kinda chaotic for a while).

[BadMan125]

Updates for the janet album....

That's The Way Love Goes 1,294,000 - 1,381,000
If 632,000 - 653k
Again 527,000 - 560k
Because Of Love 82,000 - 87k
Any Time, Any Place 862,000 - 917k
You Want This 124,000 - 130k
Throb 79,000 - 82k

Total: 3,810,000 - that's 381,000 albums that can go towards an updated RIAA certification

Jeez! Because of Love didn't do so hot sales wise! Either physical or digital... Janet's digital sales are frustrating...

[BadMan125]

I'm in shock people buying Would You Mind not that it's a bad thing but still

I think they're streaming/downloading it because of how scandalous it is lol I'm sure it's been a viral discussion hahaha

[hun]

The Best Things In Life Are Free is available now on Spotify in my country (and hopefully also in other countries).

I guess this will mean more streams in the coming weeks.

the original version?

[JeremySpears]

The fact that Debut spent more weeks on the Billboard 200 than Damita Jo and Unbreakable…I don’t know anymore

[lovedeluxe]

The fact that Debut spent more weeks on the Billboard 200 than Damita Jo and Unbreakable…I don’t know anymore

I mean.. some of the other divas have had albums enter at #1 and fall right off 2-3 weeks later. 11 weeks.. is actually a win these days for older acts lol

[lovedeluxe]

No idea. Its sales haven't been updated. Still stuck at 456,000. You'd think Virgin (or Universal?) would've cared to audit by now, especially due to the attention on the documentary.

With SPS it's over 600k (I think thebigham has the exact number).

[lovedeluxe]

Jeez! Because of Love didn't do so hot sales wise! Either physical or digital... Janet's digital sales are frustrating...

Her digital sales are pretty solid, you have to factor MOST of her videos weren't on VEVO until less than two years ago (which would be included in her SPS had they been avail), and a lot of still aren't, "Together Again," "I Get Lonely", "Got Til It's Gone," "Go Deep" and on and on etc. Some were just unblocked a few weeks ago like "All for You" which is platinum SPS.

The fact that "That's the Way Love Goes" is at 1.4 million SPS (total 2.6m) without it's video being unblocked until recently is pretty good! Had there been a video before now, we'd probably see a x3p cert... but this is where we are with her.