The Power of Fanbases In The Charts This Week

By Mazza

The charts this week were living proof of the changing tide in the way that the pure power of fans is driving sales for a number of artists in the charts. Whether they’re independent artists or releasing their music independently of any major label pr or marketing, this weeks chart results are worth taking note of.

Hot off the back of Stormzy’s top 40 chart entry in the U.K singles charts with the freestyle ‘WickedSkengman 4’ released independently and without pr and radio play, we see a second triumph for the independent music scene with Section Boyz also landing a top 40 chart position with their debut album ‘Don’t Panic’ at 36. Driven purely through the power of their fanbase, a co-sign of course from Drake and Skepta which no doubt helped, and no major label or mainstream radio support – this was another sign of the U.K music scenes growing appetite for homegrown grime and rap acts.

Stateside both Drake and Future who are signed to major labels, ran things pretty independently this week and managed to pull off a hefty first week on their mixtape ‘What A Time To Be Alive’. Despite only 5 days in reported sales rather than a full week, the album landed at no.1 selling 339,538 in the U.S.  This is Drake’s 5th number one album, and Future’s 2nd No.1 charted album in the same year.

The internet may have been rife with rumours of the pending collaboration, but Drake and Future still surprised fans with the release last Sunday with no major label marketing or pr, and the sales of this mixtape were purely driven by the strength of the fan bases.

Disappointingly for Mac Miller, after bagging a reported $10 million deal with Warner Bros it didn’t increase his chances in the U.S charts and his latest album GO:OD AM, debuted into the U.S charts this week at number 3 selling only 78,024 which are his lowest first week sales to date and his first album release as a major label artists.

I guess its safe to say if you mine a fanbase you’re mining some major diamonds.

Check this out