Last month, we reported that the music industry was at an all-time low, with the total album sales for the second week of May hitting a dismal 5.3 million units. As major labels clamour to come up with a solution or lose their retirement plans, a more hilarious side of this dilemma is the effect it's having on indie bands. Perhaps the most bizarre of all would be the Melvins, whose new album, The Bride Screamed Murder, has placed in the Billboard Top 200.
Though it's the 19th album in the band's storied 26-year career, Murder marks the first time the Melvins have ever broken the Billboard Top 200, coming in at 200th place. This was achieved by selling 2,809 copies in the first week.
As Reuters points out, they could have been in the top half of the charts if they would have moved another 2,000 units. And five years ago, the Melvins would have had to sell about 5,000 copies to make the Top 200.
If market research analysts take this event seriously, the mainstream music industry could be in for some of the most incredible shifts we've ever seen. Will Miley Cyrus's backing band produce sludgy, punishing riffs? Will Justin Bieber let his hair frizz out into a wild grunge afro? Will the Melvins host the Teen Choice Awards?
Though it's the 19th album in the band's storied 26-year career, Murder marks the first time the Melvins have ever broken the Billboard Top 200, coming in at 200th place. This was achieved by selling 2,809 copies in the first week.
As Reuters points out, they could have been in the top half of the charts if they would have moved another 2,000 units. And five years ago, the Melvins would have had to sell about 5,000 copies to make the Top 200.
If market research analysts take this event seriously, the mainstream music industry could be in for some of the most incredible shifts we've ever seen. Will Miley Cyrus's backing band produce sludgy, punishing riffs? Will Justin Bieber let his hair frizz out into a wild grunge afro? Will the Melvins host the Teen Choice Awards?