Janet Jackson’s newest album, a celebration of the release of her “Control” album 20 years ago has gone pretty much unnoticed. Except now that her boyfriend Jermaine Dupri has left Virgin records over it, “20 Y.O.” may see more sales.
The album was released Sept 26 and in three weeks was unable to reach 500,000 in sales.
With Ludacris poised to reach gold-record status in the same time period for his number one album “Release Therapy,” the question must be raised: Did Ludacris only get those sales because he dropped the price to $5.99 a CD?
Dupri, president of the Urban Music Division at Virgin Records, blamed his colleagues for poorly marketing Janet’s newest album. Can we really say that Ludacris marketed his any better? Perhaps, lowering the cost may get more sales, but is putting such a low value on your product successful marketing?
Dupri brought back Mariah with “The Emancipation of Mimi.” But this time his hip-hop handle must have slipped. Janet’s CD dropped 77 percent in sales its second week. This may have been most of the pressure that caused Dupri’s resignation, along with demands from Virgin execs.
Jackson is one of the most successful female touring artists of all time, as evidenced by the 2 million tickets she sold from 1993 to 2002 (her last tour) over only 161 shows! So that’s why she doesn’t seem too worried. Janet’s over in Japan, promoting her CD released Oct. 20.
Jackson is planning a world tour, last was heard, with a March or April 2007 start date. But chances of her not having a wardrobe malfunction in a kimono are slim to none. Jackson’s Justin Timberlake-caused boob incident at the SuperBowl, if timed better, could have produced more press and thereby more album sales. Some say it ruined her career. I doubt that, there are plenty of celebrities that are only famous because of such antics.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that Janet hasn’t reinvented herself like Madonna has so many times. She’s still going with her regular old hot body, toned to the max. Yeah, that helps, don’t get me wrong, but maybe a new hair color? New earrings? Ludacris has a deal with Cingular for a slew of new ring tones related to his album. Couldn’t Janet have tried something, anything?
This is her last CD with Virgin records, and chances are with its failure rate still rising, it will be the last. Another one bites the dust. Sounds like Jackson and Dupri both need to find new jobs.
Janet sells ducks, Jermaine's Def proposal
So looks like both Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupris took my advice and are out looking for ways to keep their comfortable lifestyle going. Miss Jackson has joined the fight against breast cancer and is doing her part by selling pink ducks on eBay. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation will benefit the most from this duck, one of many decorated by celebrities to remind women: "Don't Duck a Breast Exam." Janet's duck has flowing black hair, a scarf and a black baseball cap marked with an X.
Jermaine on the other hand, it has been rumored, may be off to Def Jam Records to work for Jay Z. Not like, let's work together, but more like, I'll hire you Jermaine.
Hopefully he gets it, since Janet's not getting anything from the ducks.