I have to admit, I havent cracked the spine of a Rolling Stone Magazine in a long time. But one showed up on my doorstep this week, the “Guitar Gods” issue. We got a free subscription for buying a drum kit for my 6 year old. Something caught my attention pretty fast though in this article, and it wasnt the Guitar Gods article. It seems that January of 2007 was the worst month in soundscan history for CD sales, since tracking began in 1991. This can be blamed on everything from lack of good releases to digital pirates. But the drop of 40% since 1997 is a bit alarming for labels.
Here is the stat breakdown I found so interesting though comparing the numbers last month, 5 years ago and 10 years ago.

Jan. 1997

#1 No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom 250,842 copies sold

#2 Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack – 172,965 copies sold

#3 Celine Dion – Falling Over You – 163,780 copies sold

Jan. 2002

#1 Creed – Weathered – 165,712 copies sold

#2 Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory 124,346 copies sold

#3 Ludacris – Word of Mouf 105,603 copies sold

Jan. 2007

#1 Dreamgirls Soundtrack – 66,355 copies sold

#2 Akon – Convicted – 63,699 copies sold

#3 Daughtry – S/T 55,916 copies sold

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