For decades, the Billboard charts were the chart that mattered when it came to the music industry. Billboard still matters plenty, but the iTunes Music Store is now the #1 music retailer in the United States.
In what should be news to no one, music and the internet are linked. While many of the albums and songs that top the iTunes charts are also doing well with Billboard in terms of radio and physical CD sales, there are times when the two diverge. People are people wherever you go, but the internet is a universe all it's own. As it happens, Blogcritics is an online magazine, so let's take a look at the Top 10 selling singles and albums at the iTunes Music Store for the week ending June 1, 2009.
First up, the singles:
Singles:
- "Boom Boom Pow," Black Eyed Peas
- "Fire Burning," Sean Kingston
- "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho, More English Extended Mix)," Pitbull
- "LoveGame," Lady GaGa
- "Waking Up In Vegas," Katy Perry
- "Poker Face," Lady GaGa
- "No Boundaries," Kris Allen
- "Don't Stop Believin (Glee Cast Version)," Glee Cast
- "Heartless (American Idol Studio Version)," Kris Allen
- "Don't Trust Me," 3OH!3
If ever I needed a reminder that I am old and out of touch with "the kids," this chart gives me all the reminder I need. I can say I have not heard even one of those songs. Not one. I recognize the name Black Eyed Peas as more than a vegetable, although I think Fergie qualifies as both a bandmember and a vegetable. I've heard of Sean Kingston and Katy Perry. I never heard "I Kissed a Girl" all the way through because I thought it was just awful. Maybe "Waking Up in Vegas" is better. It would cost me a buck to find out. I'll pass.
I didn't know what a Lady GaGa was until I saw this chart. I'd heard someone or something mention Lady GaGa. I had no idea she (I'm assuming here) was a singer. She's got a couple songs in the chart here, so she's popular. Whether or not she's good is best left to someone who has actually listened to her.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Josh, I think you're only going to hurt your mind doing this, if you're sampling the offerings on this singles list, at least. There is only so much the human brain can take.
That said, I can confirm that Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest is real good stuff. Not sure if you'd dig it, but it's good. And the bits of the new DMB I've heard are very surprisingly strong. And Kings Of Leon are okay if you like really repetitive stuff, I'll put it that way.
2 - El Bicho
When you get there with KoL, please do not start with "Only By the Night." Go to 1st or 2nd album
3 - Josh Hathaway
I'm a glutton for punishment, Tom. We'll know I've really achieved the next state of evolution when I can force myself to actually listen to these tracks before writing about them.
Thanks to you both for the KoL tips.