Why have Jewel's newer records been "flops"?

[wackyoverkhaki]

I don't get it. This Way, 0304, and GAIW are all great albums, but they totally flopped compared to POY. Why? Considering how many copies POY sold, why wouldn't those same buyers be interested in buying her newer records? Why was she so popular in the 90's and all of sudden ignored?:confused:

[last_dance_rodeo]

I merged these threads together in case you're wondering what happened

[JewelWiki]

I think there's been a general trend of downward sales for most artists from the 90's. CD's just don't sell like they used to...I like to attribute it to the Loudness War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war) in the music industry. CD's used to be enjoyable to listen to, but now they're becoming almost tiring. That article is kinda complicated, but if you look at the Remastering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war#Remasters) screenshots, I think they do a good job illustrating the point.

Other articles: http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,1992325,00.html

At least, I like to think that this is why the newer albums are less enjoyable and less likely to be purchased...they lose a dynamic sound when they're made louder. It's kinda sad. :-\

[wackyoverkhaki]

I merged these threads together in case you're wondering what happened
Thanks...the first time I accidentally posted it into the wrong category...sorry.

I think there's been a general trend of downward sales for most artists from the 90's. CD's just don't sell like they used to...I like to attribute it to the Loudness War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war) in the music industry. CD's used to be enjoyable to listen to, but now they're becoming almost tiring. That article is kinda complicated, but if you look at the Remastering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war#Remasters) screenshots, I think they do a good job illustrating the point.

Other articles: http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,1992325,00.html

At least, I like to think that this is why the newer albums are less enjoyable and less likely to be purchased...they lose a dynamic sound when they're made louder. It's kinda sad. :-\

Wow...that was a very interesting article! I didn't know about that.:eek: But what I didn't grasp was, why are they making the audial quality of CDs crappier, and why isn't anyone doing anything to stop this?:pissed: Also, how do I know whether a CD I'm purchasing has been a victim of this "remastering" or not? Has this happened to any of Jewel's CDs?

[JewelWiki]

There's some much better articles on this, I can't seem to find at the moment. Basically, when you have a sound file, you can do a normalization of that file to bring up the loudness of the quieter parts. Each progression of music source has offered more levels of normalization to occur (from records to cassettes to cds). I might be looking at it wrong, but do you have a stereo that has an visual equalizer on it? One of those ones where if you hear a beat, you see the equalizer move? Some of these normalized tracks will have the entire equalizer moving consistently rather than in a dynamic fashion that makes it sound not so great. If I come across that other article that explains it better than either of the above 2 (or my crappy explanation), I'll be sure to post it here. :)

[never.alone]

its ironic that you made this thread because i'm doing my research paper over that exact question lol

[JewelWiki]

Here's a few other articles:

http://www.itwriting.com/blog/?p=91
http://www.collisiondetection.net/mt/archives/2006/07/pull_out_a_viny.html
http://georgegraham.com/compress.html

:) Happy reading

[nikos_]

I think in USA, people likes the RAp, that black men singing with bodies full of gold and semi-nude women swimming on money (Example: 50 cents, Chamillionaire, Fergie, the new gwen stefani, etc..........)

If Justin Timberlake keeps his style of "tender boy-band" it would be a natural flop (the same thing with Gwen)...

And just look at NELLY FURTADO.. do you remember the sweet song IM LIKE A BIRD...??? or that pretty song of her "TRY "??? now she is singing about being Promiscuous: Lyric: "I don't talk from my health... i can see you with nothing on" ....

That's All... :(

[ItBeThatWay27]

TRY is a freaking awesome song. btw nikos ha ha it made me laugh how you said the rappers have gold all over their bodies and the women swimming on money. HA HA HA

[motoslam]

I think in USA, people likes the RAp, that black men singing with bodies full of gold and semi-nude women swimming on money (Example: 50 cents, Chamillionaire, Fergie, the new gwen stefani, etc..........)

If Justin Timberlake keeps his style of "tender boy-band" it would be a natural flop (the same thing with Gwen)...

And just look at NELLY FURTADO.. do you remember the sweet song IM LIKE A BIRD...??? or that pretty song of her "TRY "??? now she is singing about being Promiscuous: Lyric: "I don't talk from my health... i can see you with nothing on" ....

That's All... :(

Cmon man its 50 Cent not 50 Cents Lol. I think the more sluttier (crap am i allowed to say that?) a female artist is today, the more sales she gets. For example look at the *****cat Dolls :drool:theyre a popular group only cuz theyre a bunch of hot girls singing and dancing. wait my bad, only one of em can sing. woah i cudnt even write P-u-s-s-y hahaha

[wackyoverkhaki]

:drool:theyre a popular group only cuz theyre a bunch of hot girls singing

But Jewel is hot! You'd think hot, talented, and an awesome personality would be a winning combination to make someone super popular and tear up the charts!:confused:

[ItBeThatWay27]

I hate how the *****cat dogs OOPS I meant dolls.. have no musical talent at all. They just use a drum-machine and then use other people's songs to create a record full of terrible 3rd rate versions of once-good songs. I just hate the loss of quality talent in the music industry today.. it's a shame how many "musicians" can't play any instruments, write their own songs, or even sing without a computer enhancing their voice..
::shame:: it's just more SHAME

[Crawfy-Glasgow]

I suppose all artists find that they are selling much less CD's than they ever used to.It used to be that a UK single would probably have to sell an average of 600,000-800,000 copies to beat off the competition for thr number 1 spot in the charts,but i think today,it's more like only around 200,000 copies sold will top the charts.
I suppose the new thing of everyone downloading music and copying CD's on re-writers has hit the industry hard too.
In Jewel's case in particular,she has always been very vocal about the fact that her record sales don't worry her,she is not so keen to do endless promotional work for her albums,she never seemed to let her record label pressure her into ridiculous ammounts of appearances to plug her albums/singles. She makes the music that she feels is true to her,and she knows she has built up a very loyal fan base who will always identify with her music and support her.
She also seems to concentrate on touring for most part of her year,which she enjoys most,and so do her fans i'm sure.
So,although i am sure she likes to still sell records,she does'nt let herself get caught up in the publicity hype and boring promotional side of things,she concentrates on making top quality albums for her personal pleasure,and for her true fans pleasure.
Doing things like American Idol etc will always help to promote herself more,so she picks the correct things to give her exposure without ramming herself down peoples throats,she is a very clever artist.
I hope i have managed to explain my opinion without confusing everyone,does anybody agree with me on this :wave9bm1:

Cheers Crawfy !!!

[motoslam]

I hate how the *****cat dogs OOPS I meant dolls.. have no musical talent at all. They just use a drum-machine and then use other people's songs to create a record full of terrible 3rd rate versions of once-good songs. I just hate the loss of quality talent in the music industry today.. it's a shame how many "musicians" can't play any instruments, write their own songs, or even sing without a computer enhancing their voice..
::shame:: it's just more SHAME

Yah i hate how theres so many fake artists out there. Not sayin i hate the p-u-s-s-ycat dolls, but like Paris Hilton. She must of been so bored of her life that she just had to start singing just to get noticed. Same with Ashley simpson, she cudda just stuck to acting but then she had to expose us to her terrible voice. Artists like these take alot away from real artists like Jewel.

[never.alone]

I hate how the *****cat dogs OOPS I meant dolls.. have no musical talent at all. They just use a drum-machine and then use other people's songs to create a record full of terrible 3rd rate versions of once-good songs. I just hate the loss of quality talent in the music industry today.. it's a shame how many "musicians" can't play any instruments, write their own songs, or even sing without a computer enhancing their voice..
::shame:: it's just more SHAME

haha
i wish i could think of an awesome Jerri quote to go along with that but i havent watched strangers with candy in awhile

[fabiojj]

You know, Jewel will last as long as she wants. You just can't always have commercial success though. The *****cat Dolls will be over in a few years. I think we just have to understand that the times are always changing and that in a world of post-modern fad what was good now is bad! We shouldn't worry about Jewel. She's still making good money and she's still rich. You don't have to be a millionaire to be happy.

[ItBeThatWay27]

I love the intuition line stuck in there, it made me think for a second. ha!

[M€RIO]

I dont think that This Way and 0304 were flops. Standing Still was a big hit in the usa and dont forget that intuition was on TOP 2 on the american charts. Sadly GAIW is a flop.... and it makes me wanna cry.. this album is her bestproducedone, and it is so overwhelming with such songs like Good Day or Goodbye Alice... But Yes like fabiojj said, jewel dont get poor, because she always have her everydayangels, and we will buy all Cds that she wanna bring out =). I cant understand why GAIW is a flop, because in the first week it was on place 8 on the american charts and the second week on place 14. And Jewel always maked promotion, like to go to the allover talkshows and radiostations... but nothing seemed to helped!!! Its sad that a beautifull, brilliant and honest woman cant be succesfull on the charts today... But look back on POY, at least on that timespan she was veery succesfull and honored for her music and writing.

[ItBeThatWay27]

I kind of wish Jewel had done an 0304 right now w/ all sorts of hip-hop stuff and featured rap artists but just to make a point about the current state of music. Anyone can be a #1 hit now, it requires no talent. And if she made some stupid hip-hop music with no thought, it would be making a huge statement IMO. But Jewel would never do that ha ha, it would piss a lot of people off..