Image Credit: Dario Cantatore/Getty ImagesNelly had a big hit this year with “Just a Dream,” but has his comeback stalled out already? His album 5.0 arrived at No. 10 on last week’s Billboard 200 albums chart after selling an underwhelming 63,000 copies in its first week. The rapper thinks his label, Universal Motown, is partly to blame for the album’s weak performance.
“A record deal is a 50/50 partnership!” Nelly wrote on Twitter this weekend. “As a artist its your job to provide the record company with music that they (record company) can sell! Thing about the partnership is that n the public eye the responsibility is not 50/50! the artist is always the 1 who catches 90% of the blame.”
He went on to criticize the label for not promoting the album or providing retailers with enough copies. “If u only ship [200,000 copies] of an album how many are u f—ing tryen to sell?? 5.0 Every1 luvs da album n say its crazy! So wen u hear folks say they didnt no it was out r there were hardly any n the store! WTF?”
Universal Motown has not commented in response. What do you think of Nelly’s complaints? Did you buy 5.0? Whose fault are the low sales?
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More on EW.com:
EW’s review of 5.0
Nelly’s “Just a Dream” throws us an Inception-style curve
I honestly had no idea that he had a new album out. Either poor marketing or I just outgrew Nelly a couple of years ago?
I had no idea it was out. I haven’t seen any advertisements for it. Poor marketing. Universal is falling apart.
I knew Nelly had a new album, I just stopped listening to his music about a half decade ago. There are more better albums I would rather buy that recently came out.
totally. and the “new big hit” is a pretty laughable track. “it was only just a dream”..? really? are you talking about a story you wrote in seventh grade or ytour carreeer dude? (video’s even worse by the way). blame a label all you want, but a label’s gonna back something worth backing. that speaks for itself.
The single is a very laughable track compared to his past hits but he has sold over 3 million copies of that single to date and gave universal its first top40 #1 song in the labels history. That should speak for itself. I run a studio in St. Louis actually and can understand the frustrations of artists when the people who are suppose to be investing in their franchise player treats them like 3rd string.
I knew Nelly had a new album, I just stopped listening to his music about a half decade ago. There are more better albums I would rather buy that recently came out. Nelly is not relevant anymore in the Music Industry which is why Universal is not gonna spend tons of money on marketing him. They are better off promoting other artists.
Did “more better” enter your mindset a half decade ago as well?
More likely, Nelly is just not as relevant in 2010, plain and simple.
I’ve of course heard the song plenty of times on the radio, but I had no idea his album even had a date set for release.
To date, I’ve only heard the one song on the radio and I liked it. However, I had no idea that his complete album was available for purchase. I think he has a valid point about the lack of marketing. I wonder about the record company shipping only 200,000 copies. Do people still buy CD’s? Or was the record company banking on digital downloads of the album?
I think Nelly should type like an educated adult.
Just a Dream is a great song and all, but its been done before. By Nelly himself no less (Over & Over is similar sounding despite its country twang) But seriously, for Nelly to have a blockbuster album, he needs to get relevant, drop a mixtape or something and get ambitious and go hard to knock everyone’s socks off. He has yet to release a single form this album that has really made me go “Man Nelly is killing it!” Therefore, I think he is part of the problem. I think it is a 50/50 partnership but if the label doesn’t have anything to sell, why should they invest in it? If his album was THAT good, it would have sold all 200,000 copies. JUST SAYIN. Also, 2 other bigger rap albums dropped this week, Nicki’s Pink Friday and Ye’s Dark Twisted Fantasy. He didn’t stand a chance.
Amen! I didn’t like “Over and Over” and I change stations/channels every time “Just a Dream” comes on. They’re just boring.
Although, I will admit if he did another one similar to “Ride Wit Me” I would probably love it.
I absolutely agree with everything here. I bought the album just cause i’m from St. Louis and i’m going to support anyone here doing it signed or unsigned. The album is definitely very commercial and 100% not like he is and the more music he makes the further he goes from his original sound. Which is what i think breaks an artist. Look at 50 perfect example. Gutter street banging rapper 12 million plus albums sold, next album 4 million next album a few hundred thousand. The more you try and be something your not the less your going to sell cause people want what you brought to the game not how much you can imitate whats on radio now. I think nicki’s album is going to do absolutely terrible she’s a good featured artist but i have not heard a full song by her that is like DAMN but who knows, that kanye album is a classic though ooowwweee
Nelly is a great artist but yes his popularity is not what is used to be. This happens because of poor marketing and people are downloading music so that might be a factor. I have not stopped listening to Nelly BTW.
i bought the album and it is great. it has some awesome tracks like kiss, making movies, long gone, of course just a dream, liv tonight, gone etc. give the man a break. i love his music and i will continue to buy, but true, i have not seen or heard any prromotions for this new cd
Nelly hunny you’re so 2000s and you’re not reeally a rapper your a singer that raps sorry but you know this. Time to leave!
Nelly oughta be glad he had hits in an era where people still had no choice but to buy the whole album. Guess what? Your “big hit” was already downloaded for 99 cents by anyone who cared…..
Its Nellys blame mostly he should be out and doing signings for it and be at awards talking bout 5.0 he hasn’t said much bout it, and the lable also cause Nelly has a point if you ship out 200,000 how many albums do u think ur gonna sell!? Nah I won’t buy the album til more songs come out,”Just A Dream”is a good song but Nelly should of had more videos like 2 more videos,
HAS-BEEN!