fan base Beyoncé

[PrudenceHCharmed]

5 hours ago, Shelter said:

For the first time I feel Bey has lost steam. She really ****** up by not putting Lemonade on Spotify sooner and now this long wait is just a disaster. I really want to know what her plan is. I think this next album is important. 

This feels like 2013 again! 

[Cbreezy]

7 hours ago, Starshine said:

Kendrick debuted with 286k + no physicals. 

 

I'm starting to think Bey can do 300k with physicals and a good release strat + preaumeaux. One thing we know with Bey, is that her albums serve longevity while Kanye/Kendrick ride one week hype. Bey is that girl that can give us that hype on top of acclaimed art + storytelling, and also replayable bops. 

I dunno. 

 

I am part of the "optimistic 300k is possible" crew, but we have to be careful when using other acts as a yardstick. Bey's core audience is different. 

 

Hip-Hop tends to do exceptionally well on streaming services in general. It's to do with the demographic. Recently read an article about the gender divide on music streamers. It was actually pretty shocking. Not only do men significantly outweigh women on such services, but the data supports that women where present don't overwhelmingly listen to female artists either. It finally helped contextualized the huge success of Drake and even polarizers like Future and Kanye, as well as randomers who do well out of nowhere like Gunna.

 

Also, besides a few features here and there, this genuinely is Kendrick's first release of any sort since Damn in 2017. Put simply, there's an in-built hype and curiosity with this new album that I'm not sure is necessarily the case (in the same way) with Bey who (if we're keeping it 100) has dropped side projects, Homecoming doc, BIK, and been very visible with IVP.

 

All that said, she's been very wise (whether intentional or not) to play this game of delayed gratification. It creates decent distance from her last release and helps her revitalize the broaderGP  hype for her. Trust that the "OMG, she's back....stop, look, and listen" will hit a bit harder than had she dropped in 2020, 2021, or earlier this year IMO. 

[*-ChriZ-*]

I really think u overestimate Beys power. TG and EIL spoke a clear language. Dont Set yourselves up. If she pulls 150k, itll be ok. Shes not getting younger, shes lost a big chunk of her fanbase, she hasnt put effort into having commercial success in well over half a decade, etc..

Those are all factors that will negatively impact her commercial appeal.

[*-ChriZ-*]

2 hours ago, PrudenceHCharmed said:

This feels like 2013 again! 

Only difference: Bey felt hungry during 2013. This time around, I just don't feel the hunger anymore

She does care about the creative part and putting out a body of work, but the hunger to succeed? I dont feel it. She seems over it

Edited May 21, 2022 by *-ChriZ-*

[Cbreezy]

Also, while I do agree with those saying the music has to slay, I really think her success this time around will be more to do with the tactics Parkwood and Columbia draw on. I really feel like the music is almost the smallest part of the equation. 

 

Fairly confident we're getting the visual album on Netflix, but what will the broader streaming strategy be?

 

YouTube is still very important, as video views now count to sales of both the single and the album. She'll need a YouTube "something" to net those streams. 

 

Kendrick, who technically dropped without a single, released the N95 music video a few days after his album dropped for sustained hype, promo, and streams. Future, like an increasing number of acts, bolted on a "deluxe" set of new songs in the middle of the tracking week to give album a fresh streaming boost.

 

Also...noticing a lot of big acts are generally debuting smaller than usual (for a variety of reasons), but ultimately playing the long game with physicals. Kendrick is is doing like 280k now. But trust that CDs and vinyls are coming that will inevitably give him another sales lift in the weeks ahead. The Weeknd literally did another 50k out of nowhere with his new underperforming album solely because of vinyl sales kicking in. Same happened with Tyler The Creator who jumped straight back to #1. Bey could either have all of this ready at launch for a big opening or pace it out with vinyls etc coming after. I'd prefer the former, but understand the latter. 

 

Really want her to do something totally left-field and game-changing that adds to her numbers too. Spotify are dabbling more and more with video. At the moment, it's just for their Podcasts, but how epic would it be if she were the first to incorporate more full-fledged video (separate to the Netflix thing). Almost something specifically devised for the streamers that counted towards sales. 

 

The opportunities, without her really even needing to lift a finger, are endless.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Cbreezy

[Cbreezy]

4 minutes ago, *-ChriZ-* said:

I really think u overestimate Beys power. TG and EIL spoke a clear language. Dont Set yourselves up. If she pulls 150k, itll be ok. Shes not getting younger, shes lost a big chunk of her fanbase, she hasnt put effort into having commercial success in well over half a decade, etc..

Those are all factors that will negatively impact her commercial appeal.

I like ya, but I actually think your BeyHydration has you underestimating and making a lot of panicked pessimistic blanket statements that IMO are spoken as fact when they skew more opinion. Not just now, but throughout the Base. 

 

"She's lost a big chunk of her fanbase" - conjecture that hasn't yet been truly tested. We'll know after B7.

 

"She hasn't put effort into her commercial success" - probably fairer, but at the same time I think it's more a case of her not promoting/positioning herself as other Pop stars do. Looking at the ST and Lemonade promo campaigns, she for sure limited the success of specific singles and Tidal was a faux pas I'm sure even she now sees as a mistake. But the good sis did very full bodied "album" campaigns. Multiple big performances (all of which would now count towards streaming #s if placed on YouTube) and a clear interconnected strategy e.g. Super Bowl feeding into tour feeding into the visual film feeding into the music which fed into various live performances. 

 

I'll keep saying it, but I'm a very objective stan and in many ways I'm more intrigued/invested in the mechanics of the Beyonce brand than I even am in her music. I struggle to complain about her not leaning in to the Pop star thing, because she VERY wisely tapped out of that before it tapped out of her.

 

Keeping it 100, she was struggling to get hits during 4 (ironically my fave album of hers ever). We would not have the revered Beyonce we have now if she was still peddling the showgirl image and chasing hit singles to no avail. It be a Britney Spears in Vegas tea. Respected, loved, but not part of the commercial contemporary music scene. Put simply, Bey playing the "anti-Pop star" over the last 10 years  is literally the very reason she's as hailed as she is now. AND why she thankfully isn't measured by the yardstick her peers are (hit singles). It's a very rare and incredible position to be in, which is why I don't give her too much stick for her antics. 

 

There's definitely areas of improvement, especially as a 40 year old female veteran wanting to stay in the mix of what's current. But it's important to not let those frustrations cloud that it's not all doom and gloom. 

 

 

[thirdward]

I see 275k or something like that, maybe 100k pure 150k streams 

i was thinking about donda numbers but kanye

has nice recurring streams

recurring streams are a great indicator but now it’s kinda hard to predict her since she went for pure sales for lemonade when everyone and their mamas knew streaming was getting bigger 

[BnPac]

I actually think Lemonade and B7 could have been Bey's commercial peaks if Lem had been handled differently. 

 

I am not too optimistic right now but I also feel like, if she actually plays her cards right, let her team do effective promotion that does not require any work from her (AM-Spotify's playlisting, TikTok's engagement, Instagram promotion), she can have a big era. I really don't think she's over just yet. 

 

Now if she does this "I don't care about my music" detached act while rapping about "top 2 but not #2", it's probably not going to go that way. 

 

Edited May 21, 2022 by BnPac

[Starshine]

1 hour ago, Cbreezy said:

Also, besides a few features here and there, this genuinely is Kendrick's first release of any sort since Damn in 2017. Put simply, there's an in-built hype and curiosity with this new album that I'm not sure is necessarily the case (in the same way) with Bey who (if we're keeping it 100) has dropped side projects, Homecoming doc, BIK, and been very visible with IVP.

 

This is exactly why I felt her off eras could have just been Homecoming as the multiple features, EIL, and BIK's random release a year later diminished my hype for B7. Only now in 2022 am I feeling the thirst for new music even though we've been fed generously the past few years. But even when she's kept herself busy, there is thirst in general for new Beyoncé and I'm sure plenty of people weren't even aware of the side projects (or just not interested in a soundtrack associated with a Disney movie or Jay Z).

 

It's baffling how Bey, being a businesswoman who always wants to up her game and been about the bag, didn't take advantage of the platforms that were easily accessible to give herself more exposure. She def needs something game-changing to garner hype. I just don't think surprise album + visual release on Netflix or HBO would do much as only stans would check in, it's tired and I can't count how many times I've gotten notifications for a surprise album from Bey.  I wonder if a cute gimmick like an album as a pass for a B7 tour presale code would help.  I still think 300k is possible, the promo campaign just needs to be executed well, material needs to be good, and needs worthy collaborations. She's missed the mark with Lemonade/TIDAL in terms of longevity, but also nailed it plenty of times in other ways. I remember the massive hype for IVY PARK celebrity boxes. Her team needs to apply the smarts. 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Starshine

[BnPac]

2 minutes ago, thirdward said:

recurring streams are a great indicator but now it’s kinda hard to predict her since she went for pure sales for lemonade when everyone and their mamas knew streaming was getting bigger

I think you have a point but then I think streams also present a flawed image sometimes : the more an act has hits and the more added in Playlists those hits are, the highest the recurrent streams consequently are, it doesn't necessarily mean that people are interested in the artists or will check for their new music : Katy Perry or Sia are great examples of this. They have amazing recurrent streams but I am not sure either would perform greatly with a new release.

 

Also as you pointed out, that reflects nothing for B since Lem was not on streaming during the era and even ST was added later. I hope she can regain her footing with streaming somehow : Lem still did 115M in the US after 3 years but since the era was not current or lived through radio etc, they have no incentive to go back to the album again and again. Maybe with the new era, some old songs will go viral. 

 

[chaeyonce]

8 hours ago, *-ChriZ-* said:

I think you got it wrong here - she said shed never starve herself again the way she did post twins in order to get into shape for Coachella in a matter of a year. 
That's entirely different from gradually, HEALTHY, losing weight and getting into shape over the course of multiple years.

Beys shows go hard and to be quite frank, she NEEDS a certain physique to pull that off. She's a pro athlete when it comes to this. 

I mean, even Tina Turner at 60 maintained a certain physique in order to deliver her shows the way she did. It comes with the territory. I'm by no means body-shaming her, just pointing out the facts.

Yoyo dieting also known as "the practice of repeateadly losing weight by dieting and subsequently regaining it". Bey has clearly dabbled in yoyo dieting and she has stated in her Harper Bazaar interview that she has "struggled" with yoyo dieting and will therefore not do it again. What I believe you got wrong is that you think I am saying you are bodyshaming her, I'm not what I'm saying is that her body has changed, she has had 3 kids, 2 pregnancies and she is 40yo+ therefore her figure has permanently changed.

 

At the Oscars, she looked perfectly in shape and what I mean by that is that despite the fact that her body noticeably looks different than what it could have looked like 10 years ago when she'd be nearing a comeback doesn't mean that she isn't preparing/ready to come back. 

 

What I said and I think in pretty clear terms is that you shouldn't be evaluating her readiness to come back on how her body looks now as circumstances and her physicality has evolved.

 

[Cbreezy]

14 minutes ago, Starshine said:

 I wonder if a cute gimmick like an album as a pass for a B7 tour presale code would help.  I still think 300k is possible, the promo campaign just needs to be executed well. She's missed the mark with Lemonade/TIDAL, but also nailed it plenty of times in other ways. I remember the massive hype for IVY PARK celebrity boxes. Her team needs to apply the smarts. 

This is the kind of stuff that keeps me optimistic, because it feels very plausible. Like, I'd actually be disappointed if ish like that wasn't actively being discussed in their planning meetings.

 

It's rarely said, but our girl is a bit of a stunt queen and I'm totally here for it. I actively want her to lean into that aspect more than anything. It works two-fold. One to massage her status as an envelope-pushing innovator while also guaranteeing that she stays commercially competitive by any means necessary. 

 

She made much ado in Harper's Bazaar about 40 not needing to be this end-time thing and how she has a new lease on life + career, so I want her to put that into practice. IMO, she should make a point of doing what's needed to deliver big numbers for the next couple of projects just to cement that point.

 

I never want it to get "as" stunty as Rih and Jay's Samsung deals or Gaga's $1 Born This Way thing (and I'm pretty sure none of that is even allowed with the new rules), but buying the album for early tour access should be a given. 

 

Assuming she's playing 50k-60k seater stadiums (the FWT/OTRII itinerary), it's safe to imagine at least 10-20k people per venue would do the pre-order for pre-sale thing. That's an easy 100k-200k on top of what she would already do. It doesn't work for all artists, but if there's one thing people want it's to see Bey on tour. She ought work tf out of that to her advantage.

[*-ChriZ-*]

41 minutes ago, Cbreezy said:

This is the kind of stuff that keeps me optimistic, because it feels very plausible. Like, I'd actually be disappointed if ish like that wasn't actively being discussed in their planning meetings.

 

It's rarely said, but our girl is a bit of a stunt queen and I'm totally here for it. I actively want her to lean into that aspect more than anything. It works two-fold. One to massage her status as an envelope-pushing innovator while also guaranteeing that she stays commercially competitive by any means necessary. 

 

She made much ado in Harper's Bazaar about 40 not needing to be this end-time thing and how she has a new lease on life + career, so I want her to put that into practice. IMO, she should make a point of doing what's needed to deliver big numbers for the next couple of projects just to cement that point.

 

I never want it to get "as" stunty as Rih and Jay's Samsung deals or Gaga's $1 Born This Way thing (and I'm pretty sure none of that is even allowed with the new rules), but buying the album for early tour access should be a given. 

 

Assuming she's playing 50k-60k seater stadiums (the FWT/OTRII itinerary), it's safe to imagine at least 10-20k people per venue would do the pre-order for pre-sale thing. That's an easy 100k-200k on top of what she would already do. It doesn't work for all artists, but if there's one thing people want it's to see Bey on tour. She ought work tf out of that to her advantage.

That would be a great idea tbh. Simple yet super effective. I know my friends who wouldnt think of buying her album who would definitely consider doing it just to get an easier access to her tickets. Its true, people would do a LOT to see Bey live. Shes inarguably considered the best live performer of our generation aka the MJ of our generation. 

I really hope she leans into that. Also, it doesnt make her lose any artistic credibility which is honestly very important to her.

 

1 hour ago, chaeyonce said:

Yoyo dieting also known as "the practice of repeateadly losing weight by dieting and subsequently regaining it". Bey has clearly dabbled in yoyo dieting and she has stated in her Harper Bazaar interview that she has "struggled" with yoyo dieting and will therefore not do it again. What I believe you got wrong is that you think I am saying you are bodyshaming her, I'm not what I'm saying is that her body has changed, she has had 3 kids, 2 pregnancies and she is 40yo+ therefore her figure has permanently changed.

 

At the Oscars, she looked perfectly in shape and what I mean by that is that despite the fact that her body noticeably looks different than what it could have looked like 10 years ago when she'd be nearing a comeback doesn't mean that she isn't preparing/ready to come back. 

 

What I said and I think in pretty clear terms is that you shouldn't be evaluating her readiness to come back on how her body looks now as circumstances and her physicality has evolved.

 

I get that, its just that I know as well as she knows that if shes not able to serve high energy choreos, us Hive sistrens would be the first to complain. Shes just raised that Bar so high for herself that she needs to be truly Serena-Williams-type of fit. 

Yes, the Oscars were a great performance, but lets not act that we'd be content if a 2 hour show would only serve that. We want and even more so expect her to kill several choreos, and that just requires her to have a certain physique. Especially if she goes on tour and has to deliver such a set for a good year straight. 

 

[Lose My Breath]

2 hours ago, Starshine said:

This is exactly why I felt her off eras could have just been Homecoming as the multiple features, EIL, and BIK's random release a year later diminished my hype for B7. Only now in 2022 am I feeling the thirst for new music even though we've been fed generously the past few years. But even when she's kept herself busy, there is thirst in general for new Beyoncé and I'm sure plenty of people weren't even aware of the side projects (or just not interested in a soundtrack associated with a Disney movie or Jay Z).

 

It's baffling how Bey, being a businesswoman who always wants to up her game and been about the bag, didn't take advantage of the platforms that were easily accessible to give herself more exposure. She def needs something game-changing to garner hype. I just don't think surprise album + visual release on Netflix or HBO would do much as only stans would check in, it's tired and I can't count how many times I've gotten notifications for a surprise album from Bey.  I wonder if a cute gimmick like an album as a pass for a B7 tour presale code would help.  I still think 300k is possible, the promo campaign just needs to be executed well, material needs to be good, and needs worthy collaborations. She's missed the mark with Lemonade/TIDAL in terms of longevity, but also nailed it plenty of times in other ways. I remember the massive hype for IVY PARK celebrity boxes. Her team needs to apply the smarts. 

This is a good idea.  Each album purchase comes with an individual number for presale code or something. 

[Shelter]

8 hours ago, Hallad173 said:

I mean, if you put on the success stan goggles,  I think that’s definitely what the reality is, but Beyoncé clearly doesn’t prioritize commercial success for her albums, otherwise everything after ST would’ve been handled waaaaaay different…but the insane amount of mistakes made since 2016 have been talked to death so.
 

As much as it would be painful to see her open with anything less that 250k, it truly doesn’t affect her pockets like that, just those first week bragging rights. All she needs to do is perform the single at a widely broadcasted event and announce the money maker right after, her tour. Her performances never fail, so even if the album doesn’t start strong, a solid performance and everybody will still be screaming “Queen B” “Legend” etc and eat those tour tickets up. (Assuming it’s a solo tour)

 

my perception is that since Lem, she’s more so about getting to the money and that’s in her tours by a long shot 

I’m not really just talking about the first week. If Lemonade was on Spotify it would’ve given her catalogue a boost too. Her streams are fine but they could be way better and new music will obviously boost that. I hope she doesn’t play any stupid games this era. She left her album to die on TIDAL and she honestly thinks she did something by doing that 
 

[sxhunluv]

3 hours ago, BnPac said:

I actually think Lemonade and B7 could have been Bey's commercial peaks if Lem had been handled differently. 

 

I am not too optimistic right now but I also feel like, if she actually plays her cards right, let her team do effective promotion that does not require any work from her (AM-Spotify's playlisting, TikTok's engagement, Instagram promotion), she can have a big era. I really don't think she's over just yet. 

 

Now if she does this "I don't care about my music" detached act while rapping about "top 2 but not #2", it's probably not going to go that way. 

 

She should've just dropped the album on iTunes only or Spotify like Taylor did & done tour bundles like P!nk did for Beautiful Trauma. Formation had the potential to go number one if it was promoted right, but the tidal restricted release and unlisted youtube music video messed up the whole thing. Sorry, Hold Up, and so many other tracks had potentials to become a hit if it was released on spotify and apple music. 

 

I feel like B7 should've been released around 2019 cause that's the last time when physical albums still exceeded millions for anyone that's not Adele. 

[AllyBunny]

I don't think I've ever posted in Beyoncè's thread before.

But I'm having a Beyoncè listening marathon atm, and she has flawless discography. 

Scared of Lonely from I Am...Sasha Fierce is my favourite song of hers. Swear it was single material.

[Hallad173]

4 hours ago, BnPac said:

I actually think Lemonade and B7 could have been Bey's commercial peaks if Lem had been handled differently. 

 

I am not too optimistic right now but I also feel like, if she actually plays her cards right, let her team do effective promotion that does not require any work from her (AM-Spotify's playlisting, TikTok's engagement, Instagram promotion), she can have a big era. I really don't think she's over just yet. 

 

Now if she does this "I don't care about my music" detached act while rapping about "top 2 but not #2", it's probably not going to go that way. 

 

If she pulls this sh*t again, I will scream. I’m lowkey over rap Yonce 

[Devin]

I see valid points on both sides. 

[Devin]

The new era/album material will answer all this.

[Island Goddess]

15 hours ago, Hallad173 said:

 Periodt 

That’s why I’m not stressing myself over her next eras. 

 
You can’t want more for someone than they want for themselves 

 

Love reading the promo plans in here though 

 

 

[Island Goddess]

I will say I’m completely over her “surprise visual album” schtick

 

Just yawn inducing typing it 

 

 

 

 

[PrudenceHCharmed]

1 hour ago, Island Goddess said:

I will say I’m completely over her “surprise visual album” schtick

 

Just yawn inducing typing it 

 

 

 

 

I still love it because just look at....Be Alive. All these hypes will only lead to disappointment.

[PrudenceHCharmed]

The way they hype Be Alive as if it was Beyoncé's best song ever... 

[chaeyonce]

2 hours ago, Island Goddess said:

I will say I’m completely over her “surprise visual album” schtick

 

Just yawn inducing typing it 

 

 

 

 

Me atp

 

I can't even lie, it's tired as hell and that's why I barely cared about The GrIFT and BIK