Retailers unhappy with Mumford & Sons, Muse, The Killers September releases


musel4ewide1

Matt Bellamy, Muse (Photo: Live4ever Media)




High street retailers HMV have criticised the raft of big-name album releases scheduled for this coming September, when the likes of The Killers, Muse and Mumford & Sons are all due to release new records.

With album sales already down by 14% this year when compared to 2011 figures, John Hirst, HMV’s music manager, has said the decision to release so many high profile LPs in the space of just one month, while others pass by with no major interest, has done nothing to help an already struggling industry.

“For six years we’ve been pushing the message to record labels, but this is the worst example we’ve ever had,” Hirst is quoted as saying in The Independent, referring to their belief that popular LPs should be spread out over the year.

“In the current climate, people aren’t going to buy three albums in one day. You end up cannibalising sales. Probably four of these albums should do 100,000 sales, but one of them will probably sell 100,000 and the rest will under-perform.”

However, in response, Warner Bros Records have said the September rush is merely a coincidence, and not the result of a clever marketing plan. “There’s no specific marketing ploy to cash in on a busier time of the year,” they have replied. “Albums take as long as they take.”

Other established acts due to release records in September include the Pet Shop Boys, The xx and Will.i.am.


Learn More