Justin Bieber‘s alleged (though contested) retirement could be coming just in the time to see the 19-year-old pop star leave the music world with some “You can’t fire me, I quit!” dignity, with recent sales of the singer’s new album and tickets to his recent concert film proving lacklustre.
As The Daily Telegraph reports, Bieber’s latest release, Journals, which compiled ten singles released each week from last October to early December, staggered into the Australian charts at number 35 this week, moving just 4067 units nationally, following its digital rush-release last week.
Australians preferred Michael Buble‘s Christmas album, as well as new albums by Katy Perry and Beyonce, whose recent digitally-released self-titled album has proved a sales monster. Journals also did dismally in the UK, where it debuted at number 46, finally reflecting the quality of the music.
All ten singles failed to break into the Australian Top 20, with the highest-charting peaking at number 30, and most barely limping into the Top 50. The increasingly degenerate performer is also no longer a box office draw, with his Believe concert film drawing a lax response from Beliebers.
The film will only see a three-day release in Australia and tanked in the US when released on Christmas Day. The film managed to rake in just $4.5 million, compared to the $29.5 million US domestic gross generated by the documentary/concert film Never Say Never in 2011.
The lacklustre sales and dismal response to Bieber’s latest cinematic venture have some thinking that the singer’s recent retirement announcement was a ploy to increase sales and film attendance. We at Music Feeds are clinging to the possibility that people might finally be getting smarter.
(Via The Daily Telegraph)
