Friday, July 30, 2010

Will Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' surpass 'Recovery' as this years biggest sales opener?


Quote:
Much has been written, here and elsewhere, about the brain trust surrounding Katy Perry, including EMI executives Greg Thompson and Angelica Cob Baehler; the management team of Martin Kirkup, Steve Jensen and Bradford Cobb; recently departed A&R man Chris Anokute; and writer/producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. What hasn’t been widely discussed is that Perry is a fiercely intelligent young artist who is firmly in control of every aspect of her career, from her music—in which she plays a primary songwriting role, decides who she collaborates with and who produces—to her carefully calibrated imaging. In terms of doing things her own way, it’s hard to imagine any other pop diva going out on the Warped Tour, as Perry did in 2008. Thus far, her decision-making has been virtually flawless, resulting in wall-to-wall media visibility and massive anticipation for Teenage Dream, streeting Aug. 24 on Capitol/EMI. Meanwhile, the just-released title track poised to follow “California Gurls” (which hit 3m this week) to the top of the sales and airplay charts. Prognosticators are divided on whether Perry’s album will surpass Eminem’s Recovery, which bowed at 754k, to become the year’s biggest debut. Doubters feel the release date is problematic in the sense that it falls at a time when Americans are traditionally preoccupied with end-of-summer and back-to-school activities, with mass entertainment far down their priority lists… Not surprisingly, Perry’s current contract is being renegotiated, with respected attorney Jay Cooper in the process of doing a mega-deal for her…
*DISCUSSION THREAD*