Ask Billboard: "Luvin' MDNA"

Hi Gary,

I'm an avid Madonna fan, have been since her debut. I've noticed that her latest album, "MDNA," has re-entered the Billboard 200 a couple of times recently, surely due to her touring the U.S. I'm curious to know exactly how many units it has sold and how it compares to her three prior albums: "American Life" (2003), "Confessions on a Dance Floor" (2005) and "Hard Candy" (2008). I truly believe that "MDNA" is a brilliant album and is suffering in sales due to poor singles choices and little radio airplay. I have not heard one track off the set on any top 40 radio station.

Thanks,

John O'Sullivan
Sacramento, California


Hi John,

I agree that "MDNA" is likely underrated, with "Love Spent" a potential hit that, sadly, may never get its chance as a single. "Give Me All Your Luvin' " and "Girl Gone Wild" peaked at Nos. 24 and 38, respectively, on Pop Songs. Third single "Turn Up the Radio" looks unlikely to chart. (Perhaps "Superstar" might?)

Madonna's current tour has seemingly spurred sales. Three weeks ago, as Madonna toured the East Coast, "MDNA" was No. 94 on the Billboard 200 - but No. 21 in Boston and No. 29 in New York, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

This week, "MDNA" re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. 181. The set has sold 512,000, trailing "Hard Candy" (744,000), "Confessions" (1.7 million) and "Life" (680,000). (Remember, though, that "MDNA" has been out for six months and sales were heftier earlier in the 2000s).

Billboard.com