That offer with the tour tickets really helped first week sales, it's on her for not promoting the album at all though. A lot of people didn't even know she had a new album out, as she did no mainstream interviews or press for it.

I think she just focuses on touring above all else in her career at this point, but I guess that's where the money is in this dying music business.

Edited April 11, 201213 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

It sucks to have the worst second week fall record in the U.S. (86% according to Billboard) but IT is a fall from very good sales and somewhat inflated numbers due to a promotion much like what happened with the woman who used to hold the record - Lady Gaga (84% fall). She probably didn't want to beat Gaga in that way, haha.

She has sold 407,000 albums in two weeks in the U.S. and she now has the 5th highest selling album of 2012 in the U.S.

US top-selling albums of 2012:

#1 “21” 2,820,000 (Adele, dating back to first week of Jan)

#2 Whitney: The Greatest Hits 714k (Whitney Houston, dating back to 2/11)

#3 Now 41 607k (Various Artists; dating back to 2/7)

#4 Take Care 423k (Drake, dating back to first week of Jan)

#5 MDNA 407k (Madonna, dating back 2 weeks)

#6 “19” 393k (Adele; dating back to first week of Jan)

If she'd care about promotion beyond touring she could probably maintain Top 5 to Top 10 for the year. Would it hurt her to do America Idol? Where's the over-achiever in her? I have a feeling she just doesn't care that much about album and singles sales because there's little money left in that particularly due to sales drops across the board (unless your name is Adele) due to YouTube, sites where you can steal music, Pandora.

Jean Paul Gaultier reunite for the MDNA Tour. Along with BAT, he also designed her outfits for the Confessions Tour.

I had one of those surreal moments just now at the launch of Jean Paul Gaultier for Diet Coke in Paris. There we were at the Crazy Horse on Avenue Georges Cinq, the red velvet womb of a basement cabaret club beloved of the kinky fashion set, and I’m chatting to Jean Paul Gaultier – who is looking youthfully slim and handsome a mere 12 days before his 60th birthday – when I pop out the question planted in my mind by Lucy Dunn, a senior editor at Grazia, the other day. Nothing happens in the world of fashion, feminist culture and celebrity without Lucy getting a sniff of it first, and this despite the fact she is in a field with three boys and a skateboard at present. Really, the woman is astounding.

So I ask him, “Jean Paul, I hear you are designing costumes for the forthcoming Madonna Tour?”

Or MDNA. Or whatever she is calling herself at the moment. “But ow do yoo knoaw?” he responded in his lovable Franglais looking visibly surprised at my obviously inside information. “Aha!” I answered, cryptically. The answer came in the affirmative “Well, yes. Yes I am. You are verrry well informed! Mebbee you know as much as me!” Then he giggled, but in a manly way, deep and throaty.

He said a bit more, but I’m writing it up for a piece in Grazia that comes out on May 1. But, guys! JPG for Madonna! Again, 22 years after he did it the first time for her Blond Ambition Tour in 1990. I was a mere teenager when this happened. And it did HAPPEN to me. I was there at Wembley, strung out on cola bottles and crisps to keep my energy up so I could wait for hours to see Madonna- the most powerful star on planet earth. Jean Paul Gaultier’s work for Madge was seared onto my mind both conscious and unconscious F O R E V E R.

Almost instantly I had a black leather corset all-in-one swimsuit type thing with cone shaped boobs run up for me by a man called Steve, which he made out of an old leather trench coat . I wore it out clubbing and kept my money, keys and bits and bobs in the cone booby parts. The cone shaped tit parts of my leather Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier inspired club wear doubled as my handbag. Of course I started a trend at Troll and Trade, the two clubs I attended on a religious basis.

http://squaremadonna...-loves-madonna/

Another link on the same topic: http://www.graziadai...s-next-tour.htm

Billboard on JPG's Coca-Cola designs (for the European market):

Diet Coke has unveiled a new line of fashionable bottles, one of which draws inspiration from Madonna's infamous cone bra ensemble.

Famed French designer John Paul Gaultier -- the man who created Madge's iconic 1990 outfit -- was recently appointed the creative director of Diet Coke. His first order of business was to create the new bottles, showing off not only the Queen of Pop's signature look, but his own: white and blue stripes.

The cream-colored Madonna bottle, which has no official tie to the singer, is painted with a fishnet corset and, of course, cone bra.

Coke has long been a partner to fashion, having worked with Karl Lagerfeld and Dolce and Gabbana in the past, but now the cola brand is taking it a step further, mixing music history and style into one campaign.

Unfortunately for American Madonna fans, the John Paul Gaultier bottles are for a European campaign, and therefore won't be available in the U.S.

http://www.billboard...006747752.story#

The brilliance of Gang Bang is unbelievable. It's probably the best off the album which unfortunately means nothing else comes close to it.

It's my favorite song as well. It's the pure awesomeness. I'm hoping for club remixes though.

Falling Free, Love Spent, Beautiful killer and I f*cked upa re good as well. The rest is kinda blah to me.

I think my favorite track on the album is "I Don't Give A". Even without the Minaj rap, it would still be good.

I didn't know how I felt about this project at first, but it's a GREAT album. In the UK she'd have #1 hits with both Give Me All Your Lovin and Girls Gone Wild (ESPECIALLY Girls Gone Wild) and if she actually promoted it, Girls Gone Wild could do big things in the US as well. If Britney released that same song and video, or Gaga, it would be #1. I do think people seem to be hating on Madonna due to her age. It's weird because I don't really recall that with Hard Candy, but now it's such a huge issue for people.

My favorite cuts are I Fucked Up, I Don't Give A, Turn Up the Radio and Love Spent, plus the singles. I think Girls Gone Wild is one of her all time best.

What are some of your favorite Madonna singles and albums?

Top 3 Albums:

1. American Life - this album really cemented me as a Madonna fan after growing up with her music.

2. Bedtime Stories - love how sexy and cohesive this album is, without trying too hard.

3. Like a Prayer - an obvious classic, although it was hard narrowing it down

Album I don't care for: True Blue

Top 10 Singles

1. Vogue

2. Don't Tell Me

3. Take A Bow

4. Give It To Me

5. Miles Away

6. Papa Don't Preach

7. Lucky Star

8. Like a Prayer

9. Human Nature

10. Express Yourself

I would've included What it Feels Like For A Girl had she released the superior album version. I HATE that dreadful dub she released. What a waste of a brilliant song and a wonderful message.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r0JTJc67neY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.mtv.com/n...s=share_twitter

Dick Clark, Thank You For Introducing Madonna to The World

Pop star's appearance on 'American Bandstand' remains one of her most legendary.

By John Mitchell

Twenty eight years later, it remains one of the most famous things she's ever said. Asked on "American Bandstand" by TV icon Dick Clark, who died on Wednesday at the age of 82, "What do you hope will happen, not only in 1984 but for the rest of your professional life? What are your dreams? What's left?" Madonna answered simply, famously and with characteristic directness.

"To rule the world," she said without hesitation. And that's what she went on to do ... well, the pop world anyway.

She was on "Bandstand," ostensibly, to perform "Holiday" and promote her self-titled debut, which was released a few months earlier in the summer of 1983, but in retrospect it feels like she was really there to prepare the world for what was coming. Like a Virgin dropped later that same year, and with its release Madonna went from being a well-liked and charismatic pop tart with a few radio hits to the most famous female singer on the planet.

The "Bandstand" crowd went wild for then-25-year-old Madonna's performance, and Clark had a hard time getting a word in. When everyone finally settled down, he asked Madonna about her burgeoning career, including her early years in New York and touring Paris with "Born to Be Alive" singer Patrick Hernandez. "He offered me a tour with him as a background singer and a dancer," Madonna told Clark. "So I jumped on that boat and got into the music industry that way and started writing songs, and here I am."

As news of Clark's passing began to surface, fans started posting the clip all over Twitter and soon enough, Madonna's herself chimed in, posting the video to her Facebook page with the message, "Even though I told him in 1984 that I wanted to rule the world, it's Dick Clark who has ruled the world."

While "Bandstand" wasn't her first TV appearance and Clark certainly didn't discover Madonna -- she was already climbing the charts with "Holiday," which peaked at #16 the week after she appeared -- her visit to the show feels like the first seminal event in what went on to be one of the most legendary careers in pop-culture history. It's where things really began, months before she took the stage in a wedding dress at the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards.

It's also a real showcase for the Madonna many fans love most. Playful, natural, beautiful and — most importantly — brimming with confidence, it's no surprise the emerging pop star on display on "Bandstand" that night went on to score 38 top tens, more than any performer in music history, 12 #1 singles and eight #1 albums, the latest of which, MDNA, debuted in the top spot 28 years, two months and 20 days after her visit to "American Bandstand."

Today, many will be looking back on Dick Clark's many achievements and dissecting the almost immeasurable impact he had on music and television, and we'll remember for how genuinely excited he seemed to be talking to a little-known disco singer on January 14, 1984. His decision to invite her on that night quite literally changed the face of pop music forever, and for that we will always be thankful.

Edited April 21, 201213 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Shirley Manson ("Garbage") discusses Madonna and sexism/ageism (Link: http://www.bullettmedia.com/article/garbage-frontwoman-shirley-manson-takes-another-shot-at-the-spotlight/)

“The tabloids complain about her looking old, and people laugh at her for that. Then Madonna goes and fixes her face, and they laugh at her for that. Even though they begrudgingly say she looks amazing, they’ll still laugh at her for trying to look young. Then she steps out, looking amazing, and the tabloids go and blow up a picture of her aging hand. Nobody’s doing that to George Clooney, blowing up pictures of his hands! I look at these magazines, and I want to say to them, What’s your point? That she’s aged? Does that surprise you? Or is your ‘point’ an attempt to undercut what she’s achieved? I think it is, even if it’s on a subconscious level. And you probably wouldn’t turn down those hands if they were grabbing you under the table, you fucking idiots.”

Madonna at 34 discussing ageism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQnu34QygU

Went to the 9/8 Yankee Stadium date. My first concert ever - Madonna + Yankee Stadium = Amazing. (I don't really count the concert I saw at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens when I was 10). It was the day a tornado hit down in some areas of New York. I partially decided to go because of the weather. Madonna put Holiday into the set list that night. Like a Prayer is sooooo unbelievable in a stadium. Had to put the phone down and join in the sing and dance along.

Holiday (along with Open Your Heart, Masterpiece)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Du3V5GU8iU

Like a Prayer snippet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25e_C3TnAKs

I went to MSG on 11/12, too. LAP was the highlight of Yankee Stadium for me. It was Like a Virgin and Love Spent for me at MSG. Love Spent is so emotional. Outside of that part, the toy soldiers in the air look so much more wild in an arena. They looked like toothpicks in a stadium. I bought a VIP package for MSG but they put me in an awful seat so they apologized and sent me down to the 100 level from the 200 level. Yay.

For some reason, I got over 30,000 views on Madonna stripping for Sandy Relief. Better numbers then some great close up videos from 11/13.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qpDNe7LoLc

Like a Prayer at MSG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcgooxCOTwI

Will post a couple more video from MSG in a posting to follow. Got the first 30 minutes of the Tour in those videos.

Actually being able to see the big screens? Awesome. AND in an arena they do seem as big as they are. Felt like Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj were there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLH-SJa6YRU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXpYI_KuTrw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqKpIV1FHg4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k96ACSLKZGY

I got to see her in Houston and this was truly one of the best concerts I've ever seen. This was by far her best tour. It flowed well and the setlist was pretty much perfect. I only wish she'd actually sung more of She's Not Me as it's one of her stronger tracks from Hard Candy. I definitely think anybody who can go see Madonna needs to do it at least once.

Before the tour started, I was preparing to be disappointed because YouTube wise nothing could top the Blonde Ambition Tour and the Confessions Tour for me - but this is up there. Going from that first dark, dark section to the Masculine/Feminine section to the final Section with Like a Prayer and Celebration? Perfect. Love when she gets the "Holy Spirit" during LAP. It's INSANE in the best way possible. It's OMG INSANE at a stadium.

When she tours again, I'm probably going to do all the NY shows. There's so much going on that you're really not seeing and experiencing it all in even 1-2 showings.

I definitely think anybody who can go see Madonna needs to do it at least once.

Me too. Even if you hate her or her latest album AND even with the fact she doesn't start her concerts until 10:45 PM no matter what day of the week. Woman can ENTERTAIN like few others.

Final numbers in...

Madonna's 'MDNA' Tour Makes Billboard Boxscore's All-Time Top 10

The final numbers are in, and Madonna's 2012 "MDNA" tour has retained her box office form, clocking in at $305,158,363 gross with 2,212,345 in attendance over 88 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore. The tour began in Israel last May 31 and finished in Argentina on Dec. 22, hitting Europe, Asia and North America in between.

The "MDNA" final box office tally is enough to rank "MDNA" No. 10 all-time in tours as reported to Boxscore, sandwiched between the Rolling Stones' "Licks" tour of 2002-2003 ($311 million) and the Stones' "Bridges To Babylon" tour of 1997-98 ($274 million).

This is Madonna's second time in the Boxscore Top 10; the "Sticky & Sweet" tour of 2008-09 was third all-time at $408 million, the highest ever for a solo artist. Her 2006 "Confessions" tour came in at $194 million. All of these tours, including "MDNA," were produced by Live Nation's Global Touring division, headed by LNGT chairman Arthur Fogel, who offhandedly predicted to Billboard back in April that MDNA would end up a Boxscore Top 10 tour.

Had "MDNA" played Australian stadiums, as was initially considered, the tour would have moved up a few notches up the all-time list. As it stood and as it stands, "MDNA" was the highest-grossing tour for 2012 according to Boxscore, making it Madonna's third time closing a year at the top of the box office heap, the others being 2009 and 2004. Madonna joined the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and Bon Jovi as the only acts to be Billboard's highest-grossing tour twice in a three-year span, and "MDNA" gives Fogel and Live Nation their sixth top tour over the past 10 years.

"MDNA" highlights were many, with the run through South America being notably successful. The five highest Boxscores on the tour were:

- Estadio Atanasio Gerardo in Medellin, Colombia, Nov. 28-29 ($14.7 million gross, 90,018 attendance)
- Yankee Stadium in New York Sept. 6 and 8($12.6 million, 79,775)
- Foro Sol in Mexico City Nov. 24-25 ($11.6 million,84,382)
- Estadio Rive Plate in Buenos Aires ($10.8 million, 89,226)
- Estadio do Morumbi in Sao Paulo Dec. 4-5 ($8.4 million, 85,255)

In North America, "MDNA" did best -- not counting Yankee Stadium -- at:

- Plains of Abraham in Quebec Sept. 1 ($8 million, 70,569)
- Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Sept. 12-13 ($7.5 million, 32,557)
- The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Oct. 13-14 ($7.2 million, 24,991)
- The Staples Center in Los Angeles Oct. 10-11 ($6.2 million, 29,015).

"MDNA" is the second tour under a 10-year multi-rights deal between Madonna and Live Nation, signed in 2007. "MDNA" is Madonna's fifth tour with Fogel's team, a run that marks the Material Girl's ascent into the elite ranks of touring artists and inarguably makes her the top touring female artist of all time.

"It seems like I have said this a number of times following Madonna tours -- five times to be precise: the overwhelming global success of the 'MDNA' tour proves yet again that Madonna is the greatest female touring artist," Fogel told Billboard as the tour came to a close. "As this tour takes its place as one of the most successful in history, I can't help but enjoy the fact that it is the millions of fans who determine that. Thank you to [Madonna manager] Guy Oseary and the entire staff and crew of 'MDNA.'

http://www.billboard.com/news/madonna-s-mdna-tour-makes-billboard-boxscore-1008117012.story#/news/madonna-s-mdna-tour-makes-billboard-boxscore-1008117012.story

I'd officially release Love Spent and end the MDNA era on that note. Love Spent moved up to my favorite song on the album and she'd chart a little better overall with a ballad (chart internationally, at least).

Love Spent (fan made video),,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE3f3CuN3_4

There's so many great articles that have popped up this week about the 30th anniversary of the release of her debut album.

How Madonna Became Madonna: An Oral History

Three decades later, looking back on the making of the superstar's debut album

The 'Vicious Competition for Credit' Over Launching Madonna's Career

'Madonna' Turns 30: A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album