14 DAY TRIAL // Much to the chagrin of the major record labels, the iTunes Store is well known for the tendency of customers to buy individual tracks rather than whole albums. As true as this might be, it does not mean that Apple's service is not a serious player when it comes to album sales.
Maroon 5's sophomore album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," has broken the Apple iTunes Store sales record in its debut week, the Grammy-winning band selling over 101,000 albums. Of these, more than 50,000 were digital pre-orders that provided fans with two exclusive tracks and a Ticketmaster pre-sale offer. "Maroon 5 fans broke an iTunes record, making 'It Won't Be Soon Before Long' the #1 most popular album upon week of release," says James Diener, President of A&M/Octone Records, in the press release. "The band's extensive fanbase has spoken: they clearly love the new album and special content exclusives available on iTunes."
"It Won't Be Soon Before Long" is the follow-up to the multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning "Songs About Jane" and according to Levine, the new album is "sexier and stronger." Recorded in Los Angeles with producers Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem), Mark "Spike" Stent (Bjork, Keane, Gwen Stefani, Marilyn Manson), Mark Endert (Madonna, Fiona Apple), and Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Nickel Creek) the album promises to be a louder take on the pop sounds of the band's first effort.
"This is an exciting milestone for iTunes with over 100,000 copies of 'It Won't Be Soon Before Long' sold during its first week," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes, in the press release. "iTunes is thrilled to be the largest retailer in the US for this hugely anticipated album from Maroon 5."
Undoubtedly, the special digital preorders featuring bonus tracks and Ticketmaster pre-sale offer were an important factor in the success of the album.