Super Bowl XLV: Digital Song Sales Highlights

Super Bowl XLV
Digital Song Sales Highlights
Nielsen SoundScan – U.S. Sales, Week-Ending February 6, 2011

Note: Sales are through the week-ending Sunday February 6, 2011 (7 days). With the game airing on Sunday, the following lift figures include sales occurring in the few hours after the game. All lift percentages are this week vs. the prior week (January 30th).

“The Super Bowl, with its record breaking audience, led to a dramatic increase in sales for the artists whose music was featured during the game,” said Eric Weinberg, president of Nielsen Entertainment. “Music impacts people’s lives more than ever, evidenced by the 1.5 billion music purchases we had in 2010, and with the tremendous growth and instant accessibility of the digital marketplace, it’s not surprising to see artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, and Usher earning immediate sales lifts as a result.”

Super Bowl Performers
Halftime performers Black Eyed Peas experienced an overall digital song lift of +25%, selling a total of 267K Black Eyed Peas tracks.

  • Performed Songs
  • “Boom Boom Pow” increased +57%, selling a total of 18K tracks.
  • “I Gotta Feeling” increased +44%, selling a total of 43K tracks.
  • “Let’s Get it Started” increased +125%, selling a total of 14K tracks.
  • “Where is the Love” increased +332%, selling a total of 23K tracks.
  • The original version of the song “(I’ve Had) the Time of my Life,” by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley, increased +453%, selling a total of 9K tracks. This song has experienced elevated sales with the promotion of the Black Eyed Peas’ version, though the lifts this week are entirely related to the Super Bowl.
  • “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Performed with Slash) increased +73%, selling a total of 12K tracks.

Usher performed “OMG,” which increased +28% in sales, selling a total of 21K tracks. Overall, Usher’s digital track sales increased +7%.
Boz Scaggs’ “Lido Shuffle” was played after the 1st touchdown. The song increased +57%, selling 1K tracks.

Super Bowl Commercials with Music (Highlights)
Eminem appeared in two commercials (Chrysler and Lipton Brisk).

  • Sales of song “Lose Yourself” increased +18%, selling a total of 22K.

Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne appeared together in a Best Buy commercial.

  • Justin Bieber sales increased +27%. Note: the Justin Bieber documentary file “Never Say Never” is being actively promoted.

John Spencer Blues Explosion performed the song “Black Betty” in a Volkswagen commercial.

  • Black Betty” performed by band Ram Jam increased +44%, selling 4K.

Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” featured in a commercial for Budweiser, increased in sales +100%, selling 6K. Overall Elton John track sales increased +22%, selling a total of 42K.
Kenny G’s song “Song Bird” increased +22%, selling a total of 3K tracks (Audi commercial).
Faith Hill appeared in a commercial for Teleflora Flowers. She was featured prominently in the commercial with a name callout. Her songs increased +91%, selling a total of 27K tracks.

Other Highlights
Wiz Khalifa sales are up +5%, selling a total of 240K tracks.

  • Sales of song “Black and Yello” increased 5%, selling a total of 149K. The song is an anthem for the Steelers. It’s been promoted since October and sales remain elevated.

SOURCE: Nielsen SoundScan