MGMT apparently sold 66,000 copies of Congratulations in its first week. I don't think that is 'very many' copies compared to Vampire Weekend's debut with 124,000 copies sold. Wonder if this is a 'huge loss' for indie music. MGMT was another chance for us to debut at #1 with one of our recommended artists, except they choked, and didn't 'represent.'

Is this album officially a 'flop' or is it more of a 'lukewarm success'?
Would other indie bands 'kill' to sell 66K albums in 1 week?
Is Justin Bieber's album better than MGMT's album?
Did MGMT fail to write the album that every1 expected them 2 write, both commercially + critically?
Does 2nd place = 1st loser? [via advice from an unloving, over-competitive dad]

Debuting at No. 2 this week is MGMT's sophomore album "Congratulations" with 66,000. It's the best week ever for the alternative act, as its first set, 2007's "Oracular Spectacular," never sold more than 17,000 in a week and topped out at No. 38 on the chart. So far, that effort has sold 606,000.

"Oracular" has been a consistent seller since January of 2008, and has continued to perform well into 2010 -- selling at least 2,000 copies per week. The album's long shelf life has been no doubt helped by its hit singles "Kids" and "Time to Pretend." They reached Nos. 9 and 23 on the Alternative Songs radio airplay chart, respectively, and were heard in in TV shows like "Gossip Girl" and films such as "21" and "Whip It."

Meanwhile, "Congratulations'" first single, "Flash Delirium," has yet to chart on any of Billboard's radio airplay tallies.

Damn. MGMT getting no mainstream radio 'love', therefore, they will probably just 'die out' and sell a very small amount of albums for the rest of time. Wonder if their mnstrm label will be pissed at them for not writing a radio friendly hit that at least could have made them some iTunes dollars.

In addition, Ke$ha seems to have received a sales bounce after her performance on SNL [link].

Ke$ha's "Animal" roars, as it climbs from No. 16 to No. 8 with 31,000 (up 39%). The album was featured in Best Buy's circular advertisement last week and discounted in iTunes' Music Store for $7.99. Additionally, she performed on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on April 17, perhaps spurring a late-in-the-week sales bump.

Is the MGMT album cycle officially over?
How do u feel about the journey?
Do u have enough energy/time to watch them on a few late night shows?
Will MGMT's third album sell more or less albums than their second album?
Should MGMT be proud of themselves, or disappointed?
Will more record labels stop taking risks with indie artists who seem 'too crazy/artistic' to deliver a commercial hit?
Is Justin Bieber the ultimate musician / marketable human?