Madonna Debuts at #1 with “Confessions II” #MusicMonday

I gotta say, I predicted it. Madonna’s new album, “Confessions II,” made its debut on the Billboard Album Chart at #1, selling 134,000 copies in its first week out.

No small feat at any age or stage of a career, but when you think of the longevity of Madonna then it is quite amazing.

Truthfully, if you like dance music, it is an artistic achievement. It is, to my view, one of the best dance albums ever. Yes I am a fan, so maybe I’m not so fully objective. But you can seriously stand this up against any other dance album and it’s going to win. Well maybe not against Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls,” but you get the point.

Madonna had us hooked with the first single, “I Feel So Free.”

The album didn’t debut at #1 just because it’s so good. There is tons of great music that never cracks the top 40. Well now, Madonna has always been a brilliant marketer, perhaps the GOAT in music marketing. She took a page from her own playbook and marketed the heck out of this, in advance of the release date. Including most importantly a partnership with Grindr for member exclusives, fresh content, and pop-up performances. Plus she’s done the circuit of clubs across NYC and LA. She knows her audience and they want to share in the Madonna magic.

We all do.

Madonna also gives a nod to her long her journey with her fans. Here’s the song “Danceteria,” an ode to one of the best dance clubs back in the day when she was at a career high.

Perhaps my favorite song, which is a ballad, harkens back to her very humble start. It’s called “L.E.S. Girl,” named for the neighborhood she lived in (Lower East Side) when she first moved to New York completely unknown.

It’s nice to see Madonna back on the charts, back to being her relevant self. Especially since the music industry seems to only reward the young, Madonna is proving that you don’t have to age out.

Never.

Well done, Madge. You are a marketing master. And you sound at peak form.

What’s your experience? JIM