203 That’s the number of copies Ronan Keating’s latest album sold in Ireland in its f irst week. Maybe we just don’t like him
‘His solo career is doing much better in Britain’
HE CLAIMED the only reason he was hawking his personal life was to generate album sales – but even that has backfired for Ronan Keating – with his new album, Time Of My Life, selling just 203 copies in its first week.
It has been a busy fortnight for the pint-sized singer who released the solo album in a blaze of publicity.
Over the course of the promotional tour, Ronan discussed everything from his illicit affair with a Boyzone backing dancer to couple’s ‘getting intimate’ to his music.
And he even took to his official Facebook page for a rant online where he insisted that he has no regrets over his split with his exwife Yvonne. Before reiterating that the only reason he allowed his personal life to be discussed in public was to help sell albums.
‘The only reason I’ve been polite enough to respond to any line of questioning about my past is because I’m promoting my album and the essence of that album is authenticity and truth. I have nothing to hide,’ he wrote.
Unfortunately for Ronan it seems all this personal disclosure was in vain as in week one in Ireland, he could only move 145 physical copies.Online he did far worse when just 58 people downloaded the record while four people legally streamed it.
Altogether Ronan managed to flog just 203 copies since the album’s release on February 12, bringing it to No.26 in the charts. Also contributing to the chart position were four copies played on streaming service Spotify.
By comparison, up-andcoming Irish act, Walking on Cars sold 980 copies of their Everything This Way album in its third week of release, bagging them the top spot again. It has sold 7,825 in total. ‘Ronan was in everything but the crib this week promoting his album but it just hasn’t translated into album sales,’ a music insider said.
‘There is no secret formula as to why it didn’t sell. Maybe Irish people just don’t like him or the fact that he has been speaking a lot about his marriage break-up and his new relationship.
‘Or it could simply be that people love him with Boyzone and not as a solo artist; that can happen. But what is evident is that his promo hasn’t worked.’
However, Ronan is faring myuch better in Britain where the album landed the third spot in the charts, selling 15,773 copies by Friday. He is well shy of the No.1 spo but it will be deemed an achievement by record label Decca.
‘Look, you just don’t sell albums like you used to, so his label will be happy with that,’ said the source.
‘To sell nearly 16,000 in England is an achievement, especially for Ronan Keating. He will be chuffed with that and that will really help him tour. It is not Adele’s level, who can still move a million units.
‘But for a smaller solo artist, it is okay. He won’t be buying a new house on the back of it,’ the source said.’