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Music's New Math

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5. Out With the New
In the first half of 2012, catalogue albums—industryspeak for those older than eighteen months—outsold new albums for the first time ever.

6. Adele, Industry Savior
How her sales measured up against other artists— and entire genres—in 2011. --Adam K. Raymond

7. 39,000 Sales, Adjusted for Inflation
Albums from the past ten years that started their Billboard run with 39,000 sales—the same number that earned Grizzly Bear their No. 7 debut.

Artist: Grizzly Bear
Album: Shields
Place on Chart: #7
Date: 9/26/12
Sales: 39,000

Artist: Timbaland
Album: Shock Value 2
Place on Chart: #32
Date: 12/26/09
Sales: 39,000

Artist: Eddie Vedder
Album: Into the Wild soundtrack
Place on Chart: #11
Date: 10/6/07
Sales: 39,000

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Taylor Swift
Place on Chart: #20
Date: 11/11/06
Sales: 39,000

Artist: Blake Shelton
Album: Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill
Place on Chart: #20
Date: 11/13/04
Sales: 39,000

Artist: Nappy Roots
Album: Watermelon, Chicken, & Grits
Place on Chart: #28
Date: 4/20/02
Sales: 39,000

Photographs: Alamy (record); Ethan Miller/Getty Images (Santos); Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images (Black Keys); Courtesy of Glassnote Entertainment Group (Phoenix); Dario Cantatore/Getty Images (Interpol); Danny Clinch; Caitlin Mogridge/Redferns/Getty Images (Yorke); Patrick Mcmullan (remaining) 3