The Guardian has reported that Paul Weller is the only other artist(e), along with Lennon & McCartney, to have had number 1 albums in five consecutive decades. He’s come full circle by releasing “On Sunset” through Polydor, the label he first signed with way back in 1976 when he was fronting The Jam. Well done PW!

www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/10/pa...ive-straight-decades

Bee Gees Horizontal a German no 1 LP 1967
Bee Gees Main Course a Canadian no LP 1975
Bee Gees ESP a German & Swiss no 1 LP 1987
Bee Gees Still Waters a German & Swiss no 1 CD 1997
Bee Gees The Record a NZ no 1 CD 2001

Nonsense article in the Guardian.Mixing Lennon & McCartney with the Beatles;and mixing Weller with the Jam.All to create a 'record breaking' and 'unique' buzz around Weller's new album.

iTunes UK albums he’s at #7
Apple streaming chart UK he’s not in the Top 100
Spotify UK Top 50 he’s not in there either.

So it’s really a Top 10 on iTunes which labels and marketing departments will use to hype up their record or artist but really it’s not popular on the streaming platforms which is how most people consume music today.

Of course the concept of a number 1 has changed.

A number 1 on iTunes means very little as most music 🎵 listeners
don’t buy downloads, it’s a streaming world we live in.

Physical product, mostly vinyl now, is a niche business and I believe
is largely back catalogue.

So, really on the subject of being Number 1 the only place where it means
anything is on the popular streaming places like YouTube, Spotify, Apple. Deezer etc.

The biggest hit single in history (or recent history) is
“Dance Monkey” by Tones & I which has been in the global pop charts (streaming and downloads)
for over a year and the latest real number 1 (or Top 10)
is “Savage Love” (Laxed, Siren Beat) by Jason Derulo.

Paul Weller would have made his fortune back in the Style Council days as that’s when people actually paid over the counter for music.

According to Companies House, he's got over £3 million in cash held in his two companies, The latest album was recorded in his own studio and licensed to Polydor (a very wise business decision) - a similar business model to the one Mr King had back in the day. This means he probably gets a much bigger cut of the proceeds from sales from wherever, than he would under a standard recording contract which could pay as little as two-and-a-half percent of something.

Since his dad passed away, Weller seems to have structured his business affairs much more in his favour. Owning his own recording studio and licensing his music to Polydor is a very smart move, as it gives him maximum creative freedom whilst taking advantage of Polydor's undoubtedly huge marketing and promotion budgets. Just take a look at the quality of the video for On Sunset, which I believe they filmed on Sunset Boulevard. You don't exist in the music business for 44 years without learning a trick or two!

Ken Campbell wrote:
According to Companies House, he's got over £3 million in cash held in his two companies, The latest album was recorded in his own studio and licensed to Polydor (a very wise business decision) - a similar business model to the one Mr King had back in the day. This means he probably gets a much bigger cut of the proceeds from sales from wherever, than he would under a standard recording contract which could pay as little as two-and-a-half percent of something.

Since his dad passed away, Weller seems to have structured his business affairs much more in his favour. Owning his own recording studio and licensing his music to Polydor is a very smart move, as it gives him maximum creative freedom whilst taking advantage of Polydor's undoubtedly huge marketing and promotion budgets. Just take a look at the quality of the video for On Sunset, which I believe they filmed on Sunset Boulevard. You don't exist in the music business for 44 years without learning a trick or two!

I don't like his music whatsoever but credit where it's due he seem to have a brilliant grasp of business. He has also changed with the times also throughout the decades. Sting seems to be cut from the same cloth.

123,000 views on YouTube
Very long video 5:39

Now if the record company is gonna blow their trumpet on how you’re number 1
then look at Tones and I “Dance Monkey” which has over
a billion YouTube views.

But that aside, I enjoyed the video and the song reminded me a little of
David Bowie’s more recent works, kind of dark, melancholy and nostalgic.

Really, the whole thing about LA and Sunset is over,
the USA is no paradise and Sunset People are mostly fake
wannabe actors or screenwriters hustling for a place in the industry.

As you mentioned, he’s got tons of dough but then again so have loads of people...

The world is full of rich dudes and poor buggers...