I think After Hours is okay but Dawn FM isn't bad. It's just okay.

It's definitely interesting seeing people talk about Dawn FM like Abel didn't care for it to be commercially successful when we know that's not true. He released multiple singles, shot multiple videos and gave that album as much of a push as he possibly could. It simply didn't catch on the way he'd hoped and I'm sure he views it as a commercial disappointment, which it very much is, especially compared to how After Hours performed.

This is exactly what happened. Anyone thinking a longer rollout would have helped is coping. A longer rollout doesn't ensure anything if the album that's eventually released doesn't connect with enough people.

what shows that people were losing favor so to speak with the AH/Dawn sound?

People who have blatantly hated since it came out think their biases don't show

He's doing stadiums because he hasn't toured in 4 years. I'd bet that most fans copping tickets are doing so to hear him perform After Hours (something he still hasn't done despite how massive that album was).

Obviously, he's established as a touring act but that doesn't mean his commercial standing hasn't changed. The Ed Sheeran of today isn't the Ed Sheeran of 2017 when he has scoring massive global smash hits AND was selling out stadiums. Sure, he can still sell out those venues now but he's not the same commercial force he used to be and everyone knows that.

Still cope. Wouldn't have mattered if he dropped 5 singles before dropping Dawn FM. All of them would have flopped because people were tired of that sound.

I think Dawn FM just showed that the Weeknd might have some trouble staying relevant like MJ or the greats did

Like where does he go after the 80s sound dies down? His voice was perfectly timed for it's renaissance but idk

Definitely going to be nominated for it at the Grammys with Kendrick and both will lose to Harry Styles.

It is but only because there's been so few heavyweights that have dropped this year and if it's case as AOTY was more certain, we'd be having discussions about it. The fact that we aren't says a lot.

sales ppl just gotta stick with the belief of sales = quality lol cause once it gets outside that it all crumbles lol. i can understand these arguments of a sound getting stale, but i just am not sure how much merit they hold. like i rather you say dawn just was not good that's why it didnt sell. cause Drake's style more or less has not changed in a while but he still sells. i guess scorpion to clb was a "fresh" sound but idk lol. i just think clb better.

Just my perception. I can't say when it happened but it happens w/ every distinct sound in music.

Can't say when it happened for Mustard, Fetty or Dancehall but I know it did. You disagree?

There's nothing shocking about that. Very few heavyweights dropped this year + critics have to select popular albums with some acclaim for those lists anyways so of course it'll make the cut lol.

i dont necessarily disagree, just dont thinks its as easy as labeling it with one single reason such as a stale sound. Kendrick's new sound was not stale. you can say J cole's was, he still sold relatively well. same goes with idk Adele or T Swift. there sound aint really changing like that, but they still selling, maybe cause they are exceptions to the rule, and someone like the weekend is not.

He will remain relevant for as long as he wants to be. He's established in that regard. All that might have changed moving forward is his albums/singles performing the way his previous work did and even with that, he'll still be able to sell out tours so he's fine either way.

Drake is Drake. That's really all I have to say to this post lol.

i think beyond stale, the weeknd just oversaturated himself. ppl were still listening to AH, and that did so well for a number of reasons. he also hopped on a million features between the two also.

I agree.

He just need to do another Starboy and he will be fine

Kiss Land*