The band's latest disc, self-released on their label, Psychopathic Records, sold 33,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #20. The duo expects sales to fall off, but they aren't worried about their finances. Why? They're businessmen!
The Tempest is the bands eleventh album to make it onto the Billboard charts in the US, though it is not their highest selling debut by far. [Their last album, Hell's Pit, sold 73,000 copies on its first week.]
So how do the insane clowns sustain themselves? Products! Yahoo! compared their products to an "underground KISS Army." The duo has the obligatory shirts, stickers, and patches, but take it to the next level with items including lunchboxes, board games, watches, lighters, amongst other merchandise. And the band's fans, also known as Juggalos, love it.
ICP also runs their own record label, wrestling company [JCW], and have their own studio, office, and warehouse staffed by 30-full time employees.
According to Violent J, "When we first started off, we did everything ourselves, and the goal was to get a record deal. We sold more and more CDs and figured out how to get it in the stores and we figured out how to do merchandise. Once we got signed, we realized the label only did what we were doing." Hence, the duo's return to their roots -- self-releasing their music.
And while Violent J isn't expecting The Tempest to go Platinum [100,000 copies sold], he'd love it to -- because it would bring a lot of money in for them. In the meantime, he'll have to settle for the cash from their evergreen merchandise sales, wrestling appearances, touring, and the annual ICP festival, The Gathering.
In other words: don't worry too much about Insane Clown Posse's wallets being too thin due to lackluster record sales. They're doing just fine.
