Meat Loaf streams skyrocket after rocker’s death

Since his death on January 20, streams in the U.S. of music by Meat Loaf has soared, and sales of his songs and albums have also shot up.

Altogether, streams of the rocker’s entire catalogue has leapt 2,583% since his death.

From January 21 (the day his death was announced) to January 23, on-demand video and audio streams of Meat Loaf’s music soared to 15.9 million views/streams, according to reports to MRC Data. In comparison, from January 18 to January 20 he was streamed 593,000 times.

Out in front, ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ from 1993’s Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell got 3.2 million streams from January 21-23, which was a 1,645% increase from 186,000 between January 18-20.

Next up on songs that have surged is ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’ from Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf’s 1977 debut LP. It managed to hit 3.1 million streams January 21-23, up 1,976% from 147,000 on January 18-20.

Bat Out of Hell‘s ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad’ (1.9 million, up 1,856%) and the title track (1.6 million, up 4,339%) are also up there with Meat Loaf’s most streamed songs from January 21-23.

Digital sales of Loaf’s catalogue has also grown by 21,298% to 54,000 on January 21-23 from a negligible amount from January 18-20. Here again, ‘I’d Do Anything for Love’ leads the charge with 17,000 units sold January 21-23, followed by ‘Paradise’ (11,000) and ‘Two Out of Three’ (11,000).

In terms of album sales, the late singer’s discography grew 19,000 copies from January 21-23, which was an 11,856% growth from a negligible amount from January 18-20. Bat Out of Hell made 13,000 of those sales, up 14,491%, followed by Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell (3,000 sales, up 14,195%) and the Essential Meat Loaf compilation (1,000, up 44,700%).

Throughout a 12 album career, Meat Loaf scored one Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, 1993’s ‘I’d Do Anything for Love’ leading for five weeks. On the Billboard 200, the song’s album Bat Out of Hell II became his sole No.1 amongst six top 40 entries during his lifetime.

While he is most remembered by us Aussies for that AFL Grand Final performance, there is no doubt that Meat Loaf was a rocker of the ages.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.