While R.E.M.'s American sales were declining, the group's commercial base was shifting to the UK, where more R.E.M. records were sold per capita than any other country and the band's singles regularly entered the Top 20.
Mens R.E.M.'s salgstal i USA var for nedadgående, var gruppens kommercielle base begyndte at skifte over til Storbritannien, hvor R.E.M.'s albums solgte mere per indbygger en noget andet sted i verden, og gruppens singler ofte var at finde i Top 20.