LOTR : I had two sets of friends attend in the last few weeks. Saturday matinee JUne 10 was not sold out. They were in the balcony where there were quite a few empties. They also spotted some scattered empty singles on the orch floor (mainly off to the side.) The other friends saw a midweek performance and guestimate it was about 75-80% sold. It seems to be doing allright but not sensational.
There are enough songs in the show to fill maybe one side of an LP: A half-hour CD would probably feel like a rip off. (Remember it is NOT a musical, It has some songs and a great deal of underscoring, but it is not a musical.)
As for WICKED, Akiva is right. I am sure there are enough teen and pre-teen girls who could beg and plead with their parents to buy the little princesses tickets so they can see it multiple tiems then fill up chat room message boards with inane babble about how Shosana and Megan are like so to die for like....
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com