Chart Buzz: Drake, Justin Bieber, Mac Miller, Rihanna
In the latest CHART BUZZ, we reveal Justin Bieber, Mac Miller and Drake all sharing the No. 1 slots on the Billboard 200 within the course of three weeks; Rihanna seems to be burning up the Hot 100
Before we speak about next week’s No. 1 on the Billboard 200, let’s talk about last week’s contender first.
Justin Bieber‘s holiday effort, Under The Mistletoe, shot to No. 1 on its first week of release, selling 210,000 copies. It’s a relatively small number of units sold for the young champ, since he has previously scored two No. 1 albums with My World 2.0 and Never Say Never: The Remixes.
The album, which features collaborations with Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Usher, The Band Perry and Boyz II Men, also broke the record for being the first holiday album by a male artist to debut at the top position in the history of the Billboard 200 chart, according to Billboard.com.
Last week, a pile of newer releases dominated the upper tier of the Billboard 200, but revealed signs of even bigger changes in the weeks to come. For instance, Coldplay‘s Mylo Xyloto dropped 1-7, while Florence + the Machine‘s Ceremonials, already in its fourth week on the charts, held tight to No. 6 after dropping from No. 4. Michael Bublé‘s Christmas held steady to No. 8, with Tyrese‘s Open Invitation remaining strong at No. 9. Kelly Clarkson‘s Stronger, her fifth studio project, fell 2-10 on its second week of release.
This week, indie rapper Mac Miller replaces the Bieb at No. 1 with his debut album Blue Slide Park, selling 144,000 copies. The album, released independently with distribution from Fontana becomes the first indie album to top the chart since 1995. Big news for Canadian crooner Michael Bublé with his Christmas set; the album soars from 8-2 (123,000 copies sold), while the latest installment in the NOW! That’s What I Call Music compilation series, Now 40, made its debut at No. 3, selling 119,000 copies. The soundtrack to Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn enters at No. 4 (105,000), while Adele holds to No. 5 with her best-selling 21 (104,000).
Next week’s Number 1 will definitely be Drake. According to Aceshowbiz, the superstar rapper is expected to take the top spot with his second full-length studio LP Take Care, selling well over 700,000 copies. If these reports are true, Drake will become 2011’s third best-seller act based on first-week sales, with Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne leading the list. Drake’s last album, Thank Me Later, scored the No. 1 spot in 2010 with 447,000 copies sold on its first week.
Rihanna‘s “We Found Love,” containing a mix from Calvin Harris, spends its third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Found,” the lead single from Rihanna’s sixth studio album, Talk That Talk, due for release Nov. 21, also spends a third week at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart with 227,000 downloads sold, down 4%, according to Nielsen SoundScan. On Radio Songs, the dance track lifts 4-3 with 115 million all-format audience impressions, up 12%, according to Nielsen BDS. Taylor Swift‘s latst single, “If This Was A Movie,” makes its debut at No. 10. On the Digital Songs’ survey, the song starts at No. 3 with 162,000 downloads sold.
On the Billboard Hot 100 (Week of Nov. 19, 2011):
#1 “We Found Love”– Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
#2 “Sexy And I Know It” – LMFAO
#3 “Someone Like You” – Adele
#4 Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera
#5 “Stereo Hearts” – Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine
#6 “Without You” – David Guetta feat. Usher
#7 “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster The People
#8 “Good Feeling” – Flo Rida
#9 “You Make Me Feel…” – Cobra Starship feat. Sabi
#10 “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
