Chart Buzz: Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Bruce Springsteen, fun.
Madonna LP sales tanks on second week while Nicki Minaj takes the No. 1 spot; plus the latest buzz on Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball and fun .’s big hit
Madonna certainly wowed critics and music industry buffs with her latest ascension to the number one spot on the Billboard 200. MDNA, her 2012 album, became the pop star’s eight chart-topper and fifth consecutive studio album to top the chart, but it also made history this week for being the biggest No. 1 to fall the most in record sales, surpassing Lady Gaga’s record Born This Way.
The album slips 1-8 with a 86.7% sales decline, falling from 359,000 copies sold to a disappointing 48,000.
Analysts expected the major drop after noting that much of Madonna’s first week sales were cooked up by pre-sale offers at iTunes and by a special concert promotion through LiveNation. Plus, Billboard noted that Madge doesn’t have a hit single generating on their major airplay charts. Not even her album’s lead single, “Give Me All Your Luvin,” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., is generating any love at radio.This week, Madonna’s MDNA has been replaced by Nicki Minaj’s latst effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, becoming the rapper’s second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.
The album debuts atop the list with 253,000 copies sold. It’s a better number compared to earlier forecasts, as industry sources believed the album would sell somewhere between 215,000 to 253,000.
Pink Friday, her 2010 debut album, bowed at No. 2 with 375,000 sold its first week, but quickly soared to the number one slot on Feb 19, 2011, just as her single “Super Bass” started to take off.
Despite what it looks like, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is not a reissue of Pink Friday. It’s an entirely new release and is being led by the album’s first single, “Starships.” So far, the single has soared to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Madonna’s MDNA now falls to number 8 with 48,000 copies sold on its second week. The album is essentially a concert promotion tool, since LiveNation is the artists’ record company. Only thing that matters to them are the patrons that purchases her $350-and-up tour tickets.
Despite earning the top spot a few weeks ago, Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball suffered a 71 percent drop in its second week. The highly acclaimed rootsy rock album was displaced on its second week by Simon Cowell’s Brit boy band One Direction.
Also new to the Billboard 200 in this week’s list of debuts are albums by Rascal Flatts (Changed, #3, 130,000), Monsters and Men (My Head Is An Animal, #6, 55,000) and Marvin Sapp’s latest gospel album I Win (#9, 37,000). Sapp’s 2010 set, Here I Am, debuted at No. 2 with 76,000 copies.
Adele’s 21 claims the number two slot with 153,000 copies sold (up 26%), while Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee falls two notches to number 4 with 95,000 (down 52%). One Direction’s Up All Night jumps to number 5 with 92,000 (up 98%).
At the Digital Songs’ chart, Gotye continues to prove his point with indie alt smash “Somebody That I Used to Know,” climbing 3-2 with a 28% increase. But fun.’s “We Are Young,” featuring Janelle Monae, regains the number one slot with 390,000 copies sold, while last week’s leader, Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend,” falls to number three with 295,000 copies sold. Rounding out the top five are songs by One Direction (“What Makes You Beautiful,” #4, 294,000) and Nicki Minaj (“Starships,” #5, 232,000)
THIS WEEK’S ACTION ON BILLBOARD HOT 100
1. “We Are Young” – fun. Featuring Janelle Monae
2. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
3. Glad You Came – The Wanted
4. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
5. Boyfriend – Justin Bieber
THIS WEEK’S ACTION ON HOT 100 AIRPLAY
1. We Are Young – fun. Featuring Janelle Monae
2. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
3. Glad You Came – The Wanted
4. Part of Me – Katy Perry
5. Take Care – Drake featuring Rihanna
