Chart Buzz: Arcade Fire, Eminem, Katy Perry, Celine Dion
Arcade Fire lights up the Billboard 200 with new disc; Eminem is looking to take that spot with new LP. Plus more industry news on Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson and others
The Canadian rock band Arcade Fire is burning the charts with Reflektor, their follow-up to the 2010’s The Suburbs. Debuting at the number one spot with 140,000 copies sold, the data points out a slightly disappointing number for Reflektor than it did with the 156,000 units sold for The Suburbs. This time around, Arcade Fire is adding new arms and legs to their indie powered machine. The new album will be distributed by Universal Music Group, becoming the band’s first album with major distribution. Its previous LPs were distributed through Warner Music’s indie factory Alternative Distribution Alliance. At radio, the band will be using Capitol Records to promote any of their singles. As a sidenote, the album was still released through the band’s longtime label Merge Records.
Last week, Katy Perry made a big splash on the charts with Prism, soaring to number one. This week, the album’s sales sold 92,000 copies and dropped by 68%, becoming the year’s smallest second-week for a No. 1 album since August. The Civil Wars‘ self-titled LP set fell to 66% in that month. To date, Justin Timberlake‘s The 20/20 Experience (2 of 2) remains the hardest flop in second-week sales, dropping a staggering 80%.
Props to Kelly Clarkson, whose holiday album Wrapped in Red bows at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It is the American Idol alum’s first holiday disc. As more and more holiday albums are being pumped out prior to Thanksgiving Day, it’s no surprise to see the Duck Dynasty-propelled LP, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, shooting to No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The album earns some major buzz after last week’s Country Music Awards aired. The country-tinged set also features appearances from George Strait, Luke Bryan, Allison Krauss and Josh Turner.
Holding ever so tight to No. 5 this week is Drake‘s Nothing Was the Same, slipping 3-5 in its sixth week of release with 38,000 (down 13%).
On the digital side of things, Eminem is reigning supreme with four singles off of his just-released The Marshall Mathers LP2 taking over the Digital Songs chart. His strongest right now – “The Monster,” featuring Rihanna – debuts at No. 1 with 373,000 copies sold. Not since Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” (477,000) have we seen a song chart with those kind of numbers. It’s also the rapper’s biggest sales number for a single since 2010’s “Not Afraid” (379,000). Also making steam are “Survival” (34-6) and “Rap God” (8-9). He’s the second artist to have three concurrent singles dominating the Digital Songs’ Top Ten this year; Katy Perry holds that honor.
Trailing Eminem on the Digital Songs survey at No. 2 is the UK boy band One Direction with “Story of My Life,” which sold 305,000 copies. The number is a bit smaller than “Best Song Ever” (322,000) and “Live While We’re Young” (341,000). but showcases the buying power of their fans. Lorde‘s “Royals” dropped 1-3 this week, selling 196,000 copies (down 12%). Katy Perry’s “Roar” makes a big jump, 8-4 with 141,000 copies sold (up 28%). OneRepublic‘s “Counting Stars,” which shot to number four last week, drops to the ninth spot (down 14%). Miley Cyrus‘s “Wrecking Ball” is now falling to the bottom of the Top Ten with 123,000 copies sold (down 10%).
So far, after combing through music analysts data, 2013 is looking like a slouch compared to last year’s number. This week’s performance was higher than last week’s numbers – 4.7 million units and up 5% compared to 4.5 million last week. Year-to-date album sales stand at 228.7 million, down 7% compared with the same total at this point last year (245.9 million). Maybe the Christmas rush and upcoming albums from Britney Spears, R. Kelly, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey might change the tide.
Speaking of Celine Dion, the Canadian pop star is slated to take the No. 2 spot next week on the Billboard 200 with her new album Loved Me Back to Life, according to industry forecasters. The record features production from Babyface, Walter Afanasieff, Ne-Yo, Tricky Stewart and Andrew Goldstein, along with a duet with Stevie Wonder on “Overjoyed.” Eminem’s MMLP2 will probably take the top spot, selling close to 750,000 copies by week’s end.
week of November 16, 2013
(Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan)
Billboard Hot 100
1. Lorde – “Royals”
2. Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”
3. Eminem – “The Monster” (feat. Rihanna)
4. Katy Perry – “Roar”
5. Avicii – “Wake Me Up!”
6. One Direction – “Story of My Life”
7. Drake – “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (feat. Majid Jordan)
8. Imagine Dragons – “Demons”
9. OneRepublic – “Counting Stars”
10. Lady Gaga – “Applause”
Billboard 200
1. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
2. Katy Perry – Prism
3. Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped in Red
4. The Robertsons – Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas
5. Drake – Nothing Was the Same
6. Thomas Rhett – It Goes Like This
7. Toby Keith – Drinks After Water
8. Lorde – Pure Heroine
9. Miley Cyrus – Bangerz
10. Linkin Park – Recharged
