(Week Ending On 2/21/12)
As expected, singer Adele once again claims the #1 spot on the charts after selling over 700,000 copies of her soon to be 7x platinum album, 21 (XL/Columbia). One week after the Grammys, album sales soared for not just Adele, who saw a 196 percent sales boost, but for just about everyone in the Top 50. Interestingly enough, Adele’s last album 19 (XL/Columbia)also climbed back up to the charts and claimed the #4 spot after selling over 86,000 copies, which equated to a 135 percent increase in sales from the week prior.
Of course, Whitney Houston is well-represented on the sales charts after her unfortunate passing last week. Her Greatest Hits (RCA) album jumped four places from #6 to #2 this week and sold 170,294 copies, a 183 percent increase from last week. According to Billboard, it is the best sales week and highest charting position for the album since its release in 2000. In addition to her Greatest Hits album, Houston’s other albums appear multiple times throughout the charts, with two more of her releases falling in the Top 50. Her self-titled album jumped 36 spots and landed at #36 with 17,518 copies sold and The Bodyguard Official Movie Soundtrack (RCA) jumped 35 spots and landed at #45 after selling just under 13,000 copies.
A number of other artists found great success with sales of their albums after last week’s Grammy Awards, which was one of the most watched telecasts in the show’s history. Singer Bruno Mars saw an even larger sales boost than last week when he managed to increase sales by 90 percent and sell 17,358 copies of his album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (New Elektra). This week, Mars jumped 22 spots and landed at #8 on the charts after selling 37, 142 copies of his album. That’s a 114 percent sales increase from the week prior.
Drake’s sophomore studio album, Take Care (YM/CM/Universal) actually fell three percent and sold just over 31,000 copies, yet still placed within the Top 20 this week. Three spots behind him at #16 is Rihanna with her album Talk That Talk (Def Jam), which saw a 13 percent increase as she sold 26,696 copies last week.
The Throne, a.k.a. Jay-Z and Kanye West, also received a significant boost in sales – 32 percent to be exact, as their collaborative album Watch the Throne (RocNation/Roc-A-Fella) landed at #25 this week and sold an an estimated 20,900 copies. News recently broke that the duo are about to embark on an international tour beginning next month.
Coming in at #26 is Young Jeezy with his Gold-certified album TM103 (Def Jam), which saw 9 percent decrease from last week’s sales, moving an estimated 20,300 copies.
Both Lil Wayne’s most recent release and Beyonce’s album, 4 (Columbia), saw a small decrease in sales as Wayne’s Tha Carter IV (CM/Universal) moved just over 15,000 copies landing him at the #40 spot and Beyonce’s album came in at #46 and selling 12, 814 units. Both albums have also been certified Platinum since their respective release dates.
Dropping This Week (2/21/12)
Tyga releases his first studio album under Young Money Records entitled Careless World: Rise Of The Last King (YM/Universal). The album contains production from such heavy-hitters as Pharell, T-Minus, Boi-1da, J. Cole, Polow Da Don, and more. Guest verses on Careless World come from Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Nas, Wale, J. Cole, and many more.
Dropping Next Week (2/28/12)
Maino is set to release The Day After Tomorrow, the Brooklyn rapper’s second studio album, which contains the singles “Let It Fly,” “That Could Be Us” featuring Robbie Nova, and “Gangstas Ain’t Dead” featuring PUSH! Montana and Mouse. Other guests on the album include T.I., Meek Mill, Mista Raja, and Roscoe Dash. Production on The Day After Tomorrow comes from Mista Raja, GQ Beats, Chris Styles, and more.
Duo Chiddy Bang will be releasing their debut studio album, Breakfast, which contains the singles “Ray Charles” and “Mind Your Manners.” The album was produced entirely by Xaphoon Jones, Yuri Beats and iSHi and features appearances from artists like Icona Pop, Shirazi, and Gordon Voidwell.
Ja Rule, who is currently serving time in prison, will be releasing the follow-up to 2001’s triple-Platinum album, Pain Is Love, entitled PIL2. The seventh studio album from Ja was entirely produced by 7 Aurelius and features Leah Siegel, Jon Doe, Kaleena from Dirty Money, and many more.