Billboard 200: 7/7/12: Justin Bieber #1: 374k

[areyoureadytojump]

Billboard.com:

Official: Justin Bieber's 'Believe' Is Year's Biggest Debut, Bows at No. 1

by Keith Caulfield, L.A. | June 26, 2012 8:00 EDT

It's official: Justin Bieber's "Believe" has sold 374,000 in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan, garnering the 18-year-old his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. That's the most chart-toppers for any act in a two-and-a-half-year span since Bieber made his chart debut in December 2009.

"Believe" registers the biggest debut sales week for an album this year, surpassing the 359,000 start of Madonna's "MDNA." The last set to earn a larger launch was Drake's "Take Care" on the tally dated Dec. 3, 2011. It started with 631,000.

(The best sales frame overall in 2012 for an album was earned by Adele's "21" in the wake of her multiple Grammy Awards wins in February. It sold 730,000 in the week after the Grammy show.)

Bieber also notches his own personal best sales week, beating the 291,000 that "My World 2.0" sold in its second week back in April of 2010.

Last Wednesday (June 20), industry sources had initially projected that "Believe" was going to debut with between 410,000 to 440,000. That figure was scaled back to 390,000 to 410,000 by Friday (22) and then down to 360,000 to 380,000 by Sunday (24). As we've noted previously, estimating future sales is difficult and projections can change on a daily basis. "Believe's" original forecast was inflated by the set's huge first-day sales and significant number of pre-orders.

Bieber previously led the Billboard 200 with "My World 2.0," 2011's "Never Say Never: The Remixes" and "Under the Mistletoe." "Believe" is his sixth top 10 effort overall -- he's only missed the No. 1 rung with his "My World" debut (No. 5) and "My Worlds Acoustic" (No. 7).

"Believe" was led by the hit single "Boyfriend," which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The set's second official single is "As Long As You Love Me," and its radio promotion will begin in earnest on July 9.

During release week, Bieber was in full-on promotion mode to tout the new album. NBC aired a two-night special dedicated to the star on June 20-21, while he sat down for a live YouTube chat with NBC personality Jimmy Fallon on June 21. He also stopped by MTV on June 19 for a "TRL"-style "Bieber Live" show and visited CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," BET's "106 & Park" and ABC's "The View" (all on June 20).

[Fat Ass Kelly Price]

Lackluster debut. Should have been 500k+. I

[Deleted]

While I was hoping for more, I'm pleased with the showing anyway. Good job Justin.

[HolidayGuy]

It's the kid's best sales week, and the highest debut sales of the year. Less than expected for some? Sure. But lackluster? I don't think so. You couldn't go by the first-week sales of "Boyfriend" because some acts' singles-sales success does not translate in the same manner to album sales.

[SPRΞΞ]

I guarantee you when this boy turns 21 he's going to challenge Britney's record. He's really only just begun....physically.

[Agent Yoncé]

These are good #s. Though I thought he would do at least 400k, he doesn't have a lot of hype like his previous releases.

[Enigma.]

Can someone honestly say that career-best numbers are disappointing? Jesus.

He's capable of selling 500k and probably would've done it with Q4 release.

[Honeymoon]

I agree with HG and spoilt. Why is Pulse blaming Bieber for their own overestimations? Any act that outsells their previous debut week or has the biggest debut of the year doesn't deserve anyone downplaying their success.

[NeRD]

If Gaga releases this year she'll easily take the title for biggest debut of the year.

Not bad sales for Justin though. Just disappointing all things considered.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

No the first day sales got everyone hyped up when he's in uncharted territory for himself. The fact that he bested himself means his debut wasn't at all disappointing.

[divasummer]

I thought he was going to debut with higher sales as well.
This album was very hyped in my opinion.
Justin's 2 studio cd's and his remix album has all had decent legs so I wouldn't be surprised if this one does too.
Raido seems like it's going to embrace him more than before and he does have a decent amount of single worthy material.

[Taylor.]

Jun 27, 2012 7:39:56 GMT -5 NeRD said:

If Gaga releases this year she'll easily take the title for biggest debut of the year.

Taylor Swift could challenge for that title, too.

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.com/news#/news/justin-bieber-kenny-chesney-fiona-apple-1007433552.story

Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Fiona Apple Lead Billboard 200 Debuts
by Keith Caulfield, L.A. | June 27, 2012

As previously reported, Justin Bieber's "Believe" arrives, as expected, at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The singer's set sold 374,000 in its debut week according to Nielsen SoundScan, marking the largest bow of the year and Bieber's highest sales frame.

"Believe" is Bieber's fourth No. 1 album, following 2010's "My World 2.0" and 2011's "Never Say Never: The Remixes" and "Under the Mistletoe."

He leads a debut-filled top four on the Billboard 200 this week, where all four of the top slots are occupied by new arrivals. It's the first time we've had the entire top four be debuts since the chart dated Nov. 19, 2011, when Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe" started at No. 1.

At No. 2 this week, Kenny Chesney bows with "Welcome to the Fishbowl," moving 193,000 copies. It's Chesney's best sales week since 2007's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" started with 387,000 at No. 3. The country star's last album, 2010's "Hemingway's Whiskey," debuted with 183,000 at No. 1. All told, "Welcome to the Fishbowl" marks his 10th top 10 album on the Billboard 200. Over on the Top Country Albums chart, the new effort enters at No. 1 -- his 11th leader on that tally.

After a nearly seven-year hiatus, singer/songwriter Fiona Apple is back on the Billboard 200. The artist nets her highest-charting album ever, and second top 10, as "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser . . ." debuts at No. 3, moving 72,000. Apple was last on the chart in 2005 with "Extraordinary Machine," which debuted and peaked at No. 7 with 94,000. Her first two albums, 1997's "Tidal" and 1999's "When the Pawn. . ." peaked at Nos. 15 and 13, respectively.

Rounding out the top four is the top 10's final debut this week, the Smashing Pumpkins' "Oceania," at No. 4 with 54,000. Like Apple, the Pumpkins are making a return to the list after a lengthy vacation. The act was last on the chart with 2007's "Zeitgeist," which debuted and peaked at No. 2 with a 145,000 start. The Pumpkins first appeared on the Billboard 200 almost 21 years ago, when "Gish" bowed way down at No. 195 on Sept. 7, 1991.

The "Rock of Ages" soundtrack rallies up four slots to No. 5 with 49,000 and a 34% gain in sales. It debuted three weeks ago at No. 15 with 18,000 and then jumped to No. 9 last week with 36,000 after the film opened in theaters.

Last week's No. 1, Usher's "Looking 4 Myself," slips 62% in its second week, falling to No. 6 with 48,000.

Adele's "21" falls out of the top five for only the second time in its 70 weeks on the chart, as it drops 3-7 with just under 47,000 (down 24%). Its lone other non-top five week was on Dec. 10, 2011.

One Direction's "Up All Night" descends two spots to No. 8 with 41,000, marking the album's 15th straight week in the top 10 (its entire chart run). The last set to earn its first 15 frames in the top 10 was Adele's "21." Previous to Adele, Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" racked its first 15 weeks in the top 10 between Nov. 13, 2010 and Feb. 19, 2011.

Rounding out the top 10: Luke Bryan's "Tailgates & Tanlines" rises four rungs to No. 9 (28,000; up 4%) and Rush's "Clockwork Angels" drops 2-10 with 27,000 (down 74%).

Over on the Digital Songs chart, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" is again No. 1, selling another 263,000 downloads (down 10%). Moving up a slot to the No. 2 position is Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" with 221,000 (up 12%).

Maroon 5's "Payphone" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) slips 2-3 with 218,000 (down 5%) while Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" is steady at No. 4 with 176,000 (down 10%).

Making a big jump up four rungs is Ellie Goulding's "Lights" with 149,000 (up 23%) while David Guetta's "Titanium" (featuring Sia) sizzles 13-6 with 126,000 (up 24%).

Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" climbs one to No. 7 (122,000; down less than 1%), Usher's "Scream" falls a slot to No. 8 (119,000; down 3%) and Pitbull's "Back in Time" slides three to No. 9 (113,000; down 10%). Closing out the top 10 is Nicki Minaj's "Starships," rising two positions to No. 10 with 101,000 (down 9%).

Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending June 24) totaled 5.94 million units, up 2% compared with the sum last week (5.81 million) and up less than 1% compared with the comparable sales week of 2011 (5.92 million). Year-to-date album sales stand at 144.71 million, down 3% compared with the same total at this point last year (149.12 million).

Digital track sales this past week totaled 25.17 million downloads, down 1% compared with last week (25.38 million) and down less than 1% stacked next to the comparable week of 2011 (25.29 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 672.73 million, up 6% compared with the same total at this point last year (635.35 million).

Next week's Billboard 200 competes with the same week in 2011 when: Beyonce's "4" bowed at No. 1 with 310,000 and Big Sean's "Finally Famous" started in the No. 3 slot with 87,000. Adele's "21" rose one rung to No. 2 with 92,000 (down 10%) while the previous week's leader, Jill Scott's "The Light of the Sun," fell to No. 5 with 55,000 (down 60%).

[areyoureadytojump]

Highlights of the article:

Adele is #7 on the BB200.

Usher is down -62%.

Album sales YTD are down 3%.

[HolidayGuy]

music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-june-24-2012-albums-thanks-move-145419770.html;_ylt=AgycTOmvOPviwJYc6XRGSNsPwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Week Ending June 24, 2012. Albums: Thanks & Move Over
By Paul Grein | Chart Watch – Wed June 27, 2012

Justin Bieber's Believe enters The Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 374K. The number is off a bit from the overly rosy 400K-440K projections that were floated last week. Even so, it's the biggest first-week sales tally by any album so far this year. And it's the biggest one-week sales tally of Bieber's career. There's just one potentially awkward wrinkle. The album displaces the latest by Bieber's mentor, Usher. The R&B star's Looking 4 Myself drops to #6 after an uncharacteristically soft debut (128K) at #1 last week. That was Usher's slimmest first-week sales tally since 1997.

Of course, it's a little unfair to compare to the two artists, who are at different points in their careers. Usher first cracked the top 10 (with My Way) in January 1998—when Bieber was three years old.

Remarkably, this is the second time that Bieber has bumped Usher out of the #1 spot. In April 2010, My World 2.0 returned to #1, displacing Raymond V Raymond (which had interrupted its run on top). The two artists must not mind competing because this is the second time they've released albums just one week apart.

Bieber is the first artist in chart history to land four #1 albums or EPs while still in his teens. Believe follows My World 2.0, the EP Never Say Never: The Remixes and Under The Mistletoe. And Bieber has nearly 18 months to add to this tally. He won't turn 20 until March 1, 2014.

Two artists landed three #1 albums while still in their teens. Britney Spears scored with …Baby One More Time, Oops!...I Did It Again and Britney, all by age 19. Miley Cyrus scored with Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus, Breakout and the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, all by age 16. (The Fine Print: The initial Hannah Montana TV soundtrack in 2006 also reached #1, but I didn't count it because it wasn't marketed as a Cyrus album.)

In addition, Bieber is only the second Canadian artist to land four #1 albums. He follows Neil Young, who scored with the 1972 classic Harvest and also with three albums with Crosby, Stills Nash & Young: Déjà vu, 4 Way Street and So Far. Young was 21, not much older than Bieber is now, in 1967 when he first charted with Buffalo Springfield.

Michael Buble is runner-up among Canadian acts for the most #1 albums. The charismatic crooner has had three: Call Me Irresponsible, Crazy Love and Christmas.

Believe also enters The Official U.K. chart at #1. Bieber is the youngest artist ever to have a "transatlantic #1"—an album that reached #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. The record was formerly held by fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne, who was 19 when she topped the charts in both countries in 2004 with Under My Skin.

The 374K start for Believe marks Bieber's biggest sales week to date. It tops My World 2.0, which sold 291K in its second week. It's the biggest first-week tally by any album since Take Care by fellow Canadian artist Drake sold 631K in its first week in November. It's the biggest one-week tally for an album by a teen star since Fearless by Taylor Swift (then 18) debuted with sales of 592K in November 2008.

Here are the runners-up to Believe for the biggest first-week sales tallies of 2012: Madonna's "bundle"-boosted MDNA (359K), Carrie Underwood's Blown Away (267K), Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (253K) and John Mayer's Born And Raised (219K).

The 374K tally for Believe includes 139K digital copies, which it puts it at #1 on Top Digital Albums. That's the biggest one-week digital tally in history for a teen act. The old record was held by Swift's Fearless, which sold 129K in its debut week.

Kenny Chesney's Welcome To The Fishbowl debuts at #2. It's his 10th top five album. Chesney is one of only six country artists to land 10 or more top five albums in the history of The Billboard 200. Garth Brooks leads the pack with 13, followed by Tim McGraw with 12; George Strait and Toby Keith, with 11 each; and Alan Jackson, also with five.

Fishbowl enters Top Country Albums at #1, displacing Josh Turner's Punching Bag (the title suddenly seems apt). This is Chesney's 11th #1 country album.

Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel Is Wiser… debuts at #3. It's Apple's highest-charting album to date. Extraordinary Machine, her last album (and her only previous top 10 album), reached #7 in October 2005. Apple first charted in September 1996 with Tidal.

(The full title of Apple's current album is The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. Incredibly, this isn't Apple's longest album title. The full title of 1999's When The Pawn… stretched to a staggering 90 words. Do you get the impression she's paid by the word? I bet she always got an A in English class—and was a bit of a smart-aleck.)

Smashing Pumpkins' Oceania debuts at #4. It's the band's seventh top 10 album; its sixth to crack the top five. The band first cracked the top 10 in August 1993 with Siamese Dream. The band first charted in August 1991 with Gish.

The Rock Of Ages soundtrack jumps from #9 to #5 in its third week. It's the third soundtrack from a movie or TV show directed by Adam Shankman to reach the top 10. It follows Hairspray (#2 in 2007) and Glee: The Rocky Horror Glee Show (#6 in 2010). Rock Of Ages is #1 on Top Soundtracks for the third week. (If you haven't seen it, the movie is a hoot.)

I have good news and bad news about Adele's 21, which drops from #3 to #7 in its 70th week. It's the first album to spend its first 70 weeks in the top 10 since Bruce Springsteen's Born In The U.S.A., which spent its first 84 weeks in the top 10 from June 1984 to January 1986. Alas, the #7 ranking equals its lowest ranking to date. (It previously dipped this low in the week ending Nov. 27.) Also, the album sold 48K this week. It's the first time the album's sales have slipped below 50K. Its previous low was 56K four weeks ago.

One Direction's Up All Night logs its 15th straight week in the top 10. In addition, the boy band's DVD, Up All Night: The Live Tour, is #1 for the fourth week on Top Music Videos. It sold 22,000 copies this week, bringing its four-week total to 160K.

Luke Bryan's Tailgates And Tanlines rebounds from #13 to #9 in its 46th week. The album has sold 1,204,000 copies, which is more than Bryan's last two albums combined.

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" holds at #1 on Hot Digital Songs for the sixth straight week. Only one other song has had as many weeks at #1 so far this year. That's "We Are Young" by fun. featuring Janelle Monae, which was the top-seller for seven weeks. Will "Call Me Maybe" hold at #1 on the Hot 100? Probably, but you'll find out for sure later today when we post Chart Watch: Songs.

Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 albums.

The Top Five: Justin Bieber's Believe debuts at #1 (374K). It's Bieber's fourth #1 album or EP; his sixth to reach the top 10…Kenny Chesney's Welcome To The Fishbowl debuts at #2 (193K). It's Chesney's 10th top 10 album… Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel Is Wiser debuts at #3 (72K). It's Apple's second top 10 album...Smashing Pumpkins' Oceania debuts at #4 (53K). It's the band's seventh top 10 album…The Rock Of Ages soundtrack jumps from #9 to #5 in its third week (49K).

The Second Five: Usher's Looking 4 Myself drops from #1 to #6 in its second week (48K)…Adele's 21 drops from #3 to #7 in its 70th week (48K). It has been in the top 10 the entire time… One Direction's Up All Night drops from #6 to #8 in its 15th week (41K). The former #1 album has been in the top 10 the entire time… Luke Bryan's Tailgates & Tanlines rebounds from #13 to #9 in its 46th week (28K). This is its seventh week in the top 10…Rush's Clockwork Angels drops from #2 to #10 in its second week (27K).

Five albums drop out of the top 10 this week. Josh Turner's Punching Bag drops from #4 to #17, Ed Sheeran's + drops from #5 to #29, Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Americana drops from #7 to #28, Alan Jackson's Thirty Miles West drops from #8 to #11 and Waka Flocka Flame's Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family drops from #10 to #26.

The soundtrack to the Disney Channel TV movie Let It Shine vaults from #29 to #12 in its second week…Dirty Heads' Cabin By The Sea debuts at #18. Dirty Heads is the second "Dirty" act to land a top 20 album. Dirty Vegas' eponymous album hit #7 in June 2002. (I feel dirty just writing this item.)

Glen Hansard's Rhythm And Repose debuts at #21. This is Hansard's first top 30 album on his own. He teamed with Marketa Irglova to write and record the Once soundtrack (#7 in March 2008) and The Swell Season's Strict Joy (#15 in November 2009).

The Brave soundtrack debuts at #33. The animated Disney Pixar movie was #1 at the box-office over the weekend. The soundtrack features Patrick Doyle's original score and vocal tracks by such acts as Julie Fowlis and Birdy with Mumford & Sons…The soundtrack to Project X re-enters the chart at #34, thanks to the release of the movie's DVD. The soundtrack reached #12 in March.

Journey's 1988 album Greatest Hits drops from #28 to #40 in its 220th week on the chart. It holds at #1 on the Top Catalog Albums chart for the second straight week; the 11th week overall. "Don't Stop Believin'" is the big finale in the aforementioned Rock Of Ages.

The Black Keys' Brothers drops from #55 to #66 in its 109th week. The album has sold 1,082,000 copies, nearly half of them digital. The album this week becomes the 26th album to sell 500K digital copies.

Coming Attractions: Maroon5's Overexposed and Linkin Park's Living Things will battle for #1 next week. Also due: R. Kelly's Write Me Back, The Offspring's Days Go By, Maybach Music Group, Self Made Vol. 2, and Blues Traveler's Suzie Cracks The Whip.

[NeRD]

Where does 21's total US sales stand out now?

[areyoureadytojump]

^~9,451,000

[NeRD]

Thanks. Hopefully the holiday season will give it the boost it needs to reach 10 million since it looks like we wont be getting anymore singles.

[Au$tin]

I should've just stuck with my initial p/d months ago, where I said it would pull in Breakout numbers for its opening.

[Jack]

Jun 27, 2012 1:04:04 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

I guarantee you when this boy turns 21 he's going to challenge Britney's record. He's really only just begun....physically.

I really think this was his opportunity.

I'm not saying this is his peak, but he's a phenomenon and phenomenon's don't last forever.

Obviously it's a solid week but I was hoping for some extraordinary numbers here.

[wavey.]

I WAS ROOTING FOR HIM :'(

[Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815...]

Jun 27, 2012 13:57:58 GMT -5 wavey. said:

I WAS ROOTING FOR HIM :'(

This reminds me of...

Classic. :'(


I thought he was going to do over 400k for sure

[fridayteenage]

Wow for 1D having the first album with 15 T10 weeks since Adele.

[Rodze]

Jun 27, 2012 15:04:12 GMT -5 Hotlantan said:

...

Thanks but SoundScan leaks are forbidden now.

pulsemusic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=announcements&action=display&thread=116782

[halo19]

I'm glad the Smashing Pumpkins did better than expected. Sorry haters, people will buy the music regardless of the lineup, particularly when a new album is of high quality.

[areyoureadytojump]

Usher's "Confessions" is 431 units from 10 million scanned.

[chartfreak]

Oops.

[d.t.m]

Disappointing debut from JB. I see significantly less numbers with his next release.

[areyoureadytojump]

^I don't think it's disappointing. I think it's the new record business.

[ListenToItTwice]

Jun 27, 2012 17:57:14 GMT -5 areyoureadytojump said:

Usher's "Confessions" is 431 units from 10 million scanned.

Nice! With 21 slowing down, he'll get a few months to enjoy that "last 10-million selling album" title.

I'm amazed that Justin Bieber already has four #1 albums. I'm sure he'll get another someday, but I'm making the very bold prediction that five will be his final total. Damn impressive.

I'm seeing the Brave Soundtrack being listed as "Courageous Soundtrack" in some places. Anyone know why?