Billboard 200: 1/5/13- Taylor Swift No. 1- 276,000

[HolidayGuy]

Starting with info from Hip Hop DX, which posts Current Albums rankings:

2. T.I., Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head: 179,000

25. Cee Lo Green, Cee Lo's Magic Moment: 51,000 (164,000)

27. Chief Keef, Finally Rich: 50,000

35. Game, Jesus Piece: 35,000 (122,000)

39. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city: 34,000 (540,000)

41. Wiz Khalifa, O.N.F.I.C.: 33,000 (215,000)

73. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist: 15,000 (192,000)

87. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up: 14,000 (772,000)

96. Big Boi, Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors: 12,000 (43,000)

118. Meek Mill, Dreams & Nightmares: 9,300 (283,000)

[musicrocks]

Glad to see that T.I's sales have increased over the last album...I thought he wasn't going to sell as well as No Mercy.

[HolidayGuy]

music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-dec-23-2012-albums-swift-first-155717349.html;_ylt=Ag_.5PQUU6jCW9VBb8xJlL4PwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Week Ending Dec. 23, 2012. Albums: Swift Is First Since The Beatles
By Paul Grein | Chart Watch

Taylor Swift this week becomes the first artist since the Beatles to log six or more weeks at #1 with three consecutive studio albums. She achieves the feat with Red, which tops The Billboard 200 for the sixth week. It follows Fearless (11 weeks) and Speak Now (six weeks). The Beatles achieved the feat with seven studio albums in a row from Beatles ’65 in January 1965 to Abbey Road November 1969.

Only two other acts have had such lengthy stays at #1 with three consecutive studio albums. The Kingston Trio spent six or more weeks on top with four straight studio albums in 1959 and 1960. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass did it with three straight studio albums in 1965 and 1966.

Thus, Swift is the first female artist to achieve this feat.

This is the third time that Swift has had the #1 album in the last week before Christmas, which is traditionally the most competitive week of the year. She also achieved the feat with Fearless in 2008 and Speak Now in 2010. Since 1991, only one other artist has had the #1 album in the last week before Christmas three times. Garth Brooks scored with The Hits in 1994, Sevens in 1997 and Double Live in 1998. (Mariah Carey achieved the feat twice, in 1993 with Music Box in 1993 and Daydream in 1995.)

Here’s another sign of Swift’s dominance: She has had three of the last six albums to log six or more weeks at #1. (The other three albums to spend six or more weeks at #1 in the past 7-1/2 years are Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed A Dream, Eminem’s Recovery and Adele’s 21.)

T.I.’s Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head debuts at #2. This is his sixth top five album. Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man soundtrack reached #14 in 1973. Gaye released the mostly instrumental film score in between his two most classic albums, 1971’s masterwork What’s Going On and 1973’s Let’s Get It On.

One Direction’s Take Me Home holds at #4 for the third week. The album sold 177K copies this week, which enables it to jump to #6 on the year-to-date chart. The boy band’s earlier Up All Night is #3 on that chart. With one chart week to go in 2012, One Direction is a cinch to become the first act to place two albums in the year-end top 10 since Taylor Swift scored in 2008. (As it happens, she occupied those same exact spots: #3 for the year with Fearless; #6 with Taylor Swift.)

In addition, Up All Night—The Live Tour logs its 27thweek at #1 on Top Music Videos. It’s just the second music video to log 27 or more weeks at #1 since this chart originated (as Top Music Videocassettes) in March 1985. It follows Ray Stevens’ Comedy Video Classics (29 weeks in 1993-1994). Stevens had four top 10 hits on the Hot 100: the novelty hits “Ahab, The Arab,” “Gitarzan” and “The Streak” and the sing-along pop tune “Everything Is Beautiful.”

Michael Buble’s Christmas, which drops from #3 to #5, this week becomes the first Christmas album to top 3 million in U.S. sales since Josh Groban’s Noel five years ago. It’s just the 12th Christmas album in the Nielsen SoundScan era to sell 3 million copies.

Buble’s album is #1 on Top Catalog Albums for the eighth week. It’s the #1 holiday album for the second week in a row, humbling this year’s top holiday album, Rod Stewart’s Merry Christmas, Baby. Fifty holiday albums are listed on this week’s Billboard 200.

Phillip Phillips’ The World From The Side Of The Moon holds at #7 for the second week. It’s the first debut album by an American Idol winner to spend its first five weeks in the top 10 since Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts spent its first 12 weeks in the top 10 in 2005-2006. David Cook’s David Cook and Scotty McCreery’s Clear As Day each spent their first four weeks in the top 10.

The first two Idol champs also got off to fast starts. Kelly Clarkson’s Thankful spent its first eight weeks in the top 10. Ruben Studdard’s Soulful spent its first nine weeks in the top 10.

Phillips’ album debuted the same week as Rihanna’s Unapologetic. But where Unapologetic has faded surprisingly fast (it drops from #15 to #19 this week), Phillips’ album has stayed strong. It has sold 462K copies to date, just 10K less than Rihanna’s. Are they the tortoise and the hare? It’s starting to look that way.

12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief debuts at #9. It’s the fifth charity/benefit album to crack the top 10. It follows The Concert For Bangla Desh, which logged six weeks at #2 from January to March 1972; We Are The World, which spent three weeks at #1 in April and May 1985; God Bless America, which spent one week on top in November 2001 and Hope For Haiti Now, which spent one week on top in February 2010.

12-12-12 and Hope For Haiti Now were both created to bring relief following natural disasters (a super storm in New Jersey; an earthquake in Haiti). The Concert For Bangla Desh and We Are The World were both designed to alleviate starvation. God Bless America raised money for the Twin Towers Fund in the wake of 9/11.

12-12-12 is a digital-only release at this point. The album, which sold 82K digital copies this week, enters Top Digital Albums at #1. It will be released on CD in January. Hope For Haiti Now was never released on CD, which seems a missed opportunity. Hope For Haiti Now has sold 372K digital copies.

The creators of 12-12-12 were able to get the album to market much faster than manufacturers were back in the day of physical releases. The Concert For Bangla Desh reached stores more than four months after the concert. (The concert was held on Aug. 1, 1971. The album entered the chart in the issue dated Jan. 8, 1972, reflecting a December 1971 release.) You have to wonder how many more copies Bangla Desh would have sold if technology had allowed it to get to market sooner.

Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven” tops Hot Digital Songs for the third week in a row. Will it also remain #1 on the Hot 100? You’ll find out later today when we post Chart Watch Songs.

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

The Top Five: Taylor Swift’s Red holds at #1 for the sixth week in its ninth week (276K). It has ranked in the top two the entire time... T.I.’s Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head debuts at #2 (179K). This is his sixth top five album… Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox dips from #2 to #3 in its second week (178K)… One Direction’s Take Me Home holds at #4 for the third week in its sixth week (177K). This is its sixth week in the top five… Michael Buble’s Christmas drops from #3 to #5 in its 19th week (148K). This is its 13th week in the top 10.

The Second Five: Rod Stewart’s Merry Christmas, Baby dips from #5 to #6 in its eighth week (113K). This is its eighth week in the top 10… Phillip Phillips’ The World From The Side Of The Moon holds at #7 for the second week in its fifth week (98K). This is its fifth week in the top 10…Mumford & Sons’ Babel jumps from #11 to #8 in its 13th week (93K). This is its eighth week in the top 10… 12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief debuts at #9 (82K)…Now 44 rebounds from #12 to #10 in its seventh week (80K). This is its third week in the top 10.

Four albums drop out of the top 10 this week. The Game’s Jesus Piece dives from #6 to #37…Blake Shelton’s Cheers, It’s Christmas drops from #8 to #16… Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire drops from #9 to #12…Lady Antebellum’s On This Winter’s Night dips from #10 to #11.

Blink-182’s EP Dogs Eating Dogs debuts at #23. It’s the band’s second EP, following 1996’s They Came To Conquer…Uranus. That one didn’t chart. (As a dog lover, I think the album cover and album title, well, bite.)…Essential Now That’s What I Call Christmas vaults from #113 to #25, thanks to a 99 cent sale at Amazon.MP3. The album has sold 571K copies since its release in 2008. This is its highest ranking to date. Its previous peak was #31.

Chief Keef’s Finally Rich, the rapper’s first studio album following five mix-tapes, debuts at #29. I don’t know what he means by “finally.” The kid is only 17.

Les Miserables: Highlights From The Motion Picture Soundtrack debuts at #33. This is the highest that this work has climbed on the chart. The original London cast album peaked at #106. The original Broadway cast album peaked at #117. An album of highlights from worldwide productions of the musical reached #184. The most famous song from the show is “I Dreamed A Dream,” which was the title track of Susan Boyle’s debut album, which spent six weeks at #1 in 2009.

Les Miserables is #1 on Top Soundtracks. Anne Hathaway’s reading of “I Dreamed A Dream” enters Hot Digital Songs at #94.

Les Mis opened on Broadway in March 1987. It ran continuously for more than 16 years. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The show has also been a big hit in the home video market. Les Miserables: 10th Anniversary Concert, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, was #1 on the music video chart for 22 weeks in 1996 and 1997. Les Miserables: 25th Anniversary Concert was #1 for four weeks in 2011.

The soundtrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey drops from #30 to #47. The movie was #1 at the box-office for the second straight weekend.

The Black Keys’ El Camino tops the 500K mark in digital sales this week. It’s the duo’s second album to sell 500K digital copies. Brothers crossed the threshold in June. The Black Keys are the seventh act to top the 500K mark in digital sales with two or more albums. They follow Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Adele, Kanye West, Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.

Harry Connick Jr. this week tops the 15 million mark in U.S. sales in the Nielsen SoundScan era. Connick first charted in August 1989 (two years before Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales for Billboard) with the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack.

To My Readers: Two weeks ago, we posted The Year’s Top Albums. Last week, we posted The Year’s Top Songs. One week from today, when Nielsen SoundScan publishes the final chart of 2012, I’ll update both blogs and re-post them.

Happy new year, everybody.

[HolidayGuy]

www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat#/news/t-i-s-trouble-man-debuts-at-no-2-on-billboard-1008062562.story

T.I.'s 'Trouble Man' Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200, Taylor Swift Still Rules
by Keith Caulfield, L.A. | December 27, 2012

As predicted last week, Taylor Swift's "Red" album remains at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a sixth non-consecutive week, selling 276,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set posts a big increase in sales (up 32%) -- as do most of the chart's titles. That's natural, since the most recent tracking week ended on Sunday, Dec. 23, when consumers were busy shopping for last minute Christmas gifts.

It should come as no surprise then that the week marked the busiest for album sales in 2012. There were 12.79 million albums sold last week -- the most in a frame since the week ending Dec. 25, 2011 (15.11 million).

The 2011 Christmas week sales figure is more robust compared to 2012 in part because of how the Christmas sales week in 2011 actually ended on Christmas Day itself. When Christmas Day falls on another day in the week, the shopping impact is spread out across two different chart weeks.

Back on the Billboard 200 chart this week, T.I.'s "Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head" album arrives at No. 2, giving the hip-hop star his eighth top 10 effort. The new set launches with 179,000 -- an improvement over the 160,000 that welcomed his last effort, 2010's "No Mercy." The latter title debuted at No. 4 upon its December release that year.

It was a close race for the No. 2 slot this week, as less than 2,000 copies separate the Nos. 2-4 titles on the chart. Beaten by a tiny margin to the runner-up position is Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox," which falls one rung to No. 3 in its second chart week, selling 178,000 (down 8%). The set was the only title in the top 30 to post any sort of decline -- which isn't unusual, since this was the album's second week on sale.

Mars' drop is tiny compared to last week's other new top 20 arrivals. For example, Game's "Jesus Piece" tumbles 6-37 with 35,000 (down 59%), Green Day's "Tre" descends 13-57 with 24,000 (down 60%), the "Nashville" TV soundtrack slips 14-34 with 42,000 (down 26%) and the "Glee, the Music: The Christmas Album Volume 3" set shrinks 20-54 with 25,000 (down 43%).

Back in the top 10, One Direction's "Take Me Home" is steady at No. 4 with 177,000 (up 39%) while Michael Buble's "Christmas" dips 3-5 with 148,000 (up 7%). The latter title crosses the 3 million total sales mark (3.03 million), becoming the second Buble album to reach that milestone. His best-seller is "It's Time," released in 2005, with 3.7 million.

Meanwhile, Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas, Baby," falls 5-6 on the Billboard 200 this week with 113,000 sold (up 4%). Its cumulative sales rise to 823,000, making it Stewart's biggest-selling release since 2005's "Thanks for the Memory . . . The Great American Songbook Vol. IV" (1.15 million). Between "Thanks for the Memory" and "Merry Christmas," Stewart released three proper albums and two major greatest hits sets.

2012 "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips' debut album, "The World From the Side of the Moon," is a non-mover at No. 7 with 98,000 (up 44%). Its total sales stand at 475,000 after five weeks. It is selling faster than any "Idol" finalist's debut since 2008, when David Cook's self-titled effort moved more than 478,000 by its third week.

Mumford & Sons' "Babel" skips up the Billboard 200 this week, rising 11-8 with 93,000 (up 56%) while the "12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief" debuts at No. 9 with 82,000. The digital-exclusive "12-12-12" album sold much less than anticipated. Last Wednesday (Dec. 19), label sources had forecasted the live charity set could sell between 125,000 to 150,000. By Friday, those in the know had downgraded the "12-12-12" album's sales forecast to 100,000 to 130,000.

Even with about 60,000 pre-orders placed for the "12-12-12" album via the iTunes Store (so say label sources), there didn't seem to be sustained interest in the set following the all-star concert on Dec. 12.

Closing out the Billboard 200's top 10 this week is the "Now 44" album, rising 12-10 with 80,000 (up 36%).

Over on the Digital Songs chart, Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven" is No. 1 for a third straight week, selling 226,000 downloads (up 2%). Expect that number to grow much larger next week, once the chart feels the impact from music download gift cards given for Christmas. Also aiming for an even bigger number next week is Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble," which is No. 2 for another week on the Digital Songs chart. It sold 221,000 -- up by 33% compared to the previous week.

The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" is steady at No. 3 (149,000; up 14%) while will.i.am's "Scream & Shout" (featuring Britney Spears) climbs 5-4 (143,000; up 19%). Rihanna's "Diamonds" is pushed backwards 4-5, despite a gain, selling 141,000 (up 17%). Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop" continues its ascension, rising 8-6 with 140,000 (up 37%).

Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" (featuring Nicki Minaj) is a non-mover at No. 7 (119,000; up 10%), PSY's "Gangnam Style" rises 9-8 (116,000; up 15%) and Phillip Phillips' "Home" jumps 11-9 (110,000; up 17%).

Rounding out the top 10 is Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child," which hits the top 10 for the first time. The song, featuring John Martin, climbs 12-10 with 104,000 (up 28%) and marks its seventh straight weekly sales gain. The rise comes as the song continues to make inroads at radio, as it jumps 14-13 this week on the Pop Songs chart (known as Mainstream Top 40 on billboard.biz).

Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending Dec. 23) totaled 12.79 million units, up 31% compared with the sum last week (9.71 million) and down 16% compared with the comparable sales week of 2011 (15.11 million). Year-to-date album sales stand at 306.19 million, down 5% compared with the same total at this point last year (322.86 million).

Digital track sales this past week totaled 25.50 million downloads, up 12% compared with last week (22.79 million) and down 33% stacked next to the comparable week of 2011 (38.25 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 1.280 billion, up 5% compared with the same total at this point last year (1.225 billion).

Next week's Billboard 200 competes with the same week in 2011 when: Adele's "21" returned to No. 1 with 144,000 sold (down 64%). The previous week's leader, Michael Buble's "Christmas," tumbled 1-24 with 21,000 (down 96%). That wasn't surprising, as the chart reflected the week ending Jan. 1, 2012, when essentially no one was purchasing holiday music anymore. The week's top debut was Skrillex's "Bangarang" EP, bowing at No. 19 with 24,000.

[pnobelysk]

How Likley is take me home to move up above six on the year to date next week ? And what position will it likely end up ?

[ListenToItTwice]

^ It's about 40,000 behind Justin Bieber's "Believe" now, so it'll be moving up to #5 with ease. Mumford and Sons are at #4, and they're unreachable at this point.

[Deleted]

Dec 27, 2012 11:03:39 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-dec-23-2012-albums-swift-first-155717349.html;_ylt=Ag_.5PQUU6jCW9VBb8xJlL4PwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Week Ending Dec. 23, 2012. Albums: Swift Is First Since The Beatles
By Paul Grein | Chart Watch

Cue the fridayteenage post

[Agent Yoncé]

Wonderful start for T.I.

[chartfreak]

I know I'm jumping ahead...but can't wait for next weeks chart.

[ListenToItTwice]

Dec 27, 2012 12:05:09 GMT -5 @2m said:

Dec 27, 2012 11:03:39 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-dec-23-2012-albums-swift-first-155717349.html;_ylt=Ag_.5PQUU6jCW9VBb8xJlL4PwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Week Ending Dec. 23, 2012. Albums: Swift Is First Since The Beatles
By Paul Grein | Chart Watch

Cue the fridayteenage post

Taylor Swift = the Beatles.

[Deleted]

When Taylor has 132 or more weeks at #1 on the Billboard album chart then she = Beatles

Until then....not so much.

[Deleted]

I don't think anyone actually believes Taylor Swift = Beatles, likely a joke

[Deleted]

Just making sure. ;)

[Deleted]

Chief Keef’s Finally Rich, the rapper’s first studio album following five mix-tapes, debuts at #29. I don’t know what he means by “finally.” The kid is only 17.

LOL! And it's a presumptuous title at that. He doesn't even know yet if the album will sell enough to actually make him rich.

[ListenToItTwice]

Dec 27, 2012 14:12:52 GMT -5 @peigan68 said:

When Taylor has 132 or more weeks at #1 on the Billboard album chart then she = Beatles

Until then....not so much.

23 = 132.. What are you not getting

[chartfreak]

Is there any difference between the two posts that HolidayGuy posted?

[areyoureadytojump]

Dec 27, 2012 12:10:13 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

I know I'm jumping ahead...but can't wait for next weeks chart.

Why? Sales will be down.

You probably want to see what the year end chart will be like.

[areyoureadytojump]

Dec 27, 2012 16:33:49 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

Is there any difference between the two posts that HolidayGuy posted?

No.

[HolidayGuy]

Sorry for the double post- my boo-boo. :)

[chartfreak]

Dec 27, 2012 17:04:32 GMT -5 areyoureadytojump said:

Dec 27, 2012 12:10:13 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

I know I'm jumping ahead...but can't wait for next weeks chart.

Why? Sales will be down.

You probably want to see what the year end chart will be like.

Interested to see how the one day of shopping affects certain albums and what kind of drops despite gift cards.

[jughead]

Will Taylor reach 3 million before the year is over?

[cartman2002]

Here's this week awards from the BB200 chart

18.Night Train-Jason Aldrean (gold)
32.Christmas with Scott McCredy-Scott McCredy (gold)
175.Release Me-Barbara Streisand (gold)
190.Glee: The Music-The Christmas (gold)

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/record-labels/holiday-season-music-sales-down-from-last-1008062952.story

2012 Holiday-Season Music Sales Down From Last Year
December 28, 2012 | By Ed Christman

In the absence of a steady-selling blockbuster title like Adele's "21" or Michael Buble's "Christmas," 2012's holiday music sales were down compared to last year.

Comparing weeks 46-51 of the 2013 SoundScan calendar year (Nov. 12 - Dec. 23) with the same period last year, unit sales were down 10% to 54.9 million in 2012, versus the 61 million copies scanned last year. Within that, digital album sales were up 5.3% to nearly 15 million units, from 14.2 million last year, while CD sales are down 15.4% to 39 million units from 46.1 million copies in 2011.

Some may find a little solace in the fact that last year's 51st week included Dec. 24 -- one of the biggest shopping days of the year -- and this year's SoundScan calendar did not, which should produce a larger 52nd week than last year's. But will that be big enough to make up this year's shortfall? If other factors are an indicator, the answer is: not likely.

For example, last year, Drake's "Take Care," Michael Buble's "Christmas," Nickelback's "Here And Now;" the Black Keys' "El Camino," Adele's "21," Young Jeezy's "TM 103: Hustler Ambition" and Justin Bieber's "Under The Mistletoe" produced weekly sales of over 200,000 units 12 different times during the holiday, including three weeks in which the Buble title produced sales of over 400,000 units and one week where the Drake title did over 600,000 units.

In contrast, this year albums exceeding 200,000 units in weekly sales happened just four times: One Direction's "Take Me Home," which scored 540,000 units, Taylor Swift's "Red," which topped the 200,000 unit mark twice during the holiday selling season and Rihanna's "Unapologetic," which sold 238,000 the week of Black Friday.

Another disconcerting sign: 12.7 million units scanned during the week ended Dec. 23 was the biggest album sales week for the holidays -- down from 15 million units last year. Meanwhile, the biggest week last year for digital-track sales was 38.2 million units, versus 25.5 million units this year, a 33% drop.

If it weren't for week 51, track sales would have been up 5.2% for weeks 46-50, but with week 51 thrown into the mix, track downloads are down 4.8% to 139.8 million units from 146.9 million units so far into the holiday selling season.

But some music merchandisers say business wasn't bad - if you weren't dependent on music. Newbury Comics, which has moved heavily into fashion merchandise, saw this year's holiday selling season sales up over last year thanks to its inventory shift, reports chain director of purchasing Carl Mello.

In California, Super D's CD online sales and online fulfillment business experienced double digit growth according to VP of retail sales Tim Hinsley, but VP of wholesale sales Bobby Miranda says his accounts are reporting that sales were okay. "Some were up a little, and some were down a little," he reports. "Retail saw a last minute rush."

However, "there weren't a lot of releases that made an impact," Miranda says. "There wasn't a blockbuster release that sold throughout," although he noted that Taylor Swift's "Red," kept "buzzing."

Likewise, Newbury Comic's Mello notes that "Red," was the best performing title, but when compared to Adele and Buble last year, "you have a whole lot of 200K deltas to make up."

Still, he adds that "a lot of albums that did what you hoped," he added, including Bruno Mars' ("Unorthodox Jukebox"), Alicia Keys ("Girl On Fire"), Mumford & Sons ("Babel") and Pink's ("Truth About Love"). "We also had a bunch of new Led Zeppelin ("Celebration Day" DVD) and Beatles (vinyl versions of their catalog) items to sell, which worked out well.

However, "At the end of the day, there was a lot of decent records, but with less demand."

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/chart-moves-beatles-for-sale-on-billboard-1008063552.story

Chart Moves: Beatles For Sale on Billboard 200, Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger' LP Hits 1 Million Sales
December 28, 2012 | By Keith Caulfield

It was a familiar story at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this past week, where Taylor Swift's "Red" held atop the chart for a sixth nonconsecutive stanza. The singer's album moved another 276,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan, easily outpacing the No. 2 set, T.I.'s debuting "Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head" with 179,000.

Outside the top 10 there was a lot of action, so let's take a look at some of the notable movers and shakers. . .

-- "The Essential Now That's What I Call Christmas" - Of all the albums that were on the chart last week, the "The Essential Now That's What I Call Christmas" compilation earns the largest percentage sales gain this week. It vaults from No. 113 to No. 25 with a whopping 511% increase, selling 55,000 copies. All thanks go to Amazon MP3, which sale-priced the 2008 set for 99-cents for one day only on Dec. 19. It shouldn't be surprising then to know that 95% of the album's sales last week were from downloads -- likely nearly all from Amazon. It's also the "Now" set's best sales week ever, trumping the 44,000 it moved in the week ending Dec. 21, 2008. Then again, isn't it natural that a bargain-barrel price would yield a record-high sales frame?

-- "Pitch Perfect" - The soundtrack to the film soars back onto the chart, reentering at No. 45 with 32,000 sold and a 610% gain in sales. Credit the lift to a one-two punch of the movie's DVD hitting retailers on Dec. 18, plus, a new deluxe edition of the soundtrack that was released the same day.

-- The Beatles - Following the iTunes Store's sale and promotion of a number of Beatles albums, an array of the Fab Four's efforts post big gains. All of the group's studio albums (except "The Beatles (White Album)") were marked down to $9.99, as was its mega-selling greatest hits "1." In turn, both "1" and "Abbey Road" return to the Billboard 200 this week, at Nos. 117 and 172, respectively. The titles sold 12,000 (up 229%) and 8,000 (up 152%).

"1" was the band's best-selling download set last week, shifting just over 7,000 copies (up 753% digitally).

There was a time when the Beatles' catalog, rather famously, was hardly ever sale priced. But that was before the act went digital. (Still, it's not often the band's material is discounted, so this still an event.)

In the olden days -- pre-digital -- you'd be hard-pressed to find a Beatles CD selling for less than $18. Things are a bit different today. For example, the physical CD version of "1" has a list price of $18.99, but can be had for $13.99 at Amazon.com. Most of the Beatles' studio CDs on Amazon.com sell for a sale price of $13.88. No Beatles titles are priced lower.

All that said, it's still rare to find a Beatles album selling for under $10 anywhere, which makes iTunes' promotion all the more impressive.

-- Kelly Clarkson - The singer's "Stronger" album crosses the 1 million total sales mark this week, giving the original "American Idol" winner her first million-seller since her second effort, 2004's "Breakaway" (6.3 million). "Stronger" sold another 8,000 copies this past week (reentering at No. 173, up 64%), bringing its total sum to a wee bit over 1 million.

After "Breakaway," Clarkson issued 2007's "My December" and 2009's "All I Ever Wanted." They have sold 836,000 and 961,000, respectively. The diva's debut album, 2003's "Thankful," is also in the million club, with 2.8 million sold

[toph]

Dec 28, 2012 21:00:27 GMT -5 areyoureadytojump said:

-- Kelly Clarkson - The singer's "Stronger" album crosses the 1 million total sales mark this week, giving the original "American Idol" winner her first million-seller since her second effort, 2004's "Breakaway" (6.3 million). "Stronger" sold another 8,000 copies this past week (reentering at No. 173, up 64%), bringing its total sum to a wee bit over 1 million.

After "Breakaway," Clarkson issued 2007's "My December" and 2009's "All I Ever Wanted." They have sold 836,000 and 961,000, respectively. The diva's debut album, 2003's "Thankful," is also in the million club, with 2.8 million sold

[forg]

All I Ever Wanted is so close to 1 million! I hope it can still make it even if will take years

[areyoureadytojump]

1 1 9 Red, Taylor Swift
2 NEW 1 Troubled Man: Heavy Is The Head, T.I.**
3 2 2 Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars
4 4 6 Take Me Home, One Direction
5 3 19 Christmas, Michael Buble
6 5 8 Merry Christmas, Baby, Rod Stewart
7 7 5 The World From The Side Of The Moon, Phillip Phillips
8 11 13 Babel, Mumford & Sons
9 NEW 1 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief, Various Artists**
10 12 7 NOW 44, Various Artists
11 10 9 On This Winter’s Night, Lady Antebellum
12 9 4 Girl On Fire, Alicia Keys
13 17 27 Believe, Justin Bieber
14 23 14 The Truth About Love, P!nk
15 16 15 Tornado, Little Big Town
16 8 12 Cheers, It’s Christmas, Blake Shelton
17 21 96 21, Adele
18 18 10 Night Train, Jason Aldean
19 15 5 Unapologetic, Rihanna
20 22 5 Celebration Day, Led Zeppelin

21 24 41 Up All Night, One Direction
22 25 34 Blown Away, Carrie Underwood
23 NEW 1 Dogs Eating Dogs (EP), Blink-182
24 33 38 The Lumineers, The Lumineers
25 113 33 The Essential NOW That's What I Call Christmas, Various Artists
26 28 5 Rebel Soul, Kid Rock
27 29 8 Cee Lo’s Magic Moment, Cee Lo Green
28 31 26 Overexposed, Maroon 5
29 NEW 1 Finally Rich, Chief Keef
30 32 72 Tailgates & Tanlines, Luke Bryan
31 27 3 Here’s To The Good Time, Florida Georgia Line
32 19 10 Christmas With Scotty McCreery, Scotty McCreery
33 NEW 1 Les Miserables: Highlights From The Motion Picture, Soundtrack**
34 14 2 Nashville: The Music Of Nashville: Season 1: Volume 1, Soundtrack
35 37 45 Hunter Hayes, Hunter Hayes
36 39 74 Chief, Eric Church
37 6 2 Jesus Piece, The Game
38 38 2 La Misma Gran Senora, Jenni Rivera
39 40 44 Some Nights, fun.
40 45 5 Greatest Hits: Chapter One, Kelly Clarkson

41 42 9 good kid, m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar
42 36 8 Dreams Of Fireflies (On A Christmas Night) (EP), Trans-Siberian Orchestra
43 43 17 Under The Mistletoe, Justin Bieber
44 26 3 O.N.I.F.C., Wiz Khalifa
45 RE-ENTRY 9 Pitch Perfect, Soundtrack
46 51 16 Night Visions, Imagine Dragons
47 30 2 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Soundtrack
48 49 24 Uncaged, Zac Brown Band
49 35 3 Warrior, Ke$ha
50 50 6 GRRR!, The Rolling Stones
51 44 5 Woman To Woman, Keyshia Cole
52 58 144 Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons
53 47 13 WOW Hits 2013, Various Artists
54 20 2 Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album: Volume 3, Soundtrack
55 41 43 Noel, Josh Groban
56 62 38 My Head Is An Animal, Of Monsters And Men
57 13 2 Tre!, Green Day
58 46 6 Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs From The Stage, Susan Boyle
59 60 28 +, Ed Sheeran
60 59 54 Come To The Well, Casting Crowns

61 57 5 Global Warming, Pitbull
62 56 7 NOW That’s What I Call Today’s Christmas, Various Artists
63 48 34 My Christmas, Andrea Bocelli
64 54 6 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2, Soundtrack
65 53 28 A Charlie Brown Christmas (Soundtrack), Vince Guaraldi Trio
66 52 39 The Lost Christmas Eve, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
67 67 17 Heavenly Christmas, Jackie Evancho
68 70 114 Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
69 79 27 Welcome To The Fishbowl, Kenny Chesney
70 75 8 Hope On The Rocks, Toby Keith
71 68 2 Joyas Prestadas: Pop, Jenni Rivera
72 72 6 Trilogy, The Weeknd
73 85 75 Red River Blue, Blake Shelton
74 83 19 Based On A T.R.U. Story
75 82 20 NOW 43, Various Artists
76 63 29 Christmas Eve And Other Stories, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
77 78 23 Kidz Bop 22, Kidz Bop Kids
78 182 14 Battle Born, The Killers
79 118 24 Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
80 81 6 Lotus, Christina Aguilera

81 99 55 El Camino, The Black Keys
82 86 17 Eye On It, tobyMac
83 77 11 The Heist, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
84 100 12 The 2nd Law, Muse
85 61 11 Home For Christmas, Celtic Woman
86 111 166 19, Adele
87 89 7 Music From Another Dimension!, Aerosmith
88 65 29 It’s Christmas Time, Elvis Presley
89 66 36 Merry Christmas, Mariah Carey
90 95 113 Speak Now, Taylor Swift
91 87 13 Uno!, Green Day
92 93 14 Kiss, Carly Rae Jepsen
93 64 8 What Christmas Means, Kem
94 91 7 Miracle, Third Day
95 101 122 Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
96 71 6 Dos!, Green Day
97 117 47 Born To Die, Lana Del Rey
98 124 38 Changed, Rascal Flatts
99 88 6 I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
100 105 12 Kaleidoscope Dream, Miguel

101 98 38 Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Nicki Minaj
102 96 6 King Animal, Soundgarden
103 121 15 Away From The World, Dave Matthews Band
104 73 8 A Very Special Christmas: 25 Years Bringing Joy To The World, Various Artists
105 94 208 Fearless, Taylor Swift
106 131 58 Four The Record, Miranda Lambert
107 76 17 Christmas Symphony, Mannheim Steamroller With Members Of The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
108 74 3 Joyas Prestadas: Banda, Jenni Rivera
109 80 38 Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs Of Worship, Chris Tomlin
110 152 63 Own The Night, Lady Antebellum
111 90 9 Viva Duets, Tony Bennett
112 92 7 R.E.D, Ne-Yo
113 34 2 Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, Big Boi
114 84 9 Christmas In The Sand, Colbie Caillat
115 123 111 My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
116 129 11 Halcyon, Ellie Goulding
117 RE-ENTRY 136 1, The Beatles
118 110 5 This Christmas, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
119 159 36 California 37, Train
120 133 114 Hands All Over, Maroon 5

121 166 34 Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes
122 116 12 Songs From The Silver Screen, Jackie Evancho
123 104 37 The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (EP), Taylor Swift
124 135 33 Hart 2 Love, Lee Brice
125 NEW 1 The Voice: The Complete Season 3, Cassadee Pope**
126 142 71 Halfway To Heaven, Brantley Gilbert
127 109 15 A Very She & Him Christmas, She & Him
128 148 8 Hello My Name Is…, Bridgit Mendler
129 103 29 James Taylor At Christmas, James Taylor
130 141 7 NOW That’s What I Call Disney, Various Artists
131 97 28 The Gift, Susan Boyle
132 145 6 Paradise (EP), Lana Del Rey
133 146 15 North, matchbox twenty
134 140 97 The Legend Of Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash
135 154 211 The Foundation, Zac Brown Band
136 189 108 The Band Perry, The Band Perry
137 168 25 Living Things, Linkn Park
138 RE-ENTRY 45 2112, Rush
139 155 124 My World 2.0, Justin Bieber
140 122 11 Glad Rag Doll, Diana Krall

141 119 7 Holidays Rule, Various Artists
142 151 6 Under The Mistletoe, Various Artists
143 177 59 Ceremonials, Florence + The Machine
144 170 25 Wild Ones, Flo Rida
145 RE-ENTRY 13 The Carpenter, The Avett Brothers
146 190 80 Loaded: The Best Of Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton
147 128 25 Holiday Spirits, Straight No Chaser
148 156 8 Psychedelic Pill, Neil Young & Crazy Horse
149 167 269 Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift
150 138 8 Dreams And Nightmares, Meek Mill
151 163 6 Koi No Yokan, Deftones
152 115 28 White Christmas, Martina McBride
153 114 25 Christmas Portrait
154 173 33 Up All Night, Kip Moore
155 127 4 Glee: The Music, Season 4: Volume 1, Soundtrack
156 106 12 The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole
157 158 13 Austin & Ally (Soundtrack), Ross Lynch
158 132 9 The Piano Guys, The Piano Guys
159 112 8 Home For The Holidays, Andre Rieu
160 102 4 The Best Of The Temptations Christmas, The Temptations

161 193 12 Sticks & Stones, Cher Lloyd
162 107 24 NOW That’s What I Call Christmas 4, Various Artists
163 125 12 White Christmas, Bing Crosby
164 184 25 NOW That’s What I Call Country: Volume 5, Various Artists
165 69 6 Christmas, Francesca Battistelli
166 RE-ENTRY 112 You Get What You Give, Zac Brown Band
167 108 29 Blunderbuss, Jack White
168 130 23 The Christmas Attic, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
169 RE-ENTRY 11 Tempest, Bob Dylan
170 175 9 Blak And Blu, Gary Clark Jr.
171 188 12 Transit Of Venus, Three Days Grace
172 RE-ENTRY 165 Abbey Road, The Beatles
173 RE-ENTRY 58 Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
174 137 19 Elf, Soundtrack
175 192 10 Release Me, Barbra Steisand
176 178 5 Live At River Plate, AC/DC
177 160 25 Christmas Cheers, Straight No Chaser
178 RE-ENTRY 12 Gravity, Lecrae
179 139 19 Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Soundtrack
180 55 2 Almeria, Lifehouse

181 RE-ENTRY 24 Fortune, Chris Brown
182 RE-ENTRY 126 Lungs, Florence + The Machine
183 RE-ENTRY 46 Clear As Day, Scotty McCreery
184 RE-ENTRY 32 Super Hits, Willie Nelson
185 183 166 Chronicle The 20 Greatest Hits, Creedence Clearwater Revival Featuring John Fogerty
186 RE-ENTRY 106 Bad: 25, Michael Jackson
187 126 21 Once Upon A Christmas, Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
188 RE-ENTRY 140 Mothership, Led Zeppelin
189 161 43 Love Is Four Letter Word, Jason Mraz
190 147 10 Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album: Volume 2, Soundtrack
191 RE-ENTRY 106 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Miranda Lambert
192 195 167 Time Out Featuring Take Five, The Dave Brubeck Quartet
193 RE-ENTRY 61 Outlaws Like Me, Justin Moore
194 RE-ENTRY 63 Greatest Hits… So Far!!!, P!nk
195 144 11 51 Songs Kids Really Love To Sing, Kids Choir
196 169 5 We Are Love, Il Volo
197 RE-ENTRY 13 Kanye West Presents GOOD Music Cruel Sumer, Various Artists
198 120 13 One Wish: The Holiday Album, Whitney Houston
199 153 6 Chipmunks Christmas, Alvin And The Chipmunks
200 150 36 These Are Special Times, Celine Dion

[forg]

Ouch for Lifehouse down to 180 already :(

[SPRΞΞ]

95 101 122 Teenage Dream, Katy Perry

how is this a single's artist? Give me the run-down on what this number means---> 122

[areyoureadytojump]

^122 weeks on the chart. It has sold ~2.620 million copies.