Billboard 200 3/4/17: 50 Shades Darker #1, Grammy Effect

[rimetm]

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7694288/fifty-shades-darker-soundtrack-debuts-no-1-billboard-200-album-chart

Billboard 200 Top 10

01 - NE - Fifty Shades Darker - (Soundtrack) - 123,000 (72,000)
02 - 07 - 24K Magic - Bruno Mars - 66,000 (36,000)
03 - 01 - I Decided. - Big Sean - 62,000 (12,000)
04 - 03 - Culture - Migos - 59,000 (6,000)
05 - 05 - Starboy - The Weeknd - 54,000 (14,000)
06 - 21 - "25" - Adele - 47,000 (30,000)
07 - 14 - Trolls - (Soundtrack) - 44,000 (32,000)
08 - 02 - Joanne - Lady Gaga - 41,000 (24,000)
09 - 33 - Lemonade - Beyonce - 38,000 (29,000)
10 - 11 - La La Land - (Soundtrack) - 33,000 (25,000)

Courtesy of cdsingles

Top Album Sales Top 10

01 - NE - Fifty Shades Darker - (Soundtrack) - 72,000
02 - 10 - 24K Magic - Bruno Mars - 36,000
03 - 11 - Trolls - (Soundtrack) - 32,000
04 - 18 - 25 - Adele - 30,000
05 - 19 - Lemonade - Beyonce - 29,000
06 - NE - I Make the Static - Joy Villa - 27,000
07 - 09 - La La Land - (Soundtrack) - 25,000
08 - 02 - Sing it Now: Songs of Faith & Hope - Reba McEntire - 25,000
09 - 03 - Joanne - Lady Gaga - 24,000
10 - 12 - 2017 Grammy Nominees - (Various Artists) - 24,000
Off Top 10
12 - 05 - NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 61 - (Various Artists) - 18,000
16 - 06 - The Devil Don't Sleep - Brantley Gilbert - 14,000
22 - 01 - I Decided. - Big Sean - 12,000
32 - 08 - The Fame - Lady Gaga - 7,000
35 - 07 - The Garden - Kari Jobe - 6,000
82 - 04 - Dear Evan Hansen - (Soundtrack) - 3,000

[Choco]

I didn't love this Bruno Mars album but it's doing really well and returning to #2 multiple times must be frustrating. Hopefully it can sneak a week at #1 at some point.

[onebuffalo]

I just got the e-mail myself and was wondering who is at #8.

[onebuffalo]

#8 album: Lady Gaga:

Lady Gaga's Joanne falls from No. 2 to No. 8 with 41,000 units (down 44 percent).

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7694288/fifty-shades-darker-soundtrack-debuts-no-1-billboard-200-album-chart

'Fifty Shades Darker' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart
2/19/2017 by Keith Caulfield

The Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 123,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Feb. 16, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 72,000 were in traditional album sales. The set was released through Universal Studios/Republic Records on Feb. 10.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new March 4, 2017-dated chart (where Fifty Shades Darker debuts at No. 1) will be posted in full to Billboard’s websites on Wednesday, Feb. 22 (one day later than normal due to the President’s Day holiday on Feb. 20).

Fifty Shades Darker is the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, which saw its companion soundtrack debut and peak at No. 2 on the chart dated Feb. 28, 2015. The new set is the first soundtrack to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since the Suicide Squad album spent two weeks atop the lists dated Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, 2016.

The Fifty Shades Darker album was led by the hit single “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” by Zayn and Taylor Swift. Other acts contributing music to the effort include Sia, Halsey, Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj. The film Fifty Shades Darker was released in theaters on the same day its soundtrack reached retailers.

At No. 2 on the new Billboard 200, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic rises 7-2 with 66,000 units and a 108 percent gain, following his two performances on the Grammy Awards (Feb. 12). The album sold 36,000 copies during the tracking frame -- up 137 percent. On the Grammys, Mars sang 24K Magic’s current single “That’s What I Like,” and contributed to a segment celebrating Prince, by covering his “Let’s Go Crazy.”

24K Magic has now spent three nonconsecutive weeks in the runner-up slot -- its peak. It debuted at No. 2 on the list dated Dec. 10, 2016, and then returned to No. 2 on the Jan. 7, 2017 tally. The album has yet to leave the top 10 since debuting on the tally 13 weeks ago.

Big Sean’s I Decided. falls from No. 1 to No. 3 in its second week, with 62,000 units (down 59 percent). Migos’ former No. 1, Culture, slips down one rung to No. 4 with 59,000 units (down 14 percent).

The Weeknd’s Starboy holds at No. 5 -- though it’s up 15 percent -- with 54,000 units. The Weeknd performed a mash-up of two Starboy songs on the Grammy Awards: the title track and “I Feel It Coming,” both alongside Daft Punk.

Adele’s 25, which won the Grammy Award for album of the year, zooms from No. 21 to No. 6 with 47,000 units (up 137 percent). The former No. 1 sold another 30,000 copies in the latest tracking week, gaining 238 percent. Adele also opened the Grammy Awards with a performance of the album’s lead single, “Hello.”

The Trolls soundtrack vaults 14-7 with 44,000 units (up 79 percent) and 32,000 sold (up 110 percent). The set benefits from promotion associated with the film’s release on home video on Feb. 7. Lady Gaga's Joanne falls from No. 2 to No. 8 with 41,000 units (down 44 percent).

Beyoncé’s Lemonade flies from No. 33 to No. 9, following the diva’s elaborate performance of the set’s “Love Drought” and “Sandcastles” on the Grammy Awards. Lemonade earned another 38,000 units (up 190 percent), selling 29,000 copies (up 241 percent). The album won the Grammy for best urban contemporary album, while its video for the song “Formation” won the best music video trophy.

Rounding out the top 10 is the soundtrack to La La Land, which ascends one position to No. 10 with 33,000 units (up 33 percent).

[brady47]

Bruno Mars does extremely well in terms of album runs. I thought 24K Magic wouldn't hold up as strongly as his previous 2 albums, but he's doing really well.

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Feb 19, 2017 19:21:57 GMT -5 brady47 said:

Bruno Mars does extremely well in terms of album runs. I thought 24K Magic wouldn't hold up as strongly as his previous 2 albums, but he's doing really well.

Yeah, it looks it would be currently the #2 in terms of equivalent albums for the 2017 Year-End Billboard 200, second only to Starboy.

[areyoureadytojump]

Pure album sales:

Bruno Mars is at 618,000.

Adele is at 9,242,000.

Trolls is at 412,000.

Beyonce is at 1,628,000.

[forg]

So happy with Bruno's sales. 1M is very possible as long as he keeps this pace and continues to churn out hits

I was hoping 25 would get higher boost so 10M sales is more closes but long way to go reach that especially in this climate. but still amazing sales

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Feb 19, 2017 22:28:14 GMT -5 forg said:

So happy with Bruno's sales. 1M is very possible as long as he keeps this pace and continues to churn out hits

I was hoping 25 would get higher boost so 10M sales is more closes but long way to go reach that especially in this climate. but still amazing sales

24k Magic will get there in time, I believe. Interestingly, it is nearing the amount of sales that Anti has gotten so far.

25 more than tripled its sales from the week before which isn't too shabby a Grammys boost. I also believe it will reach 10 MM eventually, although it might not occur as quickly as we would like, but given it might be the last pure diamond album sales that's relatively new, it'll be worth it.

[Zach]

Yeah it's pretty awesome that Bruno is selling this well. Never expected this album to but I'm really happy it is because I like the album a lot.

[taylor]

Feb 19, 2017 20:38:54 GMT -5 areyoureadytojump said:

Pure album sales:

Bruno Mars is at 618,000.

I think those are good numbers for Bruno (considering decaying album sales). But where is The Weeknd at?

[Queen of Insomnia.]

Feb 20, 2017 10:34:50 GMT -5 taylor said:

But where is The Weeknd at?

He's at 463k pure sales after 12 weeks.

____________

Tbh I'm a underwhelmed with Adele & Bey's boosts: that night belonged to them, but those gains really don't show it.

[musicrocks]

This is my favorite Bruno album so I am hoping it gets to #1 eventually. His last album had to climb there too so I'm not too worried. And I agree, those sales are solid, when you look at the climate of sales right now.

[rimetm]

I've updated the OP with the most pertinent TAS info for both the BB200 and TAS itself (including stuff that left the TAS top 10 from last week).

[kcdawg13]

24K Magic is doing very well, which is odd, since the album doesn't have a #1 single under it's belt yet. That may change though. 24K Magic (song) is still doing very good on radio and sales, while That's What I Like is gaining a lot. I'm proud of Bruno. He's a great entertainer and singer.

[forg]

He may have a hard time getting a #1 this era since his Spotify numbers are so-so but at least his album sales make up for relatively weak streaming

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Feb 21, 2017 3:25:09 GMT -5 forg said:

He may have a hard time getting a #1 this era since his Spotify numbers are so-so but at least his album sales make up for relatively weak streaming

He doesn't only do as well one would expect not only in Spotify, but also YouTube. Uptown Funk! was the big exception for him, but that's a legendary song, so it can be considered an exceptional case.

[areyoureadytojump]

theawl.com/make-america-buy-records-again-35b4834b4f2f#.tu30b9r1j

Soundscan Surprises, Week of 2/16
by Silvia Killingsworth

Back-catalog sales numbers of note from Nielsen SoundScan.

1. VILLA*JOY I MAKE THE STATIC 26,545 copies
10. SINATRA*FRANK NOTHING BUT THE BEST (REMASTER 4,609 copies
18. SOUNDTRACK FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 3,424 copies
39. MARTINEZ*MELANIE CRY BABY 2,181 copies
45. JARREAU*AL VERY BEST OF: AN EXCELLENT ADV 1,984 copies
65. CLARK*GARY JR. BLAK & BLU 1,596 copies
74. MERCYME WELCOME TO THE NEW 1,523 copies
135. CLARK*GARY JR. GARY CLARK JR. LIVE (2CD) 1,173 copies
143. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS STADIUM ARCADIUM 1,145 copies
197. BOWIE*DAVID STATION TO STATION 963 copies

[areyoureadytojump]

www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-222-overkill-grind-up-the-charts

Metal By Numbers 2/22: Overkill grind up the charts
Posted by Matt Brown on February 22, 2017

Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.

It was heartening to see Kreator reach a high spot on the charts a few weeks back. Many metalheads will agree that while the Big Thrash Four are of high status for a reason, there are loads of other thrash bands from the 80’s who are very deserving of attention, especially considering how many of them are still putting out solid material. Enter Overkill, who have been on a hot streak since Ironbound back in 2010. In addition to being critically well-received, each record has debuted higher than the last. Their eighteenth and latest, The Grinding Wheel, debuted just shy of the top 25, a feat worthy of praise for any metal band, but even more so for an act as legendary as Overkill. The only reason they’re not the top selling metal band this week is because Metallica has an album out...

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7694457/grammys-adele-beyonce-chart-impact

Grammys Push Adele & Beyonce Back to Top 10 on Billboard 200, Plus More Grammys Chart Impact
2/21/2017 by Keith Caulfield

The 59th Annual Grammy Awards shine brightly on Billboard’s newest charts (dated March 4), following the first tracking week of impact after the Feb. 12 show, which aired live on CBS TV. The latest charts reflect the sales and streaming tracking week ending Feb. 16 and boast big increases for performers and winners on the broadcast, including Adele, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Chance the Rapper, Keith Urban, Maren Morris and more. (Billboard’s March 4-dated charts will refresh to our websites on Feb. 22.)

Let’s take a look at some of the notable movers and shakers that were showcased on this year's Grammys:

- Digital sales of the songs performed on the show (or the original versions of the songs that were covered on the show) increased by 140 percent to 547,000 downloads (up from 228,000) in the week ending Feb. 16. (Not included in those sums are Katy Perry’s “Chained to the Rhythm,” featuring Skip Marley, which was released two days before the Grammy Awards, so there is no previous-week comparison.)

- The biggest-selling song of the week also happens to be one that was performed on the show: Ed Sheeran’s recent release “Shape of You.” The track (atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth week) tops the Digital Song Sales chart and sold 200,000 downloads -- up 74 percent compared to the previous week (115,000).

- On-demand streams (audio and video combined) of songs performed on the show (or the original versions of the songs that were covered on the show) rose by 30 percent to 91.8 million (up from 70.8 million). (Not added into those figures: Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” which was covered by Bruno Mars on the show. Prince’s catalog of music released through Warner Bros. Records -- which includes “Let’s Go Crazy” -- only reached all streaming services on Feb. 12.)

- Adele’s 25, which won the album of the year award, returns to the top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart, rising 21-6 with 47,000 equivalent album units earned for the week (up 137 percent). The former No. 1 album sold another 30,000 copies during the week (up 238 percent). It is the highest rank for the album in more than 10 months. It last was higher on the chart dated April 16, 2016, when it was No. 5.

- The 30,000 copies sold of 25 in the latest tracking week mark the album’s largest sales week since the week ending May 12, 2016, when it sold 34,000. 25 was the top-selling Grammy-winning album of the week (among all titles that won an album award in 2017). 25’s total sales in the U.S. now stand at 9.24 million.

- The 25 album generated 14.1 million on-demand audio streams of its songs during the new tracking week (up 39 percent).

- Adele also opened the show with a performance of 25’s lead single, the Hot 100 No. 1 smash “Hello.” The tune -- which also won the awards for record and song of the year -- garnered a 175 percent sales increase in the latest tracking frame (selling 21,000 downloads), while its on-demand streams rose by 53 percent (to 4.4 million).

- For the week, Adele’s catalog of albums sold 39,000 copies (up 198 percent), while her songs sold 82,000 downloads (up 68 percent) and generated 32.9 million on-demand streams (up 37 percent).

- Adele’s 25 was nominated for album of the year alongside Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Justin Bieber’s Purpose, Drake’s Views and Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. The five albums all gained in equivalent album units earned during the week ending Feb. 16, with a collective 136,000 units -- a rise of 91 percent (up from 71,000). Combined, they sold 79,000 in traditional album sales -- up 103 percent (from 39,000 sold).

- Adele’s tribute to George Michael on the Grammy Awards helped spur gains for Michael’s catalog of music. Adele performed Michael’s “Fastlove” in honor of the singer, who died on Dec. 25. Michael’s solo albums, along with those of his duo Wham!, earned 18,000 equivalent album units for the week (up 22 percent). Further, they sold 13,000 copies (up 12 percent). Michael and Wham!’s songs sold 29,000 downloads (up 117 percent) while also generating 7.4 million on-demand streams (up 28 percent).

- Beyoncé, who won two Grammy Awards at the ceremony and performed two songs from her Lemonade album, also garnered a big boost in sales and streams. Her catalog of albums earned a 75 percent gain in equivalent album units earned for the week (rising to 59,000), while in terms of traditional album sales, they grew 196 percent (to 32,000). Beyoncé’s digital song sales jumped 26 percent (to 105,000), while her on-demand streams grew 14 percent (to 47.1 million).

- The Lemonade album itself returns to the Billboard 200’s top 10, climbing 33-9 with 38,000 units earned (up 190 percent). Of that sum, 29,000 were in traditional album sales (up 241 percent). Lemonade generated 1.4 million in on-demand audio streams for its tracks during the week (up 69 percent). Lemonade’s streaming number seems small (say, compared to Adele’s 25, with 14.1 million streams for its tracks) because Lemonade’s original album tracks are only available via the Tidal streaming service. (One of Lemonade’s tracks, however, is available to stream outside of Tidal – but only in a rerecorded form: “Daddy Lessons,” with Dixie Chicks.)

Other acts that benefit from a performance on the Grammy Awards include:

- Best new artist winner Chance the Rapper rises from No. 40 to No. 22 on the Billboard 200 with his streaming-exclusive album Coloring Book (which also won the trophy for best rap album). The set earned 22,000 equivalent album units for the week (up 87 percent), generating 33.3 million on-demand audio streams for its tracks (up 88 percent). On the Grammy Awards, Chance the Rapper performed two Coloring Book cuts: “How Great” and “All We Got.”

- Keith Urban sang his new single “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood, and the track drew a 574 percent sales gain (selling 45,000 downloads) and was up 372 percent in on-demand streams (to 1.7 million).

- Maren Morris – a best new artist nominee, performer, and winner for best country solo performance (“My Church”) – collected 19,000 equivalent album units for the week (up 165 percent), all for her major-label debut album Hero. Further, she also sold 49,000 song downloads (up 237 percent) and generated 6.4 million on-demand streams (up 57 percent). A sizable portion of her song downloads and streams were driven by the song “Once,” which she performed with Alicia Keys on the Grammy Awards. The tune, from Hero, sold 12,000 downloads (up from a negligible figure in the previous week), and drew 931,000 on-demand streams (up from just 86,000).

- Bruno Mars turned in two performances on the Grammy Awards: one of his current single “That’s What I Like,” and a cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” in tribute to the late icon. “That’s What I Like” was up 308 percent in downloads (to 85,000) and 99 percent in on-demand streams (to 9.5 million). Meanwhile, the parent album of "Like," 24K Magic, rises from No. 7 to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 66,000 equivalent album units earned (up 108 percent).

- The Time performed its hits “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” -- as part of a tribute to Prince, who co-wrote and produced both tracks -- and earned a 129 percent gain in on-demand streams for its catalog of songs. In total, the band collected 320,000 streams for the week (up from 140,000 in the week before).

- A Tribe Called Quest nabbed a 32 percent gain in on-demand streams for the week (rising to 6.1 million) after the group performed a medley of “Award Tour,” “Movin’ Backwards” and “We the People.” The act’s most recent album, We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, rebounds 179-83 on the Billboard 200 chart, with 8,000 units (up 81 percent). The former No. 1 album features both “Movin’ Backwards” and “We the People.”

[areyoureadytojump]

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7701897/billboard-200-chart-moves-princes-streaming-return-4ever

Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Prince's Streaming Return Pushes '4Ever' Hits Album Back To Top 40
2/23/2017 by Keith Caulfield

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the action on the latest Billboard 200 chart:

— Various Artists, 2017 Grammy Nominees - No. 19 — The 2017 Grammy Nominees compilation -- which highlights artists, albums and songs nominated for awards at this year’s Grammys -- rises from No. 31 to No. 19 with 24,000 units (up 85 percent), all from traditional album sales. The album has so far peaked at No. 16, its debut position. With the new chart reflecting the impact of the Grammy Awards ceremony, which was held Feb. 12 and aired live on CBS TV, it’s unlikely the album will move any higher on the chart. If it doesn’t, it will mark the lowest rank for the Grammy Nominees compilation series since the first release, 1996 Grammy Nominees, which also peaked at No. 16.

— Prince, 4Ever - No. 33 — Prince’s recent greatest-hits compilation gets a big boost, as expected, rising from No. 189 to a new peak, No. 33 (16,000 units; up 263 percent). Of its total unit sum for the week, 7,000 were in streaming equivalent albums -- a gain of 12,634 percent. Streams for the album’s songs grew tremendously after Prince’s Warner Bros. Records catalog of songs reached all streaming services on Feb. 12, after previously only being available through Tidal.

The 40-song 4Ever features one previously unreleased tune ("Moonbeam Levels"), along with 39 songs released between 1978 and 1993 during Prince’s time with Warner Bros. Records -- from “Soft and Wet” (his first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100) to “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Of Prince’s 30 top 40-charting hit songs on the Hot 100, 24 of them are represented on the 4Ever compilation.

4Ever initially peaked at No. 35 in its second week on the chart, back on the Dec. 17, 2016-dated list.

— Rag 'N' Bone Man, Human – No. 126 — The singer/songwriter’s single “Human” was a hit throughout Europe late last year (reaching No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart) and is now making inroads on Billboard’s charts. The track is in its fourth straight week at No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Songs airplay chart and hits a new peak on the Hot Rock Songs tally, climbing 10-8. It also debuts on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at No. 20. The album starts with 6,000 equivalent album units earned for the week, and also launches at No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. Over in the U.K., where the artist just won the Brit Award for British breakthrough act (Feb. 22), the album debuted at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart.

— Joey + Rory, Hymns - No. 166 — Hymns earned the act its first Grammy Award (for best roots gospel album) on Feb. 12, and in turn the set returns to the list at No. 166 -- its first week on the tally since last November. It earned a 159 percent unit gain, rising to 5,000 units earned during the tracking frame. On the Top Country Albums chart, the former No. 1 set climbs back onto the list at No. 27.

— Michael Bolton, Songs of Cinema – No. 177 — The singer claims his 19th charting album, as Songs of Cinema unspools at No. 177. The covers effort -- which boasts familiar favorites like “I Will Always Love You” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” -- is Bolton’s first charting set since 2013’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville U.S.A., debuted and peaked at No. 38. Bolton first visited the Billboard 200 chart 34 years ago, when his self-titled album bowed at No. 195 on the May 7, 1983-dated list.

[brady47]

I had a question. Now that SPS of single sales are considered when calculating "total album equivalents" on the Billboard 200, can we really distinguish between single and album artists anymore?

Back then you had Flo Rida with a 10 week #1, explosive digital downloads struggling to go gold with his album. But today, it would be a totally different picture.

[HolidayGuy]

^Indeed- which makes straight comparisons between BB 200, Dec. 2014-on, to the period prior to that problematic. I mean, when SoundScan was first used for the album chart, that resulted in major changes (country titles performing much better, for one), but at least that, like what came before it, was solely album-sales based.

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Feb 26, 2017 13:39:58 GMT -5 brady47 said:

I had a question. Now that SPS of single sales are considered when calculating "total album equivalents" on the Billboard 200, can we really distinguish between single and album artists anymore?

Back then you had Flo Rida with a 10 week #1, explosive digital downloads struggling to go gold with his album. But today, it would be a totally different picture.

Actually you can but it does require some work. Instead of following the Billboard, for pure album sales you should check out the Top Album Sales chart. So, basically it uses the same method as the Billboard 200 used to. The contribution of singles via digital sales and streaming is not taken into account there. You'll note that the singles artists will generally chart much lower or not all in the Top 100 of Top Album Sales, while having relatively higher positions in the Billboard 200. This is especially true after their album debuts and their album's sales get reduced significantly in future weeks.

[brady47]

Feb 26, 2017 15:06:49 GMT -5 Baby Yoda Hot100Fan said:

Feb 26, 2017 13:39:58 GMT -5 brady47 said:

I had a question. Now that SPS of single sales are considered when calculating "total album equivalents" on the Billboard 200, can we really distinguish between single and album artists anymore?

Back then you had Flo Rida with a 10 week #1, explosive digital downloads struggling to go gold with his album. But today, it would be a totally different picture.

Actually you can but it does require some work. Instead of following the Billboard, for pure album sales you should check out the Top Album Sales chart. So, basically it uses the same method as the Billboard 200 used to. The contribution of singles via digital sales and streaming is not taken into account there. You'll note that the singles artists will generally chart much lower or not all in the Top 100 of Top Album Sales, while having relatively higher positions in the Billboard 200. This is especially true after their album debuts and their album's sales get reduced significantly in future weeks.

Yeah - like comparing Lemonade vs. Anti. They were neck and neck in the year end Billboard 200 - but Lemonade tripled the physical sales of Anti, while Anti dominated in streaming. But since streaming is such an important component of album performance, it's hard to really call someone like Rihanna a "singles artist" in my opinion when she is killing the streaming component, a major component of album consumption.

Albums like Fifth Harmony's 7/27 really benefit from having a strong single, when otherwise, they'd be off the Billboard 200. Then you have an album like "Hymns" by Joey+Rory, which does extremely well in album sales, but tanks in streaming.

[brady47]

Feb 26, 2017 14:54:05 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^Indeed- which makes straight comparisons between BB 200, Dec. 2014-on, to the period prior to that problematic. I mean, when SoundScan was first used for the album chart, that resulted in major changes (country titles performing much better, for one), but at least that, like what came before it, was solely album-sales based.

It's interesting because even albums pre-2014 benefit from streaming.

Like Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, that went from 2.8 million copies sold, to 5x platinum, because it's singles were huge, or Fergie's "The Dutchess" which did really well in physical sales of 3.9 million, going up to 5x platinum (but with only 5 singles released).

I can only imagine how "Teenage Dream" (currently 3x platinum) will do when it considers streaming.

[Deleted]

My heart stopped I thought from the title it was 2004 all over again and 50 cent had dropped a album at the top of the charts. Phew.

I forgot about the new trashy movie.

[HolidayGuy]

brady- yes. Streaming just didn't become relevant when Billboard added it to the Hot 100, and, in turn, the BB 200. That info makes sense for the Hot 100- a tracks-based chart- but not for an albums-based chart (same goes for TEA info). Albums are not what they once were, so adding TEA and streaming to the mix- especially when just one or two tracks from an album are driving those numbers- is sorta baffling.

The album format is not what it once was- we all know that- but, in a sense, Billboard is artificially inflating the popularity level of the albums format with its multi-metric chart, as the "equivalent-album-units" number isn't necessarily representative of an *album's* popularity (again, esp. when it's just one or two tracks driving the non-album sales numbers).

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

Feb 27, 2017 12:24:49 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

brady- yes. Streaming just didn't become relevant when Billboard added it to the Hot 100, and, in turn, the BB 200. That info makes sense for the Hot 100- a tracks-based chart- but not for an albums-based chart (same goes for TEA info). Albums are not what they once were, so adding TEA and streaming to the mix- especially when just one or two tracks from an album are driving those numbers- is sorta baffling.

The album format is not what it once was- we all know that- but, in a sense, Billboard is artificially inflating the popularity level of the albums format with its multi-metric chart, as the "equivalent-album-units" number isn't necessarily representative of an *album's* popularity (again, esp. when it's just one or two tracks driving the non-album sales numbers).

I see that we agree. Remember when they use to have a Chart Beat article where they would discuss the weekly sales of singles and albums. They would include the % week over week changes and week over comparable week one year earlier. My guess is they got tired of having to report steep decrease for the latter number.

Including TEAs and SEAs in the Billboard 200 gives the impression that some particular albums are very popular over a long period of time, when it's mostly that they are helped by having some hit songs that sell well or get streamed.

That's why, every week I also check out the Top Album Sales chart to see how albums would have charted in the BB 200 had it remained pure sales only. Then again, Chance's The Rapper streaming only album would have never appeared in the Billboard 200.

I do get the argument that music is now consumed differently, but I don't see the logic of having some of the data from a song from an album should count towards the latter. The data already counts towards the Hot 100.