As projected last week, Taylor Swift's "Red" album rules for a second week atop the Billboard 200 chart, selling 344,000 copies (down 72%) according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last week, the Big Machine Records album blasted in at No. 1 with 1.208 million, marking the largest sales week for an album since 2002.

With a total of 1.553 million sold in two weeks, "Red" overtakes One Direction's "Up All Night" (1.331 million) to become the second-biggest selling album of the year. Adele's "21" is way ahead as 2012's biggest set, with 4.132 million.


Swift's previous album, "Speak Now," spent its first two weeks at No. 1 as well, moving 1.047 million and 320,000 in those respective frames. It then left the top slot for five weeks, only to return for four more straight weeks at No. 1 between the tallies dated Jan. 1-22, 2011.

Behind Swift at No. 2 this week is rapper Meek Mill, who sees his debut studio album "Dreams & Nightmares" arrive with 165,000. That's a bit less than the 170,000 to 185,000 that had been projected by industry insiders last Friday, Nov. 2.

Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas, Baby," debuts at No. 3 with 88,000, giving the pop icon his 16th top 10 set. Upwards of 20,000 copies of "Merry Christmas" were sold via HSN. Not only did the network offer an exclusive version of the album (with eight bonus songs) but Stewart performed on the channel during an Oct. 26 special.

Jason Aldean's former No. 1 "Night Train" moves 3-4 with 71,000 (down 39%) and Kendrick Lamar's "Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City," falls 2-5 in its second week with 63,000 (down 74%).

Country king Toby Keith ropes his lucky 13th top 10 album as "Hope on the Rocks" bows at No. 6 with 48,000. Over on the Country Albums chart, it is his 20th top 10. (He's blocked from earning his 11th No. 1 -- and sixth straight chart-topper -- by the aforementioned Swift and her "Red" set.)

Mumford & Sons' "Babel" moves another 44,000 this week (down 18%) -- slipping from 4-7 on the Billboard 200. The set also surpasses 1 million in sales in its sixth week on the chart, becoming the fifth album to sell a million units this year. At this point a year ago, there were six million-sellers.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse's "Psychedelic Pill" starts at No. 8 with 34,000, giving Young his second top 10 set this year after June's "Americana" (No. 6). He's previously logged a pair of top 10s within a year's time once before, with "Comes a Time" (No. 7, 1978) and "Rust Never Sleeps" (No. 8, 1979).

Trans-Siberian Orchestra notches its second top 10 album as its "Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night)" EP starts at No. 9 with 32,000. The act, always a favorite around the holidays, only previously visited the top 10 once before, with 2009's "Night Castle." That full-length set (which was not a Christmas album), debuted and peaked at No. 5 with 83,000 in its first week.

Rounding out the top 10 is Little Big Town's "Tornado," rising a slot with 29,000. The set earned a a bit 43% sales gain, thanks in part to the group's performance and wins on the Nov. 1 CMA Awards. The quartet took home the award for single of the year trophy for its former No. 1 Country Songs hit "Pontoon" and vocal group of the year.

Other notable gains on the chart owned to the CMA Awards include Luke Bryan's "Tailgates & Tanlines" (24-11 with 24,000; up 87%), Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" (20-12 with 24,000; up 59%) and Eric Church's "Chief" (36-13 with 23,000; up 121%). Blake Shelton, the newly crowned CMA entertainer of the year, has three charting albums that all post gains: "Cheers, It's Christmas" (45-28 with 13,000; up 47%), "Red River Blue" (149-49 with 8,000; up 179%) and "Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton" (a reentry at No. 142 with 3,000; up 49%).

Taylor!

Queen!

Taylor again

Meek Mill!

Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" (20-12 with 24,000; up 59%)

the queen

13k more than HDD for Red!

Taylor

GREAT job, Taylor!

Nice Taylor.

How much do you guys think she will sell next week? 150-200k?

The 3rd week for Speak Now was 212k so I think it will be more than that. Maybe 215-230k.

Where did Calvin Harris debut?

At #19

ok. so, it could be between 150-240k the next 2 weeks.

nice. thanks!

Nice. HDD underestimated.

How much of a threat will Ne-Yo be this week? I can´t see anybody else who could possibly gun for the top spot.

I think Aerosmith is much more of a threat than Ne-Yo. I can't see Ne-Yo doing more than 100k tbh. Aerosmith will probably do about 125-150k so they aren't much of a threat either. Easy 3rd week for Tay

Carrie passes 900k

Babel's had some great longevity considering they haven't had a smash single with the album yet.
I hope Aerosmith debuts strong next week.

ONE-DAY SALES: Now 44, Aerosmith, Ne-Yo and the Voters of Florida

Forecsts for Now 44, Aerosmith, Ne-Yo, All That Remains and Glease, Plus Jokes

Would you believe that long lines at polling places put a damper on first-day sales for several of this week's new releases? Would you believe that sweeping Democratic victories mean "our nation must be governed by the center"? Would you believe that what happened that time at the Motel 6 has never happened to us before?

Well, whatever you believe, here are some facts about the week's key debuts.

Capitol's Now 44 looks set to move 95-105k, while Aerosmith's new one on Columbia should do 70-80k. Ne-Yo (Motown) appears set to ramp up 50-55k for his brand of R&B/pop, Third Day (Provident) will probably see 25-30k, and Razor & Tie's All That Remains should scare up 20-25k.

Tell you more, tell you more? Well, Glease (Columbia), the newest dispatch from the cast of Glee, will likely sell 15-20k. Are we the only ones who think of Buddy Hackett's waiter routine whenever we see that title? We are? OK, then.

With a total of 1.553 million sold in two weeks, "Red" overtakes One Direction's "Up All Night" (1.331 million) to become the second-biggest selling album of the year.


Third week at #1 is on lock.

Yes Taylor.