ONE DIRECTION IS UP
Syco/Columbia X Factor Finalists Invade U.S., Look to Debut #1
March 14, 2012
Another week, one more chart-topper from Columbia Records.
This week, look for Syco/Columbia X Factor U.K. finalists One Direction to challenge Adele for the top spot on next week’s charts with their stateside debut, Up All Night, based on one-day sales reports from those retailers not selling albums for 25 cents. The deluxe edition of the album has already topped the iTunes chart in the U.S. and Canada.
The band, which finished third on the British version of Simon Cowell’s music competition show, arrive in the U.S. with the kind of fan-mania not seen in these parts since the Spice Girls and the boy bands.
"I always thought these guys were stars, I am thrilled for them." said Cowell
The fivesome caused a riot this week at NBC’s Today Show on Monday, and drew more than 5,000 fans to in-stores in Boston and Long Island earlier this month. Their Brit Award-winning, #1 Best British Single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” is approaching 350k in sales in the U.S. The music video has drawn over 60 million views. The band will perform the song on Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards show March 31, and on Saturday Night Live April 7 with host Modern Family's Sofia Vergara.
The upfront excitement has probably inflated the initial sales figures, which at this point are looking to be between 190-210k, which will set up a battle with Adele for #1. As always, we'll have a clearer picture tomorrow.
The only other release of note is Equal Vision’s new Say Anything album, Anarchy, My Dear, which should do around 12-15k…unless Google or Amazon put something else on sale for two bits.
Congrats!
get that #1!
