Drake takes No. 1
As previously reported on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Drake's new album "Nothing Was the Same" is heading for a very strong debut at No. 1. Industry sources forecast that the album will sell between 660,000 and 670,000 by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, Sept. 29.
If Drake sells as expected, he'll earn the second-largest sales week of the year for an album. Only Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" sold more in a single frame, when it debuted at No. 1 with 968,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Drake's forecast of 660,000 to 675,000 is dialed back a bit from the 675,000-plus figure reported on Wednesday. As always, sales projections are moving targets, and Drake's is no exception.
YOUR TOP 15: Drake will unquestionably debut at #1, besting his previous first week of 631k. Here's how the field looks as we ease into the weekend.
*Drake (YM/CM/Republic)
670-695k
*Kings of Leon (RCA)
115-120k
*Cher (Warner Bros.)
65-70k
*Elton John (Capitol)
45-50k
Jack Johnson (Brushfire/Republic)
35-40k
Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville)
32-37k
*Dream Theater (Roadrunner)
30-35k
Justin Moore (Big Machine)
24-27k
2 Chainz (Def Jam/IDJ)
21-23k
*Krewella (Columbia)
21-23k
The Weeknd (XO/Republic)
18-20k
Avicii (PRMD/Island/IDJ)
18-20k
*Metallica (Blackened/Rhino)
18-20k
Keith Urban (Capitol Nashville)
18-20k
Robin Thicke (Star Trak/Interscope)
17-19k
MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 3 (Atlantic)
17-19k
Chris Young (RCA Nashville)
17-19k
*Debuts
In other music news, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani subsidized his entire U.S. press junket by holding a Beats Pill up next to his face while on camera.
(9/26p)
YOUR NEW RELEASES: Drake kicks off Q4 in earnest with what will be the second-biggest debut of the year so far. Although the hip-hop megastar's first-week number will be massive, we're duty-bound to note that Kings of Leon will also make some noise next week, and Cher's new batch of EDM anthems is looking at a strong bow, as is another veteran superstar, Elton John, whose new one is earning some stellar reviews. Here are this week's key new releases:
Drake (YM/CM/Republic)
675-725k
Kings of Leon (RCA)
115-125k
Cher (Warner Bros.)
60-70k
Elton John (Capitol)
40-50k
Dream Theater (Roadrunner)
30-35k
Krewella (Columbia)
20-23k
Sting (Interscope)
19-22k
Metallica (Blackened/Rhino)
19-22k
Alan Jackson (Capitol Nashville)
15-17k
R5 (Hollywood)
15-17k
Gov't Mule (Blue Note)
14-16k
Icona Pop (Atlantic)
13-15k
Chvrches (Glassnote)
13-15k
Sammy Hagar (Frontiers)
13-15k
Glee Cast (Columbia)
12-14k
Speaking of Drake, stand by for news about a cool sports/gaming tie-in. Oh, and the man also graces the cover of the newest issue of our print mag. But we're sure he'll find a way to live that down.
(9/25p)
I wanted more for them.
