Joss Stone & Gloriana Aiming for Top 10 on Billboard 200
Singer Joss Stone and country trio Gloriana are both aiming for the top 10 on the Billboard 200 with their newly-released albums. According to industry sources, Stone's "The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2" might sell around 25,000 by week's end on Sunday, Aug. 5, while Gloriana's "A Thousand Miles Left Behind" might move 20,000. The new Billboard 200's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 8.
If Stone makes the upper tier, it would be her fourth top 10 set following "Introducing Joss Stone" (No. 2; 2007), "Colour Me Free!" (No. 10; 2009) and "LP1" (No. 9; 2001). Her first "Soul Sessions" album -- the EP that was her breakthrough chart debut -- reached No. 39 on the Billboard 200.
As for Gloriana, "A Thousand Miles Left Behind" could mark its second top 10, after its self-titled debut peaked at No. 3 (the same week it bowed) in 2009. It arrived with 44,000 in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan and has sold a total of 235,000 in the U.S. The new album's lead single, "(Kissed You) Good Night" recently gave the act its first top 10 on the Country Songs chart. This week it rises 3-2 and is threatening to take over the No. 1 slot next week.
Heading for No. 1 on the Billboard 200 next week is Rick Ross' "God Forgives, I Don't," which might sell 210,000 to 220,000 copies. We earlier reported that if the set moves 200,000, it would instantly mark Ross' best sales week ever for an album.
On Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart (below), Ross is No. 1 while Stone and Gloriana are Nos. 6 and 8, respectively. The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking -- reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week as reported by six major merchants.
As for the rest of the Building chart's top 10: Zac Brown Band's "Uncaged" is in the runner-up slot while "Kidz Bop 22" is No. 3. Justin Bieber's "Believe" is No. 4, One Direction's "Up All Night" is No. 5 and Nas' "Life Is Good" holds down the fort at No. 7. Adele's "21" finds itself at No. 9 and Maroon 5's "Overexposed" closes out the top 10 at No. 10.
Nielsen SoundScan Building Chart
Rank LW
1 NEW Rick Ross "God Forgives, I Don't"
2 1 Zac Brown Band "Uncaged"
3 5 Kidz Bop Kids "Kidz Bop 22"
4 6 Justin Bieber "Believe"
5 7 One Direction "Up All Night"
6 NEW Joss Stone "The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2"
7 2 Nas "Life Is Good"
8 NEW Gloriana "A Thousand Miles Left Behind"
9 9 Adele "21"
10 10 Maroon 5 "Overexposed"
The Building Chart reflects the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week (which ends Sunday) as reported by six major merchants: iTunes, Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates that they make up about 85% of all U.S. album sales.
http://www.billboard.com/news/joss-s...x5loz1B3b5a.99