Beyonce Still Set for Second Week at No. 1, Garth Brooks for No. 2
The album could sell 260,000 copies -- or more -- in its second week
Beyonce is still on track to score a second week atop the Billboard 200 chart. Industry sources forecast her self-titled album to sell around 260,000 -- if not more -- in the tracking week ending Sunday, Dec. 22.
The surprise album bowed on Dec. 13 exclusively through the iTunes Store, and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after only three days on sale. It sold 617,000 downloads in its first three days, through the week ending Dec. 15.
The Billboard 200's new top 10 will be revealed on Thursday, Dec. 26.
This coming week's sales tally for "Beyonce" will include digital and physical sales from non-iTunes retailers. The physical CD started to reach stores between Dec. 18 and Dec. 20, while Amazon MP3 started selling the digital album today (Dec. 20). Starbucks is also in the mix, as a representative for the coffee giant says the album will be ready for customers on Saturday (though some stores may have it on Friday). It will be available in more than 7,000 Starbucks stores in the U.S. for $16.95.
While Target is notably not carrying the album, as earlier reported, all other major sellers of music seem to be -- except for Amazon.com at the moment. The etailer is not selling the physical CD as of Dec. 20, though the album is available through third-party sellers in the store. (However, Amazon MP3 is, as noted above, selling the album.)
Garth Brooks' Walmart-exclusive box set "Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences" will likely be No. 2 for the week, with around 180,000 to 200,000. The chart's highest new entry will probably be B.o.B's new album "Underground Luxury," though it may not reach the top 20. It could sell around 35,000.
On SoundScan's Building chart (below), Beyonce leads, while Brooks is No. 2. 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 top 10: One Direction's "Midnight Memories" is No. 3, followed by Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped In Red" and the Robertsons' "Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas" at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" is No. 6, while Katy Perry's "PRISM" is No. 7 and the "Now 48" compilation is No. 8. Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" (No. 9) and Mary J. Blige's "A Mary Christmas" round out the top 10.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...rooks-for-no-2
