VIOLENCE IS A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

Ultraviolence, Lana Del Rey’s second studio album through Interscope, tops the HITS Album Sales Chart this week with just over 181k.

Del Rey’s sales more than doubled her previous release’s first week number (Born to Die; 77k). Of course, since its release, that record cultivated a #2 Top 40, Top 15 Rhythmic hit, “Summertime Sadness,” and solidified her cult fanbase.

The biz has been buzzing about the three-way debut date, shared by Capitol’s Sam Smith and Warner Bros.’ Linkin Park, for some time now. For some perspective, the last time three albums debuted with over 100k in the first week was in early September of last year with Ariana Grande (138k), Tamar Braxton (114k) and Nine Inch Nails (107k).

That said, Smith has remained hot on Del Rey’s heels through the end, raking in about 169k at the finish line. The 22-year-old soul-pop crooner’s debut album, In the Lonely Hour, set a record by selling more copies in its first week of release than any other debut album by a UK male artist in the modern album chart era. The single, “Stay with Me,” is currently #1 Triple A, Top 10 Hot AC and Top 15 at Pop.

With 14 years since their debut album, Linkin Park comes through with an impressive 113k on their sixth studio album, The Hunting Party, proving there’s still strength in existing artists.

That combined with Jack White’s nearly 129k on Lazaretto, released earlier this month via Third Man/Columbia, leads us to believe that rock isn’t quite dead yet.

Also debuting in the Top 10, Willie Nelson tokes 39.5k through Legacy, while Capitol’s J Lo snags just over 33k for A.K.A.

EDM sensation Deadmau5 pulled in 28k in digital sales alone on while(1<2) via Astralwerks/Capitol. That’s pretty impressive considering that the album only became available at physical at presstime.

Frozen just won’t ‘Let It Go’ (Sorry, we had to…), as they add another 42k (-10%), coming in less than four grand shy of hitting that 3m mark. This Disney original soundtrack looks like it could be the #1 record of 2014. Drinks are on the mouse.

Miranda Lambert’s Platinum (RCA Nashville) has got some legs, bringing in another 33k and only dropping about 45%. Valory’s Brantley Gilbert closes the Top 10 with about 26k in his fifth week.

Streeting at presstime is Ed Sheeran, who’s poised for #1 honors. G-Eazy (Blueprint/G-Eazy), ATO’s Phish and, as we mentioned, Deadmau5’s physical records are streeting as well.

The following week includes, Star Trak/Interscope’s Robin Thicke and Seether via Concord.