SCHOOLBOY Q IS TOP CHART DAWG
Oxymoron by TDE/Interscope’s ScHoolboy Q bows atop the HITS Album Sales Chart this week with nearly 139k. It’s another lightning strike for the Top Dawg camp, which also produced Kendrick Lamar.
Disney’s Oscar-winning Frozen moves to #2 but experiences a 5% uptick with 92k. Look for more growth on this juggernaut soundtrack as Best Song winner "Let It Go" explodes.
The rest of the Top 5 is taken up with new releases: Sony Latin’s Romeo Santos at #3 with 87k, Republic’s Kid Cudi at #4 with 86k and Capitol’s Beck, who rides great word of mouth and press on Morning Phase to #5 and a strong 87k.
Santos’ prior release, 2011’s Formúla, Vol. 1, bowed with 62k and has moved 327k to date. Beck’s album is his first since 2008’s Modern Guilt, which debuted with 84k and has since sold 308k.
The Top 10’s other debuts include EMI Nashville’s Dierks Bentley (#6, 57k) and Epic’s The Fray (#8, 36k).
The greatest gainer in a generally flat field is #36 Nettwerk/Warner Bros.’ Passenger, who spikes 24%.
To chew on all the data, check out the chart here.
This week’s Monday street date saw the arrival of Pharrell’s hotly anticipated Columbia set, Maybach Music Group/Def Jam/IDJ’s Rick Ross, Columbia’s Lea Michele, Mercury/IDJ’s American Authors, MCA Nashville’s David Nail and Republic Nashville’s Eli Young Band, among others.
The following week brings XIX/Interscope’s Aloe Blacc, Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan, RCA Nashville’s Sara Evans and a Young Money compilation (YM/CM/Republic).
In other news, John Travolta is really excited about the new record from Elgo Verlopolis. At least we think that’s what he said.
