SWIFT MILLION!!
Long live Taylor Swift.
The country crossover princess’ third album proved a charm, as her Big Machine/ Universal Republic release Speak Now cracked the magic barrier, selling 1.044 million in its first week.
That’s the highest total since 50 Cent moved 1.14 million of his album Massacre back in 2005. Lil Wayne, of course, was the last to crack the magic mark back in June, 2008, when Tha Carter III sold 1.005 million. Garth Brooks’ ’98 album Double Live remains the biggest Country album to date, selling 1.085m, while Swift shatters Shania Twain’s female Country mark of 874k for Up in Nov. 2002.
Not bad for a gal who won’t be able to legally buy a drink until December, when she turns 21.
The only other Top 10 newcomer this week is Reprise artist Michael Buble’s Hollywood: The Deluxe EP, which bows at #8, including new tracks also added to last year’s Juno Award-winning Crazy Love.
Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland, last week’s chart-topper, dips to #2, and should do well next week with the CMAs on tap. RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon is now at #3, with the brilliant Come Around Sundown, while Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Lil Wayne (#4) and Shady/ Aftermath/Interscope’s Emimem (#5) round out the leaderboard.
Decca’s much-ballyhooed Elton John and Leon Russell pairing, The Union (#6), is next, followed by
Other Top 50 newcomers include Vagrant’s Senses Fail (#30), while Taylor Swift’s Fearless (#36), Universal Motown’s Kem (#46) and Epic’s Sara Bareilles (#48) return to the chart.
The week’s double-digit gainers feature three country acts, including Capitol Nashville/EMI’s Lady Antebellum (#29-26, +20%), Columbia Nashville’s Miranda Lambert (#45-33, +18%), Interscope’s Lady Gaga (#43-32, +11%) and Atlantic’s Zac Brown Band (#49-41, +10%).
This week’s releases include Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean, Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley, Columbia’s Neil Diamond, Hear Music’s Elvis Costello, Capitol/EMI’s Good Charlotte, Star Trak/Interscope’s N.E.R.D., Island/IDJ’s Mariah Carey and Fader’s Matt & Kim, among others.
