CHART STORY: STAPLETON STAYS

After a breakout performance at the CMAs last week, along with three wins (including Album of the Year), Chris Stapleton’s album, Traveller, charged to #1 on the HITS Album Sales and Sales Plus Streaming (SPS) Charts in its 25th week on the chart. This week, the Mercury Nashville sensation is proving that the critically acclaimed set has staying power, as it earns another 83k in album sales and 109k at SPS and remains in the top spots.

On a related front, EMI Nashville’s Eric Church—who surprised everyone by dropping Mr. Misunderstood in a sneak attack move during the same awards show—holds at #2, earning another 66k.

As for the debuts, Cherrytree/Interscope’s Ellie Goulding bows at #3 with 42k for Delirium, and Big Machine/BMLG’s Tim McGraw follows at #4 with 41k for Damn Country Music.

The 2015 version of the Beatles’ 1 (Capitol)—originally out in 2000—appeared at #6, while albums from Epic’s Sara Bareilles (#7), SYCO/Columbia’s Little Mix (#9) and RCA Nashville’s Old Dominion (#10) also debuted.

Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour (Capitol) sees nearly a 200% increase thanks to the deluxe reissue, also known as his “Drowning Shadows” edition.

RCA’s Pentatonix, meanwhile, have a whole lot to sing about with two albums in the Top 20 this week. Last month’s self-titled chart-topper sits at #18, while 2014’s That’s Christmas to Me sprints from #40-15, driven by the release of their own deluxe reissue.

What’s streeting this week? Well, there are albums from Def Jam’s Alessia Cara and Black Magnetic/Epic’s A Great Big World. Oh, and there’s also material from two buzzing new acts. You may have heard of them: Justin Bieber and One Direction.

Ben Carson, however, believes that Bieber and One Direction were actually built for storing grain.