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THIS CHART STORY IS WRITTEN IN THE STARS

The Weeknd Debuts at #1, While Holiday Sets Make Serious Moves

StarboyThe Weeknd’s much-anticipated third album (and follow-up to the Grammy-winning and chart-topping Beauty Behind the Madness)—just debuted at #1 on HITSSales Plus Streaming (SPS) Chart. And the set, released via XO/Republic on Black Friday, pulled in a whopping 366k. It’s also worth noting that, in tandem with Starboy’s release, predecessor BBTM enjoyed a #49-28 ascension.

The only other debut to make the Top 50 (yes, you read that right) is Garth Brooks’ new studio album, Gunslinger (Pearl), which bows at #15 with 28k. The country star, whose music recently became available for streaming for the first time ever (via Amazon Music), has two other releases on the chart this week. His 11-disc box set, which happens to include Gunslinger, returns to the Top 3 with another 103k; Target took the already low price of $29.95 down to $24.95 for Black Friday. Meanwhile, Brooks’ Christmas project with Trisha Yearwood, Christmas Together, can be found at #12 with 29k.

Pentatonix’s latest Christmas set, A Pentatonix Christmas (RCA), goes #4-2 this week with 129k. Does the album, which dropped 10/21, have a shot at topping the chart before the year’s end? It’s certainly not out of the question. By the way, the a cappella quintet’s previous yuletide release, 2015’s That’s Christmas to Me, jumps #14-8, tacking on 39k; that one boasts an RTD total of approximately 1.8m.

As for other Ol’ Saint Nick-related surges, Michael Buble’s 2011 sensation, Christmas (Repirse), leaps #20-9 and Jordan Smith’s ‘Tis the Season (Republic) goes #23-14, while Christmas albums from SixStepsChris Tomlin (#22), Amy Grant (#31), Columbia’s Mariah Carey (#33), Sony Nashville’s Chris Young (#35), Big Machine’s Rascal Flatts (#47) and S-Curve’s Leslie Odom Jr. (#48) all re-enter, along with Fantasy’s Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (#40).

And since nothing says the holidays like family flicks, the soundtrack to Disney animation Moana soars #25-6, following the film’s release.

Holy shit. We must ask: Is it Christmas yet or what?

Oh, and as shoppers ice their Black Friday bruises, Lady Gaga’s Joanne (Interscope) goes #19-13, Adele’s 25 (XL/Columbia) aptly breaks back into the Top 25 and Florida Georgia Line’s Dig Your Roots (BMLG) glides #40-27, while Brett Eldredge’s Glow (WMG) and Michael Buble’s Nobody But Me (Reprise) re-enter at #36 and #42, respectively.

As for SPS marketshare, there’s UMG at #1 with 46%, Sony at #2 with 24%, WMG at #3 with 18% and (thanks to Garth Brooks) indies at #4 with 12%.

Over on the Album Sales Chart, The Weeknd is also #1, with 227k. There, PTX and Brooks’ box set still follow at #2 and #3. However, Brooks’ Gunslinger, the only other debut on this chart as well, comes in a tad higher, at #12.

And the results from the Album Sales marketshare battle look similar to the SPS ones, with UMG leading the chart at #1 with 39%, while Sony, WMG and the indies follow with 24%, 19% and 18%, respectively.

Streeting this week are albums from Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope’s J. Cole, Reprise’s Neil Young and Republic’s Post Malone, along with the Republic-helmed soundtrack to upcoming Universal flick Sing.

Pass the mistletoe-scented weed.

SPRINGTIME
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