CHART STORY: TAYLOR ON TOP
It’s official. Taylor Swift’s reputation (Big Machine) has edged past prior smash 1989 to become her fourth consecutive album to debut with a million-plus first week. The star’s much-talked-about set has bowed with approximately 1.29m on the HITS Sales Plus Streaming (SPS) Chart.
As we previously reported, nobody else has done 1m in their first week more than twice. (Adele had three million-plus weeks, but they were for the same release: 25.). For reference, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Eminem have had two platinum-plus debuts apiece.
The only other debut to make the Top 20 is Evanescence’s Synthesis (BMG), which lands at #8 with 34k.
And Lil Pump’s eponymous full-length enjoys a noteworthy boost, going #16-10 as the up-and-comer’s “Gucci Gang” (Tha Lights Global/Warner Bros.) holds at #2 on our Streaming Songs Chart and continues to climb at Rhythm and Urban radio.
With the Grammy nominations’ reveal date (11/28) nearing, a few key names make moves up the chart. Post Malone’s Stoney (Republic) jumps #9-5. His latest smash, “rockstar,” remains #1 on the Streaming Songs Chart (with 25.6m+ streams) and Song Revenue Chart (with $193k+ in total weekly revenue). Ed Sheeran’s Divide (Atlantic) hops #10-7, as current single “Perfect” inches closer to the Pop radio Top 10. The track also moves into the Revenue Chart Top 5 and the Streaming Songs Top 20.
Then there’s Mercury Nashville’s Chris Stapleton—another possible Grammy contender, who’s fresh off his Album and Male Vocalist of the Year CMA wins. From a Room: Volume 1, which dropped in May, breaks back into the SPS Top 30, while 2015’s Traveller rises #41-33.
Christmas is a little over a month away. Of course, you know that means: Pentatonix. RCA’s all-star a cappella group, leaps #29-17 with A Pentatonix Christmas.
Speaking of yuletide merriment, Metallica re-entered the chart at #25. The band’s Master of Puppets (Blackened) is propelled by the recent release of its deluxe anniversary edition. Stuff that in your stocking and smoke it.
When it comes to the battle for SPS marketshare, UMG holds 72%, WMG follows with 14% and SME is #3 with 13%, while the indies claim 1%.
Streeting this week is Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s first-ever joint album, The Rest of Our Life (McGraw Music/Arista Nashville). Also coming: Dack Janiels/Broken Bow’s Chase Rice, N-Less/Interscope’s Moneybagg Yo & YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Island’s Tove Lo, as well as Sia’s Christmas release. Pass the eggnog.
