CHART STORY: HOW
SWEET IT IS TO BE #1

Republic star Ariana Grande has crossed the finish line victoriously, marking her biggest chart debut yet. Sweetener—her fourth studio album—goes #1 on the Top 50 Chart this time around, moving 232k.

The Monte Lipman-led label actually has four of the current Top 5 albums. YMCMB/Republic’s Drake and Nicki Minaj, along with Republic’s Post Malone, are #3, #4 and #5 with 92k, 90k and 56k, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the previous chart-topper, Travis Scott’s Astroworld (Cactus Jack/Grand Hustle/Epic), is #2. That one tacks on approximately 111k to its total. And in the first full week following her death, the legendary Aretha Franklin moves up two slots to #6 with 30 Greatest Hits (Rhino/Atlantic).

The second-biggest bow belongs to Warner Bros. Nashville’s Cole Swindell, whose All of It appears at #7 with 49k. As for other key debuts, Young Thug & Young Stoner Life Records’ Slime Language (Young Stoner Life Records/Atlantic) enters at #8 with 41k. There’s also Death Cab For Cutie’s Thank You For Today (Atlantic) at #14 and—just outside the Top 15—Ninja Sex Party’s Cool Patrol (Ninja Sex Party) at #17. And for details on the HITS office band, Old Stoner Party, check our Friendster.

Taylor Swift’s reputation (Big Machine) climbs back into the Top 20 as her record-breaking Reputation Tour—the highest-grossing U.S. tour by a female artist—moves through its second half. Following MTV’s VMAs, Camila Cabello’s Camila (SYCO/Epic) re-enters at #38.

When it comes to overall marketshare, UMG is #1 with 57%, WMG follows with 27% and SME is #3 with 13%, while the indies claim 3%.

Streeting this week are projects from Bighit/Columbia’s BTS, BMG’s Alice in Chains, VP/Dimelo Vi/Sony Latin’s Ozuna, Matador’s Interpol and Republic’s Liam Payne.