Quantcast
The Top 10’s other debuts include #2 Columbia’s Celine Dion, Epic’s Avril Lavigne and viral a cappella marvels Pentatonix.

CHART STORY: A MATHERS-F***ER
OF A DEBUT

Eminem Knocks It Out of the Park Again With 780k; Celine, Avril, Pentatonix Bow in Top 10

Shady/Aftermath/Interscope’s Eminem has done it again. The Marshall Mathers LP 2, the hip-hop luminary’s latest blend of fearless, motormouthed rhyming, hard beats and inventive samples, bows at #1 on the HITS Album Sales Chart with a whopping 780k, becoming the second-highest debuting release of 2013 (behind only Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience, part one).

This resounding bow surpasses that of Em’s 2010 set, Recovery, which moved 741k in its first week (it’s sold 4.5m to date). The news undoubtedly has Messrs Iovine, Janick and Berman—and the rest of their team—banging their heads to the Beats.

The Top 10’s other debuts include #2 Columbia’s Celine Dion, whose Loved Me Back to Life bowed with 77k, Epic’s Avril Lavigne, who moved 42k of her new set (good for a #5 bow) and viral a cappella marvels Pentatonix, who sold a hearty 31k out of the Madison Gate to land at #10.

#3 is occupied by Duck Dynasty family The Robertsons, whose holiday set jumped 16% over last week’s debut, selling 75k. Other top-sellers among chart veterans: Capitol’s Katy Perry (#4, 60k, -36%); the holiday set from RCA’s Kelly Clarkson (#6, 42k, -39%); YM/CM/Republic’s Drake (#7, 37k, -3%); and Lava/Republic’s Lorde (#8, 34k, +1%).

The CMAs juiced several releases, notably Warner Nashville’s Blake Shelton, who jumped #35-15 and spiked 141% (greatest gainer, anyone?); Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line (#14, +54%); and Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan (#11, +26%). CMA Best New Artist winner Kacey Musgraves meanwhile, had a Top 25 re-entry for her Mercury Nashville set Same Trailer, Different Park.

Streeting this week are Interscope’s Lady Gaga, UMe’s NOW 48 and a Beatles BBC set from Capitol, among others.

Now if you’ll excuse us, Phil’s duck call worked only too well, and a mallard is now humping our leg.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)