Also staying strong are The Love Club EP by Lava/Republic’s Lorde, down just 2% and moving #36-25, and Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line (#17-16, -9%).

URBAN RENEWAL!

Country Superstar Inches Past The Weeknd for #1 on the HITS Album Sales Chart

In a real squeaker, Capitol Nashville’s Keith Urban takes the top post on the HITS Album Sales Chart this week with 102k, just besting XO/Republic’s The Weeknd, which sold 98k units.

Pressed for comment, Universal Nashville chief Mike Dungan observed, "YEEEEEE-HAWWWWWWWWWWW." Urban’s last record, 2010’s Get Closer, debuted with 162k and has sold 743k to date.

Also debuting on the upper end of the chart are IDJ’s 2 Chainz (#3, 60k), Atlantic’s Janelle Monae (#5, 47k), Domino’s Arctic Monkeys (#6, 39k) and Warner Nashville’s Sheryl Crow (#7, 37k).

Another Capitol Nashville chart-topper, Luke Bryan, is the highest non-debut, holding on to #4 with 52k (-23%). Epic’s Tamar Braxton drops 2-8 with 34k (-70%). Last week’s #1, Republic’s Ariana Grande, sold 31k (-77%), good for #9.

Also staying strong are The Love Club EP by Lava/Republic’s Lorde, down just 2% and moving #36-25, and Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line (#17-16, -9%).

You can check out all the chart action here.

Streeting today are Brushfire/Republic’s Jack Johnson, PRMD/Island/IDJ’s Avicii, Big Machine’s Justin Moore and an anthology from Maybach Music Group, among others.

That's it for now. If you need us, we'll be licking all the items at the hardware store.

THE HITS LIST TURKEY TROT
...with all the trimmings (11/22a)
AN AWARD-WINNING CMA GALLERY
Cowboy hats and funny caps (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: WITCHING HOUR
It's not easy being green. (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: REALIGNMENT AND RECOGNITION
Underscoring the year's biggest stories (11/19a)
NEAR TRUTHS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Nervous time in the music biz and beyond. (11/16a)
NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
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