FOR THOSE ABOUT TO DEBUT #1, WE SALUTE YOU
Label chief (and former band manager) Steve Barnett’s strategy, with the help of the ubiquitous Irving Azoff, appears to be paying dividends, as the disc is now on target to sell “well north of 800k,” based on first and second-day sales reports.
Some are even saying it could approach seven figures, threatening Lil Wayne’s up-to-now year-best, but it’s still too early for that. Needless to say, the veteran Aussie rockers will shake the marketplace all week long, with Wal-Mart having bought 2.5 million copies one-way and moving them like Ecstasy at a rave.
Disney’s High School Musical 3, the soundtrack to the theatrical feature opening this Friday, is on target for between 250-300k, with the wild card the movie itself, making it a lock for #2.
The regular edition of Kenny Chesney’s BNA/SBMG Nashville album Lucky Old Sun hits the street, with combined sales in the 100k area, give or take, after its turn at #1 this week.
Columbia’s Mary Mary, the other major chart newcomer, looks to be in the 40-50k range, with Christian bookstore sales possibly boosting that total higher.
Next week, Q4 gets underway in earnest with releses from Show Dog's Toby Keith, Columbia's John Legend, LaFace/ZLG's P!nk, Interscope's Snow Patrol and greatest hits albums from Lyric Street's Rascal Flatts and Columbia's Celine Dion.
The market was up 2% over last week, down 18% over same week last year and still down 12% year-to-date.
Not even Joe the Plumber can fix these pipelines.
