CHART STORY:
AN EVOL AFFAIR
A1/Freebandz/Epic’s Future has topped the HITS Album Sales Chart with 108k for EVOL. On the Sales Plus Streaming (SPS) Chart, the Apple exclusive release also rules with 139k.
Having a #1 album going into The Grammys is especially impressive considering the lack of a traditional rollout. The set, which dropped by surprise last week, marks Future’s fourth studio album in five years. During that time, though, there have been singles and myriad mixtapes—notably his collaborative set with Drake (What a Time to be Alive), which also dropped without warning only to land at #1 and spawned the multi-format radio smash “Jumpman.” Word has it that label honcho L.A. Reid was so inspired by the results that he wrote another book.
Meanwhile, XL/Columbia’s Adele holds at #2 with another 106k for 25, and Parlophone’s Coldplay breaks back into the Top 3 with 90k (up 389%), following their Super Bowl halftime performance. To commemorate Sunday’s big event, A Head Full of Dreams was priced at $6.99 on iTunes and 99-cents on Google Play. Following her performance within Coldplay’s performance, meanwhile, Beyonce’s 4 (Columbia) re-enters the chart at #42.
Elton John’s 32nd studio album, Wonderful Crazy Night (Island), turns out to be the third-highest-charting debut, with 59k at #5. Also debuting in the Top 10: NOW/Legacy’s Now 57 (#4), WMG’s Wiz Khalifa (#6), Essential’s Elevation Worship (#10).
As for the Grammy gang, Mercury Nashville’s Chris Stapleton maintains his remarkable stamina at #8 and Republic’s 2016 Grammy Nominees compilation lands at #14, while XO/Republic’s The Weeknd breaks back into the Top 15, Big Machine’s Taylor Swift returns to the Top 20 and MCA Nashville’s Sam Hunt sees a 40% sales bump at #29.
Fans continue to mourn the passing of trailblazing singer/songwriter Glenn Frey, pushing Eagles’ The Very Best of Eagles (Rhino) #35-24. And following last week’s death of founder Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire’s Greatest Hits (Legacy)—on sale for $7.99 at iTunes—re-enters the chart at #25.
Streeting this week is Kanye’s new album, apparently titled The Life of Pablo (for now), which will be released via Def Jam.
Donald Trump’s The Life of Bozo—a mixtape made entirely up of mash-ups that comprise his most insulting campaign comments—is rumored to drop like a deuce any moment now. Watch this space for updates.
