CHART STORY: THE STARS ALIGN

A new year means a new chart, ladies and gents.

Following Pentatonix’s two-week reign with A Pentatonix Christmas (RCA), The Weeknd’s Starboy returns to the top of the Sales Plus Streaming (SPS) Chart for the first time since its 12/2 charting date. This week, the XO/Republic set tacks on approximately 67k, bringing its RTD number to nearly 440k.

Meanwhile, Drake’s Views (YMCMB/Republic)—the #1 most streamed album of 2016 with 2.8b streams—starts 2017 off at #4 with approximately 40k. And J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only (Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope), which actually turned out to be the #3 most streamed album of last year (with 1.9b) despite its December release, rounds out the Top 5 with 37k.

As awards season kicks off, soundtracks make up six of the Top 15; there’s Disney’s Moana (#2, 64k), Uptown’s Hamilton (#6, 32k), Republic’s Sing (#8, 29k), RCA’s Trolls (#9, 26k), Interscope’s La La Land (#13, 23k) and WMG’s Suicide Squad (#15, 22k).

When it comes to SPS marketshare, UMG leads at #1 with 49%. Then there’s WMG at #2 with 28%, SME at #3 with 22%.

Over on the Album Sales Chart, the Moana soundtrack is #1 with 43k. There, the Rolling Stones continue to hold their own, appearing at #3 with 20k for Blue & Lonesome–out via Interscope. The Sing soundtrack also does well, following at #4 with just under 20k.

And the results from the Album Sales marketshare battle are a little different from the SPS ones. UMG does lead at #1 with 53%, but SME follows at #2 with 24% and WMG ends up at #3 with 21%.

Streeting this week are albums from Dropkick Murphys and BMG’s You Me at Six.

On a related note, being back in the office sure makes us feel like we’ve been dropkicked. TGIF, buddy.