NEW RELEASES
(WITH EXTRA
OLIVES, PLEASE)

After a squeaker for #1 on last week’s HITS Top 50, the first chart of Q4 could be shaping up for a similar race. First-day sales and streams have MMG/Atlantic’s Meek Mill projecting about 90k with his 18-track Expensive Pain project. Last week’s runner-up, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (OVO/Republic), would need to fall by one-third to give Meek a path to #1 based on today’s projection.

The real fight, however, may not come from a new release but from Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version), via Republic. Vinyl pre-orders are shipping for this week’s chart, along with the signed CDs that were offered for 72 hours last week. While info is still forthcoming, a similar rollout was executed for evermore’s vinyl just three months ago; the album soared back to #1 with more than 200k in activity and set a single-week vinyl sales record for the modern era. Will Tay repeat this stunning performance? Stay tuned.

Meek Mill (MMG/Atlantic) 85-95k total activity, 1-3k albums
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga (Interscope/Columbia) 35-40k, 33-37k
Lil Wayne & Rich The Kid (Republic) 12-15k, <1k

We might add that Love for Sale, the re-teaming of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga on a set full of Cole Porter gems, referenced above, is the week's only release that makes us want to day-drink martinis.

Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

HITS LIST: A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER
Strap in for the roller-coaster ride. (11/5a)
GAGA, OPRAH MAKE FINAL PUSH FOR KAMALA IN PHILLY
The final round on the Rocky steps (11/4a)
YOU COULD CALL THIS ENDORSEMENT A MIRACLE
We second that emotion. (11/2a)
OF PONIES, PRINCESSES AND UNICORNS: CHAPPELL'S SNL TRIUMPH AND BEYOND
Changing the pop narrative (11/5a)
PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER
Words to live by (11/5a)
THE GRAMMY SHORT LIST
Who's already a lock?
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.
ALL THE WAY LIVE
The players, the tours, the enormous beers.
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country