DLR Album Sales Watch (12/24/09)

SUBO’S HOLIDAY GIFT KEEPS ON GIVING

Boyle Adds to Record-Breaking Total, Alicia Keys, Robin Thicke Debut in Top 10

December 22, 2009

If this is a Dream, the record industry would prefer to never wake up.

Syco/Columbia’s version of Santa Claus, Susan Boyle, continues her scorched earth policy, racking up another 659k sales, sending I Dreamed a Dream past the 2.5 million sales mark in the U.S., as she picks up steam in her quest to unseat Taylor Swift’s Fearless as the year’s top-selling album. It’s her fourth consecutive week at #1.

J/RMG’s Alicia Keys is the week’s top debut, with a nifty total of 406k for her new Element of Freedom album, good enough to debut at #2 behind the Boyle bandwagon.

Keys bumps Decca’s Andrea Bocelli holiday album, My Christmas, from #2, though the Italian tenor adds another 385k into his coffers, at #3. The aforementioned Swift logs in with another 230k, while 19/Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood rounds out the Top 5 with 159k.

Star Trak/Interscope blue-eyed soul man Robin Thicke’s Sex Therapy is the only other Top 10 bow at #9, while Reprise’s Michael Buble (#6), Interscope’s Lady Gaga (#7 with the deluxe version of Fame and #12 for her stand-alone Fame Monster EP), Island/IDJ’s Justin Bieber (#8) and Epic’s Michael Jackson This Is It album (#10) round out the top of the chart.

Sales are up across the board, with John Mayer’s Battle Studies (#27-15, +78%), Def Jam/IDJ’s Rihanna (#28-20, +62%), Universal Republic’s Owl City (#29-23, +57%), Provident/Reunion’s Casting Crowns (#32-25, +56%) and Rhino’s Alvin & The Chipmunks The Squeakquel soundtrack (#38-29, +54%) the weeks’ top gainers.

J Records/RMG’s Rod Stewart (#40), Walt Disney’s Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack (#41), Roc Nation/Atlantic’s Jay-Z (#43), Hollywood’s Selena Gomez and the Scene (#45), RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon (#47), Columbia Nashville’s Miranda Lambert (#48) and Hear Music’s Paul McCartney (#50) all re-entered this week.

Hitting stores yesterday were Geffen’s Mary J. Blige, RCA/RMG’s Dave Matthews Band CD/DVD live set, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope’s Eminem Relapse: Refill deluxe edition, Polo Grounds/J/RMG’s Hurricane Chris, Epic’s Mudvayne and Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Young Money.

Source: HitsDailyDouble

Sleeping with a broken heart or not, Alicia Keys is sleeping with an amazing debut week for Element Of Freedom. The J Records release surpassed first week performances from Rihanna, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly and Chris Brown, nearly striking seven-day gold. Expect the “Empire State Of Mind” co-writer to have a plaque by next week, beating out year’s end.

Another Hip Hop-friendly R&B act, Robin Thicke brought his Sex Therapy to the charts at #9. The Interscope Records hit-making worked with Jay-Z and Game on this project, and donning a Star Trak logo on this third album, is being praised by criticals.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It soundtrack already proved to be a stocking stuffer with a bold increase in already impressive sales. The Black Eyed Peas climbed two spots, back into the teens. Fergie, will.i.am and company tail Eminem’s Relapse by 50,000 units for top-selling Rap album of 2009 with the continued push of The E.N.D.

With a new Young Jeezy-assisted single, Rihanna remains strong on the charts. Rated R may not be the R&B/Pop star’s most hit-filled release to date, but her creativity and media interest aren’t going anywhere.

* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.

Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

After debuting near the top of the charts last week, Gucci Mane’s The State Vs. Radric Davis nearly slid out of the Top 40. The Warner Asylum release did clear the six-figure mark, but surprises many who expected the outspoken Atlanta rapper to garner a gold album in his comeback year.

At present, Jay-Z has the top-selling Rap album in 2009 in Blueprint 3. The emcee’s first project in 13 years not released on Def Jam Records just unveiled a new ’80s sample-based “Forever Young” single. Longtime corporate rival Interscope may be trying to combat that as Eminem’s Relapse: Refill will hit stores next week, pushing up sales of the “Relapse” brand. The Santa Monica, California-based label recently did the same with Lady Gaga. At present, there is roughly 200,000 units between the two.

Resurrecting the sacred gangsta Rap imprint Priority Records via EMI Records, Snoop Dogg and his Malice N’ Wonderland nearly fell out of the Top 50, despite continued airplay of emerging hit “I Wanna Rock” .

50 Cent fell to #60 with Before I Self Destruct. The album sells strongly, but still fell short of marketplace projections. A strong holiday season could push the Interscope release (thought to be Fif’s last) to gold.

Will Young Money be the brand of the future? Can Hurricane Chris reclaim some chart love?

Source: HipHopDX