WATCH THE THRONE RISE
The Roc-a-Fella/Roc Nation hip-hop icons’ Watch the Throne album is set for a #1 debut with anywhere from 500-550k, the second-largest first-week sales of the year next to Lady Gaga.
This estimate is based on iTunes digital sales only since the physical copy of the album doesn’t hit until Friday, which includes a deluxe exclusive at Best Buy, but it’s more than enough to make it #1 on next week’s HITS chart.
Capitol Nashville/EMI country star Luke Bryan continues the recent streak of high charting albums by the likes of Blake Shelton and Eric Church with his third studio album, Tailgates and Tanlines, which looks in the area of 125-130k, a solid #2.
Capitol/EMI’s Now 39, the latest in the long line of hits compilations (can you believe?), should do between 100-110k, a lock for #3.
Veteran Roadrunner Orlando heavy metal rockers Trivium’s fifth studio album, In Waves, its first since 2008’s Shogun, will debut with 20-25k, the same total expected for Def Jam/IDJ rapper Ace Hood, inked to DJ Khaled’s We the Best Music Group label, on his third studio album, Blood, Sweat & Tears.
Asylum/WB’s Atlanta-based Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame are next up with an estimated total of 15-18k for their Southern-drenched collab, Ferrari Boyz.
Album sales were down 2% vs. last week, up 8% vs. same week last year and up 2% year to date.
Track sales were down 1% vs. last week, up 12% vs. same week last year and up 11% year to date.
TEA (Track Equivalent Album) sales were down 1% vs. last week, up 9% vs. same week last year and up 4% year to date.
Been down so long, it sounds like up to us.
