It will not challenge Coldplay for number one on next week’s Billboard 200, but Brantley Gilbert’s “Just as I Am” will debut as a very strong number two.
Based on the album’s opening day sales, Hits Daily Double forecasts that the country star will move 170-190,000 copies of the new release this week. In addition to representing the best sales week of Gilbert’s career, the figure will give him his highest position on both the Billboard 200 (#2) and Country Albums chart (#1).
The strong album sales mark represents another high note for Gilbert, whose 2014 is off to a great start. Earlier this year, the artist hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts with “Bottoms Up.” His new single “Small Town Throwdown” is, meanwhile, off to an explosive start at country radio.
Coldplay’s “Ghost Stories,” due to be the week’s best-selling album, is tracking for a bow in the 325-350,000 range.
