Barring a massive holiday-fueled surge this weekend, the first week sales total for Alicia Keys’ “The Element of Freedom” will land at only half that of predecessor “As I Am.”
Based on Tuesday sales data, Hits Daily Double is projecting the Keys album to finish its week with 330-350,000 units. Though that will give her the week’s highest-charting debut by a mile, it will be a far cry from the more than 740,000 units posted by “As i Am” in 2007.
It will also fall markedly below the weekly figure for Susan Boyle’s ongoing smash “I Dreamed a Dream,” which will continue its chart reign with another 500-600,000. Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” should also top “The Element of Freedom” on next week’s chart.
Robin Thicke’s “Sex Therapy,” the only other major release this week, is tracking for just over 100,000.