Drake’s heavily-hyped, hotly-anticipated debut LP “Thank Me Later” is tracking for a solid opening sales week, but it currently is not on pace to completely change the game.
According to Billboard, the early tracking on “Thank Me Later” is 425,000-475,000 debut week sales. While such an opening would situate the album with Sade’s “Soldier of Love” (502,000) and Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” (481,000) as one of the best year-to-date performers, it would not live up to some of the rather lofty pre-release hopes and expectations.
Recently, rapper The Game offered a prediction of 650,000 opening week sales; Lil Wayne, meanwhile, said, “I need him to do more than ‘Tha Carter III.’ Like two million in the first week. I need him to do two million the first week, straight up.”
Billboard was quick to note that the album stands a chance of moving above the aforementioned 425-475,000 forecast by week’s end. But while that means 500,000 is certainly feasible, the possibility of Drake opening to the tune of one million or more is officially out of the question.
Update: First week sales, according to Hits Daily Double, were about 463,000. The final Billboard data will be printed Wednesday, but it will not differ significantly from the 463,000 figure.
Billboard said “PROJECTED”, as in a prediction. They haven’t looked at numbers yet so thanks for putting up false statements.
Not sure how to respond to this comment. Billboard’s data (data which was seconded by Hits Daily Double on Wednesday) PROJECTED 425-475,000. This is a scientific forecast that looks at internal industy tracking, as well as first-day sales. It is not some analyst’s guess–it relies on historically-accurate metrics.
Moreover, at no point does Headline Planet’s story treat this as anything other than a “projection.”
Note the key words: “tracking,” “early tracking,” “forecast.”
Brian, your headline is accurate and very helpful. You should not need to explain what projected means, but glad to see you are attentive to comments at Headline Planet. twitter: @ashmolaei
“class, what do we call words or phrases in a sentance that hints at the definition of a word???” “Ummm, context clues?” “Correct Timmy, you just earned yourself a spoonful of cod liver oil!!!”
i heard so much hype and “drakes gonna outsell tha carter 3” bs and this shows 1 ppl will download the album and 2 his debut is not as hot as many thought it would be because word of mouth would make him sell at least 750k
Fuck Drake… Eminem is going to rape him in sales. GET RECOVERY on the 21st booooo yeahh.
I think word of mouth definitely affected him in a negative way. I like Drake and been anticipating this album for a while. I gotta say its disappointed me. I was expecting more of the tracks like I’m goin in, or something with Trey songz in it. Not a Kanye album. I guess the leak didn’t help record sales like he said. I say the predictions are right where the actual numbers SHOULD be.
i dont care what he sells i just know i love the album havent stopped listenin to it. i heard Eminem album but its okay its no Marshall Mathers LP its a reworked Relapse
Man I don’t know who you foolin or what genre of music you listen to if you think the Drake album is whack. That Drake album is a great piece of work for a first album. The beats are nice. The hooks are off the charts. This is a beautiful mix in one package.
I actually had the leaked version but went to buy it on it’s release date. Support the dude Drake. It’s a nice album. I give it a strong four stars out of five.
@Jerry- I haven’t stopped listening either. It truly is a nice album.
its just a matter of drake taking 2 long 2 release the album. i wouldnt say its gonna set the game on fire but its worth ever cent
Drake is the best rapper in the world I am a full support of thank me later and go and buy it
He just waited to long to release the album, I just got it today, and i’ve already listened to it from beginning to end twice…this is a very solid album, i can genually say i like every single song on here, but he should’ve released it earlier this year when his buzz was off the charts!
I am very pleased with this album! Got the leak a week or two ago. Loved it soo much, went out and bought it today at BestBuy.
Some of you are trying to compare Drake to Eminem, and that is whack! They are two totally different types of music. Drake is more R&B and a little hip hop, and he does great with his solo raps on others albums. However, he is not a hard core rapper like Eminem. On that note too, I’m a die hard Eminem fan, but his new album is just another clone of the last if you ask me. He’s trying to rap for the 16 year olds, instead of the people who grew up loving how he made fun of those people… Now he has joined them… “Em, go back to hard core” Drake is the Sh*t if you want something different, and something you can listen to with your girl around. I love it. I hear he is at the 500k mark now. Keep hustlin Drake, and to everyone else, go buy this album!
BigCharlieB.
im glad it didn’t beat do well he’s shit.
That is just another 808, Drake must know that you expiriment with that emo-rap bulls*** once you are an established artists not on your debut…I’m honestly dissapointed i really thought he would do a milli 1st week, but he didnt put that hype energy on his album, i’m not surprised at all although, he shud hav did better… PS if i want to here some singing i will buy an rnb record.
Fuck drake!!!!!!!!!!!!! 13 of his songz suck!!!!!!!!! fancy waz tight…..
nicholas you are a gaylord drake sucks like i did ur mommas pussy ha!!!!!!! J. COLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fucking amazing album, have not stop listening to it, ran and bought it first day it came out, every track is amazing. buy the album drakes got mad potential, not to mention hes a good guy