Since breaking out several years ago, Lady Antebellum, though irrefutably successful, has been unable to recreate the commercial, radio-friendly magic of “Need You Now.” That reality is taking its toll on the group’s album sales.
Though a number one is essentially assured for new release “Golden,” it is pacing for an opening-week total of only 150,000, according to Billboard Magazine. “Own the Night,” its predecessor, opened to the tune of 347,000 first-week sales, while the “Need You Now” album nearly moved 500,000.
Lead cut “Downtown” is performing well on the country charts, but it has not broken out as a mainstream hit and was thus not enough to return the act to its peak.
Also debuting this week: the star-studded “The Great Gatsby” soundtrack, which Billboard expects will move around 90,000 copies, subject surely to interest stemming from the film’s release this weekend.
