Update: Billboard confirmed Wednesday that Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor” will debut atop its Billboard 200 chart.
The full top ten is as follows:
Arcade Fire – Reflektor – 140K (DEBUT)
Katy Perry – Prism – 92K
Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped in Red – 70K (DEBUT)
The Robertsons – Duck the Halls – 69K (DEBUT)
Drake – Nothing was the Same – 38K
Thomas Rhett – It Goes Like This – 36K (DEBUT)
Toby Keith – Drinks After Work – 35K (DEBUT)
Lorde – Pure Heroine – 34K
Miley Cyrus – Bangerz – 33K
Linkin Park – RECHARGED – 33K (DEBUT)
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Last week’s album sales totals are essentially official, and the verdict is now irrefutable: Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor” will debut at number one.
Though its total pales in comparison to expectations, and even trails the debut figure for Arcade Fire’s 2010, profile-raising “The Suburbs,” it gives the album significant breathing room over the week’s other contenders.
According to Hits Daily Double, from which the authoritative Billboard data will differ only slightly, that weekly sales total was roughly 139K.
Katy Perry’s “Prism,” which debuted at number one last week, will claim number two this frame on the strength of around 94K.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Wrapped in Red” (~70K) and The Robertsons’ “Duck the Halls” (~65K), both new releases, will follow.
Three new releases and three holdovers will competitively occupy the remaining slots on the top ten. All six albums–Drake’s “Nothing Was the Same,” Thomas Rhett’s new “It Goes Like This,” Toby Keith’s new “Drinks After Work,” Linkin Park’s new “RECHARGED,” Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” and Miley Cyrus’ “Bangerz”–achieved weekly sales in the 33-38K range.