Despite its slower sales pace, Maroon 5’s new studio album “V” will do something predecessor “Overexposed” could not do: reach the #1 spot on Billboard’s 200 album sales chart.
According to Hits Daily Double, “V” is on pace for a bow in the 145-155,000 range. Enough for a convincing victory on the weekly chart, the projected tally nonetheless represents a decline of 30-35% from the “Overexposed” count.
Launched in 2012, “Overexposed” debuted at #2 with 222,000 first week sales.
Far from desirable, the album-to-album decline was certainly expected. While lead “V” single “Maps” has been a respectable performer, it has not garnered anywhere near the traction earned by debut “Overexposed” cut “Payphone.”
Maroon 5 preceded “Overexposed” with 2010’s “Hands All Over.” That album started at #2 with 142,000 first-week sales. That marked a considerable decline from the 429,000 moved by “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,” the band’s 2007 sophomore effort.
Other notable new albums include Jeezy’s “Seen it All” (Hits is forecasting 90-100,000 first week sales) and Counting Crows’ “Somewhere Under Wonderland” (~28-32,000).