Nicki Minaj’s Album Sales Pacing for 160K; D’Angelo, 5SOS Follow (Updated)

Update 3: Despite slipping to #2 on the iTunes album sales chart, Nicki Minaj’s “The Pinkprint” is tracking as the week’s best-selling new release.

Unfortunately, its projected sales total is not particularly impressive.

According to Hits Daily Double, Minaj’s album is likely to move 155-165,000 copies in its first week (with an additional 15,000 Billboard 200 credits to come from Track Equivalent Albums and Streaming Equivalent Albums).

Next among newcomers will be D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s surprise “Black Messiah,” which HITS says will sell 95-100,000 copies in its first week. 5 Seconds of Summer’s “LIVESOS” looks safe for 50-55,000 copies, while the “Into the Woods” soundtrack and Charli XCX’s “Sucker” will follow with 28-30,000 and 24-27,000, respectively.
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Update 2: Its lead might not extend to the overall album sales race, but D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s surprise release “Black Messiah” is now the top-seller on the iTunes album sales chart.

Nicki Minaj’s “The Pinkprint,” which opened the day atop the iTunes chart, is now #2 on the listing.  J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” Fall Out Boy’s “American Beauty/American Psycho” pre-order and 5 seconds of Summer’s “LIVESOS” follow at #3, #4 and #5, respectively.

Other top ten sellers on iTunes: Taylor Swift’s #6 “1989,” Kevin Gates’ #7 “Luca Brasi 2: A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition,” Pentatonix’s #8 “That’s Christmas to Me,” Charli XCX’s #9 “Sucker” and the #10 “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Volume 1.

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Update: While the explicit, deluxe edition of Nicki Minaj’s “The Pinkprint” remains the top seller on iTunes, the portrait beneath her has changed.

D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s “Black Messiah” is up to #2, while 5SOS’ “LIVESOS,” which previously held the runner-up slot, is down to #4. J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive” is holding at #3.

The pre-order for Fall Out Boy’s “American Beauty/American Psycho” is up to #5 and thus ahead of Taylor Swift’s “1989” (#6), Kevin Gates’ “Luca Brasi 2: A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition” (#7), Pentatonix’s “That’s Christmas to Me” (#8), Charli XCX’s “Sucker” (#9) and the “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Volume 1” (#10).

The clean version of Nicki Minaj’s album is #11 on the iTunes chart.

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Midnight has arrived on the west coast, which means release day is officially underway for Nicki Minaj’s hotly anticipated new album “The Pinkprint.”

Indicative of that anticipation, Minaj’s release quickly surged to the #1 position on the iTunes Album Sales chart in conjunction with its release on the morning of December 15.

iTunes only represents one portion of the weekly sales race (actual sales forecasts are not yet available), but it is one that is irrefutably excited about “The Pinkprint.”

Next on the excitement list is “LIVESOS,” 5 Seconds of Summer’s live album. The new release shot to #2 in conjunction with its release, which gives it the edge over J. Cole’s successful “2014 Forest Hills Drive” (#3), Taylor Swift’s juggernaut “1989” (#4) and Pentatonix’s smash “That’s Christmas to Me” (#5).

D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s new “Black Messiah” follows at #6, while Charli XCX’s sophomore LP “Sucker” holds the #7 position in conjunction with its launch. Kevin Gates’ “Luca Brasi 2: A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition” sits at #8 and thus ahead of the lingering “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Volume 1” soundtrack (#9) and the pre-order for Fall Out Boy’s “American Beauty/American Psycho” (#10).

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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Brian Cantor