Update: “Conqueror,” which was featured in Wednesday’s “Empire,” continues to surge on the iTunes single sales chart.
As of press time, the track was up to #4 on the listing. Only Kanye West’s “All Day,” Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” and Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” are selling at a faster pace.
“You’re So Beautiful,” which was also featured in Wednesday’s episode, is also on the rise and presently on the verge of entering the Top 10.
“Conqueror” is credited to “Empire Cast featuring Estelle and Jussie Smollett.” “You’re So Beautiful” is attributed to “Empire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz.”
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The title of the latest single from FOX’s “Empire” aptly describes its performance on the iTunes single sales chart.
“Conqueror,” that single, is up to #7–and potentially still rising–following Wednesday’s edition of the juggernaut new drama. The song, which first appeared on Estelle’s “True Romance,” was reworked as a duet and featured in a pivotal scene between her Delphine and Jussie Smollett’s Jamal.
Like all releases from the show’s soundtrack, “Conqueror” is credited to “Empire Cast.” Estelle and Jussie Smollett, who specifically perform the song, are identified as featured artists.
Released in advance of Wednesday’s episode as an instant gratification track from the show’s official soundtrack album, “Conqueror” immediately blasted into the upper reaches of the chart. As virtually all instant gratification tracks do (since their natural sales pace cannot keep up with the initial pre-order redemption surge), it quickly faded. “Conqueror” had fallen out of the Top 40 by the time Wednesday’s episode hit the air.
Wednesday’s episode quickly reversed that downward trajectory. It was in the top ten of iTunes’ all-genre sales chart within two hours of the east coast broadcast’s conclusion, and it currently holds the #7 position on the chart. Real-time trending data reveals that its sales pace is now five times what it was prior to the broadcast.
A version of the song credited to the episodic EP rather than the official soundtrack album currently holds the #40 spot.
Other “Empire” singles in the iTunes Top 100:
16 – You’re So Beautiful – Empire Cast ft. Jussie Smollett & Yazz
55 – Money for Nothing – Empire Cast ft. Jussie Smollett & Yazz
72 – Walk Out on Me – Empire Cast ft. Courtney Love
94 – You’re So Beautiful (White Party Version) – Empire Cast ft. Jussie Smollett