Update: James Taylor had been immensely successful throughout his lengthy career. Prior to this week, he had not, however, reached the top of the album sales chart.
That drought is officially over. His new album “Before This World” is America’s #1 album. The inclusion of Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album sale) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album sale) brings the album’s first week consumption total to 97,000 units, and that earns Taylor’s record the #1 spot on the Billboard 200.
This week’s Billboard 200 top ten:
1) James Taylor – Before This World – 97K total units (96K from sales)
2) Taylor Swift – 1989 – 57K total units
3) Adam Lambert – The Original High – 47K total units (42K from sales)
4) Ed Sheeran – x – 39K total units
5) Hilary Duff – Breathe In. Breathe Out. – 39K total units (33K from sales)
6) Sam Hunt – Montevallo – 32K total units
7) Nate Ruess – The Grand Romantic – 31K total units (28K from sales)
8) Meghan Trainor – Title – 27K total units
9) Maroon 5 – V – 27K total units
10) Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind – 27K total units
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Thanks to an opening week sales total of 96,000, “Before This World” debuts atop the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
A stellar first week total thrusts James Taylor’s new “Before This World” to the top of the album sales chart.
According to Hits Daily Double, Taylor’s release moved approximately 94,855 copies in its first week of release. While Billboard’s more authoritative data will differ slightly, the disparity will not be enough to change the pecking order. “Before This World” was indeed the June 15-21 tracking week’s best-selling album.
It was also the week’s most-consumed album. With Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album sale) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album sale) included, “Before This World” boasts a consumption total of ~96,586 units. That tally will give it the edge on the Billboard 200.
Other top performers from a pure sales standpoint include Adam Lambert’s “The Original High” (~41,112), Hilary Duff’s “Breathe In. Breathe Out.” (~32,997), Taylor Swift’s “1989” (~29,116) and Nate Ruess’ “The Grand Romantic” (~27,543).
Other top performers from a total consumption standpoint include Taylor Swift’s “1989” (~46,109), Adam Lambert’s “The Original High” (~44,341), Ed Sheeran’s “x” (~39,406) and Hilary Duff’s “Breathe In. Breathe Out.” (~39,366).
