According to Columbia Records, One Direction’s “Drag Me Down” sold 282,000 copies in its first three days of release.
While it has not retained that pace in the days since, it remains the leading performer on the US iTunes single sales chart.
Its first week US sales total, consequently, may end up being the best-ever for a One Direction single.
Current industry forecasts call for an opening week sales total in the 350,000 range.
If it makes good on that forecast, it would set a new career high for One Direction. Lead “Take Me Home” single “Live While We’re Young,” which currently holds that high mark, sold 341,000 copies in its first week.
The total would, meanwhile, obliterate that of previous lead single “Steal My Girl.” That song, which introduced “FOUR,” moved 186,000 first-week copies.