Melanie Martinez [Catie Laffoon | Atlantic]
Powered by one of the strongest opening week sales totals ever for a “The Voice” contestant’s album, Melanie Martinez’ “Cry Baby” debuts at #5 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.
According to Nielsen Music, “Cry Baby” shifted 32,287 pure US copies during the August 14-20 tracking week. Only Luke Bryan’s “Kill the Lights” (83,410), Ed Sheeran’s “x” (79,832), Dr. Dre’s “Compton” (43,081), and NOW 55 (~40,000) sold more weekly copies.
The album’s opening week sales total represents the third-best for a “The Voice” contestant and best for a non-winner. Only season three winner Cassadee Pope’s “Frame By Frame” (~43,000) and season four winner Danielle Bradbery’s “Danielle Bradbery” (~41,000) had stronger opening weeks.
Neither of those albums, moreover, scored as high a position on the album sales chart. Pope’s release started at #9, while Bradbery’s album debuted at #19.
— With Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album equivalent unit) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album equivalent unit) added to the sales total, “Cry Baby” earns a first-week consumption total of ~40,000 units. That results in a #6 debut on the consumption-oriented Billboard 200.