Strong enough for a #2 bow on this week’s Top Album Sales chart, the opening week sales figure for Halsey’s “Badlands” ranks as 2015’s third-biggest for a solo artist’s debut LP.
According to Nielsen Music, “Badlands” sold 97,000 pure copies during the official August 28-September 3 tracking week. Among 2015’s slate of debut LPs by solo artists, only Meghan Trainor’s “Title” and Shawn Mendes’ “Handwritten” got off to stronger starts.
Trainor’s album, which was fueled by hit radio singles in “All About That Bass” and “Lips are Movin” and considerably more mainstream visibility, sold 195,000 in its first week. Mendes’ “Handwritten,” which — like “Badlands” — relied primarily on fan passion and online buzz, sold 106,000 first-week copies.
The distinction also applies to total consumption units. With Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album equivalent unit) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album equivalent unit) added to its pure sales total, “Badlands” posted a debut total of 115,000 units. Among 2015’s solo debuts, only Trainor’s “Title” (238,000) and Mendes’ “Handwritten” (119,000) fared better.
The 115,000 unit total positions “Badlands” at #2 on this week’s Billboard 200. The Weeknd’s “Beauty Behind The Madness” is #1 on Top Album Sales and the Billboard 200.
