Update: As we move into the latter stage of the official October 16-22 tracking week, Pentatonix’s self-titled album appears poised to win the pure sales race (and thus claim #1 on Billboard Top Album Sales).
Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” however, may end up posting a greater consumption total. That would facilitate a #1 bow on the revamped Billboard 200.
According to Hits Daily Double, “Pentatonix” is now projected to sell 75-80,000 pure album copies within the official tracking week. “Confident” is pacing for a pure sales total in the 70-75,000 range.
With Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album equivalent unit) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album equivalent unit) included, Hits expects “Confident” to post a first-week consumption total of 88-93,000 units. “Pentatonix” is pacing to generate 82-87,000 weekly consumption units.
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With a weekend’s worth of data now available, Hits Daily Double gives Pentatonix’s self-titled album a narrow lead in the weekly pure sales race.
Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” however, remains the frontrunner in the consumption-oriented Billboard 200.
Hits is now projecting a 73-78,000 opening week pure sales total for the Pentatonix album. Lovato’s newest release remains on track to sell 68-73,000 inaugural week copies.
Given the close proximity of the projections — and the fact that several days remain in the tracking week — one should neither rush to crown “Pentatonix” nor rush to rule out “Confident.” One should, however, recognize that “Pentatonix” is currently trending as the week’s best-selling album.
Thanks to the impact of Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 album equivalent unit) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 album equivalent unit), “Confident” may still post the week’s greatest consumption total.
While disclosing that this week’s streaming estimate is particularly rough, Hits anticipates an 85-90,000 consumption unit total for “Confident.” “Pentatonix” is currently expected to move 80-85,000.
Like the pure sales race, the consumption battle still appears up for grabs.