With a weekend’s worth of data now available, Hits Daily Double still expects Justin Bieber’s “Purpose” to rank as the week’s best-selling album.
The publication’s opening week projection holds at 425-450,000 pure US sales. Such a total would give “Purpose” the narrow edge over One Direction’s “Made In The AM,” which looks set for a 400-425,000 bow.
Thanks to stronger than expected track sales and streaming, “Purpose” has meanwhile taken a commanding lead in the total consumption race.
With Track Equivalent Albums (10 single sales = 1 unit) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (1500 single streams = 1 unit) added to its pure sales total, Hits expects “Purpose” to generate 525-550,000 in total consumption units.
That would be enough to give “Purpose” #1 on the consumption-oriented Billboard 200. “Made In The AM” is projected to generate 475-500,000 in total consumption units.
If “Purpose” lands on the high end of the 525-550,000 range, it would post 2015’s greatest single week consumption total (Drake’s “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” currently holds the high mark of 535,000 units). That achievement would only last for one week, however, as Adele’s “Hello” will blow past that mark during its release week.