While it was no match for Adele’s “25,” Chris Brown’s “Royalty” fared well during its opening week of release.
According to Nielsen Music, the album sold 162,000 US copies during its first week of release. Only “25” (1.15 million) sold more US copies during the December 18-24 tracking week.
Up from the 146,000 figure posted by Brown’s previous album “X,” the tally also comfortably tops industry forecasts. When the week began, analysts were expecting a bow in the 125-135,000 range. Later upgraded to 135-145,000, the projection was still no match for the actual total.
With Track Equivalent Albums (track sales/10) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (track streams/1500) added to its pure sales total, “Royalty” shifted 184,000 first-week units. That tally earns “Royalty” the #3 position on the Billboard 200 (behind Adele’s “25,” 1.19 million, and Justin Bieber’s “Purpose,” 229,000).
