“Blackstar” indeed becomes the late David Bowie’s first #1 album in the United States.
The album, which was released two days before his passing, sold an impressive 174,000 US copies during the January 8-14 tracking week. The count positions “Blackstar” at #1 on Top Album Sales.
Adele’s “25,” which spent the past seven weeks on top, slips to #2.
The same hierarchy exists on the consumption-oriented Billboard 200. With Track Equivalent Albums (track sales/10) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (track streams/1500) added to the pure sales total, “Blackstar” generated 181,000 in opening week consumption units.
Adele’s “25” generated 143,000.
The Top 10 of this week’s Billboard 200 is as follows:
1) David Bowie – Blackstar – 181K units (173.8K from sales)
2) Adele – 25 – 143K units (118.8K from sales | US total now ~7.723m)
3) Justin Bieber – Purpose – 104K units (41.7K from sales | US total now ~1.365m)
4) David Bowie – Best Of Bowie – 94K units (50.9K from sales | US total N/A)
5) Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface – 43K units (17.4K from sales | US total now ~637K)
6) The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness – 39K units (13.1K from sales | US total now ~891.4K)
7) Chris Stapleton – Traveller – 33K units (26.1K from sales | US total now ~743.8K)
8) Bryson Tiller – T R A P S O U L – 33K units (11.3K from sales | US total now ~161K)
9) G-Eazy – When It’s Dark Out – 29K units (9.2K from sales | US total now ~181K)
10) Fetty Wap – Fetty Wap – 29K units (5.8K from sales | US total now ~269K)