With a total that exceeds midweek forecasts, Rihanna’s “ANTI” claims first place in the US album sales race.
According to Hits Daily Double, “ANTI” sold approximately 124,925 US copies during its first week of release. The tally bests the 110,000 figure forecasted at midweek — and 100,000 guess that emerged Monday.
Due later this weekend, Billboard’s more authoritative data will differ from that reported by Hits (if recent history is any indication, Hits’ own data may be slightly revised in the coming hours). The discrepancy will not, however, be enough to change the overall outcome: Rihanna’s “ANTI” will be #1 on Top Album Sales.
It will follow “Unapologetic” as Rihanna’s second album to top a weekly pure sales chart.
Per Hits, other top pure sales performers include: Adele’s “25” (~93,266), Kevin Gates” “Islah” (~90,259), Sia’s “This Is Acting” (~73,211), and Charlie Puth’s “Nine Track Mind” (~48,439).
With Track Equivalent Albums (track sales/10) and Streaming Equivalent Albums (track streams/1500) added to the pure sales total, “ANTI” will also top the consumption-oriented Billboard 200 chart.
The position will not be a debut. Eligible for the chart due to its early release, “ANTI” grabbed #27 on last week’s Billboard 200, primarily due to sales and streams of single “Work (featuring Drake).”
