Question exists regarding whether Kanye West’s “The Life Of Pablo,” which is only available for sale on the artist’s official website, will be eligible for this week’s Billboard 200.
The answer to that question will not, however, likely impact the #1 position on this week’s chart.
Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller,” which is clearly on pace to win the pure US sales battle, is also on track for #1 on the Billboard 200.
On the heels of exposure during CBS Sunday Morning and the ACM Awards, Stapleton’s album is on pace to sell what Hits Daily Double projects as 60-65,000 pure US copies. The count will easily earn “Traveller” #1 on Top Album Sales.
With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) added to the pure sales total, “Traveller” should generate 73-78,000 in weekly US consumption. That should be enough to secure the top spot on the revamped, consumption-oriented Billboard 200.
The aforementioned “TLOP” is generating monster streaming numbers after being made available on the full gamut of networks, but the album’s SEA tally — its only notable form of consumption — will not challenge the projected “Traveller” total.
Hits expects “TLOP” to instead battle for #2 with 58-63,000 in weekly consumption. Lukas Graham’s “Lukas Graham” will also be in the mix with 55-60,000 units (34-39,000 from pure sales).
In terms of pure sales, the week’s other notable performers will include Weezer’s “Weezer (The White Album)” (~40-45,000 sales), Big Sean x Jhene Aiko’s “Twenty88” (~39-44,000) and Adele’s “25” (~28-32,000).
Other notable consumption performers will include “Twenty88” (~45-50,000 units), Rihanna’s “ANTI” (~45-50,000 | ~13-15,000 pure sales), Weezer’s “Weezer” (~43-48,000), Justin Bieber’s “Purpose” (~40-45,000 | ~12-14,000 pure sales), ZAYN’s “Mind of Mine” (~38-43,000 | ~17-20,000 pure sales), and Adele’s “25” (~35-40,000).
