US album consumption data reported by Hits Daily Double typically differs slightly from the final, more authoritative Billboard data. Given that reality, it is too early to declare the #1 album on this week’s Billboard 200.
It does, however, appear safe to assume that Blake Shelton’s new “If I’m Honest” will be #1 on the Top Album Sales chart.
According to the HDD data, “If I’m Honest” sold approximately 151,592 US copies during the May 20-26 tracking week. The count gives “If I’m Honest” a comfortable lead over Ariana Grande’s debuting “Dangerous Woman,” which sold approximately 131,065 pure copies during the official tracking period.
The “If I’m Honest” opening week sales total even more comfortably tops the 101,000 first-week sales generated by Shelton’s previous album “Bringing Back The Sunshine.” It similarly bests the intraweek projections, which began at 120-130,000 and went as high as 150,000 by Thursday.
The “Dangerous Woman” total, on the other hand, represents a decline from the 169,000 mark set by Grande’s previous “My Everything.” It will also likely end up below the 138,000 opening week figure for Grande’s debut album “Yours Truly.”
Earlier this month, some insiders were forecasting an opening week figure in the 200,000 range. That figure was reduced to 150,000 at the onset of the week.
The week’s other notable pure sales performers include Beyonce’s “Lemonade” (~68,785), Drake’s “Views” (~49,966), Bob Dylan’s “Fallen Angels” (~44,152), and Eric Clapton’s “I Still Do” (~42,720).
— The aforementioned Billboard 200 race, which focuses on total consumption (album sales + track sales/10 + track streams/1500) will apparently come down to “Views” and “Dangerous Woman.”
Hits currently has “Views” ahead of “Dangerous Woman,” noting that the former generated about 178,034 in weekly consumption while the latter posted a total of roughly 176,174.
That gap of fewer than 2000 units, however, is well within the discrepancy that often exists between the Hits and Billboard data. The race is presently too close to call — and likely will be until Billboard officially comments.
Should “Views” prevail, it would be scoring its fourth straight week atop the Billboard 200. A “Dangerous Woman” win would give Grande her third straight #1 album (in as many tries).
Other notable consumption performers include “If I’m Honest” (~165,604), “Lemonade” (~99,646), and “ANTI” (~46,572).