Paul Simon Pacing For 57-62K US Album Sales; Volbeat Set For 40-45K, Maren Morris 35-40K

Paul Simon’s new “Stranger To Stranger” is expected to rank as the week’s best-selling new release in the US. It may end up as the June 3-9 tracking period’s best-selling album, period.

Based on opening day sales data, Hits Daily Double expects “Stranger To Stranger” to sell 57-62,000 pure US copies during its first week of release. The best projection among newcomers, a figure in that range would also likely be enough for a #1 bow on the overall Top Album Sales chart.

Drake’s “Views,” however, should retain the top spot on the consumption-oriented (album sales + track sales/10 + track streams/1500) Billboard 200. Whereas the “Stranger To Stranger” consumption tally will only narrowly top the pure sales total, “Views” should again generate a six-figure unit total.

The week’s other notable new releases include Volbeat’s “Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie” and Maren Morris’ “Hero.” Hits presently expects the former to sell 40-45,000 pure first-week copies and the latter to shift 35-40,000 albums.

If the Volbeat album performs as projected, it would score the band’s best opening week US sales total ever. Previous album “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies,” which currently holds that distinction, sold 39,000 first-week copies.

The Maren Morris projection is strong for a new country artist.

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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Brian Cantor