Paul Simon [Myrna Suarez | Concord Music Press Photo]
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.