Update: Billboard has made the news official: Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” posted the best single-week sales and consumption numbers of 2017.
Per the publication, “DAMN.” claims #1 on Billboard Top Album Sales with 353,00 pure US sales. The inclusion of TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) yields a first-week total of 603,000 units, which earns the #1 spot on the Billboard 200.
Both are the best figures posted by an album in 2017.
Prior to the release of “DAMN.,” Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” held the album sales distinction with 322,000. Drake’s “More Life” debuted with 505,000 units, which was the year’s best consumption total.
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Everyone knew Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN” was going to post big first week numbers.
Few expected them to be this big.
According to Buzz Angle Music and Hits Daily Double, “DAMN” sold approximately 361,534 pure US copies during the August 14-20 tracking week. With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) added to the pure sales figure, it registered a first-week consumption total of about 610,417 units.
The pure sales sum will position “DAMN” at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart, while the consumption figure will position the album atop the Billboard 200.
The numbers obliterate early industry projections, which called for 275-300,000 pure US sales and 460-485,000 total units.
They also represent the best numbers delivered in 2017. Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” previously held the distinction on the pure sales front (322K), while Drake’s “More Life” had the previous high in consumption (505K).
Due Sunday, Billboard’s more authoritative data may differ slightly from that reported by BuzzAngle. The discrepancy will not, however, change the overall outcome: Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN” delivered the best opening week marks of 2017 to date.
This week’s other top pure sales performers:
John Mayer – The Search For Everything (~125,000 sales)
Beauty And The Beast (~32,165 sales)
Moana (~28,025 sales)
The Chainsmokers – Memories…Do Not Open (~26,041 sales)
This week’s other top consumption performers:
John Mayer – The Search For Everything (~137,928 units)
Drake – More Life (~86,578 units)
Ed Sheeran – Divide (~64,355 units)
The Chainsmokers – Memories…Do Not Open (~62,199 units)
