Update: It’s official – Jay-Z’s “4:44” debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales and Billboard 200 charts.
It tops the former thanks to what Billboard reports as 174K pure US sales during its first week as a wide release. With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, it generated 262K opening week units.
The unit figure is enough for a dominant #1 debut on the Billboard 200.
Credited with 77K first-week units, 21 Savage’s “Issa Album” debuts at #2 on the Billboard 200. Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” holds at #3 with 54K, while DJ Khaled’s “Grateful” falls three spots to #4 with 50K.
Ed Sheeran’s “Divide,” which generated another 36K consumption units this week, holds at #5 on the BB200.
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Last Saturday, Hits Daily Double projected that Jay-Z’s “4:44” would sell 150-175,000 pure US albums and generate 250-275,000 total US units during its first week of release.
It revised its projections at midweek, noting that the album was actually on pace to sell 170-180,000 copies but drive only 230-250,000 in total consumption.
While the sales adjustment was a good call, the publication’s initial consumption projection was actually far closer.
According to actual weekly sales data from BuzzAngle and Hits, “4:44” sold approximately 175,441 pure US copies during the July 7-13 tracking week.
With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, it drove 277,601 total US consumption units.
Due Sunday, Billboard’s more authoritative data will differ slightly. The discrepancy will not, however, change the key outcomes: the sales figure will earn “4:44” #1 on Billboard Top Album Sales, while the latter will be enough for a clear victory on the Billboard 200.
This week’s pure sales leaders (via BuzzAngle):
Jay-Z – 4:44 (175,441 pure US sales)
HAIM – Something To Tell You (26,141)
21 Savage – Issa Album (21,825)
Katy Perry – Witness (14,582)
Imagine Dragons – Evolve (13,653)
This week’s consumption leaders (via BuzzAngle):
Jay-Z – 4:44 (277,601 total US units)
21 Savage – Issa Album (75,243)
Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. (49,261)
DJ Khaled – Grateful (46,788)
Imagine Dragons – Evolve (32,526)
