Update: Billboard has made the news official.
Brand New’s “Science Fiction” debuts at #1 on this week’s Top Album Sales and Billboard 200 charts.
It tops the former thanks to what Billboard reports as 55,000 in pure opening week US sales.
The inclusion of TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) yields an opening week consumption total of 58,000 units. That figure is enough for #1 on the Billboard 200.
“Science Fiction” is the first Brand New album to reach #1.
Kodak Black’s “Project Baby 2,” which moved 50K opening week units, takes #2 on the Billboard 200. Kendrick Lamar’s enduring “DAMN.” earns #3 with 41K, while Neck Deep’s new “The Peace And The Panic” takes #4 with 32K.
Kesha’s “Rainbow,” which shifted 31K units, grabs #5 on this week’s chart.
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Making good on projections, Brand New’s “Science Fiction” won this week’s US album sales and consumption races.
According to Hits Daily Double and BuzzAngle Music, “Science Fiction” sold approximately 55,133 pure US copies during the August 18-24 tracking week.
The count roughly doubles that of the week’s second-best-seller.
With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, “Science Fiction” generated ~58,158 first-week consumption units. The tally comfortably ranks as the week’s best.
Due Sunday, Billboard’s more authoritative data will differ slightly from that reported by Hits and BuzzAngle. The discrepancies should not, however, be enough to affect placement on this week’s charts.
The pure sales figure will yield the #1 spot on Top Album Sales. The consumption figure will position “Science Fiction” atop the Billboard 200.
“Science Fiction” will be the band’s first #1 album in the US.
This week’s pure sales leaders, via Hits/BuzzAngle
1) Brand New – Science Fiction (~55,133 pure US sales)
2) Neck Deep – The Peace And The Panic (~27,619)
3) Vol. 2, Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 2 (~17,477)
4) Kesha – Rainbow (~14,009)
5) Grizzly Bear – Painted Ruins (~12,506)
This week’s consumption leaders, via Hits/BuzzAngle
1) Brand New – Science Fiction (~58,158 total US units)
2) Kodak Black – Project Baby 2 (~44,478)
3) Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. (~42,280)
4) Kesha – Rainbow (33,811)
5) Ed Sheeran – Divide (~32,327)