BTS by Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Based on its performance during the first half of the tracking period, BTS’ “Love Yourself: Tear” should comfortably win this week’s US album sales race.
It may also challenge for #1 in the overall consumption race.
According to Hits Daily Double, the new BTS album is expected to sell 92-96,000 pure US copies this week. That should comfortably rank as the week’s best tally.
With TEA (track sales/10) and SEA (track streams/1500) included, “Love Yourself: Tear” should generate about 115-120,000 in overall consumption.
That puts the album neck-and-neck with Post Malone’s “Beerbongs & Bentleys.” The reigning #1 album is also pacing for 115-120,000 total units (albeit with only 12-14,000 in pure sales).
No other album is even expected to break 80,000 in consumption this week.
The pure sales figure determines positioning on Billboard Top Album Sales, while the consumption tally informs placement on the Billboard 200.
Regardless of how the race with Post Malone shakes out, BTS is poised to set new highs on both charts. The group previously went as high as #6 on Top Album Sales and #7 on the Billboard 200 (both with “Love Yourself: Her”).