Wow, this week features “the second-lowest week at No. 1 since SoundScan’s sales information began powering the Billboard 200 in May of 1991.” The all-time crappiest selling #1 was the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack back in January of 2007, which sold just a little less than this week’s best selling album. In more positive news, the National and the Dead Weather both cracked the Top Ten:
1. Justin Bieber – “My World 2.0” – 60,000
2. Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now” – 54,000 (down 44%)
3. The National – “High Violet” – 51,000 (debut; MP3)
4. AC/DC – “Iron Man 2” – 48,000 (down 11%)
5. Dead Weather – “Sea of Cowards” – 45,000 (debut)
6. Carole King and James Taylor – “Live at the Troubadour” – 44,000 (down 43%)
7. Usher – “Raymond v Raymond” – 43,000 (down 16%)
8. Charice – “Charice” – 43,000 (debut)
9. Godsmack – “The Oracle” – 43,000 (down 63%)
10. As I Lay Dying – “Powerless Rise” – 38,000 (debut)
Even Sleigh Bells cracked the Top 40. See below.
18. The Deftones – “Diamond Eyes” – 20,000 (down 68%)
25. Keane – “Night Train” – 17,000 (debut)
27. Meat Loaf – “Hang Cool Teddy Bear” – 15,000 (debut)
33. We Are the Fallen – “Tear the World Down” – 13,000 (debut)
39. Sleigh Bells – “Treats” – 12,000 (debut; MP3)
71. Hold Steady – “Heaven Is Whenever” – 6,595 (down 71%; Cume: 29,734)
81. Broken Bells – “Broken Bells” – 6,235 (Cume: 163,635)
96. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – “I Learned The Hard Way” – 5,459 (down 27%; Cume: 73,048)
138. Hole – “Nobody’s Daughter” – 3,823 (down 44%; Cume: 32,560)
Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending May 16) totaled 5.32 million units. That’s even almost lower than the last time we noticed it being so low. (Developing…)
Update: New York Times confirms claims: “The fewest number of total album sales, 5.3 million, in a single week since Nielsen SoundScan started its tracking in 1991.” (Developing…)