Robin Thicke, T.I., Pharrell and models in “Blurred Lines” video
When Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video came out I was everything but excited about the new release but, 1 million radio plays later, I am now a fan. Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week giving Thicke his first no. 1 on the chart, T.I. his fourth and Pharrell his third.
Robin Thicke is currently promoting the hit single and preparing to release his sixth studio album Blurred Lines later this year.
Island
Fall Out Boy and Kid Cudi competed for the top of the Billboard 200 Chart this week, but in the end the rock and roll band succeeded. Fall Out Boy’s Save Rock & Roll snagged the number one spot with 154,000 copies sold, with Kid Cudi’s Indicud trailing behind with 136,000 copies sold, securing the number 2 spot for the rapper.
As for last week’s chart toppers, Paramore’s self-titled fourth studio album plummeted to the number 12 spot this week. Ouch.
Sometimes releasing an emotional ballad about the hardships of your personal love life comes in handy. Rihanna’s latest Unapologeticsingle, “Stay,” landed at the top of the Billboard’s Pop Songs radio airplay chart this week, setting a new record for the most number one singles in the chart’s 20-year history. Scoring 10 number one singles since 2006, “Stay” helped RiRi surpass her BFF Katy Perry’s record of nine chart topping songs.
Take a look back at Rihanna’s number 1 singles below! Continue reading
Fueled By Ramen
It turns out Paramore doesn’t need the Farro brothers after all. The trio scored their first number one album this week with their self-titled album. Paramore, which is pretty darn good (my review here) debuted on the Billboard 200 chart with sales of 106,000.
Paramore replaced Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience at the top spot. Timberlake’s album, which has sold 1.5 million copies, is now at the number 3 spot behind Brad Paisley’s Wheelhouse.
Bruno Mars in “When I Was Your Man” Video
Bruno Mars scored his fifth number one single this week when his latest single “When I Was Your Man” went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
“When I Was Your Man” is the second song featuring only a piano and vocals to hit number one. Mars scored his first number one on the chart in 2010 thanks to his insanely catchy hook on B.O.B’s “Nothing On You.” Since then his solo singles “Just The Way You Are,” “Grenade” and “Locked Out of Heaven” have also snagged the top spot.
Bruno Mars’ sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox is in stores now!
RCA
Last week I watched as sales predictions for Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience climbed higher and higher with each day. Today the official numbers are in.
968,000.
That’s how many copies JT’s third studio album sold in it’s first week, landing at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds sold just over half a million in it’s first week and Justified did just under that, making this his largest debut yet and, obviously, a HUGE success in today’s industry. Seriously, aside from the album being pretty darn good, major props should go to Timberlake’s marketing team who had him EVERYWHERE since announcing the album’s first single at the beginning of the year.
Amazing.
Elektra Records/Atlantic Records
Bruno Mars has been promoting his sophomore album, Unorthodox Jukebox for months now and all of that hard work has finally payed off. The singer scored his first number one album this week when Jukebox landed at number one of the Billboard 200 chart. Amazon offered the album for $1.99 on Feb. 26, then priced the it at $3.49 for the remainder of the week. The retailer sold 95,000 copies of the album that week, which definitely helped Mars land the top spot!
Congrats!
Hollywood/Interscope
35 is the number of the week! This week, both Demi Lovato and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s new singles debuted on the Pop Songs and Alternative Songs Charts, respectively, at no. 35.
After an early leak, Demi’s been on the promo-trail promoting “Heart Attack” and apparently it’s paid off, as the single debuted on the Pop Songs Chart this week at no. 35. Demi received her first no. 1 last year with “Give Your Heart A Break.” Do you think “Heart Attack” will follow in its predecessor’s footsteps?!
Similarly, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ gospel-influenced single “Sacrilege” debuted at no. 35 on the Alternative Songs Chart this week. Ironically, this week marks the nine year anniversary of the group’s first appearance on the chart with “Maps.”
“Sacrilege” is the lead single from Mosquito (April 16).
Drake in “Started From the Bottom” Video
It looks like Drake’s “Started From The Bottom,” will be yet another hit for the Canadian rapper!
With a 168,000 downloads last week the first single from the rapper’s forthcoming album Nothing Was The Same shot from 19-3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in just two weeks, becoming Drizzy’s 30th top 10 hit on the chart. YMCMB head Lil Wayne and R. Kelly are the only other artists who have more top 10 hits on this chart that Drake with 34 and 32, respectively.
Mad Decent
In a post for Life of a Copyright I talked about how viral success can lead to big bucks, specifically in the case of Baauer’s “Harlem Shake.” YouTube view counts can be monetized for a LOT of money (about $2 million in PSY’s case). And of course exposure leads to single sales, which leads to charting.
What I didn’t predict was Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” debuting at no. 1 as a direct result of YouTube views. Billboard and Nielson now take Youtube streaming into account for the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The YouTube streaming data is now factored into the chart’s ranking, enhancing a formula that includes Nielsen’s digital download track sales and physical singles sales; as well as terrestrial radio airplay, on-demand audio streaming, and online radio streaming, also tracked by Nielsen.
Last year there was much debate around the addition of on-demand streaming (i.e. Spotify) and now that YouTube has been added to the mix, I suspect people won’t be too pleased. For new artists who accidentally stumble viral success, it’s a major addition. As for the argument that the quality of music is in a rapid decline…I’m not sure this will help much. BUT if you watch it and support it, you can’t complain about the quality.
Congrats Baauer!
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