Taylor Swift Tops Billboard Chart Again, But Could Harry Styles Ruin Her Perfect Run?
Taylor Swift has pulled off a rare three-peat. With her juggernaut 1989 album refusing to slow down, the singer will top the Billboard 200 album charts for a third week in a row, thanks to sales of nearly 306,000, according to figures provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
But she shouldn't get too comfortable in that tiara, because that reign will probably come to an end next week by the hands of a former flame and his mates.
Impressive any way you slice it
Just how impressive is Taylor's run? Forget that she crossed the million mark in week one, and then came back last week with sales of nearly 402,000, which was the second-best week of 2014 so far as well. Sales were down 24 percent in week three, but TSwift will easily cruise past the 2 million mark next week. And holiday shopping is just getting started!
All the guys just need to get in line behind T
Even with a handful of anticipated releases from some major rock and country players, Swift nearly doubled the numbers for the #2 and #3 debuts -- veteran rockers the Foo Fighters (Sonic Highways at #2 with 190,000 sales) and legendary psychedelic group Pink Floyd, whose most instrumental, purportedly final album, Endless River, snuck in at #3 (168,000).
Speaking of comebacks, after more than a decade in mothballs, 1990s country icon Garth Brooks had a modest open for his first album in 13 years, Man Against Machine, which came in at #4 (118,000).
Just behind Brooks was the latest from rapper Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica, which hit #4 on sales of 44,000.
Nick Jonas brings up the rear
Rounding out the debuts in the top 10 was the self-titled solo album from Nick Jonas, which hit #6, thanks to 37,000 in sales. The "Jealous" singer put up the full court press in promoting the album, grabbing his junk and dropping trou to get a bit of attention.
Watch Out For 1D
Taylor shouldn't get too comfortable, since One Direction's Four will hit the charts next week and the once again-fully staffed boys are expected to move more than 400,000 units, which should secure them a #1 slot and bump Swift down a notch (or two).
Over on the iTunes album chart, Four is already at #2 after just three days of sales figures, another sign that they are headed for chart domination next week.
