With wallets filling up again following a busy Holiday season, this week brings with it the first “busy” window of the year for Urban releases.
Indeed, the likes of Pharrell Williams, Ashanti, and Hip-Hop titan Rick Ross are all making a beeline for Billboard glory with their respective new albums.
After a two days of sales, how are each faring? Find out after the jump…
According to Hits Daily Double, the Bawse looks set to cause quite the upset.
For, despite Pharrell’s ‘G I R L’ LP being preceded by gargantuan hit ‘Happy’ (and a major promotional campaign), it’s the Maybach Music rapper that will (almost certainly) top next week’s Billboard 200 with new album ‘Mastermind’.
Here’s how the numbers are looking:
Rick Ross (Def Jam/IDJ) 145-160k
Pharrell Williams (Columbia) 85-95k
Lea Michele (Columbia) 50-55k
Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville) 24-27k
American Authors (Mercury/IDJ) 21-24k
David Nail (MCA Nashville) 19-22k
Ashanti (eOne) 18-21k
Drive By Truckers (ATO) 12-15k
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Beyond Officer Ricky’s figures, it’s a fairly shocking state of affairs for everyone else.
For surely we weren’t alone in assuming Pharrell would be on course for (at least) a 100k debut? Likewise, Lea Michele. Given the intense press and Glee tie-in, the numbers are all sorts of underwhelming.
As for Ashanti, we actually expected less, hence it’s a relative relief to see her being touted for such a figure – especially given that she’s independent. After all, it’s entirely plausible that she could end up making more cha-ching from her release than the more expensive major label efforts from the acts selling more.
That said, in keeping it 100, her numbers – like the album’s two year campaign – are a mucky mess. Ms. Douglas needs a major label partner. Pronto.
Enough of our rambling, though…