Predictions Are In: Alicia Keys’ ‘KEYS’ To Mark Singer’s Lowest Billboard 200 Debut Yet

Published: Tuesday 14th Dec 2021 by Rashad

Despite ranking as her lowest-selling and lowest Billboard 200 debut to date, 2020’s ‘Alicia’ – the seventh studio from singer-songwriter Alicia Keys – still managed to premiere at #4 on the hit list, a measure fueled in great part by the viral response to the project’s pandemic-inspired singles ‘Underdog’ and ‘Good Job.’

To rebound, Keys announced the LP’s follow-up would come as another self-titled effort of sorts – the 26-track opus ‘KEYS’ (released December 10). Her first double album, the unique venture offered 14 original songs on one disc and 12 revamped versions of those same tunes on its second.

And while it comes as the second studio effort of her career to go to chart battle without a Hot 100-charting single to precede it (following 2016’s ‘Here’), ‘KEYS’ is the diva’s first to lack the traditional promotional onslaught afforded her studio releases.

Look inside to see how that’s predicted to impact the set’s first-week sales.

Alicia Keys’ ‘KEYS’

First-Week Sales (SPS): ‘KEYS'<30,000 units

Billboard 200 Debut: ‘KEYS'<#20

According to industry analysts, ‘KEYS’ – thanks to the seasonal, streaming-based boost of holiday albums – is on track to premiere outside of the top 20 on next week’s refreshed Billboard 200 with sales south of 30,000 units.

If the prediction rings true, it will not only mark the lowest first-week figures to accompany an Alicia Keys studio album but it will also be her first to debut outside of the chart’s top 5.

With a few days left in the tracking week and reports of more stops on the 15-time GRAMMY winner’s promo trail in support of the LP, there’s a chance she could find listing inside the Billboard 200’s top 20.

Until we find out Sunday (December 19), click here to stream ‘KEYS.’