India.Arie's 'Testimony' Debuts At No. 1
India.Arie

July 05, 2006, 10:55 AM ET

Katie Hasty, N.Y.
India.Arie earns her first No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with Universal Motown's "Testimony: Vo. 1, Life & Relationship." The set sold 161,000 copies in its first week in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the singer's best sales week yet. Her last album, 2002's "Voyage To India," debuted at No. 6 with 109,000.

Sales may have been aided in part by the artist's appearance at the BET Awards last Tuesday (June 27) during a tribute to Chaka Khan.

Dashboard Confessional also scores its biggest sales week as it bows at No. 2 with "Dusk and Summer." The Vagrant release moved 134,000 units, besting the debut week of 2004's "A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar" by 12,000 (though it also entered at No. 2).

Nelly Furtado's Mosley Music/Geffen release "Loose" falls to No. 3 after crowning the chart last week, moving 99,000 (a sales dip of 55%). The Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way" (Columbia), which has also spent time at the top, slips 3-4 with 78,000 (-10%). Rihanna's "A Girl Like Me" (SRP/Def Jam) re-enters the top tier by moving 12-5 and selling 62,000, a 14% increase.

Gnarls Barkley's Downtown/Atlantic set "St. Elsewhere" climbs 8-6 (59,000; 3%) while Rascal Flatts' Lyric Street album "Me and My Gang" sells just a small percentage fewer, ascending 11-7 (59,000; 6%). Busta Rhymes' Aftermath release "The Big Bang" continues to taper off 5-8 with 58,000, a 16% sales hit.


The soundtracks to two Disney films round out the top 10 this week: "High School Musical" stumbles 6-9 with 58,000 (only a few copies short of "The Big Bang") and "Cars" is stopped at No. 10 for a second week with 50,000 (-10%).

Disturbing Tha Peace rapper Shawnna scales new heights this week as "Block Music" debuts at No. 13 (47,000), her highest position yet. Hank Williams Jr.'s greatest hits compilation, "That's How They Do It In Dixie: The Essential Collection" bows with 39,000 at No. 16. Other big debuts this week include Julie Roberts' "Men & Mascara" (Curb, No. 25, 31,000) and Tha Dogg Pound's "Cali Iz Active" (Koch, No. 28, 30,000).

At 9.6 million units, overall CD sales were up 2% from the previous week and down 12% compared to the same week a year ago. Sales for 2006 are down 4% compared to 2005 at 270.6 million units.

yeahhhhh!!!!


"I am not my haiiirrrrr!"

Excellent.

The push really seemed to be for Dasboard if you look at all the ads. Glad she did better...but 161,000 for a number one album? Looks like another bad year for album sales...Where are all the stars?

I'm afraid to ask...how did PSB's album do? I'm hoping for Top 100, but I'm doubting it. Even though "Release" probably got even less radio airplay, it had the Eminem controversy which I'm sure interested people.

i loved this woman from her 1st single. not that #1 means much nowadays..but it's about time she got some recognition. good for her!


typo edit
[Edited 7/5/06 20:40pm]

CHIC0 said:

I totally agree. Though this CD is solid, i certainly believed that it would be a low debut. I'm glad it's number 1. Sometimes it certainly pays off to be different.
[Edited 7/7/06 7:18am]