Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 albums.

1. Lionel Richie, Tuskegee, 129,000. The album jumps from #4 to #1 in its third week. It's Richie's third #1 album. The tally includes 42K digital copies, which puts Tuskegee at #1 on Top Digital Albums.

2. Adele, 21, 92,000. The former #1 album holds at #2 for the second week. This is its 60th week in the top 10. Four songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Rumour Has It," which jumps from #31 to #23.

3. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, 81,000. The former #1 album drops to #3 in its second week. Five songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Starships," which dips from #5 to #6.

4. Monica, New Life, 69,000. This new entry is Monica's fifth top 10 album.

5. One Direction, Up All Night, 66,000. The former #1 album holds at #5 its fifth week. It has been in the top 10 the entire time. Five songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "What Makes You Beautiful," which jumps from #4 to #3.

6. Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream, 64,000. This new entry is Raitt's fourth top 10 album.

7. Gotye, Making Mirrors, 54,000. The album jumps from #15 to #7 (its highest ranking to date) in its 14th week, following Gotye's performance on Saturday Night Live. This is its second week in the top 10. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "Somebody That I Used To Know" (featuring Kimbra) jumps from #2 to #1. "Eyes Wide Open" bows at #181.

8. Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls, 43,000. The album jumps from #16 to #8 in its second week, thanks to the belated release of the CD. (People in Alabama should be pleased this week, between this album and Tuskegee.)

9. Rascal Flatts, Changed, 41,000. The album drops from #3 to #9 in its second week. "Banjo" jumps from #65 to #61 on Hot Digital Songs.

10. Hoodie Allen, All American, 27,000. This new entry is the first top 10 album for the Jewish rapper.

Lionel was very smart marketing this album.

Though I would say that Queen Adele will take back the number 1 next week. Im hearing Rumour Had It everywhere.

lazycrockett said:

Lionel was very smart marketing this album.

Though I would say that Queen Adele will take back the number 1 next week. Im hearing Rumour Had It everywhere.

The next week i dont think so but in 2 weeks from now possible but that will most likely chance at #1

Idol albums

Kelly Clarkson, Stronger (15,000, -55%, 746,000) (#27 Billboard 200)
Scotty McCreery, Clear as Day (7,000, -65%, 1.023 million) (#65 BB200)
James Durbin, Memories of a Beautiful Disaster (6,000, +520%, 106,000)
Daughtry, Break the Spell (4,000, -45%, 427,000) (#117 BB200)
Casey James, Casey James (3,000, -33%, 28,000) (#168 BB200)
Mandisa, What If We Were Real (2,000, -48%, 166,000)
Daughtry, Daughtry (1,000, -14%)

Idol-related albums

Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party (15,000, -27%, 721,000) (#25 Billboard 200)
Soundtrack, Think Like a Man (feat. Jennifer Hudson's Think Like a Man) (13,000, debut, 13,000) (#33 BB200)
Tyga, Careless World (10,000, -17%, 191,000) (#43 BB200)
Civil Wars, Barton Hollow (7,000, -4%, 411,000) (#61 BB200)
David Guetta, Nothing but the Beat (4,000, -17%, 293,000) (#108 BB200)
Various, 2012 Grammy Nominees (4,000, -30%, 310,000) (#113 BB200)
Various, WOW Gospel 2012 (4,000, -19%, 76,000) (#114 BB200)
Various, WOW Hits 2012 (3,000, -37%, 260,000) (#146 BB200)
Tony Bennett, Duets II (3,000, -34%, 855,000) (#148 BB200)
Various, Now That's What I Call Music 40 (3,000, -35%, 697,000) (#156 BB200)
Aerosmith, Best of Aerosmith: The Millennium Collection(3,000, -21%, 449,000) (#160 BB200)
Various, 2012 ACM Awards Zinepak (3,000, -40%, 16,000) (#185 BB200)

I wonder if Kelly has a chance of topping one million?

musicjunky318 said:

I wonder if Kelly has a chance of topping one million?

yes she will easily sell over 1mill

Some Current Albums rankings/numbers from Hip Hop DX:

3. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: 81,000 (335,000)

17. Trip Lee, The Good Life: 22,000

28. Drake, Take Care: 14,000 (1.683 million)

41. Tyga, Careless World: Rise Of The Last King: 10,000 (191,000)

53. Young Jeezy, TM103: Hustlerz Ambition: 7,800 (560,000)

74. Jay-Z & Kanye West, Watch The Throne: 5,400 (1.412 million)

78. Odd Future, OF Tape, Vol. 2: 4,900 (64,000)

88. J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story: 4,300 (601,000)

110. Diggy, Unexpected Arrival: 3,400 (42,000)

196. E-40 - Block Brochure, Volume 2: Welcome To The Soil: 2,000 (13,000)

Adele's on her 60th week and is selling 92K? has there been anything like this since Shania's Come On Over album?

Rayan said:

Adele's on her 60th week and is selling 92K? has there been anything like this since Shania's Come On Over album?

Britney's ...Baby One More Time hit 10 million in its 47th week on Billboard.

asg said:

if people going crazy over abele just imagine if it was a artist who cd wasnt as bland as hers. i rather have kelly clarkson selling them numbers than abele anyday kelly can sing her ass off

cbarnes3121 said:

if people going crazy over abele just imagine if it was a artist who cd wasnt as bland as hers. i rather have kelly clarkson selling them numbers than abele anyday kelly can sing her ass off

Well, if she didn't record lyrics that sounded like they were written by a 10 year old, then maybe she would sell like her second album did again. Until then, Adele will remain they queen and you will deal.

cbarnes3121 said:

if people going crazy over abele just imagine if it was a artist who cd wasnt as bland as hers. i rather have kelly clarkson selling them numbers than abele anyday kelly can sing her ass off

I agree. I love Kelly to pieces.

Is this new Bonnie Raitt album any good? Who has it?

Kelly needs to find her identity. Is she a punk-rocker? A pop tart? She needs to make up her mind. I've never been a fan, but "Miss Independent" is an okay song.

MRAZ VS. RICHIE FOR #1
Veteran Singer-Songwriter Out to End Richie’s Reign After a Single Week

April 18, 2012

It’s a relative newcomer vs. a veteran for the top spot on the HITS Album chart next week.

It's still early, but right now—based on one-day sales reports from whatever’s left of the music retailing community—it looks like a battle for #1 between Jason Mraz and this week’s surprise chart-topper, Lionel Richie. The big question not yet answered is how front-loaded are Richie's physical sales following his CBS prime-time special, Lionel Richie and Friends, last Friday. As always, the picture will become clearer by tomorrow's midweeks.

Atlantic Records singer/songwriter Jason Mraz’s Love is a Four Letter Word is his fourth studio album and first in four years, since 2008’s We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., which sold 73k in its first week. His latest looks to do even better, with estimates in the90-100k range.

Columbia’s Train follows up their remarkable ’09 comeback, Save Me San Francisco, and its monster, ‘Grammy-winning hit, “Hey, Soul Sister,” with California 37, which looks headed for between 65-70k in first-week sales. It’s riding on the #2 Hot AC smash, “Drive By.”

Epic hip-hop signing Future makes his debut with Pluto, featuring guest appearances from Drake, T.I., R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and producers Will-A-Fool, Sonny Digital and K.E. on tha Track, among others. The highly touted album, preceded by the singles, “Tony Montana” and “Magic,” is on target for 35-40k

Brushfire/Universal Republic’s Jack Johnson live album, Jack Johnson and Friends—Best of Kokua Festival, looks to be headed for 20-25k

Mercury/IDJ alternative rock group Neon Trees’ sophomore album, Picture Show, is headed for 15-20k, riding the heels of the hit single (and Buick Verano commercial), “Everybody Talks.”

For someone who made their debut a decade ago, and on a reality show at that, Kelly is doing pretty well by anyone's standard. I've never been a major fan of hers but I respect that she's lasted this long in the fickle world of pop music.

asg said:

MRAZ VS. RICHIE FOR #1
Veteran Singer-Songwriter Out to End Richie’s Reign After a Single Week

April 18, 2012

It’s a relative newcomer vs. a veteran for the top spot on the HITS Album chart next week.

It's still early, but right now—based on one-day sales reports from whatever’s left of the music retailing community—it looks like a battle for #1 between Jason Mraz and this week’s surprise chart-topper, Lionel Richie. The big question not yet answered is how front-loaded are Richie's physical sales following his CBS prime-time special, Lionel Richie and Friends, last Friday. As always, the picture will become clearer by tomorrow's midweeks.

Atlantic Records singer/songwriter Jason Mraz’s Love is a Four Letter Word is his fourth studio album and first in four years, since 2008’s We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., which sold 73k in its first week. His latest looks to do even better, with estimates in the90-100k range.

Columbia’s Train follows up their remarkable ’09 comeback, Save Me San Francisco, and its monster, ‘Grammy-winning hit, “Hey, Soul Sister,” with California 37, which looks headed for between 65-70k in first-week sales. It’s riding on the #2 Hot AC smash, “Drive By.”

Epic hip-hop signing Future makes his debut with Pluto, featuring guest appearances from Drake, T.I., R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and producers Will-A-Fool, Sonny Digital and K.E. on tha Track, among others. The highly touted album, preceded by the singles, “Tony Montana” and “Magic,” is on target for 35-40k

Brushfire/Universal Republic’s Jack Johnson live album, Jack Johnson and Friends—Best of Kokua Festival, looks to be headed for 20-25k

Mercury/IDJ alternative rock group Neon Trees’ sophomore album, Picture Show, is headed for 15-20k, riding the heels of the hit single (and Buick Verano commercial), “Everybody Talks.”

how funny that Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson are set to debut together, two of the most boring artists and annoying artists passed off as "pop songwriters" in the last decade, and that coupled with Train, wow, this week of new releases could be dubbed as go to sleep week

asg said:

musicjunky318 said:

I wonder if Kelly has a chance of topping one million?

yes she will easily sell over 1mill

Some Current Albums rankings/numbers from Hip Hop DX:

3. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: 81,000 (335,000)

17. Trip Lee, The Good Life: 22,000

28. Drake, Take Care: 14,000 (1.683 million)

41. Tyga, Careless World: Rise Of The Last King: 10,000 (191,000)

53. Young Jeezy, TM103: Hustlerz Ambition: 7,800 (560,000)

74. Jay-Z & Kanye West, Watch The Throne: 5,400 (1.412 million)

78. Odd Future, OF Tape, Vol. 2: 4,900 (64,000)

88. J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story: 4,300 (601,000)

110. Diggy, Unexpected Arrival: 3,400 (42,000)

196. E-40 - Block Brochure, Volume 2: Welcome To The Soil: 2,000 (13,000)

The Bay Legen himself. Homie used to do big numbers.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

asg said:

yes she will easily sell over 1mill

Some Current Albums rankings/numbers from Hip Hop DX:

3. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: 81,000 (335,000)

17. Trip Lee, The Good Life: 22,000

28. Drake, Take Care: 14,000 (1.683 million)

41. Tyga, Careless World: Rise Of The Last King: 10,000 (191,000)

53. Young Jeezy, TM103: Hustlerz Ambition: 7,800 (560,000)

74. Jay-Z & Kanye West, Watch The Throne: 5,400 (1.412 million)

78. Odd Future, OF Tape, Vol. 2: 4,900 (64,000)

88. J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story: 4,300 (601,000)

110. Diggy, Unexpected Arrival: 3,400 (42,000)

196. E-40 - Block Brochure, Volume 2: Welcome To The Soil: 2,000 (13,000)

The Bay Legen himself. Homie used to do big numbers.

I remember his album dropped on the same day as 3121 all the kids were picking his up. But he had a hit with "tell me where to go". The current album is released in 4 configurations. vol 1 2 and 3 separate and one with all the 3 in one

asg said:

Madonna - "Hard Candy" [Gold]

The Billboard 200 - 1-3-8-9-11-14-31-36-46(11,867)-57-63(9,027)

5/17: 1 MADONNA HARD CANDY 279,522 280,273
5/24: 3 MADONNA HARD CANDY 94,177 -66.3% 374,450
5/31: 8 MADONNA HARD CANDY 53,302 -43% 427,752
6/07: 9 MADONNA HARD CANDY 38,632 -28% 466,384
6/14: 11 MADONNA HARD CANDY 31,791 -18% 498,175
6/21: 14 MADONNA HARD CANDY 26,925 -15% 525,100
6/28: 31 MADONNA HARD CANDY 19,149 544,249

[b]MDNA[/b]

The Billboard 200 - 1*[174k-185k]-8[48k]-18[19k??]


Week 7:

31 MADONNA HARD CANDY 19,149

21 MADONNA CONFESSIONS 57,991

72 MADONNA AMERICAN LIFE 15,764

IIAGY said:

cbarnes3121 said:

if people going crazy over abele just imagine if it was a artist who cd wasnt as bland as hers. i rather have kelly clarkson selling them numbers than abele anyday kelly can sing her ass off

Well, if she didn't record lyrics that sounded like they were written by a 10 year old, then maybe she would sell like her second album did again. Until then, Adele will remain they queen and you will deal.

abele lame sounds will never be queen she a one hit wonder next 5 years people wont know who she is she iis not built 2 last queen for a day i can deal wit that one lol

dreamfactory313 said:

Is this new Bonnie Raitt album any good? Who has it?

Its beautiful.

asg said:

lastdecember said:

asg said:

Madonna - "Hard Candy" [Gold]

The Billboard 200 - 1-3-8-9-11-14-31-36-46(11,867)-57-63(9,027)

5/17: 1 MADONNA HARD CANDY 279,522 280,273
5/24: 3 MADONNA HARD CANDY 94,177 -66.3% 374,450
5/31: 8 MADONNA HARD CANDY 53,302 -43% 427,752
6/07: 9 MADONNA HARD CANDY 38,632 -28% 466,384
6/14: 11 MADONNA HARD CANDY 31,791 -18% 498,175
6/21: 14 MADONNA HARD CANDY 26,925 -15% 525,100
6/28: 31 MADONNA HARD CANDY 19,149 544,249

[b]MDNA[/b]

The Billboard 200 - 1*[174k-185k]-8[48k]-18[19k??]


Week 7:

31 MADONNA HARD CANDY 19,149

21 MADONNA CONFESSIONS 57,991

72 MADONNA AMERICAN LIFE 15,764

Well it's impossible to compare but 2of 3 of those albums had major hits, sales wise she has dropped in America each album since MUSIC it's been a steady drop and now with no label basically promotion is done for this album, touring is it. But this would be like comparing how Rainbow Children sold compared to how Diamond and Pearls sold times are way different year to year in music.

American life had no hits at all. Mdna had some airplay which went up to 55mill audience with give m all ur luving. But that was all paid airplay(aka payola) which is legal if its stated as a paid promotion.

The albums label is actually jimmy lovine's interscope and they have been fairly aggressive most fans r happy with the money spent on all the videos and such. The fans have said that interscope has done a much better job then warner. This is not a indie release like prince used to do but her sales have fallen off the clip

lastdecember said:

asg said:

I remember his album dropped on the same day as 3121 all the kids were picking his up. But he had a hit with "tell me where to go". The current album is released in 4 configurations. vol 1 2 and 3 separate and one with all the 3 in one

He was one of the rappers we would joke about up here in NYC when I was working in music, and they would tell us how many copies we were getting we'd say "should we even bother opening the boxes" we couldn't give him away here in NYC all his records collected dust till call backs

East coast don't have love for West Coast rappers. They never have, East cats hate them.

asg said:

lastdecember said:

asg said: Well it's impossible to compare but 2of 3 of those albums had major hits, sales wise she has dropped in America each album since MUSIC it's been a steady drop and now with no label basically promotion is done for this album, touring is it. But this would be like comparing how Rainbow Children sold compared to how Diamond and Pearls sold times are way different year to year in music.

American life had no hits at all. Mdna had some airplay which went up to 55mill audience with give m all ur luving. But that was all paid airplay(aka payola) which is legal if its stated as a paid promotion.

The albums label is actually jimmy lovine's interscope and they have been fairly aggressive most fans r happy with the money spent on all the videos and such. The fans have said that interscope has done a much better job then warner. This is not a indie release like prince used to do but her sales have fallen off the clip

Everyone has a "payola" deal, thats because the labels and media and soundscan are all in the same bed and have been since the early 90's. As for the comparison of "american life" and "mdna" we are talking 9 years now between those 2 records, in 2003 you had about 2000+ more retail stores that "racked" music, and i know everyone doesnt want to admit this, but closing stores has greatly affecting people caring to buy music, not everyone has gone from cds to digital, in fact the amount that have adjusted to it is around 35% and those people say they buy at least 50-60% less than they used too, so this has affected everyone, just because Madonna has a history of selling are we saying that she still should be selling the same amount of records that she sold in 2003? i mean what artist even comes close to their numbers in 2003, what mega star? not even Beyonce sells half of what she sold back then, jennifer lopez, gone from the face of the earth in sales, Mariah? ha, her sales went up for one album and now she is back to gold, platnum if shes lucky. Norah Jones one of my favorite of the decade, lets see her sales in 2003? 11 million albums, this new album will probably sell about 500,000 when its said and done, so to say artists should still be selling what they did a decade is impossible NO ONE is doing it. And for Prince if we rate his majors well he sold 1.8 million in 2004, and a two years later with the biggest major on earth he sold 500,000 (they say) so what happend there? My point is that no artist is where they were and never are gonna be, everyones next record will selll less and less and less

prince lotusflow3er is currently at 550k according to the last soundscan update i saw. But u cant really compare prince and madonna her albums get pushed and marketted much harder with huge marketing budgets and big name producers and song writers which makes the whole thing very expensive.

the week mdna came out z100 had 15ads in the 2hrs i went running for the first 3 days

i think musicology is about 2.2mil not 1.8mil

From Billboard

Jason Mraz Vs. Lionel Richie For Next Week's No. 1 Album

April 19, 2012 | By Keith Caulfield (@keith_caulfield), Los Angeles

Jason Mraz's new album "Love is a Four Letter Word" is in the running to become the singer/songwriter's first No. 1 next week on the Billboard 200 chart. That is, if Lionel Richie's "Tuskegee" steps aside.

Both albums are on track to sell around 100,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, April 22 -- so say industry sources. Richie's "Tuskegee" album topped the Billboard 200 for the first time this past week, selling 129,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, April 25.

Mraz has so far peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 2008's "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.," which started with 73,000 in its first week. If Mraz's new set moves 100,000, it will mark his best sales frame yet, surpassing the bow of 2005's "Mr. A-Z," which launched at NO. 5 with 81,000.

Also headed for a top five bow next week is Train's "California 37," which could start around Nos. 4 or 5 with perhaps 70,000 sold. It could result in the band's highest-charting album yet. They've gone as high as No. 6 -- twice -- with "Drops of Jupiter" in 2001 and "My Private Nation" in 2003. The act's last studio album, 2009's "Save Me, San Francisco," debuted and peaked at No. 17 with a 27,000 first week according to SoundScan.

asg said:

prince lotusflow3er is currently at 550k according to the last soundscan update i saw. But u cant really compare prince and madonna her albums get pushed and marketted much harder with huge marketing budgets and big name producers and song writers which makes the whole thing very expensive.

the week mdna came out z100 had 15ads in the 2hrs i went running for the first 3 days

i think musicology is about 2.2mil not 1.8mil

Ads dont mean anything, nobody listening to z100 is going to buy a 50 year old artist, its not the 80's. So her day is done with that stuff as is his and tons of others. Lotus Flower to me i cant even look at fairly because he paid for the space to shelf his music, and i would say did alot more pinpointed "friendly" type promo for it, Ellen,Jay etc....and target was jamming that album down peoples throats, but again that is how you have to do things now, find a way to sell, i mean John Mellencamp hates commercials and his music being used for it, but as he said I cant get played on the radio so i gave my song to a car commercial and he had a top 5 album, Sting the same deal. So u can have budgets etc...but people wont buy it if they dont wanna buy it, and alot of her promo is so scattered, to me the USA shouldnt even be on her map and really anyones at this point, at least as a place to toss $$'s at, sales here are dead, i mean im tired of hearing the industry is showing gains, BS, there is one album carrying that "gain".

And to me i could care less because sales at this point are meaningless to any artist i care about and its not relevant to what they do, I mean im looking at someones record, the madonna album to me is the best she has done in a decade, as for Prince, well here and there good works, Lotus was good and MPLsound was his worst in a long time, but then 20ten had great moments and some bad etc....every record is different.