Young folks might be the coveted consumers when it comes to most advertising campaigns, but this week’s Billboard Album Charts prove that it’s the grown-ups who are spending the money. Last week’s champion Susan Boyle spends a second week on top, adding another 527,000 copies to a two-week haul of 1.2 million. To put that in more eye-popping terms, after only two weeks, Boyle has the 10th best selling album of 2009.
Right behind Boyle is Italian crooner Andrea Bocelli, who has by far the year’s biggest selling Christmas album. 428,000 copies of “My Christmas” crossed counters this week, giving Bocelli a very impressive 1.1 million units scanned in 5 weeks. Look for both those albums to maintain those numbers through the month of December. At this point, the question is can Boyle sell enough units in the next three weeks to overtake Taylor Swift’s total, with is 2.5 million units so far this year. Considering Taylor’s reenergized sales, I’d say it’s possible but doubtful-she moves another 127,000 copies of “Fearless” this week to land at #3.
The week’s highest-and only notable-debut comes from R. Kelly. His much-delayed “Untitled” project debuts at #4 on the Top 200 and #1 on the R&B album chart. All of Kelly’s solo studio albums have debuted at #4 or higher on the charts, a streak that goes back to “12 Play” in 1993. However, a mediocre first week of 114,000 units hints that Kelly’s reign as the Pied Piper of R&B might be coming to a close.
The only other debut of note comes from 3rd place “American Idol” finisher Allison Iraheta. Her “Just Like You” manages a so-so #35 finish, with around 32,000 units sold. This season’s “Idol” finalists all appear to be washouts-Adam Lambert dives from #3 to #22 this week, while Kris Allen finds himself languishing at #52 in his third week.
The charts have taken a decidedly adult contemporary flavor these last couple weeks, as Moms and Dads are buying CDs (or people are buying CDs for their moms and dads). Most albums drop in sales considering it’s the week following Thanksgiving, but among the albums that increase this week are Michael Buble and Rod Stewart’s latest efforts. Also hanging tough is Norah Jones, who had a mediocre debut a few weeks back, but actually moves up three spots to #7 this week. Other albums that debuted that week aren’t faring as well-John Mayer’s former #1 slides down to #17, and 50 Cent’s “Before I Self Destruct” finds itself at 40.
Next week’s chart’s biggest debut might just be the new one from Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars. Also look out for Chris Brown’s new album, which has allegedly been selling above expectations.
Here’s this week’s Top 20:
1) Susan Boyle “I Dreamed a Dream”
2) Andrea Bocelli “My Christmas”
3) Taylor Swift “Fearless”
4) R. Kelly “Untitled”
5) Lady GaGa “The Fame”
6) Carrie Underwood “Play On”
7) Norah Jones “The Fall”
8) Michael Jackson “This is It”
9) Soundtrack “Twilight-New Moon”
10) Michael Buble “Crazy Love”
11) Various “Now 32”
12) Justin Bieber “My World”
13) Lady GaGa “The Fame: Monster (EP)”
14) Josh Groban “Noel”
15) Casting Crowns “Peace on Earth”
16) Rihanna “Rated R”
17) John Mayer “Battle Studies”
18) Miley Cyrus “Time of Our Lives (EP)”
19) Sting “If On a Winter’s Night…”
20) Glee Cast “Glee The Music Vol. 1”