The rapper Fabolous makes his “Way” to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the first time in his career, but Michael Jackson’s “Number Ones” collection still reigns on the Top Comprehensive Albums chart and becomes the year’s second-best selling album.
Jackson’s 2003 hits set sold 114,000 copies this week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its total for the year now adds up to 1,370,000 copies, moving it past the “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack (1,338,000) and Eminem’s “Relapse” (1,319,000). Only Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” (with 1,499,000) stands in Jackson’s way as 2009’s top seller.
The King of Pop has now held the best-selling album in the U.S. for five out of the past six weeks. “Number Ones” only stepped aside when Daughtry’s “Leave This Town” bowed with 269,000 two weeks ago.
Back on the Billboard 200, Fabolous’ “Loso’s Way” starts at No. 1 with 99,000 copies sold. It’s the first chart-topper for the New York rapper, who notched four previous top 10 sets on the Billboard 200 and charted as high as No. 2 when 2007’s “From Nothin’ to Somethin’ ” shifted 159,000 in its first week.
The chart’s second-highest debut comes from “High School Musical” star Ashley Tisdale, who lands at No. 12 with 25,000 copies of her sophomore album, “Guilty Pleasure.” Tisdale’s 2007 album, “Headstrong,” debuted at No. 4 with 64,000.
Last week’s No. 1, Demi Lovato’s “Here We Go Again,” falls to No. 8 in its second week, selling 39,000 (down 64%). Daughtry’s “Leave This Town” holds at No. 2 with 62,000 (down 39%) while both Maxwell’s “BLACKsummers’night” (No. 3 with 55,000) and the “Now 31” compilation (No. 4 with 53,000) also are non-movers. The Black Eyed Peas’ “The E.N.D.” moves up one spot to No. 5 with 49,000 while Kings of Leon’s “Only By the Night” climbs two slots to No. 6 with 47,000 (up 21%). The band played NBC’s “Today” show last Friday (July 31), likely sparking the gain.
The “Hannah Montana 3” TV soundtrack is one step below the band at No. 7, falling two rungs with 41,000. Rounding out the top 10 are Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” (No. 9 with 38,000) and Lady GaGa’s “The Fame” (No. 10 with 27,000).
Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending August 2) totaled 5.96 million units, down 4.6% compared to the sum last week (7.35 million) and down 19.4% compared to the same sales week of 2008 (7.36 million). Year to date album sales stand at 207.7 million, down 14.2% compared to the same total at this point last year (242.2 million).
