Billboard 200: Big Sean Takes ‘I Decided.’ To No. 1

Beloved Detroit MC Big Sean earns the second no. 1 album of his career with his fourth album, I Decided. Reba McEntire starts at no. 4. 

Big Sean has done it again – landed a no. 1 album on the Billboard 200.  Following the no. 1 success of Dark Sky Paradise in 2015, Big Sean takes top honors once more with his fourth album, I Decided.  I Decided moved a robust 151,000 units, though just 43% of that total were pure sales! According to the figures Billboard provides, I Decided sold just about 47% of the debut sales of Dark Sky Paradise. Contextually, he performed well, but in the big scheme of the industry, album sales are hard to come by.

Reba McEntire joins Big Sean for some top-five chart love.  Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope debuts at no. 4 moving 54,000 units.  Most of those units – north of 96% – are album sales. Typically, country musicians, along with older artists, sell better. Another newbie joins Big Sean and Reba, and it’s unexpected.

Dear Evan Hansen, a Broadway soundtrack, bows at no. 8 with 29,000 units (86% pure sales).  Those following iTunes likely noticed the cast recording was high on the pre-order list.  One more surprise, The RCA-List, Vol. 4, lands at no. 10. Unavailable for purchase, the prevalence of streaming only sets continue to rise.  This one earned 26,000 units.

The rest of the top 10 isn’t a complete bore.  Lady Gaga has to be excited that her discography saw a spike.  Joanne spiked all the way to no. 2, while The Fame spiked to no. 6.  With Reba being the second highest debut at no. 4, and Migos’ Culture slipping from no. 1 to no. 3, how far ahead of either set was Joanne.  Joanne put up 74,000 units, besting Migos by 6K and Reba by 20K.

Besides the ascent of Gaga after her fabulous Super Bowl Halftime show, the rest of the top 10 is familiar.  As aforementioned, Migos was knocked down two pegs, but still, put up respectable numbers.  The Weeknd (Starboy) and Bruno Mars (24K Magic) continue to be factors.  Post Malone (Stoney) is surprisingly performing better than envisioned…at least by The Musical Hype.

Who’s Got Next? 

Fifty Shades Darker will likely put up some numbers – the soundtrack that is.  Other albums arrived February 10, 2017, including efforts by Brett Young (Brett Young) and Lupe Fiasco (DROGAS Light).  The question is, how impactful will either set be? Besides the cited examples, do any of the new releases other than Fifty Shades Darker pack a punch?

Photo Credits: Def Jam, NASH Icon, Interscope, Republic