Billboard 200: Fifty Shades Darker Brightens Charts at no. 1

The Fifty Shades Darker original motion picture soundtrack takes the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.  No other newbies start in the top 10. 

The film may be named Fifty Shades Darker, but the soundtrack put up some numbers to debut at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  Fifty Shades Darker moves a respectable 123,000 units according to Billboard.  In this day in age, 123K is robust.  Now for the buzz-kill.  What percentage of those 123,000 units were pure sales? About 59%.  Still respectable numerically.  Beyond Fifty Shades Darker, did any other newbies grace the top 10? Nope – sorry Lupe Fiasco (DROGAS Light). The rest of the top 10 is dominated by holdovers and returns to the top echelon.

Beginning with the holdovers, Bruno Mars had good luck on his side as 24K Magic ascends to the runner-up slot.  He can thank two exceptional performances at the 59^th Annual Grammys telecast for his bump.  Big Sean didn’t fall too far off his perch. I Decided. does slip from no. 1 to no. 3.  The percentage drop was relatively tame for a new release, so that encouraging.  Migos continue to pack a punch with Culture, which sits at no 4.  The Weeknd (Starboy) remains a factor.

Reentries into the top echelon arrive from Adele (25), Trolls soundtrack, Beyoncé (Lemonade), and La La Land.  25 was expected to rise given its victories at the 59^th Annual Grammys.  Lemonade’s rise isn’t surprising either, particularly given the diva’s unique, theatrical performance.  As for the two soundtracks, both have hung around the top 10 consistently.

So, who’s got next? Future shocked the world (again), by dropping a new album (Future).  New projects from Jidenna (The Chief), Alison Krauss (Windy City), Ryan Adams (Prisoner), and Charlie Wilson (In It to Win It) also arrived in music stores on Friday, February 17, 2017.  Clearly, the best bet hails from Future, who has been on a roll lately, to earn another no. 1 album.

Photo Credit: Republic, 300 Entertainment, Columbia, Epic