Billboard Grooves: Metallica ‘Hardwired’ at No. 1

Metallica (Hardwired…to Self-Destruct) beats Bruno Mars (24K Magic) and Miranda Lambert (The Weight of These Wings) for no. 1 on the Billboard 200.

It was a gargantuan week on the Billboard 200.  A number of albums posted robust numbers to earn a spot at or near the top of the charts.  Metallica takes top honors as Hardwired…to Self-Destruct starts at no. 1 with 291,000 units.  Most of those units ended up being pure sales, specifically the tune of 97%. The numbers aren’t shocking considering the fact that Metallica hadn’t released an album in eight years.  Also, rock fans have been starving for a hit.  Hardwired…to Self-Destruct fulfills a need.

In addition to the gargantuan success of Metallica, Bruno Mars and Miranda Lambert also light up the charts.  Even beyond robust numbers from both acts, there a plenty more worthwhile chart stories from the Billboard 200 dated December 10, 2016.

1. Metallica returns to a no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with comeback album Hardwired…To Self-Destruct.

2. Bruno Mars debuted respectably on the Billboard 200 as 24K Magic starts at no. 2.

3. Miranda Lambert wasn’t left out of the elite album sales as The Weight of These Wings debuts at no. 3.

4. A Tribe Called Quest (We Got This…Thank You 4 Your Service) slips from no. 1 to no. 5.

5. Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood ascend into the top 10 with Christmas album, Christmas Together (no. 11 to no. 7). A separate package, Christmas Together / Gunslinger debuts at no. 134.

6. Drake barley clings onto a spot in the top-10 with Views, slipping five spots (no. 5 to no. 10).

7. After two weeks inside the top 10, The Chainsmokers (Collage EP) bounces (falls from no. 8 to no. 11).

8. Lady Gaga sees a boost in performance from Joanne, climbing seven spots (no. 21 to no. 14).

9. The Moana soundtrack starts at no. 16.

10. DNCE didn’t set the charts on fire with debut DNCE, which starts at no. 17.

11. George Strait debuts at no. 20 with Strait Out of the Box: Part 2.

12. The Voice victor Jordan Smith sees his Christmas album ‘Tis the Season ascend 91 spots from no. 112 to no. 21.

13. Florida Georgia Line ascend 13 spots with Dig Your Roots (no. 35 to no. 22).

14. Little Mix settles for a so-so no. 25 start with Glory Days. Not so glorious, is it?

15. Highly Suspect sees sophomore album The Boy Who Died Wolf open at no. 28.

16. Epic Lit (Version 2) arrives at no. 32.

17. Kids Bop 33 jumps 38 spots from no. 72 to no. 34.

18. Sixx: AM (Prayers for the Blessed, Vol. 2) starts at no. 37.

19. Solange sees A Seat at the Table improve 24 spots (no. 64 to no. 40).

20. After returning to the top 10, You Want It Darker – the final Leonard Cohen album – slips from no. 7 to no. 42.

21. Alicia Keys continues to slide down the charts. Here slips from no. 20 to no. 44 in only its third week.

22. Sting free falls in week two with 57^th & 9^th (no. 9 to no. 45).

23. Amy Grant continues to ascend up the charts with Tennessee Christmas (no. 62 to no. 48).

24. The Lumineers (Cleopatra) improves 32 spots from no. 85 to no. 53.

25. Chris Tomlin (Never Lose Sight) ascends 92 spots this week (no. 150 to no. 58). His Christmas album, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship, improves 10 spots (no. 73 to no. 63).

26. Jon Bellion dips 14 spots with The Human Condition (no. 51 to no. 65).

27. 6LACK (Free 6LACK) starts at no. 68.

28. Usher improves nine spots with Hard II Love (no. 80 to no. 71)

29. Green Day rebounds with Revolution Radio (no. 109 to no. 76).

30. Celtic Woman featuring The Orchestra of Ireland drops Voices of Angels, which starts at no. 77.

31. OneRepublic (Oh My My) rebounds nicely this week (no. 139 to no. 78).

32. New Prince compilation 4Ever starts quietly at no. 80.

33. Joe (#MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS) free falls from no. 17 to no. 82 in week two.

34. The ever-famous Mariah Carey Christmas album (Merry Christmas) jumps from no. 144 to no. 83.

35. Lamb of God takes EP The Duke to no. 85.

36. Norah Jones sees a spike in impact with Day Breaks (no. 114 to no. 87).

37. Casting Crowns (The Very Next Thing) rises 59 spots from no. 151 to no. 92.

38. Blake Shelton sees If I’m Honest ascend 35 spots (no. 130 to no. 95).

39. Disturbed (Disturbed: Live at Red Rocks) starts at no. 98.

40. Jimmy Buffett joins the holiday spirit as ‘Tis the Season ascends 68 spots (no. 167 to no. 99).

41. Britney Spears re-enters the Billboard 200 with Glory at no. 142.

42. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats take A Little Something More From Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats to no. 149.

43. E-40 (The D-Boy Diary: Book 1) starts modestly at no. 178.

44. The Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them soundtrack starts at no. 192.

45. Pink Martini (Je Dis Oui!) starts at no. 193.

Photo Credit: Blackened