Billboard Grooves: The Weeknd is a ‘Starboy’ at No. 1

The Weeknd has a big week on the Billboard 200 as he takes ‘Starboy’ to no. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

Expectedly, The Weeknd tops the Billboard 200 with his third proper studio album, Starboy.  Starboy was the only major released issued on November 25, 2016, which happened to be Black Friday.  Taking the risk of dropping the album digitally on that date paid off as Starboy starts with an impressive 348,000 units.  Beyond Starboy, there are more interesting stories on the Billboard 200 dated December 17, 2016.

1. The Weeknd earns his second no. 1 album with Starboy.

2. Pentatonix continues to dominate the top 10 with A Pentatonix Christmas rising to no. 2 and That’s Christmas to Me rising to no. 7.

3. Metallica sees Hardwired…To Self-Destruct slip from no. 1 to no. 3 in its second week.

4. Like Metallica, Bruno Mars (24K Magic) slips two spots from no. 2 to no. 4.

5. Moana (soundtrack) ascends 11 spots from no. 16 to no. 5.

6. Michael Bublé sees Christmas re-enter the top 10 (no. 19 to no. 8). Nobody But Me sees a modest bump (no. 51 to no. 45).

7. Miranda Lambert slides six spots with The Weight of These Wings (no. 3 to no. 9).

8. Jordan Smith gets some holiday love as ‘Tis the Season ascends from no. 21 to no. 11.

9. Drake exits the top 10. Views doesn’t move too far, slipping from no. 10 to no. 12.

10. Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood exit the top 10 this week as Christmas Together slides from no. 7 to no. 14. Interestingly, the version also including album Gunslinger jumps 113 spots (no. 134 to no. 21). Gunslinger debuts at no. 25.

11. A Tribe Called Quest lived the good life in the top 10 for two weeks. This week, We Got it From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service dips 10 spots from no. 5 to no. 15.

12. After experience a resurgence, Rae Sremmurd (Sremmlife 2) come back to earth, slipping from no. 8 to no. 16.

13. Chris Tomlin enjoys the Christmas boost as Adore: Christmas Songs of Worships jumps from no. 63 to no. 26. Also, album Never Lose Sight improves from no. 58 to no. 43.

14. Lauren Daigle (How Can It Be) ascends 15 spots (no. 43 to no. 28).

15. Prince sees a big boost in sales for 4Ever (no. 80 to no. 35).

16. Mariah Carey sees her beloved Christmas LP Merry Christmas ascend 44 spots (no. 83 to no. 39).

17. There is definitely a Glow about Brett Eldredge as he sees his Christmas album improve 39 spots (no. 79 to no. 40).

18. Kanye West sees The Life of Pablo take a tumble from no. 38 to no. 51.

19. Casting Crowns get a bump with The Very Next Thing (no. 92 to no. 52).

20. Straight No Chaser like many other acts benefit from the holiday season. I’ll Have Another…Christmas Album rebounds from no. 102 to no. 53.

21. Blake Shelton sees his honesty pay off as If I’m Honest improves from no. 95 to no. 57.

22. Alicia Keys continues to have a bumpy ride with HERE, which dips from no. 44 to no. 59.

23. D.R.A.M. isn’t exactly igniting the charts on fire with Big Baby D.R.A.M., which slides from no. 59 to no. 75.

24. Solange (A Seat at the Table) free falls from no. 40 to no. 78.

25. Sting (57^th & 9^th) free falls from no. 45 to no. 86.

26. Avenged Sevenfold (The Stage) dips 36 spots from no. 52 to no. 88.

27. DNCE plummets with its self-titled debut album in week two (no. 17 to no. 101).

28. Jeezy is losing support for Trap or Die 3, which slips from no. 54 to no. 102.

29. YG takes Red Friday to no. 113.

30. Joe (#MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS) drops substantially in week three (no. 82 to no. 160).

31. Bon Jovi has a bomb on its hand with This House Is Not for Sale, which slips from no. 127 to no. 166 in only its fourth charting week.

32. Korn (The Serenity of Suffering) slides from no. 139 to no. 172.

33. Bon Iver (22, A Million) re-enters the Billboard 200 at no. 179. The set has now charted for eight weeks.

Photo Credit: Republic