Billboard: Jason Aldean Easily Takes No. 1 With ‘They Don’t Know’

In unsurprising news, Jason Aldean finds himself once more atop the Billboard 200.  Despite numerous new albums, none really threatened his claim to no. 1. Hence, the “streamless” They Don’t Know easily topped, moving 138,000 units.  ~95% of that total is pure sales. The numbers aren’t game changing, but based upon the lackadaisical album sales of 2016, Aldean is “doing his thing.” To reiterate, Aldean didn’t stream They Don’t Know.

Aldean wasn’t the sole newbie on the charts.  Bastille scores its first top-10 album with Wild World, which debuts at no. 4.  The numbers don’t rival Aldean, alas, as Wild World strings together just 43,000 units (81%+ pure sales).  The Head and the Heart quietly sneak in the top five with Signs of Light.  Signs of Light lands at no. 5 with a respectable 40,000 units (~93% pure sales).

The Beatles see Live at the Hollywood debut at no. 7 with 36,000 (97% pure sales).  Many older acts tend to sell better physically, so it unsurprising that nearly all of The Beatles’ numbers were sales. Finally, Jack White takes his Acoustic Recordings: 1998-2016 to no. 8 moving 32,000 units (94% pure sales).

As for the rest of the top-10, the faces are familiar.  Both Drake (Views) and Suicide Squad beat Bastille to a higher peak position, ruling the no. 2 and 3 spots.  Drake’s numbers were far off from hoping to score another week at no. 1.  He moved a modest 59,000 units compared to Aldean’s 138,000 units.

Travis Scott unsurprisingly dips as Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight slides from no. 1 to no 6.  Interestingly, Rihanna slips out of the top 10 for the first time since reaching it with Anti, which debuted early on the Billboard 200 before ascending to no. 1.  Ariana Grande rejoins the top echelon (Dangerous Woman) and Florida Georgia Line (Dig Your Roots) ekes out one more week.

Who’s got next? Based upon the names, one would think Mac Miller (The Divine Feminine) or Usher (Hard II Love).  The numbers appear to be disappointing. Likely, it seems that Jason Aldean and Drake will be in the mix for no. 1.  That’s sad considering the caliber of releases from Miller and Usher.

Photo Credit: Broken Bow