Billboard: Suicide Squad Debuts at no. 1

As expected, the soundtrack to the film Suicide Squad easily debuts atop the Billboard 200 replacing DJ Khaled (Major Key).  Drake (Views) remains at no. 2.

No rebound for Drake (Views).  Suicide Squad: The Album easily tops the Billboard 200.  The soundtrack to the film receiving mixed reviews moved 182,000 units! More than 70% of those units were pure sales – still six-figures.  While Suicide Squad: The Album has its moments, isn’t it surprising that a soundtrack is outselling numerous studio albums? Food for thought.

Unsurprisingly, Drake remains in the runner-up spot, still posting respectable numbers.  It should be noted, however, that Views moved more than 100,000 units less than Suicide Squad. Ouch! Big discrepancy between the no. 1 and no. 2 spots.  Can he rebound and return to no. 1?

More debuts arrive beyond Suicide Squad.  Skillet (Unleashed) debuts at no. 3 moving 62,000 units (~94% pure sales).  Now 59 initiates at no. 5, selling 48,000 copies.  One final debut, DJ Snake (Encore) debuts at no. 8 with 32,000 units.  Only 25% of those 32,000 units were pure sales.  None of the numbers “blow your socks off.”

As far as the rest of the top 10, there are some noteworthy stories. Blake Shelton ascends to no. 4 with If I’m Honest. DJ Khaled slips to no. 7 with Major Key.  Familiar musicians retain a spot in the top echelon: Twenty One Pilots (Blurryface), Rihanna (Anti), and Adele (25).

Who’s got next on the Billboard 200? Many albums were released on August 12. Prime candidates to make some impact include Justin Moore (Kinda Don’t Care), Rae Sremmurd (SremmLife 2), and PARTYNEXTDOOR (PARTYNEXTDOOR3 (P3)).  Will any of the newbies hit no. 1? Doesn’t look that way as of yet.

Photo Credit: Atlantic