Arcade Fire starts at a familiar spot on the Billboard 200 – no. 1.  For the 13^th week, “Despacito” rules the Hot 100.

Billboard 200 Grooves

The top act and album on the Billboard 200 dated August 19, 2017 is predictable.  Unsurprisingly, Arcade Fire brings Everything Now to no. 1.  The numbers are respectable as  Everything Now moved 100,000 units, with 94% being album sales. Given the climate for album sales these days, the Canadian alt-rock band is on fire.

Besides Arcade Fire, nothing much is shaking within the top 10.  Notably, Lana Del Rey slips from no. 1 to no. 10.  So much for that Lust for Life.  As far as the newbies that joined Arcade Fire on the charts, they didn’t perform so hot.  Vic Mensa settled for no. 27 with The Autobiography, while Aminé (Good for You) landed at no. 31.  Here are the somewhat uninspired takeaways from the latest Billboard 200.

1. Arcade Fire gets it done again on the Billboard 200. Everything Now launches at no. 1.

2. Meek Mill (Wins and Loses) performs much better than expected during week two, remaining at no. 3.

3. Lana Del Rey sees Lust for Life slide from no. 1 to no. 10 in its second charting week.

4. Tyler, the Creator sees Flower Boy dip from no. 2 to no. 12 in its second charting week.

5. SZA makes gains as Ctrl rises from no. 25 to no. 13 in its eighth charting week.

6. The resurgence of Linkin Park diminishes this week. The band’s highest charting effort, One More Light falls 18 spots from no. 4 to no. 22. Meteora falls from no. 11 to no. 46.

7. Vic Mensa earns the second highest debut behind Arcade Fire. The Autobiography only musters up a no. 27 debut though.

8. Aminé ears the fourth highest debut of the week. Unfortunately for the Oregonian MC, Good for You starts modestly at no. 31.

9. Alice Cooper earns the fifth highest debut of the week (see the trend?). Paranormal starts at no. 32.

10. Manchester Orchestra takes Black Mile to the Surface, the sixth highest debut, to no. 33.

11. Julia Michaels launches at no. 48 with her Nervous System EP.

12. Lucas Hoge ascends from no. 88 to no. 51 with Dirty South.

13. Future experiences a bump with HNDRXX, the less popular of his two 2017 albums. HNDRXX ascends from no. 115 to no. 52.

14. Romeo Santos takes a mighty tumble in week two. Gold slides from no. 10 ton o. 55.

15. Cage the Elphant are Unpeeled at no. 61.

16. The Isley Brothers and Santana speak of the Power of Peace at no. 64.

17. Blackbear rebounds into the top-100 as Digital Druglord rises 27 spots from no. 109 to no. 82.

18. Face it – Witness (Katy Perry) is a bomb. It slips from no. 85 to no. 104 in only its eighth charting week.

19. Anthony Brown & group therAPy debut at no. 117 with A Long Way from Sunday.

20. Joe Nichols starts at no. 120 with Never Gets Old. 

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels 

At this point, isn’t it getting old? On the Billboard Hot 100, “Despacito” continues to be the story.  This week marks its 13^th week atop the Billboard Hot 100.  Clearly, the single is pushing for history. There are some other takeaways from the Hot 100 dated August 19, 2017, believe it or not.

1. “Despacito” continues to be the story of the Billboard Hot 100. 13 weeks and counting at no. 1.

2. French Montana has the biggest hit of his career on his hands. “Unforgettable,” featuring Swae Lee, ascends from no. 6 to no. 3.

3. Hopefully, Charlie Puth is working hard on that new album. “Attention” is a hit, rising from no. 9 to no. 7 in its 15^th week.

4. Cardi B sho nuff is making money moves with “Bodak Yellow,” which ascends from no. 28 to no. 14.

5. Like Charlie Puth, Niall Horan needs to be working intently on his new album. “Slow Hands” is performing soundly, ascending from no. 18 to no. 15 this week.

6. Yeah, don’t leave Liam Payne out of the highly-anticipated album mix. “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo holds steady at no. 16.

7. SZA continues her ascent with “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott. The joint rises from no. 46 to no. 37.

8. Future enlists Nicki Minaj for “You Da Baddest,” which launches at no. 38.

9. Logic single “1-800-273-8255” keeps hanging around on the Hot 100. This week, the Alessia Cara/Khalid assisted single rises from no. 57 to no. 52. It peaked at no. 47.

10. Speaking of Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke” is on the rise, moving from no. 82 to no. 64 in its third week on the Hot 100.

11. Blackbear returns to the Hot 100 with “do re mi” at no. 75. That marks a new peak position for the promo single from Digital Druglord.

12. Kesha barely earns another entry on the Hot 100 as “Learn to Let Go” launches at no. 97.

Photo Credit: Columbia