The Chart Scoop | Lorde Brings the ‘Melodrama’ at No. 1

Lorde sees her sophomore album, Melodrama, debut at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  “Despacito” spends a seventh week at no. 1 on the Hot 100.

As prognosticated, Lorde debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with her sophomore album, Melodrama.  The numbers were respectable, with 109,000 units moved.  A little more than 75% percent of that total made up sales.  Both totals are smaller than the totals that greeted her debut, Pure Heroine.  Still, no shame in her game.

In addition to Lorde, there’s more fresh blood in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.  2 Chainz gave Lorde a push as Pretty Girls Like Trap Music debuted at no. 2 with 106,000 units.  The sales were less impressive, comprising just about 54% of that total.  Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit couldn’t match the two biggest releases, but The Nashville Sound started at no. 4 with 54,000 units (94%+ sales).

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Nickelback have really cooled.  Feed the Machine starts at no. 5 with 47,000 units (91%+ sales).  Young Thug gets in on the action with Beautiful Thugger Girls (no. 8, 37,000 units).  Interestingly, most of Young Thug’s impact was streaming, with just about 19% of his totals equating to sales.  Fleet Foxes’ Crack-Up outsold Young Thug, but feel short in units with 34,000.  Most of that total, 94%+, were sales.

On the Billboard Hot 100, “Despacito” spends its seventh week at no. 1.  It just won’t stop.  The biggest news comes by way of another DJ Khaled hit, “Wild Thoughts.” The Rihanna and Bryson Tiller feature debuts at no. 4 on the Hot 100.  According to Gary Trust of Billboard, Rihanna ends a drought of women missing in action from the top-five.  Sigh – there’s plenty of chart takeaways from the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100 dated July 8, 2017.

Billboard 200 Grooves

1. Lorde debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with her sophomore album, Melodrama. Pure Heroine reenters the charts at no. 132.

2. 2 Chainz fell just short of the no. 1 spot with Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, which settles for no. 2.

3. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit debuts at no. 4 with The Nashville Sound.

4. Nickelback settles for a no. 5 start for Feed the Machine.

5. Young Thug debuts at no. 8 with Beautiful Thugger Girls.

6. Fleet Foxes enter the Billboard 200 at no. 9 with comeback album, Crack-Up.

7. SZA sees Ctrl slip from no. 3 to no. 11 in its second week on the charts.

8. Katy Perry sees Witness slide from no. 1 to no. 13. That dip is sort of hard to believe for a pop superstar such as Perry.

9. Lady Antebellum slides from no. 4 to no. 24 with Heart Break.

10. Royal Blood debuts at no. 25 with How Did We Get So Dark?

11. Big Boi starts modestly at no. 28 with Boomiverse.

12. Portugal. The Man debuts at no. 32 with Woodstock.

13. Styx debuts at no. 45 with The Mission.

14. H.E.R. starts at no. 49 with H.E.R., Vol. 2.

15. Cheap Trick lands at no. 63 with We’re All Alright!

16. Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie see their self-titled collaborative affair slide from no. 17 to no. 95.

17. Steve Earle and the Dukes debut at no. 102 with So You Wannabe An Outlaw.

18. Hey Violet debuts at no. 110 with From the Outside.

19. Eli Young Band begin hella modestly at no. 116 with Fingerprints.

20. Rise Against sees Wolves slip from no. 9 to no. 174.

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels

1. Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber are still sitting pretty with “Despacito.”

2. DJ Khaled has two top-five hits on his hands: “I’m the One” featuring Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne (no. 2) and “Wild Thoughts” featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller (no. 4).

3. Imagine Dragons hit “Believer” ascends to its highest peak position as of yet, no. 11.

4. Selena Gomez sees “Bad Liar” reach the top 20 (ascends from no. 23 to no 20).

5. Liam Payne gets a lift this week as “Strip That Down” (featuring Quavo) rises from no. 44 to no. 34.

6. Calvin Harris, assisted by Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean, brings his “Feels” to no. 51.

7. 2 Chainz sees “4 AM” (featuring Travis Scott) ascend 29 spots from no. 84 to no. 55. The star-studded “It’s a Vibe” rises 37 spots from no. 95 to no. 58.

8. Portugal. The Man lands on the Hot 100 with “Feel It Still,” which debuts at no. 89.

Photo Credit: Republic