Billboard: Metallica No. 1 on Billboard 200

Metallica (Hardwired…to Self-Destruct) beats Bruno Mars (24K Magic) and Miranda Lambert (The Weight of These Wings) for no. 1 on the Billboard 200.

It was a gargantuan week on the Billboard 200.  A number of albums posted robust numbers to earn a spot at or near the top of the charts.  Metallica takes top honors as Hardwired…to Self-Destruct starts at no. 1 with 291,000 units.  Most of those units ended up being pure sales, specifically the tune of 97%. The numbers aren’t shocking considering the fact that Metallica hadn’t released an album in eight years.  Also, rock fans have been starving for a hit.  Hardwired…to Self-Destruct fulfills a need.

While Metallica were the stars, others were also received commercial love.  Bruno Mars couldn’t beat Metallica for top honors, but his no. 2 bow is no slouch. 24K Magic starts with an impressive 231,000 units, with 84% of that total being pure sales.  Interestingly, Mars has never debuted at no. 1, though according to Billboard, he’s peaked at no. 1.  To think what could’ve been…sigh.

Miranda Lambert wasn’t going to be left out of the chart fun.  The Weight of These Wings couldn’t earn the 200,000+ weeks of Hardwired or 24K Magic, but posted a sound 133,000 units.  Of the 133,000 units that the double disc moved, an impressive 92% were traditional sales.

Beyond the Top-Three

Beyond Metallica, Bruno Mars, and Miranda Lambert, the remainder of the top 10 are holdovers on the chart.  Pentatonix has the “it” Christmas album as of yet with the impactful A Pentatonix Christmas.  Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood enter the top 10 with Christmas Together, which debuted last week at no. 11. Other holdovers include A Tribe Called Quest (We Got it From Here) which drops from no. 1 to no. 5, Trolls, Rae Sremmurd (Sremmlife 2), Hamilton, and Drake (Views).  Speaking of Rae Sremmurd, “Black Beatles” spends a third week at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Who’s got next on the Billboard 200? The Weeknd (Starboy).  No other major releases dropped on Black Friday, November 25, 2016.  Starboy was highly anticipated and should undoubtedly live up to that anticipation in the streams and sales department.

Photo Credit: Blackened