Lee DeWyze’s post-Idol debut, Live It Up debuts on the Billboard 200 this week at # 19, selling 39K* according to Nielsen Soundscan. As USA Today’s Brian Mansfield, notes, the total is less than half what last year’s winner, Kris Allen sold during his debut week. Kris’s 1st week total was 80K
Lee’s first-week sales are the lowest for a debut album from any winner or runner-up in the show’s history. Even 3rd Season runner-up, Diana DeGarmo who previously held the record, sold 47K of her debut in 2004.
Click this link to see a complete list of first-week sales and chart rankings from Idol winners and runner-ups.
* Brian rounded the number incorrectly. Lee sold 39K rather than 38K as he originally reported. 14K of those sales were digital.
