HDD reports [sad numbers] with [Adele, Rihanna, Bieber] topping the chart/in the top 3. Blah-Blah-Blah. March slumping. Whatever. I want a talk about ZAYN.
ZAYN has definitely earned his all capital name. When he was moodily refusing to dance in X-Factor boot camp. I thought he was toast. When he got cut from the Boys group, I thought we’d never see him again. When he got stuffed into a made up boy-band by Simon, I thought that was never going to work. When that boy-band came in third, I thought it was an interesting experiment. When that boy-band went on to produce 4 number one albums around the world and become the biggest concert draw for two years running, I was happily stunned for them. When Zayn moodily quit the band in a fit of pique in the midst of a concert tour (before their fifth successful album), I thought he would drift into obscurity. When he got into unseemly twitter wars with his former band members, I thought he would become a punchline. When he hit number one on the Hot 100 with his debut single. I went back to being stunned.
Now, I am agog. RCA is predicting 200K-300K opening for him (equivalent albums). I don’t mind admitting I am frequently wrong when it comes to this young man. I’m absolutely thrilled at his success even if I don’t care for his single. I love it when our little ducklings start to waddle and then swim and then FLY. Fly Zayn!
Okay, back to our sad little sales chart. Carrie Underwood is our lone rep with her solo album at 44 and her track on the Grammy album which is 32. It looks like Christian music community Bethel Music is 1st, but once the Streams and Downloads check in, Adele, Rihanna or possibly Bieber will top the chart. Right below Bethel is Metalcore Killswitch Engage. Other debuts in the top 10 are 3 Doors Down (Rock), Randy Houser (Country) and Flatbush Zombies (Rap). Repeat offenders are Adele, Chris Stapleton, Kendrik Lamar (last week’s number one), Joey and Rory and Now 57.
Adam Lambert’s new single sits at 24 after being performed on Idol.
HDD Sales Chart (89%)
— 1 BETHEL MUSIC HAVE IT ALL PROVIDENT 21,972
— 2 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE INCARNATE ROADRUNNER 21,790
2 3 ADELE 25 XL/COLUMBIA 21,297
— 4 3 DOORS DOWN US AND THE NIGHT REPUBLIC 18,549
5 5
CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLER MERCURY NASHVILLE 18,499
— 6 RANDY HOUSER FIRED UP STONEY CREEK 17,407
— 7 FLATBUSH ZOMBIES 3001: A LACED ODYSSEY GLORIOUS DEAD 15,026
1 8 KENDRICK LAMAR UNTITLED UNMASTERED TDE/AFTERMATH/INTERSCOPE 12,223
3 9 JOEY + RORY HYMNS GAITHER 12,220
13 10 NOW 57 VARIOUS ARTISTS NOW/LEGACY 11,206
…
31 32 2016 GRAMMY NOMINEES VARIOUS ARTISTS REPUBLIC 3,284 [Carrie Underwood]
…
43 44 CARRIE UNDERWOOD STORYTELLER 19/ARISTA NASHVILLE 2,559
…
— 50 TIM MCGRAW DAMN COUNTRY MUSIC BIG MACHINE 2,306
