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It's that time of the year again: DJ Earworm's closely watched "United State of Pop" mashup of the year's 25 hottest pop songs. For his fifth installment of the holiday treat, dubbed "World Go Boom," the real-life Jordan Roseman kicks things off with Bruno Mars' "Grenade" and flows through tracks from Adele, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, LMFAO and OneRepublic, among others.
Though it seemed a foregone conclusion months ago, Adele's "21" and her "Rolling in the Deep" single finish 2011 as the United States' top-selling album and song, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "21" sold 5.82 million copies last year, while "Rolling" moved 5.81 million downloads.
As predicted, Adele's "21" album jumps back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking its 14th non-consecutive week at the top of the tally.
With few new major album releases out this week -- as is customary at the beginning of the year -- Adele's "21" will likely spend a 15th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart next week. It's projected to sell anywhere between 100,000 to 140,000 copies by week's end on Sunday, Jan. 8, according to industry prognosticators.
It's edging ever closer to the 16-week No. 1 run of the "Titanic" soundtrack in 1998 -- the last album to lock up more weeks at No. 1. Further frames at No. 1 for "21" are possible, as the next challenger for the top slot could be the "Kidz Bop 21" album due out Jan. 17.
Adele Rules 2011 With Top Selling Album & Song
The highest debut next week (and likely only in the entire top 40) will be rock act SafetySuit with its iTunes-exclusive "These Times." The set, which becomes widely available to all retailers on Jan. 10 after its week of iTunes' exclusivity, may start in the top 10 with perhaps 15,000 copies sold.
If "21" can claim a 15th week at No. 1, how does that compare to other blockbuster chart-toppers in recent history?
Since 1990, only six albums have spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. "Titanic" racked 16 in 1998, as did Vanilla Ice's "To the Extreme" in 1990 and 1991. Billy Ray Cyrus' "Some Gave All" had 17 weeks at No. 1 in 1992 while Garth Brooks' "Ropin' the Wind" lassoed 18 frames in 1991-1992. The Whitney Houston-driven soundtrack to "The Bodyguard" (20; 1992-1993) and M.C. Hammer's "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" (21; 1990) have the most weeks at No. 1 since 1990.
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