Beyonce's 'Lemonade' Heading for No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

The diva's new album could sell 450,000 copies (or more) in its debut week, according to forecasters.

Beyonce's Lemonade album is heading for No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, according to industry forecasters. The set, which was released on April 23 through Parkwood/Columbia Records, could sell around 450,000 copies (or more) in the week ending April 28, and earn 550,000 equivalent album units. If it starts at No. 1, it will give Beyonce her sixth chart-topper, and continue her hot streak atop the Billboard 200: all five of her previous studio albums have debuted at No. 1.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the new May 14-dated Billboard 200 chart (where Lemonade will likely start at No. 1) is scheduled to be revealed on Billboard’s websites on Sunday, May 1.

Beyonce Opens Her Diary on 'Lemonade'

Lemonade was introduced on April 23 through its same-named film, which was soundtracked by the album’s songs, and premiered on HBO. The visual album was released following the film’s debut, initially exclusively through Tidal. By Monday, April 25, the album — which is bundled with the film — went on sale through other digital retailers, but Tidal remains the only service with streaming rights to the set. A physical version of the album will be released on May 6.

Beyonce previously hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her self-titled album in 2013, 4 (2011), I Am…Sasha Fierce (2008), B’Day (2006) and Dangerously In Love (2003). Her eponymous set launched atop the chart with 617,000 copies sold in just three days, and from only one retailer: iTunes, where it was initially exclusively available. It sold 991,000 copies in its first 10 days.