The album is the first debut by a woman to sell a million copies since 2011
Lorde's "Pure Heroine" album has crossed the 1 million sales mark, becoming the first debut set to do so since last October. The set rises 7-6 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, selling another 30,000 copies in the week ending Feb. 23, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its total sales stand at 1.01 million.
Hunter Hayes' self-titled album was the last debut set to reach a million, crossing the threshold in the week ending Oct. 27, 2013.
Further, Lorde is the first woman to have her debut album hit 1 million in sales since April 2011, when Adele's "19" cleared a million (week ending April 3).
"Pure Heroine" is the second album by a woman this year to reach a million, following Katy Perry's "PRISM" (week ending Jan. 5). In 2013, there were just 13 albums that sold a million copies, and only one by a woman: Beyonce's self-titled album. "Beyonce" arrived Dec. 13, which means that had Beyonce not released her surprise album, 2013 wouldn't have had a million-seller by a female artist.
Lorde, Disclosure Team for 'Royals'/'White Noise' Mash-Up at BRIT Awards: Watch
As for "Pure Heroine," the album has yet to leave the top 20 of the Billboard 200 since its debut on the chart dated Oct. 19, 2013. It has resided in the top 10 for 16 nonconsecutive weeks, including the last nine in a row.
The album's current radio single, "Team," rises to a new peak on the Billboard Hot 100 this week -- climbing 9-7. It follows her No. 1 smash "Royals," which spent nine weeks at No. 1 in 2013.
"Pure Heroine's" next single will be "Glory and Gore," which debuts at No. 88 on the Hot 100 this week. Billboard first reported that "Tennis Court" would be the third single, per Republic Records, but the label has since switched its plan to "Glory and Gore."
Additional reporting by Gary Trust