The star-studded “2014 Grammy Nominees” album is aiming for a top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 chart.
The 18-song album “Nominees” compilation may sell around 40,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Jan. 26, according to industry forecasters. That should be enough to secure a top 10 bow for the title — and possibly a top five entrance. The album features a slew songs by the current nominees in contention at this Sunday’s Grammy Awards show, including Lorde and Daft Punk.
The top 10 of next week’s Billboard 200 chart will be revealed on Jan. 29.
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The long-running compilation “Grammy Nominees” album series, which launched in 1995, has collected 12 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. The series has spawned more than 20 releases tied to the Grammy Awards, and has sold 9.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The “2013 Grammy Nominees” became the highest-charting effort in the franchise, as it climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart the week after the 2013 Grammy Awards. That week, it vaulted from No. 11 to No. 2 with 88,000 sold (a gain of 136%) for the week ending Feb. 17. That sum also earned the series its best sales week since “Grammy Nominees 2007” moved 131,000 the week after the 2007 show.
This year’s “Grammy Nominees” album was unusually released in the same week as the Awards show itself (Jan. 26). A year ago, the album bowed a few weeks before the show itself. Traditionally, the Grammy Awards take place in February on CBS, but this year, the show was moved up to Jan. 26 — likely to avoid direct competition with NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics (which begin on Feb. 7).
Next year, the Grammys will return to a February air date, as they are slated to air on Feb. 8, 2015.
As for the rest of next week’s top 10 on the Billboard 200, watch for pop duo A Great Big World to notch the highest debut, with its first album, “Is There Anybody Out There?” It may sell around 45,000 and debut in the top five.
The current chart champ, Bruce Springsteen’s “High Hopes,” will likely yield the No. 1 slot to the soundtrack to “Frozen,” which may sell around 85,000 copies or so. If “Frozen” returns to No. 1, it will mark the third non-consecutive week atop the list for the album. The last soundtrack to spend more than two weeks at No. 1 was “High School Musical 2,” which ruled for four weeks in 2007.
Also on tap for a top 10 debut is Young the Giant, with its new album “Mind Over Matter.” The latest effort for the rock band may bow with about 30,000, securing the act it best sales week ever and highest charting album. Its self-titled debut peaked at No. 42 in 2011, selling 10,000 in its best week, according to SoundScan.
On SoundScan’s Building chart (below), “Frozen” is No. 1, followed by A Great Big World and Young the Giant at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking, reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan’s tracking week as reported by six major merchants.
As for the rest of the top 10: the “Grammy Nominees” album is No. 4, while Beyonce’s self-titled album sits at No. 5. The “Kidz Bop 25” set is No. 6, while Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” is No. 7. Rounding out the top 10 are Katy Perry’s “PRISM” (No. 8), Jennifer Nettles’ “That Girl” (No. 9) and Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” (No. 10).
| Nielsen SoundScan Building Chart | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | LW BB 200 |
Artist | Title |
| 1 | 2 | Soundtrack | “Frozen” |
| 2 | NEW | A Great Big World | “Is There Anybody Out There?” |
| 3 | NEW | Young the Giant | “Mind Over Matter” |
| 4 | NEW | Various Artists | “2014 Grammy Nominees” |
| 5 | 4 | Beyonce | “Beyonce” |
| 6 | 3 | Kidz Bop Kids | “Kidz Bop 25” |
| 7 | 7 | Lorde | “Pure Heroine” |
| 8 | 9 | Katy Perry | “PRISM” |
| 9 | 5 | Jennifer Nettles | “That Girl” |
| 10 | 8 | Eminem | “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” |
| The Building Chart reflects the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan’s tracking week (which ends Sunday) as reported by six major merchants: iTunes, Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates that they make up about 85% of all U.S. album sales. | |||