Blake Battling Babs for No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
Blake Shelton might nab his second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart next week with 'Bringing Back the Sunshine'… that is, unless Barbra Streisand's 'Partners' puts up a fight.

Blake Shelton might nab his second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart next week with Bringing Back the Sunshine… that is, unless Barbra Streisand’s Partners puts up a fight.
Blake Shelton Eyeing No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
Industry sources forecast Shelton’s new album, released on Warner Bros. Nashville Records, to sell between 85,000 and 90,000 copies in the week ending Oct. 5. Streisand’s album, however, might sell 85,000 or more as well. Streisand’s all-star duets album debuted at No. 1 two weeks ago, selling 196,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It then fell to No. 2 with 127,000 (down a very modest 35 percent in sales).
The new Billboard 200’s top 10 will be revealed on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Coincidentally, Shelton might help block himself from No. 1: he duets with Streisand on Partners for the song “I’d Want It To Be You.”
If Shelton hits No. 1, it will mark his second chart-topper, following 2011’s Red River Blue.
Barbra Streisand Scores Historic 10th No. 1 Album With ‘Partners’
Also on tap for a top 10 debut next week: Lady Antebellum‘s 747 (with perhaps 70,000), Prince’s Art Official Age (40,000) and The Script’s No Sound Without Silence (25,000). Prince released a second album in addition to Art Official Age on Sept. 30, PlectrumElectrum, with the band 3rdEyeGirl. It may debut outside the top 10 with around 20,000. Also eyeing a start outside the top 10: Tove Lo’s debut album, Queen of the Clouds, with maybe 20,000.
On SoundScan’s Building chart (below), Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Streisand and Prince are Nos. 1-4, 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 Building chart’s top 10, the current Billboard 200 No. 1, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga‘s Cheek to Cheek sits at No. 5, while Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival is No. 6, and The Script and Prince & 3rdEyeGirl are Nos. 7 and 8. Tove Lo is No. 9, while Maroon 5’s V rounds out the top 10.
Nielsen SoundScan Building Chart | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rank | LW BB 200 |
Artist | Title |
1 | NEW | Blake Shelton | Bringing Back the Sunshine |
2 | NEW | Lady Antebellum | 747 |
3 | 3 | Barbra Streisand | Partners |
4 | NEW | Prince | Art Official Age |
5 | 1 | Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga | Cheek to Cheek |
6 | 2 | Kenny Chesney | The Big Revival |
7 | NEW | The Script | No Sound Without Silence |
8 | NEW | Prince & 3rdEyeGirl | PlectrumElectrum |
9 | NEW | Tove Lo | Queen of the Clouds |
10 | 9 | Maroon 5 | V |
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. |