Chris Brown Set for Sixth Straight Top 10 Album
Chris Brown is on the verge of earning his sixth consecutive top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart -- his entire output of releases.

Chris Brown is on the verge of earning his sixth consecutive top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart — his entire output of releases.
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The artist’s new X, which was released Sept. 16 on RCA Records, could debut in the No. 2 slot on the next Billboard 200 chart. Industry forecasters suggest the album could sell around 130,000 to 140,000 copies in the week ending Sept. 21.
The Billboard 200’s new top 10 will be revealed on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
X follows Brown’s last studio effort, 2012’s Fortune, which debuted at No. 1, selling 135,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Previous to that, he hit No. 1 with F.A.M.E. (2011) and racked up three more top 10s: Graffiti (No. 7, 2009), Exclusive (No. 4, 2007) and his self-titled debut (No. 2, 2005).
Blocking Brown from the top slot will likely be Barbra Streisand‘s new duets album, Partners. The all-star collaborative set could start with 175,000 — a better start than forecast earlier in the week. On Sept. 17, the day after the album’s release, sources pegged Partners to launch with around 150,000.
If Partners debuts at No. 1, Streisand will earn her 10th No. 1 album and become the first act with No. 1s in each of the last six decades (’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s). Her most recent No. 1 came with 2009’s Love Is the Answer.
Streisand and Brown’s latest albums lead a starry release week, where they join new efforts from Tim McGraw, George Strait, Train and Slash.
McGraw’s Sundown Heaven Town could enter at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (and No. 1 on Top Country Albums) with around 70,000, while Strait’s live album, The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium, might sell 50,000.
Train’s Bulletproof Picasso might bow with 45,000, and Slash’s World on Fire, featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, may start with 25,000.
On SoundScan’s Building chart (below), Streisand, Brown, McGraw, Train and Strait are Nos. 1-5, 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, Maroon 5‘s V is No. 6, followed by Slash at No. 7, Lecrae‘s Anomaly at No. 8, Motionless in White‘s new Reincarnate at No. 9 and Jhene Aiko‘s Souled Out at No. 10.
Nielsen SoundScan Building Chart | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rank | LW BB 200 |
Artist | Title |
1 | NEW | Barbra Streisand | Partners |
2 | NEW | Chris Brown | X |
3 | NEW | Tim McGraw | Sundown Heaven Town |
4 | NEW | Train | Bulletproof Picasso |
5 | NEW | George Strait | The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium |
6 | 2 | Maroon 5 | V |
7 | NEW | Slash featuring Myles Kennedy… | World On Fire |
8 | 1 | Lecrae | Anomaly |
9 | NEW | Motionless In White | Reincarnate |
10 | 3 | Jhene Aiko | Souled Out |
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. |