We may be witnessing the emergence of the next big young superstar as Shawn Mendes topped the Billboard 200 this week with his debut LP Handwritten. He becomes the youngest performer to top the chart since 2010, when Justin Bieber also did it at the age of 16 (albeit six months younger than Mendes). What makes Mendes' accomplishment more impressive is that he did so without a single on the Billboard charts, drawing almost entirely from hype built as a Vine star (and as an opener for Taylor Swift on tour). He moved 119,000 copies of his debut.
That bumps the Furious 7 soundtrack to no. 2, having moved a decreased 79,000 equivalent copies this week. That number indicates a drop in streams and downloads for the single "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa, which drove more than half of the album's total last week.
The rest of the Top 5 is rounded out by new releases this week: Reba McEntire debuts at no. 3 with Love Somebody, which sold 62,000 equivalent copies and helped her top the country charts for the 12th time. Tyler, The Creator takes no. 4 with Cherry Bomb, a surprise release that moved 58,000 units. The last debut of the week comes from rockers Halestorm, which had its biggest sales week ever with Into The Wild Life, which moved 56,000 copies and took no. 5.
Those of you who have been paying attention knows what that means: Taylor Swift and 1989 have finally fallen out of the Top 5 for the first time. It's a bummer, as she only needed one more Top 5-placement in order to tie for no. 7 all time in terms of weeks within the range without falling out. She finished at no. 7 this week, moving 38,000 copies of the album. No. 6 went to the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, which sold 43,000 equivalent copies.
Three more familiar acts round out the Top 10 this week. Sam Smith and In The Lonely Hour remain relevant, taking the no. 8 spot while moving 37,000 copies. Ed Sheeran and x is the next placer, taking no. 9 by selling 36,000 copies. Drake manages to hang on for another week in the Top 10, taking the last spot by selling 35,000 equivalent copies of If You're Reading This It's Too Late.
