A few more "new" albums managed to crack the top 10 of the Billboard 200 this week, but sales slipped from last week overall.
Things start with three mergence of a previous no. 1 album: the Frozen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. After a one-week break from the top spot, the album makes a strong return thanks to the increasing popularity of Idina Menzel's hit "Let It Go." The album sold 93,000 copies last week, which is an improvement from the week before, but also an improvement from its last stand at no. 1.
The first "new" album of the year came in at no. 2 in the 2014 Grammy Nominees collection, which features a number of tracks that were nominated for awards on Sunday. The compilation is typically released a few weeks before the show, but analysts suggest its better-than-average sales (59,000) was due to the increased interest generated by the show itself. That increased interest is also expected to boost a few performer's sales when next week's charts come out.
Beyoncé may be one of the Grammy performers to see a slight boost already, as her self-titled album rose to no. 3 with 48,000 units sold. Other Grammy-girls that saw slight sales boosts this week: Lorde and Pure Heroine rose to no. 5 with 37,000 copies sold, and Katy Perry got a boost for PRISM (25,000 sold).
Actual musicians releasing actual new music this week was limited to A Great Big World and Young The Giant. The former got nearly 48,000 buyers for Is Anybody Out There?, a great number for a debut album, but even more seemed possible considering the success of the duo's hit "Say Something." Young The Giant came in at no. 7 with Mind Over Matter, which sold 34,000 copies, the band's highest debut.
Last week's big hitters saw drop-offs, even with the dearth of big names making debuts. Kidz Bop 25 dropped to no. 6 with 26,000 copies sold. All those interested in buying Bruce Springsteen's newest album apparently did so last week, as High Hopes dropped from the top spot to no. 8 with 26,000 units moved.
Eminem has had the longest run in the Top 10 for a 2013 record, having now gone 12 straight weeks with The Marshall Mathers LP 2 dropping out. This may be its last stand however, as the album fell to no. 10 with 24,000 copies sold.
