Happy times are here at last for those of us looking for new music. Hopefully. Last week's Billboard Top 10 featured four debut entries, the most so far for 2014.
Of course, no. 1 was Now 49, so it wasn't exactly new music. The compilation sold 98,000 copies-still less than the 114,000 that Now 48 debuted with-but that was enough for it to be the first Now album to reach the top of the charts since Now 43.
The Frozen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, didn't fall too far, selling 88,000 copies and settling at no. 2. The compilation had held the top spot for four non-consecutive weeks, but it's almost guaranteed to hit platinum status by next week's charts update. Bruno Mars got a significant boost from his record-breaking Super Bowl performance. Unorthodox Jukebox rose to no. 3 with 81,000 copies sold, and his first album Doo-Wops & Hooligans nearly cracked the Top 10 as well, placing at no. 11.
Toni Braxton & Babyface were the top-selling providers of new music this week, as their duet album Love, Marriage & Divorce debuted at no. 4 after selling 67,000 copies. The album marks Babyface's highest debut ever. Broken Bells, the group consisting of James Mercer and Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, also had its highest debut, coming in at no. 5 with After The Disco, which sold 44,000 copies. Little Mix was right on Broken Bells' tail with its own second album, as the British girl group moved 43,000 copies of its Salute.
The rest of the Top 10 was somewhat a collection of albums that have been hanging in for a long while. Beyoncé placed no. 7 by selling another 38,000 copies of her self-titled album. Lorde also moved 35,000 copies of Pure Heroine, coming in at no. 8. The 2014 Grammy Nominees compilation is finally on its way out, dropping seven spots to no. 9 while selling just under 35,000 copies. Katy Perry rounds off the Top 10 by selling 27,000 copies of PRISM.
