After a number of weeks of declining sales, downloads came back in a big way. Every track in the Digital Downloads Top 10 this week saw an increase in sales overall, with no real reason uniting them. Perhaps iTunes cards have become a Halloween handout?
Whatever the cause, the biggest winner was Meghan Trainor, who rose to no. 1 with "All About That Bass" for, yes, the fifth individual time. The track got a 43 percent boost in sales, probably thanks to her performing for a less than typical audience on the Country Music Awards with Miranda Lambert. The track sold 190,000 downloads.
Taylor Swift has been the main cause for Trainor's frequent falls from no. 1—actually the only cause. Trainor and Swift are the only performers to top the Digital Downloads chart for the last 14 weeks—and the current queen of album sales headed to the downloads chart to take spots nos. 2 and 3. "Blank Space" fell to no. 2 despite a slight rise in sales (following the new music video for the track) to 164,000 downloads moved. "Shake It Off" got a crazy 1,020 percent increase thanks to iTunes users and the "complete my album" option, which allowed those who had already downloaded the single to replace it within the scheme of 1989. That was good for 130,000 downloads.
Hozier continues to find success with "Take Me To Church," which stayed at no. 4 with 123,000 downloads sold. Maroon 5 and "Animals" may have lost two spots, falling to no. 5, but the band still managed to increase to 114,000 downloads this week.
Three tracks made their debut in the Top 10 this week: Selena Gomez and "The Heart Wants It Wants" had its literal first week on the charts, selling 102,000 copies and taking no. 6. Sam Smith returns to the Top 10 with a new single, as "I'm Not The Only One" moved 84,000 copies and rose to no. 7. Carrie Underwood jumped all the way from no. 35 with "Something In The Water." The song's 144 percent rise in sales and its 84,000 downloads are also probably due in part to the CMAs.
"Bang Bang" refuses to go away as the track—the all-star collaboration between Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Jessie J—jumped from no. 10 to no. 9, while sales rose to 83,000 downloads. Tove Lo took the hardest lump, falling five place to no. 10 with "Habits (Stay High)," although it too actually rose in sales.
