Last week it seemed that compilations had reached a high point, taking both the now. 1 and 2 spots on the Billboard 200, but this week the music collections stepped it up a notch, adding spot no. 3 to the list. The last time the first three spots on the list were held by compilations was during 2009 when Now 30, Hannah Montana: The Movie and the original Twilight soundtrack held the positions.
Now it belongs to Awesome Mix No. 1 from the film Guardians of The Galaxy, Now 51 and the Frozen soundtrack, respectively. Awesome Mix holds the no. 1 spot for a second week despite not featuring any new music, selling 93,000 copies. Now is just as relevant as in 2009, holding the no. 2 spot for a second week and moving 52,000 units accordingly. Frozen was no. 1 for 13 weeks earlier during 2014 but seemed to be on its way out, settling at no. 8 last week. An iTunes sale boosted sales to 43,000 copies however and the album jumped back to no. 3.
So how about original music? Two newcomers take the now. 4 and 5 spots this week. The Gaslight Anthem take the first spot with its album Get Hurt, which sold 33,000 copies. Troye Sivan could have landed with much higher numbers had he not released his debut album on a Friday instead of the traditional Tuesday. His TRXYE sold 30,000 copies despite the short sales period.
5 Seconds of Summer sold another 27,000 of its self-titled album while taking the no. 6 place in its fourth week on the charts. More impressive however is Sam Smith, who jumped back up to no. 7 during his ninth week on the Billboard 200. His In The Lonely Hour sold 26,000 copies and looks to stick around.
Godsmack will spend at least one more week in the Top 10 as 1000HP dropped from no. 3 to no. 8 in its second week, selling 21,000 albums in the process. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have three weeks under their belts now with Hypnotic Eye, which sold 20,000 copies and placed at no. 9.
Rounding out the week this week is Luke Bryan and Crash My Party, which held onto its Top 10 spot for an extended streak post its release during 2013. An iTunes sale also boosted sales this week, allowing it to rise to 19,000 copies sold.
