The Whole Delivery

Photo from Getty Images' Jemal Countess It doesn't matter the time, country music CD sales will always be fine. This Wednesday's installment of the Top 200 shows once again that it wouldn't be a terrible decision for any non-country artist to declare themselves part of that genre. Because it is a guarantee that people will buy your CD if you say you are. Kanye's most famous victim continues her stunning numbers on her latest release, along with a few others right behind holding the flag for that unstoppable genre: For the first time in three years, the top three selling albums in the U.S. are all country efforts. Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" holds at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a second week (320,000; down 69% according to Nielsen SoundScan), Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" starts at No. 2 (193,000) and Sugarland's former No. 1 "The Incredible Machine" slips one rung to No. 3 (60,000; down 32%). And not to be forg...

Country music fans sure do love buying their artists' albums : Zac Brown Band nets its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as "You Get What You Give" bows atop the list with 153,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The country act's major label debut, "The Foundation," peaked at No. 9 in May. "Give" also grants Zac Brown Band its best sales week, previously earned when "Foundation" shifted 62,000 over Christmas in 2009. Meanwhile, it seems like no really cares for Adam Levine and company anymore: Maroon 5's third studio set, "Hands All Over," enters in the runner-up slot with 142,000. The band's last effort, 2007's "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," debuted at No. 1 with 429,000 in its first week. "Hands" is Maroon 5's third top 10 set following "Won't" and its premiere effort, 2003's "Songs About Jane," which reached No. 6. There hasn'...

These are some pretty decent debut numbers on the charts, especially for Trey . Linkin Park notches its fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as its "A Thousand Suns" album debuts atop the list with 241,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The rock band beats out R&B singer Trey Songz, as the latter's fourth album, "Passion, Pain & Pleasure," arrives at No. 2 with 240,000 copies. For Linkin Park, its "A Thousand Suns" opener is off from the 623,000 that greeted its last studio album, 2007's "Minutes to Midnight," when it debuted at No. 1. However, "Passion" represents Songz's best sales week yet and his highest-charting album. His previous high-water marks came when last year's "Ready" started at No. 3 with 131,000. Considering how a lot of B-list urban albums have struggled to crack over 200K this year, these are truly terrific numbers for Trey, ensuring he won't have to fight for a gol...

The key theme of this week's charts is not who topped the charts or how someone is doing, but this fact : Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending Sept. 12) totaled 4.83 million units -- marking the lowest weekly sales figure since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. The lowest weekly sales figure since SoundScan began. EVER. So while Sara Barellies "Kaleidoscope Heart" tops the charts on its debut week (at just 97,000) and Katy Perry wonders how long it will take her to reach gold, let alone platinum, this week is all about another dire week of poor disc sales. Billboard and some of the autocrats at the RIAA couldn't rush fast enough to get those digital sales numbers in the next paragraph. To Tevin, outtie:

For a group that doesn't get A-list attention, they sure do have a very accomplished resume : Rock band Disturbed claims its fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as "Asylum" debuts atop the list with 179,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the act's fourth consecutive studio set to debut at No. 1, a feat achieved by only two other rock bands in the history of the chart: Metallica and Dave Matthews Band. And guess what took the runner-up spot? Disturbed's newest is one of five albums that debut in the top 10 this week. It's followed by the "Now 35" compilation, which starts at No. 2 with 105,000. That's a surprise considering who ended up not even with the bronze medal this week, despite getting another #1 song: Eminem's "Recovery" holds at No. 3 with 93,000 (down 6%). Last week's No. 1, Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream," slips to No. 4 with 88,000 (down 54%). Perry does, however, retain the...

With Katy Perry's new album coming into play, I expect this to be the last week that "Recovery" tops the charts. But it has been an awesome run to say the least : While the Billboard 200 album chart's top 10 welcomes six debuts, none can push Eminem's "Recovery" out of the top slot (116,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan; down 12%). The set thus spends its seventh non-consecutive week at No. 1 -- the most weeks atop the list since Taylor Swift's "Fearless" strung together 11 non-consecutive frames in the penthouse in late 2008 and early 2009. Maybe the story of the week though is the fact that ridiculously under the radar R&B throwback artist Elm is a terrific #2 on the charts despite virtually no backing. Back on the Billboard 200 albums chart, R&B singer Kem claims his highest-charting set ever as "Intimacy" starts at No. 2 with 74,000. His last album, 2006's "Kem II," bowed at No. 5 with 140,000...

This guy could only have three songs on the album and still be getting these sales : Eminem's "Recovery" rebounds to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after two weeks of sitting by in the runner-up slot. It climbs back to the top with 133,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan (down 13%). It's the most weeks at No. 1 for an album since Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" claimed six straight frames at the top in December and January. And he's on the double plat status now: The total sales of "Recovery" also drive past the two million threshold this week (2.1 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan) -- marking just the second album to do so this year. It's currently 2010's second-best seller behind Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" (2.5 million). Also pushing pass a significant marker is Justin Bieber's mentor: At this point last year, no albums had surpassed more than two million in sales -- though seven had shifted at ...

And the Detroit rapper's massive 5-week hold on the top spot is over : Avenged Sevenfold garners its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart as "Nightmare" arrives atop the list, bumping Eminem's "Recovery" to No. 2 after a five week reign at No. 1. Avenged begins with 163,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan, trumping "Recovery" (159,000; down 15%) by less than 4,000 units. Sevenfold's personal accomplishment was the only standout in a forgettable week for the July 27 debut crowd: With only "Nightmare" arriving in the top 10, it's the first time we've had this few debuts in the top 10 since the chart dated March 13 (reflecting the sales week ending Feb. 28), when Johnny Cash's "American VI: Ain't No Grave" was the lone top 10 debut at No. 3. And you say "Bust" time for the former officer, who will have a fight to go gold on his hands: As for the rest of the top 10 this week, Rick Ross...

Maybe Big Boi (and The Roots) should have said that their album featured Eminem on it : Eminem's "Recovery" is the first album to notch three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since March, as it holds atop the tally with 229,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The last album to string three weeks in a row at No. 1 was Sade's "Soldier of Love" back in March. The chart's top debut comes from OutKast's Big Boi with his debut solo album "Sir Lucious Left Foot ... The Son of Chico Dusty" starting at No. 3 with 62,000. 62,000. So while Eminem easily goes platinum in two weeks, both "The Roots" and "Big Boi" can't even push over 100,000 the first week. I guess despite either being on Jimmy Fallon's Late-Night show or apart of one of rap music's recognized and renown top duos ever doesn't help the CD get the push in the suburbs it appears. It could have been worse for Big Boi, beca...

Photo from Billboard The music industry's savior saves again ! As reported earlier today, Eminem's "Recovery" debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with a massive 741,000 copies sold in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the biggest sales week for a single album since October 2008, when AC/DC's "Black Ice" debuted with 784,000 in its first week. Seriously, that is just a phenomenal and encouraging number, showing that, once again, artists (even rap artists) can survive the leak and still have people go to the shelves at Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy or wherever, or online without going to Limewire. Of course being an establish name helps for sure, but it's not like Eminem will be having singles that's for the clubs and the radio specifically. "Not Afraid" certainly doesn't fit those locations from the other singles out nowadays from "prominent rappers/R&B singers", that's for sure. Get...

Someone breaks over 200K thankfully : Jack Johnson claims his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as "To The Sea" debuts atop the tally with 243,000 copies sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album breaks an eight-week long streak of No. 1s selling less than 200,000 -- where five of those weeks were sub-100,000 frames. Downloads made up 114,000 of "Sea's" first week -- nearly half of the set's overall figure. In terms of download units, it's the biggest week for an album since the week ending Jan. 31, when the digital-exclusive charity compilation "Hope For Haiti Now" set sold 143,000 downloads in its second week of release. At least Johnson knocked off Glee thank goodness. 2nd place went to Justin Bieber with 52,000 for "My World 2" with that hit Fox show taking the bronze with 45,000. It was another week where the protege (Bieber) sold more than his mentor (Usher), so bragging rights again go to the youngin'....

It is a Glee world, though it is a more "I won't buy mediocre albums" world : Gee: the Music, Volume 3 - Showstoppers" holds at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a second week, while the new release schedule was light due to the "American Idol" finale. "Showstoppers" moved 63,000 copies (down 54%) according to Nielsen SoundScan. In the runner-up spot, Stone Temple Pilots return with its first studio album since 2001 as its new self-titled set enters at No. 2 with 62,000. It's the quartet's sixth top 10 album -- the band's entire output of studio releases. STP is the Billboard 200 albums chart sole new entry -- the fewest since the chart dated March 13 when Johnny Cash's "American VI: Ain't No Grave" was the only top 10 arrival. Now the charts hopefully will get back to six figure debuts numbers with Jack Johnson's "To The Sea" release, as that is predicted to push 250K. The rest of anot...

Great to be at the top of the charts for your first album sold. But goodness gracious at how brutal these numbers are : 21-year old rapper B.o.B bounces in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week with his debut set, "The Adventures of Bobby Ray," selling 84,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks the first time a solo male artist has earned a No. 1 album on the chart with their debut release since Aug. 26, 2006, when Rick Ross' "Port of Miami" opened atop the list with 187,000. B.o.B's 84,000-start makes it the third straight week were the No. 1 album in the U.S. sells less than 100,000 copies. That's the longest sub-100,000 run at the top since February of 2009, when Taylor Swift's "Fearless" spent its last three (of 11) weeks at No. 1. B.o.B (given name Bobby Ray Simmons) has already had a taste of No. 1 success on the Billboard charts, as the album's lead single "Nothin' On You...

He tops the charts with his quick shorter sequel to My World, selling almost double what his first album did the first week with 268,000 in the bank . And he made such big history : At 16-years old, Bieber is the youngest solo male artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since Aug. 24, 1963, when the then-13-year old Stevie Wonder spent one week at No. 1 with "Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 Year Old Genius." (Wonder recorded the album when he was 12, but released it after turning 13.) "My World 2.0's" opening frame is also Bieber's best sales week, surpassing his previous high, when the first "My World" sold 157,000 copies over Christmas week of 2009. Thus, with albums at Nos. 1 and 5, Bieber is the first act to concurrently chart two albums within the top five of the Billboard 200 since the chart dated Oct. 9, 2004. That's when Nelly ranked at Nos. 2 and 4 with "Suit" and "Sweat," respectively. Nelly had bowed the sim...

Overall, it was another dreadful week for album sales, as it only took a measly 93,000 copies to reach the number one spot. But it wasn't last week's #1 Luda keeping his position. Instead, country group Lady Antebellum topped the charts yet again. But the way bigger story overshadowing more dismal numbers is Marvin Sapp's "Here I Am" debuting at #2 on the charts, making it the highest ranking gospel album ever in Billboard 200 history. Sapp's previous high-water mark came with his previous set, "Thirsty," when it hit No. 28. Until this week, no gospel album had gone higher than No. 3 -- a rank last reached by a gospel set when God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation debuted and peaked at No. 3 on June 14, 1997 with "God's Property." Sapp's "Thirsty" spent 81 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold 712,000 to date -- an impressive number for a gospel set. Its long chart run and handsome sales figure ...

Without any notable premieres last week, it was a totally forgettable week for albums sales. Sade stays at the top spot for a second straight week thanks to such dreadful returns, as she moved 190,000 units to become just shy of 700K sold overall. Even though it's only ten songs and really isn't that good at all, that what name recognition among the old crowd will get you. But the paltry sum of this week's top selling album isn't the standout fact for such a porous week . This following stat is : ast week, the top 40 of the Billboard 200 was populated with eight new arrivals, seemingly released to capitalize on the Valentine's Day holiday. This week, with V-Day in the rearview mirror, the chart's highest debut comes from Story of the Year's "The Constant," way down at No. 42 with 14,000. Wow. Pretty meager stuff right there. However, nothing "meager" can be said about Lady Antebellum, as the country group becomes the first to have...

Well, tell that to country pop artists, especially the latest advocates for that example, Lady Antebellum : Lady Antebellum's second album, "Need You Now," crashes in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 481,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's the biggest debut sales week for any album since Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" bowed atop the list with 701,000 in November, and the best for a country album since Taylor Swift's "Fearless" opened at No. 1 on the Billboard with 592,000 copies in Nov. 2008. It is an amazing climb from them in comparison to their first album sales two years ago Lady Antebellum's self-titled first album debuted and peaked at No. 4 with 43,000 in its opening week back in May of 2008. This week, in the set's 94th week on the chart, it climbs one spot to No. 15 with 31,000 (up 32%). It truly is amazing how those country pop artists continue to get album sales in the era of high ...

I always love an underrated story...and man, that is certainly the case with one Susan Boyle. I (and many others I might add) didn't expect this. But I am pleasantly surprised YouTube sensation and former "Britain's Got Talent" contestant Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" opens at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 701,000 copies sold in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan -- the best sales week for an album in the U.S. this year. 2009's previous high-water mark came when Eminem's "Relapse" sold 608,000 in its opening week. In fact, Boyle's sales frame is the best the chart has seen since AC/DC's "Black Ice" bowed with 784,000 upon its release in October 2008. 700K copies! And get this great stat The arrival of "I Dreamed a Dream" also marks the best opening week for a female artist's debut album since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. Boyle beats out Ashanti for t...

To start off, here' the video for Skillz Rap Up for 2008 Whether you like country music or not, Taylor Swift is atop of the charts again . Even more alarmingly to quality music that really makes a difference in people's lives is the fact that Queen B (Beyonce') has now sold over 1.5 million copies with her 11 track piece of you know what album. Sorry, just keeping it real. If you thought that was real, it has nothing on what Q-Tip told Newsweek about the industry right now. Even without an outrageous number of marketing campaigns, Q-Tip's The Renaissance was still able to reach the Number 11 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart. "Their model for getting numbers is broken," Q-Tip explained. "They realize it, but they don't have any solutions. They all seem shook. A&R departments need people who really know music. That way, they can make records that last a long time, because eventually it's going to be about the whole catalog selling again. Esp...

Photo from MTV.com Unlike Usher, Beyonce' was able to have her fans buy her mediocre at best effort for this year. By almost going gold in the first week of sells to top the charts, "I Am....Sasha Fierce" won't suffer the same faith as "Here I Stand" despite a CD that was heavily criticized for being another up and down, nowhere near classic effort from the nevertheless superstar figure. Nickelback had to take second place with their Dark House release, with new American Idol winner David Cook taking the bronze with his debut release. Even more stunning is looking at how paltry John Legend's sales are at the moment for his acclaimed Evolver . 297,021 Chalk another victory for style over substance in the music world.Though John Legend is a pretty stylish dude though.