Many music-biz types were convinced we’d never again see an album sell a million copies in a week. It hadn’t happened since 50 Cent’s The Massacre topped the mark in 2005. Yet Lil Wayne is proof that if you build something fans truly want, even in the depressed market of 2008, they will come. His Tha Carter III (No. 1) exceeded all projections by selling just a hair over 1 million units — particularly impressive considering that the rapper’s previous best sales week was a mere 238,000.
That huge debut left Plies’ Definition of Real looking like small potatoes at No. 2 with 215,000 units — a figure that usually would be more than enough to top the Nielsen Soundscan/Billboard chart. But they weren’t the only new releases worth mentioning. N.E.R.D.’s long-awaited Seeing Sounds debuted at No. 7 with 80,000, followed by Alanis Morissette’s Flavors of Entanglement at No. 8 with 70,000. Critical and festival favorite My Morning Jacket made a first-time appearance in the top 10 of the album chart by selling 49,000 and coming in at No. 9. Other debuts of note included country duo Montgomery Gentry at No. 20 (27,000 copies), Emmylou Harris at No. 22 (also 27,000), the first solo effort from Jakob Dylan at No. 24 (24,000), and the iCarly soundtrack at No. 28 (20,000).
In the singles world, Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” held onto the top spot
on the digital songs chart…and for the first time in their career,
the British foursome also took control of the Hot 100, which combines
sales and airplay. Next week, they’re expected to easily top the album
chart as well. Based on Tuesday’s first day of sales, Viva la Vida, the band’s fourth album, should
sell some 600,000 copies. Though iTunes doesn’t usually release its
sales figures, the online music store took the unusual step of announcing that the album
sold 140,000 on that site just on its first day. That shatters the
iTunes record for sales in an entire week, previously held by Jack Johnson — and there are six days
still left to go. For the hangdog music biz, June really is bustin’ out
all over.
In the singles world, Coldplay’s "Viva la Vida" held onto the top spoton the digital songs chart…and for the first time in their career,the British foursome also took control of the Hot 100, which combinessales and airplay. Next week, they’re expected to easily top the albumchart as well. Based on Tuesday’s first day of sales, Viva la Vida, the band’s fourth album, shouldsell some 600,000 copies. Though iTunes doesn’t usually release itssales figures, the online music store took the unusual step of announcing that the albumsold 140,000 on that site just on its first day. That shatters theiTunes record for sales in an entire week, previously held by Jack Johnson — and there are six daysstill left to go. For the hangdog music biz, June really is bustin’ outall over.
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There’s been a changing of the guard. Lil Wayne officially takes his throne. Now all we have to do is keep him out of jail and make sure we don’t tear him down too quickly.
Mikeadmani.com
There’s been a changing of the guard. Lil Wayne officially takes his throne. Now all we have to do is keep him out of jail and make sure we don’t tear him down too quickly.
Mikeadmani.com
Lil Wayne is garbage, anybody who bought this album needs to murder themselves.
No way Little Wayne is garbage, he is a true artist. And the way he’s built his success through modern technology is a success story that will hopefully be replicated by talent throughout the world i the coming years.
These album sales only confirm to the dinosaurs in the archaic “music” industry what his fans aready knew.
DON’T HATE THE PLAYA….. HATE THE GAME!
Gabe. Stop talking your name is gabe. You know what Babe Ruth’s gay brother’s name was? Gabe Ruth. Weeezzzy Babbby
This cd is trash. Weezy is the best rapper in the game right now, but I would have rather spent the 17 bones on toilet paper than this album. The hype was with The Leak and all the other hard songs released prior to this cd. Oh well, at least now I have an expensive coaster for my Tequila sunrise. Maybe too much father kissing made this N O boy soft as baby poop…
No one seems to think about the fact that these gangster rappers are using dirty money to buy all their records and reselling them in the hoods for food purchased with welfare. This way can can control more of the music industry and get large checks back from the sale of their albums.
wats up..cuz you my favorite rapper..hook me up with that tha carter 3
You haters make me sick, probably just listened to the first minute of each song. This music isn’t for old white men anyway. It is a testament ot how hard working this artist is, putting out underground singles every week and new platinum record. Young money baby!
I did not buy the album . I think its not really worth it . Dont get me wrong He does have some good songs on their but not worth buyin the whole thing. I am the person who downloads music so there is no point on spendin whole bunch of money for couple good songs. I got love for Weezy for making money and doing his thing but he is not the best rapper at all.
Wayne deserves these sale, I have never seen an artist work as ard and put so much work in between albums as he has, and not just for hip hop for any area of music, and after dropping all those mix cd’s he still put together a fire album. If yall cant see that something is wrong, like jay-z asked “do you fools listen to music or do you just scan through it” cause if you listened to the carte 3 and any of the mix cd’s you cant deny wayne is killing these other arists and deserves every single sale
U SUCK LIL WAYNE >
I just don’t understand the hype that surrounds this character? The melodies are the highlight, that’s about it. The leading song ‘Lollipop’ I really thing that the flow and the beat/melody is tight, but I have trouble listening to this because of its lyrics!
Yall are all gay
I agree with Yasmine – the lyrics to Lollipop are too crude for basic Radio play – I’ve heard kids singing this and it ain’t fun.
The title says it all…
hmmm…don’t have any particular thoughts on this guy, but I wanna know who the 1 million human-beings are that bought this record?
I agree with Tommy. Wayne has put in major work.
Anybody who disses him needs to get their head on straight he the best there is
Whether you like it or not the man sold 1 million copies the first week. What is more a compliment is that he sold it while his album leaked an entire week before it was released. Best Rapper Alive no f^&king way that is Jay-Z we all know that but what he has done is work hard and get rewarded for it. The American Dream no matter how you look at it.
Congrats Lil Wanye.
MAN WAYNE IS DA BEST FUK ALL DA HATTAZ THEY JUST WISH THEY WAS WEEZY HE BEEN N DA GAME TO LONG TO BE NUMBA 2 WAYNE QUOTE (2 IS NOT A WINNER AND NO ONE REMBERS 3RD)
MAN WAYNE IS DA BEST FUK ALL DA HATTAZ THEY JUST WISH THEY WAS WEEZY HE BEEN N DA GAME TO LONG TO BE NUMBA 2 WAYNE QUOTE (2 IS NOT A WINNER AND NO ONE REMBERS 3RD)
Lil Wayne…the facts are there…1 million copies in a week…some can say oh he is garbage…others like me support him…no im a downloader…lol but he is my favorite rapper because of his quality and quantity…after hearing all his interviews..he says music is his life…now everyone think about what ur best at…the feelign its gets u…his is music…he’s been doin it since age 11…so he’s been ‘training’ and putting the necessary work in…i got tha carter 3…some songs i like some not so much..but he is indeed an artist and he inspires me to step my game up in every aspect of my life..i mean even if you call him garbage…he is stacks of millions of dollars richer than you will probably ever be…it seems natural to hate..i myself find myself wanting to hate…but then i applaude him and congratulate…if i could be as good in something as he is in rap…Bravo Dwayne Michael Carter
hey he is so hot… mmmmmm….mmmmmm.mmmm!!!!!!
BTW.. weezy was bootlegged 2 weeks before the debut and everyone including the radio stations where playing all his songs. Usually that would be back, but could have worked out in his favor since ALL the songs on the album are banana’s.
weezy for prez if he doesn’t go to jail..lol
Lil wayne is a good rapper talented in his own way of being a lyrical genius hes what’s hot out now but to call him the best would be an obscure gesture i call absurd he’s at a point in his carreer that anything he says will get people hype and they’ll say its hot where if another rapper said the same like he wouldnt be considered so great.. its all about the swagger but cant hate on the man hes doing his thing
I think this is a great acheivement for Lil Wayne, and some may say his lyrics are crude, in which in some songs they are, but he’s the hottest rapper right now point blank. I think if you listen to some of the analogies they are spectactular. You can’t hate the player,hate the game.
I’m hearing from industry people that Cash Money bought a few hundred thousand records of Lil Wayne’s. How you gonna go from 238,000 units your 1st week of your last record to 1 million this time? Somethin fishy goin on…
ey he is one of my favorite singers i lov him