Pearl Jam On Track To Top Billboard 200

McJuicy

Pearl Jam On Track To Top Billboard 200
September 23, 2009 - Retail

By Keith Caulfield, L.A.

Pearl Jam is on course to nab its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart in 13 years. Industry prognosticators suggest the band's new "Backspacer," released on Sunday (Sept. 20), could sell anywhere between 175,000 to 200,000 copies by week's end. That sales figure should easily place it ahead of the competition on next week's Billboard 200 chart.

The new album -- its first not with a major label -- is sold exclusively in the United States through Target, iTunes, Pearl Jam's Web site and independent retailers.

The group's last studio release, 2006's self-titled J Records set, bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 279,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan in its first week. The band last graced the No. 1 slot way back in 1996, when "No Code" became its third chart-topper when it debuted in the penthouse.

Since "No Code," the group has notched three No. 2 albums ("Yield," "Binaural" and "Pearl Jam") and a No. 5 set with "Riot Act" in 2002.

Other albums looking to enter high on the Billboard 200 chart next week include Three Days Grace's "Life Stars Now," Five Finger Death Punch's "War is the Answer," David Gray's "Draw the Line" and Mika's "The Boy Who Knew Too Much."

source: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_ ... aab0b95b23

Ledbetterman10

McJuicy wrote:

Since "No Code," the group has notched three No. 2 albums ("Yield,".............

Damn you Celine Dion!!

UpSideDown

only competition out there is Jay-z ....sold 298,000 last week, but should drop quite a bit

yield2me

UpSideDown wrote:

only competition out there is Jay-z ....sold 298,000 last week, but should drop quite a bit

yeah by next week Jay-Z will slide down considerably. Rap albums typically don't have staying power. I think we're looking at a #1 Pearl Jam album again folks!

mookieblalock

never thought I'd see the day again...

Gardenparty

Congrats to PJ! Can't help but notice they are still on pace to sell almost 100K less in the first week than S/T.

Just picked a really weak week.

But with no label, it's still quite a feat to be #1

pjfanman

Gardenparty wrote:

Congrats to PJ! Can't help but notice they are still on pace to sell almost 100K less in the first week than S/T.

Just picked a really weak week.

But with no label, it's still quite a feat to be #1

Think this is because it is based on one day of sales (it was released on a Sunday instead of the previous Tuesday of that week which is when albums are normally released). I think that if it was a normal release date, they would have sold a lot more copies because it would be a 6 or 7 day sales cycle.

Smellyman

Backspacer less then s/t? Interesting....since I think Backspacer is twice the album.

Is it due to less stores selling it?
s/t is better?

and how do they track sales anyway?

Adm. Glen Scotia

Smellyman wrote:

Backspacer less then s/t? Interesting....since I think Backspacer is twice the album.

Is it due to less stores selling it?
s/t is better?

and how do they track sales anyway?

I think Backspacer is better, too, but I can't see why that would be any reason why it would sell more records in the first week. There's been less promotion and they have an unconventional distribution plan. There's no way for buyers to spontaneously decide to buy an album when they haven't yet found out it's good. I hope the quality of Backspacer will lead to longevity, but they'll have to keep promoting it and releasing singles, something I don't expect them to do.

I'm actually amazed it's on track to sell so many. Good on them!

igotid88

Smellyman wrote:

Backspacer less then s/t? Interesting....since I think Backspacer is twice the album.

Is it due to less stores selling it?
s/t is better?

and how do they track sales anyway?

Soundscan.

igotid88

I did my part and bought my copies. Hope you bought one too. I wasn't so worried about first week sales. I wanna know how long it will stay on the charts.