So there was no doubt that Taylor Swift”s “Red” was going to come in at No. 1 next week, the only lingering question is how much over 1 million copies will it go?
With a few days left until Nielsen SoundScan closes on Sunday, it looks like “Red” could sell up to 1.25 million copies. That”s 1 million copies over its nearest competitor, Kendrick Lamar”s “Good Kid: M.A.A.D. City.”
That title will sell a very healthy 235,000-245,000 copies, which on almost any other week would land him at No. 1. No so next week. Swift”s feat will make her the first female artist in the 21-year SoundScan era to sell more than 1 million copies of two albums in their opening weeks, according to Billboard.
Three other albums debut in the Top 10: Tony Bennett”s “Viva Duets,” an album of the legend singing his greatest hits with Latin artists, will likely sell up to 35,000 copies to come in at No. 5. Rockers Stone Sour”s “House of Gold & Bones -Part 1” will bow at No. 8, while Lady Antebellum”s holiday album, “On This Winter”s Night,” lands at No. 9, selling between 19,000-22,000. While that”s very commendable, fellow country artist Scotty McCreery came in at No.4 this week with his holiday offering, “Christmas With Scotty,” which sold more than 40,000 this week.
Of the returning albums, this week”s No. 1, Jason Aldean”s “Night Train,” likely drops to No. 3, still selling a strong 145,000. Former No. 1, “Babel,” from Mumford & Sons, lands at No. 4 with sales of up to 60,000. Pink”s “The Truth About Love” hangs in there at No. 6, moving up to 30,000 copies. Brandy”s comeback album, “Two Eleven,” drops to No. 7, while Little Big Town”s “Tornado” will likely be at No. 10. A slight caveat: Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery and Adele”s albums are all too close to call right now for positions 9-12.