Justin Timberlake Hits #1 With Big Vinyl Sales: Comment from Music Biz President James Donio

James Donio, President of the Music Business Association (Music Biz), commented on this week’s sales numbers issued by Nielsen (published by Billboard – albums, singles) and BuzzAngle Music (published by HITS Daily Double).

“Following his hugely watched halftime performance at Super Bowl LII, Justin Timberlake has rocketed to the top of the Nielsen and BuzzAngle Music charts with his new album, Man of the Woods. The record moved over 293,000 album equivalent units, the biggest week since Taylor Swift’s Reputation debuted in December 2017. Timberlake also racked up around 15,000 in vinyl sales, the most in a week since LCD Soundsystem’s American Dream debuted in September 2017 and enough to make him the format’s second-best-selling solo male artist since 1991, trailing only vinyl pioneer Jack White. The Now 23 compilation also debuted in the Top 10 this week, reaching #10 on both charts and becoming the 69th title in the series (including genre-specific spinoffs) to reach the Top 10.

“Over on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Drake continued his reign at #1 with ‘God’s Plan,’ which becomes the first song ever to count over 75 million U.S. streams in three different weeks. In addition, three new tracks cracks the Top 10, including Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd’s ‘Pray for Me’ at #7, Migos’ ‘Stir Fry’ at #8, and Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Meant to Be’ at #9.

“Next week, we’ll see whether Timberlake can hold onto the #1 spot in the face of competition from Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther soundtrack.”