This week the industry will see three big releases from Lana Del Rey, Sam Smith, and Linkin Park. This is a monumental week because all three artists are expected to sell over 100k which is rare.

As of now, Lana Del Rey is on the top of the heap with expected sales to reach 175k. Lana Del Rey is at the peak of her career and has definitely captured the public’s curiosity. Her “sad melancholic sexual songs” along with her carefully crafted Instagram videos have done well for her.

Smith could move over 150,000 with his debut album or higher. His single “Stay With Me,” has sold 697,000 downloads so far, and moved 167,000 in the week ending June 8th.

Linkin Park’s stands at 100,000 to 125,000. This band is one of the few rock acts that can still burn up the charts with a new record.

via Showbiz 411

Mariah Carey has proven to be the most elusive chanteuse. Her latest album, “Me I Am Mariah, The Elusive Chanteuse” has crashed and burned. Fast. Despite great reviews, “Me I am Mariah” is now number 157 on iTunes and 75 amazon.com. It was released on May 27th, just two and a half weeks ago. Saleswise, the album has sold a paltry 75,000 copies through this past Sunday and probably not too many more after that.

The failure of “Me I Am Mariah” should be a lesson for everyone in her age group and generation still recording and releasing music. Jennifer Lopez should be watching all of this very carefully. Carey took off five years after her last album, and even that CD was not a smash hit. Carey’s last real hit album was “The Emancipation of Mimi” in 2005.

But “Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel” (2009) had no hit singles and was already signalling that Carey had aged out of the hit pop radio market. “Memoirs” sold only 550,000 copies, a far cry from its predecessors.

Now Carey faces a total write off of “Me I Am” unless DefJam can figure out a way to resuscitate it. But even electric shock paddles may not be enough. Mariah needs to drop the Diva act (including campy stuff like being photographed on the subway in a tight fitting ball gown). Her best bet is a knock out, heart string pulling video for the George Michael gospel song “One More Try,” or something witty and self-parodying for the upbeat “Thirsty.”

UNITED KINGDOM

1. Mr. Probz, “Waves – Robin Schulz Radio Edit” (Ultra / Sony Music Entertainment Netherlands B.V.)

2. Sam Smith, “Stay With Me” (Capitol Records Ltd.)

3. Calvin Harris, “Summer” (Columbia Records)

4. Iggy Azalea, “Fancy” (Virgin EMI Records)

5. Clean Bandit, “Rather Be feat. Jess Glynne” (Warner Music UK Limited)

6. Ed Sheeran, “Sing” (Atlantic Records)

7. John Legend, “All of Me” (Columbia Records)

8. Jason Derulo, “Wiggle (feat. Snoop Dogg)” (Warner Bros. Records)

9. Coldplay, “A Sky Full Of Stars” (Parlophone UK)

10. Kiesza, “Hideaway” (Lokal Legend/Universal Music Ltd.)

via Showbiz 411

What happened to rap? It’s off the charts with two minor exceptions: a sluggish new album from 50 Cent, and an oldish album at the bottom of the charts by SchoolBoyQ.

What’s in? Pop, Pop R&B, white kids, black kids who sound white. Led Zeppelin reisssued its first three albums from 196-1972. They are all in the new top 40 albums and sold a total more than 60,000 copies total. Yikes.

Is rock back? Heavy rock too?

Not selling: Mariah Carey’s “Me I Am Mariah” and Michael Jackson’s “Xscape.” The latter at least had a couple of good weeks. Mariah’s CD, with great reviews and terrific tracks, has gone nowhere.

Country albums take four of the top 10 spots this week: Miranda Lambert is number 1, followed by Brantley Gilbert and Lucy Hale. A country compilation, “Now Country 7,” is also in the top 10. CONTINUE READING