Metallica Scores Third Week Atop Billboard 200

METALLICA SCORES THIRD WEEK ATOP BILLBOARD 200:

October 1, 2008

Despite a 61% drop in sales, Metallica’s “Death Magnetic” holds tight at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 for a third week. The Warner Bros. set moved 132,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it only the second album this year to claim three straight weeks in the penthouse. Jack Johnson’s “Sleep Through the Static” achieved the same in February.

The hard rock set edges out budding Disney star Demi Lovato’s debut album, “Don’t Forget,” which bows at No. 2 with 89,000. The singer is featured prominently in the TV movie “Camp Rock” alongside the Jonas Brothers.

Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman” (Def Jam) slips 2-3 with 83,000, a 67% sales decrease. Starting at No. 4 with 79,000 is the Pussycat Dolls’ sophomore Interscope set, “Doll Domination.” Their 2005 debut, “PCD,” peaked at No. 5 but has gone on to sell 2.9 million copies in the U.S. The new album is led by the top 10 Hot 100 hit “When I Grow Up.”

Nashville rockers Kings Of Leon enjoy their best charting and sales week yet, as “Only by the Night” (RCA) starts at No. 5 with 74,000. Their previous best came with 2007’s “Because of the Times,” which opened at No. 25 with 41,000. As reported Monday, Kings Of Leon is No. 1 on both the U.K. album and singles charts.

With the help of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 single “Need U Bad,” Jazmine Sullivan’s debut “Fearless” enters at No. 6 with 66,000. The J Records album also crowns the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally.

A week shy of a year on the chart, Kid Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus” (Top Dog/Atlantic) drops 4-7 with a 5% decline to 60,000 copies.

Joe returns to The Billboard 200 with his first album since departing Jive, “Joe Thomas, New Man!” (Kedar), at No. 8 with 54,000.

Young Jeezy’s “The Recession” (Def Jam) falls 6-9 with 41,000, a 32% sales decline, while the Jonas Brothers’ Hollywood set “A Little Bit Longer” re-enters the top tier 11-10 with 36,000 (-12%).

In a week with 16 new titles in the top 50, TV On The Radio’s “Dear Science” (Interscope) debuts at No. 12 with 34,000, both career bests. Jackson Browne’s “Time the Conquerer” (Inside Recordings, No. 20, 25,000), Cold War Kids’ “Loyalty to Loyalty” (Downtown, No. 21 with 22,000), Jenny Lewis’ “Acid Tongue” (Warner Bros., No. 24 with 21,000) and David Gilmour’s “Live in Gdansk” (Columbia, No. 26 with 19,000) are also new on the chart.

At 6.45 million units, sales this week are down 6.8% from last week’s sum and down a whopping 28.8% from the same week last year.

Courtesy of www.billboard.com