Keys Well Ahead Of Dion In Race For No. 1

November 14, 2007, 6:50 PM ET

Keith Caulfield, L.A. - Billboard.com

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/articl...t_id=1003673043

 

Alicia Keys is poised to earn her fourth consecutive No. 1 on The Billboard 200 as her new J album, "As I Am," is tops on Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, released today (Nov. 14).

 

If "As I Am" does bow at No. 1, Keys will become only the third act to see their first four albums debut atop The Billboard 200. Britney Spears did it with her first four releases between 1999 and 2003, while DMX's first five albums all started at No. 1 between 1998 and 2003.

 

Unweighted sales for "As I Am" through the close of business Tuesday (Nov. 13) from the Building Chart's panel of reporters stood at 160,000.

 

Billboard estimates that the merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Circuit City, iTunes, Border's, Target, Anderson Merchandisers, and Handleman Co. -- represent 79% of the U.S. retail market.

 

Keys' last release, 2005's "Unplugged," bowed at No. 1 with 196,000. Her first two studio albums, 2001's "Songs in A Minor" and 2003's "The Diary of Alicia Keys," also started at No. 1 with 236,000 and 618,000 units, respectively.

 

 

On the Wednesday Building Chart, Celine Dion's new "Taking Chances" (Epic) was in third place with 58,000, while Josh Groban's Christmas set, "Noel" (143/Reprise/Warner Bros.), showed continued strength at No. 2 (67,000). Two other new albums were among the top 10 sellers: the "Now 26" compilation and Led Zeppelin's hits set "Mothership" (Atlantic).

 

Keys is also outpacing Dion in terms of blog buzz, according to Nielsen BuzzMetrics.

 

How nice for Alicia :)

I was pretty sure Alcia will gain the top spot, hope Celine get good sales after all. :)

 

Thanks for posting

Alicia has more appeal with the nowaday Teens. Celine's more contemporary,

Exactly, plus her single was more popular than Celine's Taking Chances, cause the song wasn't played on pop stations.

Exac. I don't see Alicia selling out major stadiums like Celine does. I general Celine has a bigger fanbase. Worldwide that is.

Yeah I totally agree, I think the album will be more successful in Europe, The US are into R&B/Rap at the moment so it was obvious who will gain the #1 spot.

Europe has far better taste in Music I say. :yahoo: No offense to Alicia who is fab.

:lol: I like Alicia, but not as much as I love Celine :wub: :wub: :wub:

Another example is Anastacia. They really don't know what to do with her in the US. In Europe she was loved straight away. More artistic freedom over here I guess.

Anastacia is amazing, one of the best voices out there. :wub: :wub:

If Celine can reach top 3 with her album I'll be well pleased.

I really hope her sales increase a bit, it's predicted to be around 250K in the US, that will be a bit disappointing as A New Day Has Come has started with 550K & One Heart was 432K

its a different sound so they have to get used to it i guess. i hope it will grow on peeps after seeing stuff on telly.

I really hope so, the album is beyond amazing :wub:

i dont mind alicia keys bit i wudnt buy her material,i know she is big in america ,but celine is holding her owm i think with over 20 year sin the music business she is holding up quite well.

 

i agree europe has far better music taste,kylie and anastacia are great example of doing so well in europe and not so great in america although kylie has had a few hits there and 2 big enough albums,i dont know how anastacia has done in america.

 

celine is doing well in america and uk and i iwll know its chart position for ireland tomorrow where i think she will debut high enough and possibly higher than the spice girls

Great foor Alicia.

Big fan here :D Even though Celine is great aswell :D

:o OMG Alicia isn't even half as good as Celine, But as Suus said Alicia appeals more to teens. I was listening to Celine's Taking Chances in college the other and I was getting weird looks off people in my class as they we listening to the younger singers :lol:

Edited November 16, 200717 yr by *ProudAnaFan*

I have good hopes for celine doing well in Ireland as the concert sold out like that yesterday. I have high expectations.

I really hope so :)