Lady Gaga’s latest album, “Chromatica,” has topped this week’s Billboard album chart — the latest laurel in a long career comeback, and an affirmation of Lady Gaga’s superstar status amid the pandemic.
“Chromatica” has become Lady Gaga’s sixth No. 1 album, with the equivalent of 274,000 sales in the United States, according to data from Nielsen Music. That is the biggest opening-week number for a female artist so far this year. (Releases by the Weeknd, Eminem and the K-pop group BTS all sold more in their first weeks out.)
Initially set for release in April, and delayed seven weeks by the pandemic, “Chromatica” has been one of the most anticipated albums of the year, a return to the dance-pop that made her a star, following the disappointing reception to her 2013 album “Artpop.” Since then, she has made a duets album with Tony Bennett and a reflective solo album (“Joanne”); played the Super Bowl halftime show; and starred in the hit movie “A Star Is Born.” A six-date stadium tour is on the books for this summer, although, like most tours nowadays, it is unclear whether it will go forward as planned.
“Chromatica” had 87 million streams and moved 205,000 copies as a complete package, helped by an array of deals that bundled copies of the album with sales of merchandise and concert tickets. Target also sold a CD version containing extra tracks.
Also this week, Jimmy Buffett’s “Life on the Flip Side” opened at No. 2 with the equivalent of 75,000 sales. Lil Baby’s “My Turn” is No. 3, and Gunna’s “Wunna,” last week’s top seller, fell to No. 4. Future’s “High Off Life” is No. 5.
Source: Music - nytimes.com
