Ke$ha Takes Out Susan Boyle (Finally!), Claims the #1 Spot
It took six weeks and over 3 million records sold, but Susan Boyle has finally bowed out of the #1 spot. Please welcome your new chart overlord, Ke$ha. Her Animal moved a modest 152,000 copies, good enough to rule an early January slate. In pointed contrast to Boyle's defiantly non-tech savvy audience, a whopping 76% of her sales came from digital downloads--never a good omen for long-term chart dominance, as it suggests a healthy shadow economy in terms of illegal downloads and the like. ![]()
But at least this week, "the complete and painless assimilation of the white female rapper into pop music" has really arrived. Otherwise, it's just dull monotony--the same old Boyle (#2), Lady Gaga (#3), Alicia Keys (#4), and Mary J. Blige (#5) holiday hangover. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is at #6 (44,000), to give you an idea. At least Gucci Mane finally broke the 200,000 record barrier this week--with cumulative sales of 203,200, he's at #37. Further proof that it's never never a good idea to go to jail in a month you have an album out, I guess. [Billboard]


























