As posted on Billboard.com”It’s official: Fox TV’s breakout hit series Empire crashes in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as its soundtrack debuts atop the list after a battle was brewing between it and Madonna’s new Rebel Heart album.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
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The Empire soundtrack was released March 10 through Columbia Records and bows with 130,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music. It’s the first TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 since 2010, when three different Glee albums arrived atop the list. (Both Empire and Glee air on Fox TV.)
Madonna’s Rebel Heart, also issued on March 10, starts in the No. 2 slot with 121,000 units. The Live Nation/Interscope Records release is Madonna’s 21st top 10 album.
The rest of the new Billboard 200 chart’s top 10 will be revealed on Wednesday, March 18.
A week ago, industry forecasters were projecting that there was a race for No. 1 between the titles, with some giving the edge to the multi-artist Empire soundtrack. What’s especially notable is that Empire wasn’t even initially a contender for No. 1. When talking to Billboard about Empire’s performance over the past week or so, multiple sources have used phrases like “huge surprise,” “has really blown up” and “how an album can change…!”
A week before the album was released, label sources were forecasting the album’s first-week unit total to be in the 25,000 range. That forecast quickly rose to around 125,000 on March 11, the day after it went on sale. (Much like the show’s blockbuster TV ratings — which grew tremendously on a weekly basis — the album’s forecast quickly grew past expectations.)
As for Madonna’s Rebel Heart, it too was aiming for a 125,000 start on March 11.
By Friday, March 13, industry forecasters continued to say that either Empire or Rebel Heart could come out on top. As the final numbers show, Rebel Heart’s performance slowed down a bit, while Empire galloped ahead of its forecast.
Empire features contributions from its newcomer cast, like Jussie Smollett, as well as hitmakers like Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Estelle, Rita Ora, Juicy J and Courtney Love (all of which have acted on the show). Empire stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
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