This Week in Sales: Breezy Fans Rejoice, “F.A.M.E.” is #1

They'll be parading in the streets of BreezyFansVille today, Chris Brown's new album "F.A.M.E." is number one! Yeah!!! Now allow me to rain, or sprinkle, on their parade. First, 27,000 copies is not exactly massive first week sales. (Five year ago that wouldn't have gotten you a top 100, my how things have changed.)

Second, Let's not forget though that his last album, "Graffiti" also debuted really strongly, then plummeted down the charts. Brown's undoubtedly in a better postion than he was for that album, but he's got an intensely loyal fan base, and intensely loyal fan bases tend to inflate an artists numbers for at least a couple weeks, then the album drops like Dee Bo once those fans have already purchased their five copies. It wasn't until week five that we had to admit . The point is, it's definitely comeback, but we'll have to wait a little while before fully declaring him back.

Top Digital Urban Song Sales (w/ units sold)

1 (2nd overall). Wiz Khalifa - No Sleep (244,4445)
2. (3rd overall) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough (218,884)
3 (4th overall). Rihanna - S&M (165,882)
4 (5th overall). Cee Lo - Fuck You (154,806)
5 (8th overall). Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne (143,132)
6 (10th overall). Chris Brown - Next To You (143,122)
7 (13th overall). Dr. Dre ft. Eminem & Skylar Grey (96,373)
8 (14th overall). Jeremih ft. 50 Cent - Down (96,208)
9 (15th overall). T-Pain ft. Chris Brown - Best Love Song (92,242)
10 (20th overall). Diddy Money - Coming Home (84,127)

The Refined Take:

1) If anything contradicts my pessimism above it's that Brown has three tracks in the top ten. I can't front, that's pretty damn impressive.

2) Wiz Khalifa is officially a superstar. "Black & Yellow" could have been dismissed as a gimmick cut, but having "No Sleep" chart this high as well is a huge sign of his wider appeal, plus "Roll Up" is at number 22. Do we start taking bets now about how well "Rolling Papers" does when it debuts on the charts next week? I've got it knocking "F.A.M.E." out of the top spot by a substantial margin - who disagrees?

3) Bit of a random side note, but Bobby V (who can no longer call himself Bobby Valentino cause an old English jazz musician with that name sued him, seriously) has the number nine album in the country right now completely independently and with no radio promotion. Damn. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm impressed Mr. V.

4) Every week I pray I won't see Kesha's name in the top ten, and every week God ignores my prayers. Why God, why? "Blow"? Really? How could you let this happen?!?

5) This week's Mr. Irrelevant Award, given to the song that sits at the absolute bottom of the charts (the number 200 spot), goes to...Trey Songz' "Love Faces", a song that always reminds me of "Office Space". I chuckle a little bit every time I even see the title.