Josh Groban’s “Noel,” released on October 9, sets a new
record on The Billboard 200, becoming the first Christmas album to top the
chart for four straight weeks. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album sold
in 669,000 copies in the week ended December 16, in the U.S., a 15 percent
increase from last week’s sum, beating out Elvis Presley’s 1957 LP “Elvis’
Christmas Album.”
Billboard reports that, “Noel” has topped this way the “High
School Musical 2” soundtrack as 2007’s top-selling album, with total sales of
2.77 million copies.
"It would be the first time a No. 1 album has
increased four weeks in a row. It's been a slow year, but that doesn't take
anything away from the fact that he has amassed huge numbers," says Billboard's
Geoff Mayfield, according to the USA Today.
Second place on Top 10 belongs to Alicia Keys with “As I Am”
for the second week, with 292,000 sold copies, a 24 percent sales hike,
Billboard.com reports.
The Eagles’ “Long Road Out Of Eden” follows on three with
241,000, while the multi-label 26th addition to the “New That’s What
I Call Music!” hits compilation stays on No. 4 with 191,000.
At No. 5, with 180,000 copies sold, we find Mannheim
Steamroller’s “Christmas Song,” which surprisingly doubled its sales the
previous week.
Rounding out the Top 10 are “High School Musical 2” soundtrack
on six, “Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus,” Miley Cyrus on seven, “Taylor
Swift,” Taylor Swift on eight, “Carnival Ride,” Carrie Underwood on nine and
last, on ten “The Ultimate Hits,” Garth Brooks.
According to Billboard, sales are down 23.1 percent this
week compared to the same week of last year, (23.39 percent), although this
week’s sales are up 24.4 percent from last week.
