The Bieb's comeback record will likely start at No. 1 next week with 525,000 units, while the boyband's fifth studio effort is aiming for the No. 2 spot with 475,000 units.
- Nov 17, 2015
AceShowbiz - It looks like Justin Bieber is winning the tight race against One Direction for the No. 1 spot on Billboard 200. The industry forecasters have predicted that his "Purpose" will likely open atop the chart next week with 525,000 equivalent album units.
With around 450,000 in pure album sales, "Purpose" is expected to give Bieber his biggest sales week yet, surpassing the 374,000 start of the Canadian superstar's 2012 set "Believe", according to Nielsen Music.
Meanwhile, One Direction's last album before they take a lengthy break, "Made in the A.M.", is aiming for the runner-up slot with 475,000 units including 400,000-425,000 in traditional album sales. However, anything can happen as there are still a few days left before the tracking week ends on November 19.
Billboard notes that if the predictions are true, next week will be the first time in six years that two albums sell more than 400,000 each in a single week. Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" and Alicia Keys' "The Element of Freedom" were the last records to do so. Back in late 2009, the former had a fourth week at No. 1 with 661,000 while the latter debuted at No. 2 with 417,000.
The last time two albums started on the list with more than 400,000 sold was in September 2007, when Kanye West' "Graduation" and 50 Cent's "Curtis" opened at No. 1 and No. 2 with 957,000 and 691,000 respectively.
