When 4 Equals 1: Beyonce’s Album Chart Math

Beyoncé has the number 1 album in America this week according to Billboard (since they make the list, I’m sure they’re a fine source). Beyoncé’s album, 4, which is her fourth album (I GET IT NOW!) is number one for the second straight week, selling 115,000 albums, which is down 63% from her debut week. Adele is number 2 with a strong 79,000, Selena Bieber Gomez is number 3. Aldean is number 4 with My Kinda Party, and number 5 is the Eminem side project Bad Meets Evil.

From Billboard: “Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending July 10) totaled 5.34 million units, down 16% compared to the sum last week (6.34 million) and up 2% compared to the comparable sales week of 2010 (5.24 million). Year to date album sales stand at 160.81 million, up 1% compared to the same total at this point last year (159.20 million). It is the seventh week in a row where year-to-date album volume is greater than the same time in the prior year.”