http://www.billboard.com/news/alan-jack ... 6752.story
Country king Alan Jackson debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with his latest effort, "Thirty Miles West." The set sold 73,000 in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album is his first for EMI Nashville after more than 20 years with his previous (and only) record label, Arista Nashville.
"Thirty" gives Jackson an even dozen top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. He was last in the top 10 with 2010's "Freight Train," which debuted and peaked at No. 7 with 72,000.
On the Top Country Albums chart, "Thirty" bows at No. 1 -- his 13th leader on the tally.
Back on the Billboard 200, Adele's "21" returns to No. 1 for a 24th week, selling 75,000 (up 30%). The set is basking in the glow of the singer's NBC TV special, "Adele Live in London," which aired on June 3. "21" holds the most frames at No. 1 since Prince & the Revolution's "Purple Rain" soundtrack also spent 24 weeks atop the list in 1984 and 1985. Only eight albums -- including "21" -- have ruled for at least 24 weeks.
"21" has never left the top 10 in its entire 68-week chart run, dropping only as low as No. 7 on the Dec. 10, 2011, chart. It debuted at No. 1 on the March 12, 2011, tally.
At No. 3, the Beach Boys notch its highest charting album since 1974 as "That's Why God Made the Radio" debuts with 61,000. It's the group's highest-debut ever, and best rank since 1974's "Endless Summer" greatest hits set hit No. 1. In terms of studio albums, "That's Why God Made the Radio" is its highest-ranked since 1965's "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" reached No. 2. "That's Why God Made the Radio" is the group's 14th top 10 album overall, and first since 1976's "Big Ones" (No. 8).
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"That's Why God Made the Radio" is the band's 29th studio album and was released as part of the group's 50th anniversary celebration. Its 61,000 sales start also includes nearly 20,000 copies that were pre-ordered during the band's concert appearance on the QVC shopping network on May 16.
Neil Young grabs his second-highest charting album ever as "Americana" debuts at No. 4 with 44,000. His only other bigger set was 1972's "Harvest," which spent two weeks at No. 1. "Americana," recorded with Crazy Horse, is mostly a collection of folk standards. It saw a portion of its first-week sales come from a concert ticket/album redemption offer, a la Madonna's "MDNA" release earlier this year.
Behind Young this week is rapper Big K.R.I.T. with his debut studio album, "Live From the Underground," starting at No. 5 with 41,000. It also bows at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Rap Albums tally.
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One Direction's "Up All Night" hangs in for a 13th straight week in the top 10, slipping 4-6 with 40,000 (down 4%) while John Mayer's "Born and Raised" falls 1-7 (39,000; down 41%). At No. 8, rapper Curren$y nabs his highest charting set yet, as "The Stoned Immaculate" bows with 36,000.
Rounding out the top 10 are Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" (falling three to No. 9 with 27,000; down 13%) and Brandi Carlile's "Bear Creek" (new at No. 10 with a little over 27,000). It's the best sales week and highest charting album for the latter. Her previous high-water mark came with her last full-length studio set, 2009's "Give Up the Ghost." It debuted and peaked at No. 26 off a 25,000 bow.
Over on the Digital Songs chart, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" continues to hold down the No. 1 slot as it sells another 296,000 downloads (up 4%). Maroon 5's "Payphone" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) stays at No. 2 (235,000; down 8%) while Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" is steady at No. 3 (213,000; down 14%).
Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" makes a big charge up the tally, rising 12-4 with 173,000. Its climb mirrors the song's jump on the Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart (titled Pop Songs on Billboard.com) where it rallies 20-14.
Justin Bieber's "All Around the World" debuts at No. 5, starting with 157,000. The track, which re-teams him with his "Baby" collaborator Ludacris, is the latest pre-release cut from Bieber's "Believe" album, due out June 19. It follows "Boyfriend" and "Die In Your Arms."
Pitbull's "Back in Time" is down one to No. 6 (133,000; down 10%), Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" is also down a rung to No. 7 (132,000; down 9%). One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" rises two slots to No. 8 (125,000; down 3%) and Nicki Minaj's "Starships" holds at No. 9 (120,000; down 11%). Bieber's "Boyfriend" closes out the top 10, falling three places to No. 10, with 115,000 (115,000; down 17%).
Lastly, we have one more chart tidbit about a tally we normally don't write about. On the Hot Singles Sales chart -- which ranks the best-selling physically-released singles of the week -- Michael Jackson's "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" debuts at No. 1 with 5,000 copies. Its CD single was released last week exclusively at Walmart as part of the promotions leading up to the 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's 1987 "Bad" album. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a duet with Siedah Garrett and was the first single from "Bad."
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" gives Jackson his first No. 1 on a Billboard singles sales chart since 2003, when "One More Chance" spent three weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart.
Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending June 10) totaled 5.26 million units, up 5% compared to the sum last week (5.02 million) and down 5% compared to the comparable sales week of 2011 (5.51 million). Year to date album sales stand at 132.96 million, down 3% compared to the same total at this point last year (136.90 million).
Digital track sales this past week totaled 25.32 million downloads, down 1% compared to last week (25.58 million) and up 3% stacked next to the comparable week of 2011 (24.58 million). Year to date track sales are at 622.18 million, up 6% compared to the same total at this point last year (584.96 million).
Next week's Billboard 200 competes with the same week in 2011 when: Bad Meets Evil's "Hell: The Sequel" bowed at No. 1 with 171,000 while Jackie Evancho's "Dream With Me" entered at No. 2 with 161,000
