LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Eminem ruled the U.S. pop album chart concerning a fifth week on Wednesday, fending off a strong debut from fellow rapper Rick Ross.
Eminem’s “Recovery” sold 187,000 copies during the week ended July 25, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its total stands at almost 1.7 the multitude.
Ross’ fourth album “Teflon Don” followed at No. 2 with 176,000, ending an unbroken string of No. 1 debuts for his previous releases. His highest set, 2009’s “Deeper Than Rap,” arrived with 158,000.
A week ago industry observers had projected that Ross had a good shot at a No. 1 debut. However, “Recovery” held on strongly with a small 14% weekly sales decline. Chalk that up in part to its opportunity to sell pricing at Target and Best Buy and the continued popularity of its single “Love the Way You Lie.” It reigns atop the Digital Songs chart for a fifth straight week.
Sheryl Crow’s “100 Miles From Memphis” debuted at No. 3 with 55,000 copies. The songster/songwriter’s last effort, “Detours,” debuted and peaked at No. 2 with 92,000 in 2008; she has yet to claim a No. 1 album.
The “Kidz Bop Kids” line continues its profitable run on the Billboard 200 since “Kidz Bop 18″ bounces in at No. 5 by 43,000.
The Jonas Brothers’ soundtrack to their Disney Channel TV series “Jonas L.A.” surfs in at No. 7 by 32,000. The trio’s previous studio album, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” debuted at No. 1 a year ago through 247,000 copies.
As for the rest of the top 10, Drake’s “Thank Me Later” slipped one to No. 4 (47,000); Justin Bieber’session “My World 2.0″ was also down one, to No. 6 (39,000); the “Now 34″ compilation jumped four to No. 8 (27,000); Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” rose two to No. 9 (25,000); and Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” was up three to No. 10 (24,000).
Overall album sales totalled 5.3 million units, up 2% from the previous week and down 15% from the year-ago period. Year-to-date album sales stand at 169.7 million, the floor 12% compared by the same total at this point last year.
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