The Weeknd is set to claim the top spot on the Billboard 200 with My Dear Melancholy,. The surprise six-song EP is on track to earn 150-175,000 units, according to early projections.
Abel Tesfaye’s latest project could also sell 55-65,000 traditional album units, reports HITS Daily Double. Thus, the album is likely to top the Billboard 200 in its first week out.
Projections go beyond The Weeknd. Rich the Kid’s debut The World Is Yours is also on pace to earn 50-60,000 equivalent album units (8-10,000 traditional) in its first week out. The star-studded project features Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and more.
XXXTentacion’s ? topped the Billboard 200 last week. The album opened with 131,000 equivalent album units (20,000 traditional) in its first week availability, despite ongoing controversy.
The Weeknd earned his first No. 1 with 2015’s Beauty Behind the Madness and his second chart-topper with 2016’s Starboy. Both albums remain on the Billboard 200 with the latter at No. 46 and the former at No. 95.
Additionally, The Weeknd scores the largest Spotify debut 2018 with his single “Call Out My Name.” The song was streamed almost 3.5 million times in the first 24 hours its release.
The Starboy will perform his new material for the first time when he headlines Coachella later this month.