David Archuleta's self-titled debut album dropped at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 album sales chart after selling 183,000 copies during its initial week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan data for the week ending November 16.

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The American Idol seventh-season runner-up's debut sales numbers were much higher than that of sixth-season runner-up Blake Lewis -- whose debut "Audio Day Dream" which sold 98,000 copies and dropped at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 in its first week of release last December.

Archuleta's first-week debut album sales are the best for an Idol runner-up since fourth-season Idol runner-up Bo Bice in 2005.  Bice's debut album -- "The Real Thing" -- moved 227,000 copies in its first week in December 2005 and debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200.

Clay Aiken's October 2003 debut "Measure of a Man" remains the highest-selling Idol runner-up debut ever.  It moved 613,000 copies and dropped at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.

The 17-year-old Murray, UT native finished second on The Billboard 200 album sales chart behind another teenager -- 18-year-old Taylor Swift, who saw her sophomore effort "Fearless" drop at No. 1 after selling 592,000 in its first week of release.

Archuleta's self-titled debut outsold the 29th volume of "Now That's What I Call Music!," which dropped at No. 3 and sold 172,000 copies in its first week of release.  T-Pain's "Thr33 Ringz" dropped at No. 4 while last week's No. 1 -- the soundtrack from the upcoming Twilight film -- fell to No. 5.

Rounding out The Billboard 200 Top 10 were AC/DC's "Black Ice" at No. 6; the High School Musical 3 soundtrack at No. 7; Enya's "And Winter Came" holiday album at No. 8; Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better" greatest-hits album at No. 9; and T.I.'s "Paper Trail" at No. 10.

Archuleta signed a recording contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records in June -- one week after Idol seventh-season champ David Cook signed a recording contract with 19 Recordings/RCA Records.  Cook's self-titled debut was released on Tuesday.

Archuleta's debut is the best for an Idol alumnus since former third-season finalist Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut dropped at No. 2 after selling 217,000 units during its initial week of release last month.

"Crush" -- the first single from Archuleta's debut -- currently sits at No. 22 on The Billboard Hot 100 single sales chart.  It made its debut at No. 2 on the Hot 100 during its initial week of release in August.


About The Author: Christopher Rocchio

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