Kris Allen's self-titled debut album dropped at No. 11 on The Billboard 200 album sales chart after selling only 80,000 copies during its initial week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan data for the week ending November 22.
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The American Idol eighth-season champ's first-week debut album sales are the lowest of any Idol champ -- a dubious distinction previously held by sixth-season winner Jordin Sparks, whose self-titled debut sold 119,000 copies and dropped at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 in its first week of release in November 2007.
Prior to Sparks, third-season winner Fantasia Barrino's "Free Yourself" debut had the lowest first-week debut album sales when in debuted at No. 8 and sold 240,000 copies when it was released in November 2004.
Allen inked a recording contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records a few weeks after he won Idol's eighth-season crown. He is only the second Idol champ to sign with Jive, following in the footsteps of Sparks.
John Mayer's "Battle Studies" topped The Billboard 200 this week by 286,000 after selling copies in its first week of release, followed by Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas" (185,000), Norah Jones' "The Fall" (180,000), Casting Crowns' "Until the Whole World Hears" (167,000), and 50 Cent's "Before I Self Destruct" (160,000).
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Rounding out the Top 10 on The Billboard 200 were Justin Bieber's "My World" (137,000), Michael Jackson's "This Is It" (96,000), the New Moon film soundtrack (93,000), fourth-season Idol champ Carrie Underwood's "Play On" (86,000), and Taylor Swift's "Fearless" (84,000).
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio