Radiohead continues their assault on the music charts, as it debuted in the U.S. as the No. 1 album on the pop chart. That follows other No. 1 results in Canada, France, Japan and Britain.
While the numbers weren't huge for the British band, coming in at 122,000 copies sold, for this time of the year it wasn't bad at all. The numbers would have been a little higher, but some retailers released the album before its January 1 launch, and 10,000 copies were sold the week before.
This is Radiohead's second No. 1 album in the U.S., as in 2000 they also claimed the No. 1 spot with "Kid A."
Considering the digital release of the album, offered for whatever fans wanted to pay for it, this is still a great accomplishment for the band.
For the physical album, it is distributed in the U.S. by ATO Records Group, which was co-founded by another rocker, David Matthews.
Back to the album charts, Alicia Keys' "As I Am" stayed in the No. 2 position this week, while "Growing Pains," by Mary Bilge, dropped to No. 3.
The industry continues to stagger, as even after last years' 15 percent decrease in album sales, this year is even behind those disastrous results, already down 3.7 percent at this early stage.
Maybe they need to look more to the creative ways Radiohead has promoted their album.
Related Coverage:
Radiohead set to top UK Charts with "In Rainbows" Physical Album
Radiohead Releasing "In Rainbows" Physical Album December 31
Radiohead After the Hype: How'd they do?
Radiohead Releasing Newest Album as Download Only First
Radiohead Taking Charge of their own Destiny
Radiohead In Rainbows Download Goes Live
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