While Beyonce’s self-titled album slides out of the No 1 slot on the Billboard 200 chart this week, its sales continue to grow at a rapid rate.
In just four weeks on the chart, ‘Beyonce’, released on December 13, has now outsold the diva’s last album, ‘4’, which bowed on June 28, 2011.
‘Beyonce’ sold 130,000 copies in the week ending January 5, 2014, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That brings its cumulative sales sum up to 1.43 million — hopping over the total of ‘4’, which stands at 1.39 million.
The latter album debuted at No 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 310,000 in its first week. It then held at No 1 for a second frame, selling 115,000. In its third and fourth weeks, it moved 72,000 and 53,000, respectively.
To compare, ‘Beyonce’ debuted at No 1 with 617,000 in its first chart week (which actually reflected only its first three days of sales), and then moved 374,000 and 310,000 in its second and third weeks at No 1.
Beyonce’s three previous studio albums, ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’ (released in 2008), ‘B’Day’ (2006) and ‘Dangerously In Love’ (2003), all hit No 1, and have sold 3.12 million, 3.36 million and 4.91 million, respectively.
