Lorde’s new album ‘Virgin’ enters Billboard chart at No. 2
Lorde’s latest album, “Virgin,” made an impressive debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album garnered 71,000 album-equivalent units, with a significant contribution from strong vinyl sales. In the first week alone, “Virgin” sold 31,000 copies on vinyl, marking Lorde’s best performance in this format to date. Fans had the option to choose from eight different vinyl variants, including signed editions. When combined with digital and CD sales, the album sold a total of 41,000 copies, making up more than half of the overall unit total.
While “Virgin” claimed the number one spot on the album sales chart, it landed at No. 6 on the streaming chart. The album’s tracks received 37.07 million on-demand streams, equivalent to 29,000 streaming equivalent albums (SEA) units. This performance represented an improvement over Lorde’s previous album, “Solar Power,” which debuted in 2021 with 56,000 units and entered the chart at No. 5. Notably, “Virgin” garnered higher on-demand streams than its predecessor, surpassing 28.38 million streams. The album also outsold “Solar Power,” which moved 34,000 copies across all formats during its debut week.
Unlike “Solar Power,” Lorde released a CD edition of “Virgin,” sparking discussions among fans due to its transparent design. The album cover featured an X-ray image of the singer’s pelvic region, a theme that carried over to the CD itself. While the design received praise, some listeners encountered issues with playability on different systems. Despite the increase in unit sales, Lorde faced tough competition from Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem,” which maintained its dominance at No. 1 on the chart.
The Billboard chart also welcomed two new entries in the top 10, including Katseye’s “Beautiful Chaos” at No. 4 with 44,000 equivalent album units, and Russ’ “Wild” at No. 10 with 32,000 units. These albums, like Lorde’s, saw strong sales contributions compared to streaming sources. Physical sales played a significant role in Playboi Carti’s “Music,” which climbed from No. 28 to No. 8 after the release of a vinyl edition.
The soundtrack to the Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” experienced a notable rise on the chart, moving from No. 8 to No. 3 in its second week, with 62,000 units sold. Despite high streaming numbers, the album’s success was primarily driven by streaming services, attracting 77.42 million on-demand streams. Other albums that maintained their positions included Karol G’s “Tropicoqueta,” SZA’s “SOS,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short ‘n Sweet.”
Overall, Lorde’s “Virgin” marked a successful entry into the music scene, capturing attention with its unique vinyl offerings and thought-provoking cover design. While facing strong competition, the album’s sales performance reflects the artist’s continued appeal and ability to resonate with audiences across various formats and platforms.