The contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top Advertising sign charts and the strategies behind their efforts. Next week (for next Billboard 200 dated July 6), a good friend and collaborator of Taylor Swift is in close proximity to her Department of Tormented Poets reign.
Gracie Abrams, Our secret (Slideshow): The latest artist to seemingly make the leap in 2024 from cult star to pop star appears to be singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. After peaking at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 album chart with his highly anticipated 2023 debut LP Good riddance and earning a Best New Artist nomination at this year's Grammys, Abrams made her unaccompanied solo debut on the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 49) a few weeks ago with her long-teased single “Close to You.” Now, he's set to claim the week's top debut on the Billboard 200 with a second set Our secret.
With “Close to You” still performing well on the DSPs — charting in the top 100 on both Spotify and Apple Music's daily charts — Secret is expected to ensure a solid streaming debut. But its performance on next week's Billboard 200 and its ability to give Taylor Swift's nine-week No. 1 Department of Tormented Poets A run for its money will be largely dictated by its sales numbers. To that end, Abrams released seven vinyl variants of the set, all on different colored vinyl – two of which were signed and exclusive to her online store, and one of which was exclusive to Target, with an alternate cover. (She's also released the set on CD and discounted its digital release for $5 at her online store.)
The particularly coincidental part of Abrams' groundbreaking LP paired with Swift's blockbuster is that not only is Abrams a tour promoter for (and good friend of) the reigning pop superstar, but Swift herself is on the album — the two singer-songwriters co-wrote Secret“Us,” with Swift also providing vocals on the track. Unsurprisingly, “Us” is also leading the pack in streaming services – although it's still outperforming across the board in DSPs by Poets cuts like “Fortnight” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart”.
taylor swift, Department of Tormented Poets (Democracy): Meanwhile, Swift's blockbuster continues to pull in six-figure units on a weekly basis — most recently earning 126,000 units for its ninth week at No. 1, according to Luminate. That's a remarkable total for an album that's set to reach double digits in weeks of availability, and while the set is slowing on the DSPs – only two tracks from it remain in the 50-spot Streaming Songs chart this week – it remains a solid seller.
And Swift still has cards to play there. She had two more CD variants up for pre-order in her store a few weeks ago that could hit this week or a week after – and they're due to ship before early July. Each contains the standard 16-song list, plus a bonus acoustic track (one has an acoustic version of “Fresh Out the Slammer” and one an acoustic version of “Fortnight”). If this week's (or next week's) matchup ends up being close, sending these sets could ultimately make the difference.
Peso Pluma, Exodus (Double P Records): One of the biggest launches of 2023 – and the rookie pop star of the year – Peso Pluma returns with his second album, the double-disc set Exodus. The first disc has mostly Peso's signature corridos tumbados with returning collaborators like Eslabon Armado, Gabito Ballisteros and Natanael Cano, while the second disc has heavier trap and EDM influences and new collaborators like Cardi B, Quavo and Anita. The set is currently out of physical release, so the vast majority of its performance will have to be streaming-based – which should certainly be aided by its 24-track length – but with no sign of any major success yet . Exodus may be fighting an uphill battle Poets the Secret this week.
IN THE MIX
Ariana Grande, Eternal sunshine (Democracy): Do not forget it Swift's partnerwhose Eternal sunshine The set was the first beat among the blockbusters of 2024. The album is likely to climb the Billboard 200 this week, thanks in part to recent extra promotion for new single “The Boy Is Mine” — including a new music video co-starring TV star Penn Badgley and a remix of frontrunners Brandy and Monica's 'The Boy Is Mine' – and also because of a signed limited edition CD, available through her website, which was released during the follow-up week for the 200 this next week.
Kehlani, Conflict (Atlantic): After returning to the Hot 100 for the first time in two years with the single “After Hours,” Kehlani revealed her full news Conflict series. The album is a little light on big names – Jill Scott, Young Miko and Omah Lay are the only guests – but is available for purchase on seven vinyl variants and three CDs (including a deluxe signed poster package). and attracts mostly strong reviews That's enough.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/gracie-abrams-secret-of-us-taylor-swift-billboard-200-number-one-1235718346/