Kesha's 'Rainbow' Heading for No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Kesha is heading for a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart with her new release, Rainbow. Industry forecasters suggest the set -- which was released on Aug. 11 through Kemosabe/RCA Records -- could earn between 100,000 and 120,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 17.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the new Sept. 2-dated Billboard 200 chart (where Kesha will debut) is scheduled to be revealed on Billboard’s websites on Sunday, Aug. 20.

If Rainbow starts at No. 1, it will mark Kesha’s second leader on the tally, following her debut effort, Animal, which opened atop the list in January of 2010. She’s since notched three more entries on the tally: the Cannibal EP (No. 15 in 2010), the remix album I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You To Dance (No. 26; 2011) and Warrior (No. 6; 2012).

Rainbow has already seen four of its songs hit the Billboard Hot 100, including the top 40-charting “Praying.” The track hits a new peak on the Aug. 26-dated Hot 100, rising 32-24, surpassing its initial peak of No. 25 (when it debuted on the July 29 chart).

Rainbow might be the only debut inside next week’s top 10, as the next highest arrival could be rapper Moneybagg Yo’s Federal 3x. The set may start with around 15,000 to 20,000 units outside the top 10.
Source: Billboard