After hitting the top 40 on the Billboard 200 last month with its EP "Continued Silence," rock band Imagine Dragons is on its way to the top five of the Billboard 200 with its first full length set, "Night Visions."
Industry sources suggest that the album may sell between 60,000 to 70,000 copies by week's end on Sept. 9. The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Imagine Dragons Chat With Billboard
"Night Visions" is led by the hit single "It's Time," which reached No. 4 on the Alternative Songs chart in June. The tune has gained some high-profile placements in the trailer for the film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and will be covered in the first episode of the new season of "Glee" (Sept. 13).
Meanwhile, Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae is on his way to a career-high week. His sixth studio album, "Gravity," looks like it will become his first top 10 set. Those in the know think it might move around 60,000 to 70,000 -- easily his best sales week yet. The artist has never sold more than 28,000 of any album in a single week (according to Nielsen SoundScan), nor gone any higher than No. 15 on the Billboard (with "Rehab: The Overdose" in 2011).
As for next week's No. 1 slot, Matchbox Twenty should easily claim its first chart-topper with "North." Sources are saying the effort will sell near 110,000.
Matchbox Twenty Q&A: 'We Had This No-Fear Rule'
On Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart (below), Matchbox Twenty is No. 1 while Imagine Dragons and Lecrae are Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking -- reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week as reported by six major merchants.
As for the rest of the Building chart's top 10: Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" is No. 4, the "Now 43" album rests at No. 5 and Maroon 5's "Overexposed" is No. 6. Trey Songz's "Chapter V," fun.'s "Some Nights" and the Lumineers' self-titled album are in the Nos. 7-9 slots. Rounding out the top 10 is Two Door Cinema Club's new "Beacon."
Nielsen SoundScan Building ChartThe Building Chart reflects the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week (which ends Sunday) as reported by six major merchants: iTunes, Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates that they make up about 85% of all U.S. album sales.