October 18, 2007

Kid Rock's Jesus Overpowers Bruce Springsteen's Magic On Billboard Chart

By Chris Harris (MTV.com)

Last week, it was all about the Boss. But this week, the Kid rules the roost.

For the first time in his nearly 17-year career, Kid Rock has a record at the top of the Billboard albums sales chart, as his Rock N Roll Jesus sold more than 172,000 copies during its first week in stores, summarily dethroning Bruce Springsteen's Magic, which drops the Boss' latest to No. 2, according to the latest SoundScan totals. Rock's previous releases came close, but never hit No. 1: 2003's Kid Rock bowed at No. 8 with 188,500 scans, while 2001's Cocky opened at No. 7 with 222,900 sold. Back in 2000, The History of Rock coasted to a No. #2 debut, with 456,500 units snatched up.

While it might be hard to believe, given the success he's had in the past, Rock N Roll Jesus is the Kid's first LP to open at No. 1. Harder to believe, perhaps, is how Jennifer Lopez's latest, Brave, fared on next week's top 200.

Before this week, none of J. Lo's previous releases had ever bowed lower than No. 10. Her first offering, 1999's On the 6, debuted at No. 8 with 111,500 scans, while 2001's J. Lo entered at No. 1, selling 272,000-plus units. Then, 2002's J to Tha L-O!: The Remixes followed suit, opening at No. 1 with sales reported at 156,000, and in that same year, This Is Me ... Then debuted at No. 6, with 314,000 sold. In 2005, Rebirth claimed the chart's No. 2 spot with 260,900 sold, and Como Ama una Mujer, which was released earlier this year, opened at No. 10 with 48,000 copies flying off store shelves.

Unfortunately for Lopez, Brave becomes her first studio LP to debut outside the top 10, finishing the week with sales of 52,600 - which lands the offering at No. 12.