The Weeknd’s ‘Dawn FM’ Returns To No.1 On Top Album Sales, Sets Vinyl Record
‘Dawn FM’ had the largest sales week for an R&B album on vinyl since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991.
Billboard has reported that The Weeknd’s Dawn FM re-entered Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated May 14) at No.1 following the album’s release on vinyl, cassette, and in boxed set configurations on April 29.
It’s the album’s second nonconsecutive week atop the chart; it first reached No.1 on the February 12 dated chart, after the CD was released.
Dawn FM sold 44,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending May 5 (up 2,284%) according to Luminate. Of that sum, nearly 34,000 were vinyl LPs—marking the largest sales week for an R&B album on vinyl since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. (R&B albums are defined as those that have hit Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart.) Previously, Prince’s Welcome 2 America had the largest sales week on vinyl for an R&B album in the Luminate era, with 22,000 sold in its first week (chart dated Aug. 14, 2021).
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales.
Last month, The Weeknd recruited Canadian dance producer Kaytranada to remix his song, “Out Of Time.” The original version of “Out Of Time” is featured on Dawn FM, which has amassed over two billion streams globally including 160 million for “Out Of Time.” The new single bundle includes an instrumental version and radio edit of the single.
Last month, The Weeknd became one of seven artists who received “Titanium Awards” from iHeartMedia. These artists are among an elite few who have reached a threshold of one billion total audience spins across iHeartRadio stations for their hit songs in 2021.
The Weeknd received the award for for “Save Your Tears.” Other ‘Titanium’ artists were Doja Cat with “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA; Lil Nas X with “Montero (Call Me By Your Name);” The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber with “Stay;” and Olivia Rodrigo with “good 4 u.”
