The main thing eluding Mariah Carey this week is paying customers.
“Me. I am Mariah … The Elusive Chanteuse” sold just 57,000 copies in its first week, according to an industry insider. It will open at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Official numbers will be released on Wednesday.
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The album hit stores on May 27; Nielsen SoundScan counts the week through Sunday.
SoundScan began in 1991, so the tracking system was not around when Mariah’s debut album was released in 1990. However, since 1991, this effort represents Carey’s lowest debut.
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“Beautiful” was released as the lead single on May 7, 2013, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 24. It ultimately made it to No. 15, marking Carey’s 33rd Top 20 single.
“Me. I Am Mariah … The Elusive Chanteuse” has received generally favorable reviews. The project had been in production for years and the release date was pushed back several times.