History was made this week in the digital downloads charts, as for the first time ever outside of the Christmas season, all of the top three singles sold more than 300,000 downloads. But the fight for the top spot was still a tight one. See what songs won out below:
FIGHTING FOR THAT TOP SPOT
Lorde's "Royals" finally found its way to the top of the charts, jumping from no. 3 last week to no. 1 this week, totaling 307,000 downloads. Similarly, Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" took a slight fall from no. 1 to no. 3, selling just more than 301,000 singles. Katy Perry stayed put at no. 2 with "Roar," selling 301,000-and-change. For all three breaking 300k, the overall range of just 7,000 between no. 1 and no. 3 is impressive. The gap between Perry and Cyrus was less than 1 percent.
Typically, these type of singles sales are biggest post-Christmas, due to high volumes of iTunes cards being given as gifts.
Lorde's single sales could either grow further, or possibly take a big hit due to her album "Pure Heroine" debuting this week.
WHAT'S NEW
Although last week's charts were barren of new singles, two. made it this week.
Perry was the definite sales champ, as her new single "Dark Horse" joined "Roar" on the charts, debuting at no. 4 with 194,000 downloads. Fellow pop icon Britney Spears came in at no. 6 with "Work B**ch!"
The numbers have to be more promising for Perry. Although "Dark Horse" has a long way to go to catch "Roar's" sales total, debut singles tend to see increases in their second week. If it can even halve what "Roar" has done -- topping the chart for four straight weeks -- Perry will be the name to beat in 2013. Spears' numbers were respectable, but 174,000 still pales in comparison to what the songstress is used to. Her last single, "Hold It Against Me," sold 411,000 downloads during week one in 2011.
HIP-HOP NEEDS A NEW HIT
The last three spots on the Top 10 this week were occupied by the representatives from hip-hop.
Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" stayed put at no. 8, and although it's resilient it hasn't shown signs of heading toward the top-half of the chart. The new music video for the song, released this week, might push the song's downloads total up.
The genre's biggest names might be exiting the Top 10 soon, as both Eminem's "Berzerk" and Jay Z's "Holy Grail" lost three spots, settling at nos. 9 and 10, respectively. Hip-hop does have a mole in on of this week's biggest sellers however: Juicy J holds down a guest spot in Perry's "Dark Horse."
STILL HERE
Avicii placed at no. 5 with his hit "Wake Me Up!" as his album "True" debuted at no. 5 on the Billboard 200 as well.
Lady Gaga's "Applause" continues to stick around, selling another 160,000 and placing at no. 7. Perry's "Roar" debuted the same week as "Applause," and the songstress just entered a second single. Could a new song be on the way from Gaga soon?
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