Apple Inc. iTunes Store Cashes on BEYONCE’ Visual Album Shot in Sydney
"BEYONCE'", a self-titled album, made history as it became the fastest selling album on the iTunes Store worldwide as officially announced by Apple Inc on Dec 16, 2013.
The album acquired an unprecedented 828,773 albums sold in just three days.
"BEYONCE'" is Beyonce's fifth solo studio album which was made available exclusively worldwide on the iTunes Store on December 13 by Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records.
This is her first visual album infused with 14 new songs and 17 visually stunning, provocative videos shot around the world from Houston to New York City to Paris, and Sydney to Rio de Janeiro, all before the album's release.
Beyonce' had personally posted the album's trailer on her official Instagram account, surprising her fans as the album came with practically no hints and no explicit publicity. From this, the only publicity made for the album was from fans spreading the trailer through various social media platforms.
According to Billboard.com, "BEYONCE'" had broken the one-week iTunes record of Taylor Swift's "Red" which sold $465,000 on Oct 28, 2012. "BEYONCE'" also became the largest sales week in 2013 for a woman since Taylor Swift's "Red" with a debut sales of 1.2 million in October of 2012.
However, Billboard.com noted that "The music industry tracks weekly sales on a Monday through Sunday basis, hence why Beyonce's feat is being measured after only three days on sale. 'Red' had seven days of sales in its first tracking week, as it was released on Monday, Oct. 22."
"BEYONCE'" also became the second-largest digital sales week overall including all digital retailers. It landed at number two next to Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' which sold 662,000 during its first week.
"BEYONCE'" is forecasted to land at number one on the Billboard 200 chart for this week. And if this happens, this is going to be her fifth consecutive time being at number one. The Billboard 200's number one will be officially announced come mid-week.
The self-titled album is also predicted to surpass her highest weekly-selling record album "B'Day" which sold 541,000 in 2006.