Under the MistletoeWho's Number One: Justin Bieber, who just had the most trying, drama-filled week of his young career, received some welcome news as his Under the Mistletoe scored the top spot on the Billboard 200. Bieb's Christmas disc cruised to Number One, selling 210,000 copies in its first week on shelves according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard points out that Mistletoe is only the eighth Xmas album in the charts 55-year history to land at Number One. Bieber also became the first solo artist to land three chart-topping albums before the age of 18. Mariah Yeater who?
Who's Bummed: Coldplay's diehard fans helped give Mylo Xyloto the third-best debut numbers of 2011, but after the initial rush subsided, there weren't many people left who wanted to pick up the strangely named disc. After topping the charts last week, Mylo tumbled down to Number Seven thanks to a colossal 76 percent sales drop. Also, for the first time since its release, Adele's 21 dropped out of the Top Four and settled into Number Five, even though its sales improved one percent over last week's totals. If you're keeping track at home, 21 sold more copies in its 37th week on shelves than Mylo Xyloto moved in its second week. The album really is a phenomenon. Also bummed: Lou Reed and Metallica as their reviled Lulu ended the week at Number 36.
Debuts: Bieber led the charge, but this week's Top 10 was packed with newbies. Wale's Ambition finished at Number Two with 164,000 copies, a staggering improvement over the 28,000 copies the rapper's Attention Deficit debuted with in 2009. Miranda Lambert's new album Four the Record placed third with 133,000 sold, 1,000 more than the week's Number Four album, Susan Boyle's Someone to Watch Over Me. Florence + The Machines' Ceremonials also cracked six digits (106,000) on its way to Number Six.
With no major releases arriving this week, Bieber should be able to hold on to Number One for a second week, but his reign will end when Drake's Take Care comes November 15th.