Selena Gomez’s new studio album Rare is aiming for a possible No. 1 debut on next week’s Billboard 200 chart, according to industry forecasters. Those in the know suggest the pop star’s latest effort, which was released on Jan. 10 via Interscope Records, may launch atop the tally dated Jan. 25 with between 110,000 to 130,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 16.
Meanwhile, the current No. 1 champ, Roddy Ricch’s Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, has a chance of holding on to the top slot for a third nonconsecutive week. As of Jan. 14, prognosticators indicate the rapper’s album could tally upwards of 110,000 units — or more. The album is riding high thanks in large part to its single “The Box.” The track is a supersized hit, having just jumped to No. 1 on the current Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (dated Jan. 18), with the biggest streaming week for a non-Christmas song since last August.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the Jan. 25-dated Billboard 200 chart is scheduled to be revealed on Billboard’s websites on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Rare is Gomez’s first album since 2015’s Revival, which bowed at No. 1 with 117,000 equivalent album units earned in its first week, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It marked her second leader, following 2013’s Stars Dance.
Rare was led by the songs “Lose You to Love Me” and “Look at Her Now.” The former became her first No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart, vaulting 15-1 on the list dated Nov. 9, 2019. On the current Hot 100, the track sits at No. 10. Meanwhile, on the latest Pop Songs airplay chart, which ranks the most played songs at top 40-formatted radio stations, “Lose” rises 3-2.
Elsewhere in next week’s Billboard 200 top 10, look for Moneybagg Yo’s new Time Served to make a top 10 debut, possibly bowing with around 50,000 units earned.