Although Doja Cat’s ‘Paint The Town Red’, the lead single from her latest LP ‘Scarlet’, tops the Hot 100 for a second week thanks to its radio dominance (53 million impressions last week, according to Billboard), the parent album failed to break into the top three of the albums chart.
“Scarlet” debuted at number 4 with the equivalent of 72,000 albums sold in the United States, a rather underwhelming showing considering there weren’t any other comparable major releases on the updated list. Many expected the album to have a fair shot at a higher position, given Doja’s prime-time slot at the MTV Video Music Awards and her performance on the Victoria’s Secret World Tour, but others were quick to point out the album’s shaky rollout: the singer was heavily criticised in the months leading up to Scarlet’s release, after downplaying her previous records and taking jabs at her fans in now-deleted posts.
Doja has yet to land a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, although her previous LP, ‘Planet Her’, debuted at No. 2 in 2021 with an impressive 109,000 units sold. It was prevented from reaching the top by Tyler, the Creator’s blockbuster ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’.
The only other new album to enter the top 10 of the albums chart is Zach Bryan’s five-track ‘Boys of Faith’ at number 8. Following a No. 1 debut with his self-titled release, which currently sits at No. 5 on the list, “Boys of Faith” enters with 43,500 album units sold and 50 million audio and video streams.
Florida-born trap-soul rapper Rod Wave is at number 1 for a second week following the chart-topping debut of his fifth studio LP ‘Nostalgia’. He earned 88,000 equivalent album units in the week ending 28 September, with the majority of that coming from the 124 million streams of the set’s 18 tracks.
Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts’ follows closely behind with 87,500 units and Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing at a Time’ returns to the top 3 at number 3 with 73,000 units. SZA’s ‘SOS’ is at number 6 and Travis Scott’s ‘Utopia’ is at number 7, while Peso Pluma’s ‘Génesis’ completes the top 10 at number 9 alongside Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ at number 10.
The singles chart remains largely unchanged from last week: SZA’s ‘Snooze’ now sits at number 2 with a new Hot 100 peak of 73 million airplay impressions; Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ is at number 3; Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ is at number 4; and Zach Bryan’s ‘I Remember Everything’ featuring Kacey Musgraves holds its position at number 5.
Wallen’s ‘Last Night’ is at number 6 after spending 16 weeks at number 1, the most ever for a non-collaboration; Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ is at number 7; and Gunna’s ‘Fukumean’ moves up just one slot to number 8. Last but not least, Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ re-enters the top 10 at number 9 and Dua Lipa’s ‘Dance the Night’ is at number 10.
