Scotty McCreery debuts at #1 on Billboard 200, sells nearly 200K

Scotty McCreery sold 197,000 copies of his debut album ‘Clear As Day’ last week, landing him at #1 on the Billboard 200. He is the youngest act to open at #1 with their first release. He is also the first American Idol

winner since Ruben Studdard in 2003 to open at #1 with their initial album.

Congratulations Scotty! Baby lock them doors, we have a star!

Scotty just beat Kris Allen (80,000), Lee DeWyze (39,000) and Jordin Sparks’ (119,000) debut numbers on the chart after they won the show. Will Scotty sell a million copies? Or is this it?

From Billboard:

“American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery makes history as his debut album, “Clear as Day,” bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 197,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

McCreery is the first country act to debut at No. 1 with their first studio album, and at 18-years old, the youngest man to open at the top of the chart with their debut release.

Previously, the youngest male to bow at No. 1 with their premiere album was Omarion, who was 20 when “O” started at No. 1 in 2005.

Scotty McCreery Talks ‘Clear As Day’: Video Track-By-Track

Surprisingly, McCreery, who turned 18 on Sunday (Oct. 9), is also the first “Idol” winner since 2003 to hit No. 1 with their first studio set.

New 'Idol' Scotty beating Lauren on charts too

via today.msnbc.msn.com

Lauren Alaina may have lost out to Scotty McCreery for the title of the next "American Idol." But she's ready to go another round on the charts.
So how does she measure up to her Idol rival?
"Like My Mother Does," the first single from the spunky 16-year-old runner-up, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Digital Albums and Country Albums Chart and No. 11 on the Digital Songs chart after its release to country radio and online last week.
"Mother," which also landed at No. 20 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart, has racked up sales of 121,204 units — the highest debut for a second-place Idol finalist in six years.
"This is so awesome!" Alaina said in a statement. "'American Idol' has changed my life, so I'm excited that the songs I performed on there are doing so well. I can't believe that I have a song out on country radio, much less that so many stations started playing it right away. I can't wait to get out and meet everybody and thank them personally for playing my song."
"Like My Mother Does," which Lauren also performed on the May 24 finale, still wasn't good enough to top Scotty, however, who won this rematch handily.
By comparison, the 17-year-old crooner's first post-Idol single, "I Love You This Big," has sold 171,404 units since hitting the charts a week after he was declared this season's champ thanks to a record 122.4 million votes. The tune also bested Alaina's on the Hot 100 chart, snagging the No. 11 spot, and came in at No. 32 on the Country Songs chart — the best debut for a new artist's first single since Jan. 20, 1990, per Billboard. It also reached No. 1 on iTunes.
But Lauren can take heart: a compilation of the Southern belle's performances from the hit Fox talent show called American Idol Season 10: Lauren Alaina, is currently ranked No. 9 on the Digital Albums and Country Albums charts with sales of 10,651 units.
Alaina heads back into the studio this week in Nashville to record her official debut album.
As for appearances, Lauren is scheduled to be a presenter at Wednesday's CMT Music Awards. She'll then make her concert debut at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday before joining the American Idols Live Tour kicking off July 6 in Salt Lake City.
We wish her good luck.

Scotty McCreery Digital Download Sales: Impressive!

Scotty McCreery is off to a solid start at the latest American Idol champion.

A compilation of studio performances by the country crooner has been downloaded 23,000 since the season 10 finale, landing Scotty at number-12 on the Billboard chart.

How does this compare with other famous Idols?

Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze moved only moved 2,000 downloads in the same time frame, while Kris Allen settled at 10,000. His season's runner-up, Adam Lambert, sold 16,000.

As for Lauren Alaina? She also outperformed Kris and Lee with her digital set: it debuted at #42 on sales of 11,000.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

via thehollywoodgossip.com

Scotty McCreery Makes Historic Start At Country Chart

via billboard.com

After winning the 10th season of "American Idol" Wednesday (May 25), Scotty McCreery blasts onto Billboard's Nielsen BDS-based Country Songs chart at No. 32 with coronation track "I Love You This Big."

McCreery performed the song after hearing host Ryan Seacrest announce his victory on "Idol."

Did Lee DeWyze Snub Scotty McCreery, American Idol?

via thehollywoodgossip.com

Did Lee DeWyze snub the show last night? Sort of.

Typically, the previous winner ends up on the stage to congratulate the new champ and hand him/her a trophy. But DeWyze was seated in the fifth row at the finale, and Ryan Seacrest never even mentioned his name.

What happened? According to producer Nigel Lythgoe, DeWyze refused to be a good sport. The producer Tweeted today: "I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn't present the winners trophy to Scotty. Especially as he's been on the show this Season. I guess he was shy."

But the season nine title holder says it's the opposite: he was never asked to participate!

"I was not asked to be involved in the Finale," Lee wrote in response. "It wasn't until about 2 minutes before they announced that Nigel had approached me and asked if he could "borrow" me for a second. I didnt feel a last second jump on stage was appropriate. It was Scotty's moment."

True. But it's Lythgoe's show.