Diddy Debuts At Top Of The Billboard Chart!

In our latest Verizon Wireless Access V CAST Music Moment, we find Diddy back on top.

Diddy comes back from a five-year hiatus with a new studio album and the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

His “Press Play” debuted this week in first place with 170,483 albums sold, following a strong publicity blitz and the anticipation over whether he could re-capture the magic (and sales) of his previous musical efforts. While Diddy is a true multi-media mogul with his own record label, fashion line, stint as an actor on Broadway and knack for finding new talent, he hadn’t tested the waters with his own music in a while. No one needed to worry – Diddy’s new release is a hit with the critics and the consumers.

Atlantic Records President Julie Greenwald comments in a press release, “Diddy’s debut at #1 wasn’t a given; he had to go out and earn it. No one works harder than Diddy to turn his amazing visions into reality. It is a dream to have an artist driven by such creative inspiration and commitment to excellence.”

That’s not to say he didn’t get a little help from his friends. “Press Play” boasts a large cast of guest stars, both at the microphone and behind the mixing board, including Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Big Boi, Timbaland, Brandy, Cee-Lo, Ciara, Kanye West, the Neptunes, Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas, and more.

As for the rest of the best:

Evanescence’s “The Open Door” sells 112,430 copies in it’s third week of release, charting in at #2.

The second biggest debut of the week comes from JoJo at #3, with her album “The High Road” selling 108,053 copies.

Justin Timberlake’s “Futuresex/Lovesounds” bounces back this week to climb three spots to the #4 position, while country music sensation Dierks Bentley debuts at #5 with his third studio album, “Long Trip Alone.”

The other debut album to hit the Top 10 this week comes from former ‘American Idol’ Ruben Studdard, who lands at #8 with a disappointing 70,508 copies sold – not quite “The Return” that was expected.

Next week (Halloween!) sees new releases from Clint Black, Flavor Flav, 50 Cent, Oasis, Meat Loaf and The Who.

Below is Billboard’s Top 10 Album chart for the week.

TOP 10 Albums

ARTIST- TITLE -UNITS SOLD

1. DIDDY – Press Play – 170,483
2. EVANESCENCE – The Open Door – 112,430
3. JOJO – The High Road – 108,053
4. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE – FutureSex/LoveSounds – 99,017
5. DIERKS BENTLEY – Long Trip Alone – 82,448
6. ROD STEWART – Still the Same…Great Rock Classics of Our Time – 79,037
7. HINDER – Extreme Behavior – 75,726
8. RUBEN STUDDARD – The Return – 70,501
9. TONY BENNETT – Duets: An American Classic – 67,590
10. THE KILLERS – Sam’s Town – 61,715

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