The Rolling Stones closed 2016 at the top of the Global Albums Chart
after selling another 317,000 copies of their latest LP 'Blue &
Lonesome' released on December 2, 2016. It is the band's first Album to
feature only cover songs, and their first studio release since 2005's 'A
Bigger Bang'. Eric Clapton contributed guitar on two tracks. The album
debuted at No. 1 on the World chart moving 477,000 units, 106,000 of
those in the UK where it also debuted at No. 1, the second-highest
opening sales week for an album in the UK in 2016. In the US, it debuted
at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 album-equivalent units, of
which 120,000 were pure album sales. Last week the Album sold another
318.000 copies globally, second only to J. C Cole's '4 Your Eyes Only'
which debuted at No. 1 on the global chart after selling 417,000 copies!
With this week's sales, in total, 'Blue & Lonesome' has now sold a total
of 1,112,000 units worldwide in its first three weeks since its release!

Pentatonix's 'Christmas' effort reaches a new peak at no.2, driven by a
31,5% sales boost to 238,000 copies!

Bruno Mars' '24k Magic' climbs two slots to no.3 with sales of 216,000.

Adele's '25' re-enters the Global Top 10 at No. 9 after selling another
100,000 units!

"Starboy" was released as the lead single from The Weeknd's third studio
album of the same name on September 22, 2016. The artists co-wrote the
song with Doc McKinney, Jason “Daheala” Quennevhlle and Henry "Cirkut"
Walter. Doc McKinney and Henry "Cirkut" Walter assisted Daft Punk in the
song's production. Lyrically, "Starboy" incorporates themes of the
extravagance associated with a celebrity lifestyle, as well as
discussing how the celebrity lifestyle can make an entertainer fragile.

The Mannequin Challenge's 'Black Beatles' by Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci
Mane, remains for a second week at no. 2.

At No. 3 is Bruno Mars' '24k Magic'.

'Futari Saison' by Keyakizaka 46, their second global Top 10 smash,
debuts at no.4, this week's highest debut on the chart.

'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey shoots from no.27 to
no.13 with the largest increase for the 2nd week!

The Rolling Stones began their career in 1962 and became one of the
best-selling Music Bands in history. Fifty four years later they are
still one of the world's most successful Acts. Their 23rd British Album
'Blue & Lonesome' debuts at no.1 on the Global Album Chart after selling
a whopping 477,000 copies, 120,000 of it in the United States, 18,600 in
Canada (according to Nielsen Soundscan), 104,600 in United Kingdom
(according to OCC), 70,000 in Germany (according to GfK), 24,500 in
Japan (according to Oricon) and 15,000 in Australia (according to ARIA).
'Blue & Lonesome' is the Stones' first studio release since 2005's 'A
Bigger Bang', which also went to No.1 in 2005 selling around 2,5 million
copies to date.
'The Hamilton Mixtape', an album which featured assorted songs from the
2015 Broadway musical 'Hamilton', debuts at No. 2 with 176,000 sales,
169,000 of which in the United States.
'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct', Metallica's new album and the most
successful LP of this year's holiday season, ranks at no.3 after selling
another 148,000 sales, and a total of 1,040,000 in just three weeks.

"Starboy" by The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk has been at No. 2 on the
Global Track Chart for 7 weeks. Last week it sipped from No. 2 to No. 3,
but this
week "Starboy" shoots to No.1, thanks to the massive first week sales
of the 'Starboy' Album. It's the second No. 1 smash for the Canadian
R&B Superstar, after "Can't Feel My Face" topped the chart for 3 weeks
in August 2015. And for the French-House legend, Daft Punk, it's the
third no.1 global smash, after 'Get Lucky' in 2013 with top producer
Pharrell Williams and "Stronger" in 2007 with US rapper Kanye West.

"Starboy" was released as the lead single from The Weeknd's third studio
album of the same name on September 22, 2016. The artists co-wrote the
song with Doc McKinney, Jason “Daheala” Quenneville and Henry "Cirkut"
Walter. Doc McKinney and Henry "Cirkut" Walter assisted Daft Punk in the
song's production. Lyrically, "Starboy" incorporates themes of the
extravagance associated with a celebrity lifestyle, as well as
discussing how the celebrity lifestyle can make an entertainer fragile.

The song reached number one in Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand,
Norway, Mexico and Sweden, while also going top ten in various
countries, including Australia, and the United Kingdom. In the United
States, "Starboy" peaked at number 2, behind The Chainsmokers' "Closer"
for five weeks and Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles" for an additional week
on the Billboard Hot 100. The single opened at number 22 on the Digital
Songs chart with 28,000 downloads, and opened at number 37, following
its first week of airplay on the Radio Songs chart, equating to about 36
million plays in total. The song also became Daft Punk's second top 40
entry. The following week, "Starboy" jumped 37 positions to reach number
three, becoming The Weeknd's fifth top 10 single and Daft Punk's second.
It has so far peaked at number two. It sold 88,000 copies in its second
week, and 92,000 in its third week. As of December 2, 2016, it has sold
741,000 copies in the US!

In New Zealand, the single debuted at number five, which was followed by
two consecutive weeks at number 2 before moving to number one on the
chart for the week of October 24, 2016. This marks The Weeknd's second
number one single, as well as Daft Punk's first number one single in the
country.

Meanwhile on the year end chart, "Can't Stop The Feeling!" by Justin
Timberlake finally overtakes Drake.

The Chainsmokers' "Closer" feat. Halsey is No. 4.