‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

The Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 123,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Feb. 16, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 72,000 were in traditional album sales. The set was released through Universal Studios/Republic Records on Feb. 10.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new March 4, 2017-dated chart (where Fifty Shades Darker debuts at No. 1) will be posted in full to Billboard’s websites on Wednesday, Feb. 22 (one day later than normal due to the President’s Day holiday on Feb. 20).

Fifty Shades Darker is the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, which saw its companion soundtrack debut and peak at No. 2 on the chart dated Feb. 28, 2015. The new set is the first soundtrack to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since the Suicide Squadalbum spent two weeks atop the lists dated Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, 2016.

The Fifty Shades Darker album was led by the hit single “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” by Zayn and Taylor Swift. Other acts contributing music to the effort include Sia, Halsey, Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj. The film Fifty Shades Darker was released in theaters on the same day its soundtrack reached retailers.

At No. 2 on the new Billboard 200, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic rises 7-2 with 66,000 units and a 108 percent gain, following his two performances on the Grammy Awards (Feb. 12). The album sold 36,000 copies during the tracking frame — up 137 percent. On the Grammys, Mars sang 24K Magic’s current single “That’s What I Like,” and contributed to a segment celebrating Prince, by covering his “Let’s Go Crazy.”

24K Magic has now spent three nonconsecutive weeks in the runner-up slot — its peak. It debuted at No. 2 on the list dated Dec. 10, 2016, and then returned to No. 2 on the Jan. 7, 2017 tally. The album has yet to leave the top 10 since debuting on the tally 13 weeks ago.

Big Sean’s I Decided. falls from No. 1 to No. 3 in its second week, with 62,000 units (down 59 percent). Migos’ former No. 1, Culture, slips down one rung to No. 4 with 59,000 units (down 14 percent).

The Weeknd’s Starboy holds at No. 5 — though it’s up 15 percent — with 54,000 units. The Weeknd performed a mash-up of two Starboy songs on the Grammy Awards: the title track and “I Feel It Coming,” both alongside Daft Punk.

Adele’s 25, which won the Grammy Award for album of the year, zooms from No. 21 to No. 6 with 47,000 units (up 137 percent). The former No. 1 sold another 30,000 copies in the latest tracking week, gaining 238 percent. Adele also opened the Grammy Awards with a performance of the album’s lead single, “Hello.”

The Trolls soundtrack vaults 14-7 with 44,000 units (up 79 percent) and 32,000 sold (up 110 percent). The set benefits from promotion associated with the film’s release on home video on Feb. 7.

Beyoncé’s Lemonade flies from No. 33 to No. 9, following the diva’s elaborate performance of the set’s “Love Drought” and “Sandcastles” on the Grammy Awards. Lemonade earned another 38,000 units (up 190 percent), selling 29,000 copies (up 241 percent). The album won the Grammy for best urban contemporary album, while its video for the song “Formation” won the best music video trophy.

Rounding out the top 10 is the soundtrack to La La Land, which ascends one position to No. 10 with 33,000 units (up 33 percent).