It’s official: Daft Punk’s new album “Random Access Memories” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 339,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Random Access Memories,” released on May 21, gives the veteran electronic/dance duo its best sales week ever and first No. 1. The set also notches the second-largest sales week of the year overall. Only the debut of Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience” logged a larger frame so far in 2013, when it began with 968,000 in March.
The full top 10 of the new Billboard 200 will be revealed on Wednesday, May 29. With 339,000 sold, “Random Access Memories” also starts with a more robust sales figure than expected. Industry forecasters had projected a first-week launch of around 300,000 — with a chance at hitting 325,000 if the set performed strongly through its first week. “Random Access Memories” is the act’s fourth studio effort and second top 10 set on the Billboard 200. They had previously gone as high as No. 4 with its soundtrack to “TRON: Legacy” in January of 2011. Their highest-charting studio album had been 2001’s “Discovery,” which peaked at No. 44. Daft Punk’s last studio set, 2005’s “Human After All,” debuted and peaked at No. 98. Notably, in one week, “Random Access Memories” has sold more than twice what the total sales are for “Human After All.” The latter has sold just 125,000 to date. Comparably, Daft Punk’s best selling album is “Discovery,” with 796,000.
Further, “Random Access Memories” is the first dance/electronic album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in more than a year. The last dance/electronic No. 1 was Madonna’s “MDNA” — it debuted atop the April 14, 2012 chart. “Random Access Memories” is led by the single “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams. The song earned Daft Punk its first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, so far peaking at No. 10 last week. The song is also the duo’s biggest airplay hit ever, as it climbed 46-29 on the Radio Songs chart last week.
