Khalid Debuts at Number 1 with ‘Free Spirit’

Khalid ‘Free Spirit’ Debuts atop Albums Chart

For the first time in his career, Khalid has landed his first number 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. With his third release, Free Spirit, the album finds itself on top. Most noteworthy, the set released earlier this month via Rich Hand/RCA Records, has started with 202,000 equivalent album units earned. Furthermore, according to Nielsen Music, this is the fourth largest week of 2019 for an album. Additionally, of that total, 85,000 units were in traditional album sales. Especially relevant, The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. The rankings are based on multi-metric consumption measured as equivalent album units. Additionally, units are comprised of traditional album sales and streaming equivalent albums.

Khalid and Free Spirit’s start of 202,000 equivalent album units is the fourth-biggest week for an album in 2019. Worth noting, this number is also the largest debut this year for a male solo artist. Albums released in 2019 with larger debuts are Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next with 360,000. Billie Eilish’s When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go with 313,000. Lastly, Backstreet Boys’ DNA with 234,000.

In regard to online presence, of Khalid’s opening week numbers, 111,000 units were streaming equivalent for Free Spirit. This translates to 146.9 million on-demand audio streams for the album’s tracks. Additionally, 85,000 were in album sales, boosted by concert ticket/album sale redemption offer for Khalid’s upcoming tour. Most noteworthy, only 6,000 were in traditional equivalent album units. Additionally, Free Spirit is the first R&B album to reach number 1 in nearly a year. The last album to accomplish this feat was The Weeknd’s My Dear Melancholy EP back in April 2018.

Khalid’s catalog of songs has tallied 4 billion on-demand audio streams. Free Spirit follows Khalid’s 2017 debut album, American Teen, and Suncity from last year. The highest he has peaked is number 4 back in September of 2017. Keep an eye on Khalid, he is here to stay for a while. hairy girl