NEWSMadonna Edges Out Lionel Richie on Billboard Charts for Number One Spot?
April 4 2012, Published 10:58 a.m. ET
It's beginning to feel a lot more like 1987 than 2012 but that's A-okay! In a war this week for the numero uno spot on the Billboard charts, Madonna was going neck and neck with an unlikely competitor — Lionel Richie!
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According to The New York Post, Lionel's album 'Tuskegee' looked like it was going to beat out Madonna's 'MDNA.' His album showcases duets with country stars ranging from Shania Twain to Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. Considering the Material Girl's past five albums have all made their debut in the number one spot, that would have been quite a feat for Lionel!
Alas, 'twas not meant to be, as Madge reigned surpreme in all her glory! Perhaps it was the savvy promotional campaign with Ticketmaster that gave her the edge. Fans received a copy of 'MDNA' when they bought a ticket to her Material Girl U.S. tour and each copy was tallied in her album sales.
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An industry insider told the newspaper, "It's not a free album. While the public may view it as free, it's actually bundled into the price of the ticket."
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'MDNA' sold 359,000 copies in its debut, including the promotional copies. 'Tuskegee' raked in 199,000 album sales — Lionel's best start ever! So, looks like it was a win-win situation after all.
