Inside Music with Melinda Newman

Susan Boyle, Taylor Swift battle it out as 2009's top seller

How is Alicia Keys album selling this week?

By Melinda Newman Friday, Dec 18, 2009 3:45 PM

Susan Boyle

Credit: AP Photo

You wouldn’t think that Susan Boyle and Taylor Swift have much common, but the two are duking it out as the top seller of 2009. Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” is the CD that just keeps on selling. It will handily top next week’s chart with predicted sales of up to 650,000. For those who are counting, that means U.S. sales of more than 2 million in only four weeks. Racking up those numbers puts “Dream” second only to Swift’s “Fearless” as top seller of the year.

Traditionally, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is huge for album sales as people cash in those gift cards. Hits Daily Double projects that both titles will surpass the 3 million mark by the end of the year.

Returning to next week’s chart, Andrea Bocelli comfortably continues in the No. 2 spot as “My Christmas” is slated to sell around 400,000 copies. The Italian singer will likely top Alicia Keys’ “The Element of Freedom,” which will sell up to 390,000 copies, which would normally be enough to come in at No. 1 free and clear.

The rest of the chart reflects artists whose sales are increasing as shoppers flock to the stores. Swift will sell around 270,000 making one of her best sales weeks of the year—more than a year after the release of “Fearless.” Fellow Nashville thrush Carrie Underwood continues to sell well, as do Michael Buble and Lady GaGa. Look for Michael Jackson’s “This is It” to return to the top 10 as a prime stocking stuffer.