One Direction’s third album Midnight Memories has hit the top spot and become the fastest selling album of 2013.
According to Official Charts Company (OCC) data, the record sold more than 237,000 during its first week of release beating first week sales for their previous albums 2011’s Up All Night (139,000 copies week one) and 2012’s Take Me Home (155,000 copies).
The record also became the fastest selling album of 2013, passing previous top seller Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories which shifted 165,000 units during its opening week.
Martin Talbot, OCC’s chief executive, said: ‘It is a fantastic first week for One Direction, whose album is not just the fastest seller of the year - but is also the first artist title to sell more than 200,000 copies in a week since Michael Buble‘s Christmas album in December, 2011.
‘The success really does send a signal that the festive season is almost with us - and means 1D are now real contenders to claim the biggest album of the year.’
Elsewhere Gary Barlow’s latest solo album Since I Saw You Last landed at number two in the album charts. The Take That singer songwriter achieved 116,000 sales this week.
According to Official Charts Company (OCC) data, the record sold more than 237,000 during its first week of release beating first week sales for their previous albums 2011’s Up All Night (139,000 copies week one) and 2012’s Take Me Home (155,000 copies).
The record also became the fastest selling album of 2013, passing previous top seller Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories which shifted 165,000 units during its opening week.
Martin Talbot, OCC’s chief executive, said: ‘It is a fantastic first week for One Direction, whose album is not just the fastest seller of the year - but is also the first artist title to sell more than 200,000 copies in a week since Michael Buble‘s Christmas album in December, 2011.
‘The success really does send a signal that the festive season is almost with us - and means 1D are now real contenders to claim the biggest album of the year.’
Elsewhere Gary Barlow’s latest solo album Since I Saw You Last landed at number two in the album charts. The Take That singer songwriter achieved 116,000 sales this week.
