Justin Bieber, One Direction top Spotify release week record
Justin Bieber and One Direction might be embroiled in the tween album sales rivalry of the year, but both acts came out ahead on Spotify — Bieber's "Purpose" and 1D's "Made in the A.M." each topped the streaming service's previous record for most streams in first week of release.
Bieber's latest, which is expected to top the latest U.S. album chart, logged 205 million worldwide streams and 77 million domestically. One Direction saw about half that action; the U.K.-based quartet's fifth studio album was streamed 106 million times globally, according to Billboard.
The devoted efforts of the superstars' fan armies led the young men to top the record previously held by the Weeknd, whose "Beauty Behind the Madness" had notched 90 million streams in its first week earlier this year. The album remains a major chart contender.
Bieber and One Direction also made moves on Internet radio hub Pandora. Since their shared release date of Nov. 13, Bieber saw a 23% increase in spins on the service, a 47% jump in station adds and 32% more "thumbs up." One Direction saw an 8% bump in spins, 26% more station adds and an 11% "thumbs up" increase.
Both Bieber and One Direction are expected to appear at the American Music Awards, which will air live Nov. 22 on ABC from Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater.
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