Even though Radiohead released In Rainbows online via the "pay what you want" model in October, the album still topped the Top 200 album charts during it's first week on shelves.The album sold over 122,00 units. Oddly enough, it is reported that about 25% of the album's first week sales were digital downloads.
Though 122,000 units sold is good opening week for a record, it is safe to say that by releasing the album on January 1, there was little to no competition for the #1 spot. Alicia Keys' album, As I Am, came out in November has already sold over 3 million units and sold another 112,00 during the first week of 2008. Radiohead squeaked by Alicia Keys by approximately 10,000 records.
Radiohead's 2003 album, Hail To the Thief, sold over 300,000 copies in it's first week on shelves.
In Rainbows prematurely entered the top 200 chart a week early at #156 due to "street date violations." Apparently, more places than Circuit City in Cary put the album on shelves early but unlike Circuit City, other retailers were actually selling the record.
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