Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, has once again captivated the music world with the deluxe edition of her critically acclaimed album, SOS. After months of anticipation and fervent teasing, the R&B artist finally unveiled the new collection of tracks, affectionately nicknamed Lana. While the deluxe edition carries the Lana moniker amongst fans, it’s officially recognized as part of the original SOS album for charting purposes. This strategic decision allows the newly released songs to bolster the already impressive performance of SOS, propelling the album back to the top of several Billboard charts.
The release of the deluxe edition has injected SOS with renewed vigor, sending it skyrocketing back to the summit of multiple Billboard charts. The album reclaimed its No. 1 position on four of the five charts it currently features on, solidifying its reign as a dominant force in the music industry. This resurgence includes a remarkable achievement for SZA – her first-ever No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Streaming Albums chart. This accomplishment signifies the widespread popularity and streaming dominance of SOS in the current music landscape.
The Top Streaming Albums chart, a relatively new addition to Billboard’s array of rankings, having been introduced in late 2023, measures the most streamed albums in the United States. SZA’s ascension to the top spot represents a significant milestone in her career. Just the week prior, SOS was absent from the Top 10 of this chart, highlighting the dramatic impact of the deluxe edition’s release. Interestingly, SZA’s triumph on the chart came at the expense of her friend and collaborator, Kendrick Lamar, whose album GNX slipped from the No. 1 position to No. 5, making way for SZA’s reign. The space between their albums on the chart was occupied by several holiday-themed collections, a predictable surge in popularity during the festive season.
SZA’s remarkable chart performance extends beyond her recent success with SOS. Both of her studio albums, SOS and her debut album Ctrl, have enjoyed extended stays on the Top Streaming Albums chart. SOS, with an impressive 63 weeks on the chart, showcases its enduring appeal and sustained popularity. Ctrl, while having a shorter run of 24 weeks, also demonstrates SZA’s ability to create music that resonates with listeners over time. The longevity of both albums on the chart is a testament to SZA’s artistry and the enduring connection she has forged with her audience.
The commercial impact of the Lana deluxe edition is readily apparent in the remarkable surge in SOS‘s consumption. According to data provided by Luminate, the album experienced a near 300% increase in equivalent units moved following the release of the additional 15 tracks. This translates to a staggering 178,000 equivalent album units moved in the first week of the deluxe edition’s availability. This dramatic increase propelled SOS back to the No. 1 spot on four prominent Billboard charts, underscoring the significant contribution of the new tracks to the album’s overall success.
Beyond the Top Streaming Albums chart, SOS also reigns supreme on the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and Top R&B Albums charts, cementing its dominance across various genres. While it didn’t capture the No. 1 spot on the Top Album Sales chart, the album saw a significant improvement in its ranking, jumping from No. 39 to No. 23. This rise, driven by a combination of streaming and sales, demonstrates the continued commercial viability of the album in a rapidly evolving music market. While streaming played a major role in SOS‘s resurgence, the album also witnessed a respectable increase in pure sales. The album sold an additional 10,000 copies, a 44% increase from the previous week. This sales performance contributed to its improved position on the Top Album Sales chart, demonstrating that despite the dominance of streaming, traditional album sales still hold weight in measuring an album’s overall success.
