New reggae albums slipping out of Billboard Top 10
NEW 2010 releases are not remaining in the top 10 of the Billboard Reggae Albums, whilst aged albums hover effortlessly.
Six of the eight new albums that entered top 10 since January were either booted or trending down. Bob Marley and the Wailers Dub 1 debuted at one but quickly slipped out of the top 10 within two weeks. Crucial Times by Sizzla Kalonji debuted at five then bailed out the top 10 within two weeks. Now and Forever by Sanchez debuted at 10 but didn’t last another week in the top 10. Guy With A Guitar by Mishka peaked at four then dropped to 14 the following week.
Albums trending out the top 10 include Escape From Babylon To The Kingdom of Zion by Alborosie which debuted last week at six, now at seven. Harder Shade Of Black, a compilation of various Artists debuted at eight this week. The two albums which have shown some measure of resilience include The Green by The Green Band, currently at three having debuted four weeks ago; and Bring Back The Days by Rebel Souljahz spent 10 weeks in top 10 peaking at four.
Light by Matisyahu currently tops the chart with B for Bob by Bob Marley and the Wailers at two, both albums were released 27 and 36 weeks ago respectively. Seventy per cent of the albums on Billboard’s Reggae Albums Top 10 are older than six months. There is actually an album on the charts for one-year and a half (74 weeks) — Greatest Hits by UB40. Music stakeholders have previously complained that Billboard charts were not reflecting the full talent of the industry and that it was also being restricted by major reggae labels.