Michael Jackson, R. Kelly Debut Big as Ciara, Kandi Struggle on Chart

Michael Jackson and R. Kelly’s fans delivered them early Christmas gifts. The music superstars both made impressive debuts on this week’s albums chart, while Ciara and Kandi failed to make a big splash.

Amidst controversy, the King of Pop’s posthumous album Michael had the biggest debut of the week on the Billboard 200, coming in at No. 3 with 228,000 copies, behind Taylor Swift and Susan Boyle, who claim the top two spots. According to Billboard, it marks Jackson’s ninth solo album to reach the top 10 following This Is It (373,000), which debuted at No. 1 last year.

R. Kelly’s Love Letter was warmly received. The Pied Piper’s soulful album enters at No. 6 with 154,000, giving him his 13th top 10 disc. Last year’s Untitled came in at No. 4 with 114,000.

After much delay, Diddy-Dirty Money’s Last Train to Paris pulls into the No. 7 spot with 101,000. Comparatively, his last project Press Play debuted at No. 1 in 2006 with 170,000 units sold.

Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday retains its hold on the top 10 for a fourth week, moving two spots to No. 8 (97,000).

The Christmas blues set in further down the chart as Tank’s Now or Never arrives at No. 35 (44,000), Ciara’s Basic Instinct lands at No. 44 (37,000), and “Real Housewife of Atlanta” Kandi rounds out the top 100 at No. 91 with Kandi Koated (18,000).