Susan Boyle Destroys U.S. Chart Records

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 2nd 2009 11:36AM

You've had a good week, Susan Boyle. The 'Britain's Got Talent' star sold an astounding 701,000 copies of her debut album, 'I Dreamed a Dream,' in the U.S., giving her the best first week sales of 2009 and the best-selling debut album by any woman since SoundScan began tracking in 1991.

It's also the biggest debut album by any artist since Snoop Dogg's 'Doggystyle' in 1993.

Her record label, Columbia, said Wednesday that 'Dream' has moved a whopping 3 million copies around the world in its opening week.

Also amazing is the way people purchased the album. Although digital sales have grown for years -- with iTunes being the main beneficiary -- consumers headed back to the record store for Boyle's debut.

Columbia chairman Steve Barnett told the New York Times that only about 39,000 of Ms. Boyle's total in the United States were sold through iTunes. Consumers could also purchase the album on shopping network QVC.

"The reason that this record really did what it did," Mr. Barnett told the Times, "was that people wanted to get it and own it, to feel like they're a part of it."

Before Boyle, the biggest seller of the year was Eminem's 'Relapse.'

It was not, however, a record-breaking week for a decidedly different reality star: Adam Lambert. The 'American Idol' runner-up opened at No. 3 with 198,000 copies sold.

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Susan Boyle Snapshots

Susan Boyle performs at the 'Menschen 2009' show on November 28 in Munich, Germany. See More BoyleShots >>

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Susan Boyle Snapshots

MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: Susan Boyle performs at the 'Menschen 2009' show on November 28, 2009 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susan Boyle

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MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: Susan Boyle performs at the 'Menschen 2009' show on November 28, 2009 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susan Boyle

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Singer Susan Boyle leaves her Midtown Manhattan hotel on November 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susan Boyle

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Singer Susan Boyle leaves her Midtown Manhattan hotel on November 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susan Boyle

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