Reggae Grammy-nominated albums get sales boost

3 years ago

Share Story

Three of the albums that have been nominated in the Best Reggae Album category of the 63rd Grammy Awards, experienced an increase in sales over the past week.

A glance at the latest US Current Reggae Albums chart (compiled by Nielsen Music/MRC Data and based on digital, vinyl and CD sales), revealed that albums by Buju Banton, Skip Marley and Toots and The Maytals are making upward moves, months after their initial release.

Currently, number four on the chart, Upside Down 2020 by Buju Banton was released on June 26 via Gargamel Music/Roc Nation. The album debuted at number two on the streaming-driven Billboard Reggae Albums chart and number one on the US Current Reggae Albums chart.

It has to date sold 9,494 copies with 101 copies sold over the past week. A week before that, 66 copies were sold.

On August 28, Island Records released Skip Marley’s EP Higher Place, which hit number two on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and number three on US Current Reggae.

Higher Place is currently number five on the chart. Since its release, it has sold 2,204 copies with 122 sold over the past week. Two weeks ago, it sold 75.

With seven nominations under their belt including one win, Toots and The Maytals are looking at another Grammy win for their most recent project Got to Be Tough.

Released on September 11 via Trojan Jamaica/BMG, Got to Be Tough peaked at number one on the US Current Reggae Albums chart and nine on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.

To date, Got to Be Tough has moved 4,428 copies, with 153 sold over the past week, almost doubling the 69 it sold two weeks before.

The other nominees in the Best Reggae Album category are It All Comes Back to Love by Maxi Priest and One World by The Wailers.

The Grammy awards, which were initially scheduled for January 31, has since been postponed to a date to be announced.