Pearl Jam, the iconic rock band, is gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated new album, Dark Matter. The band has been building excitement for the project by releasing two singles that have performed well on various Billboard charts.
Despite their strong fan base, Pearl Jam is facing tough competition for the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Taylor Swift is set to release her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, on the same day as Dark Matter's release, making it a challenging week for the rockers to secure the No. 1 position.
Taylor Swift's previous album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2023 with over 1.6 million equivalent units. The upcoming release of The Tortured Poets Department is expected to have a similarly impressive debut, potentially surpassing a million units in its first week.
Pearl Jam has a history of success on the Billboard 200, with five albums reaching the top spot and four others peaking at No. 2. Their last album, Gigaton, debuted at No. 5 in 2020 with 63,000 equivalent units sold.
While Dark Matter is likely to debut within the top 10 of the Billboard 200, the intense competition from Taylor Swift makes it unlikely for Pearl Jam to claim the No. 1 position. Fans of the band will have to wait until late April when the official Billboard numbers are revealed to see where Dark Matter lands on the chart.
