Big Debut Predicted For Frank Ocean

Billboard Magazine is forecasting that the latest album from newly out R&B artist Frank Ocean may debut as high as #2 on this week's top albums chart.

It may launch at No. 2 with a robust 100,000 to 120,000 copies -- nearly all from Apple's iTunes Store. "Channel Orange" -- released by Def Jam and distributed by Universal Music Group Distribution -- is beating early, pre-release sales forecasts, which had pinned its start somewhere in the 40,000 to 50,000 range. That would have fallen in line with the bows of Odd Future's own debut studio set "The OF Tape Vol. 2" earlier this year (No. 5 with 40,000) and Odd Future member Tyler, the Creator's "Goblin" (No. 5 in 2011 with 45,000). While the album's CD version wasn't supposed to go on sale until July 17, physical retailers have been told by Universal to start selling the album as soon as they receive it. Thus, some physical CDs will be in the mix when the album makes it debut on the Billboard 200.

The album has already hit #1 on the iTunes chart in ten countries. Two months ago Adam Lambert became the first out-at-the-time gay artist to reach the pinnacle of Billboard's album chart. Will Frank Ocean become the second?