Chart Performance
Butterfly sold 236,000 copies in the first week after its release and entered the Billboard 200 at number one. It maintained that position for one week and remained in the top twenty for 21 weeks; it stayed in the chart for 55 weeks, including one re-entry. The album achieved its highest weekly sales in the 14th and 15th weeks of its release, when it was number eight in the chart, peaking at 283,000 sales in the 15th week. It also peaked at number three on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In the United States, Butterfly was certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over five million copies. Nielsen SoundScan estimates the album's sales at over 3,719,000 copies in the US, not including sales from BMG music clubs. In Canada, the album debuted at number one and was certified double-platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), denoting shipments of over 200,000 copies of the album. Butterfly debuted at number one in Australia, and received a double-platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), indicating shipments of over 140,000 units.
In Europe, Butterfly peaked within the top-five in several European countries. It received a platinum certification by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), denoting shipments of well over one million copies throughout Europe. In the United Kingdom, Butterfly peaked at number two, and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments of over 150,000 copies. In France, the album peaked at number six, where it was certified double-gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). Sales of Butterfly in France are estimated at 292,000.
As with many of Carey's previous records, Butterfly became a large success in Asia. In Japan, the record debuted at number one on the album charts, with first week sales of 408,970 copies, and remained in the top-100 for twenty-six weeks. The album was certified the Million Award by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), denoting shipments of over one million copies. In Hong Kong, Butterfly finished as one of the twenty best-selling foreign albums of 1997, receiving a platinum certification by IFPI.
Read more about this topic: Butterfly (Mariah Carey album)
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