Emotions (Mariah Carey Album) - Commercial Performance

Commercial Performance

Emotions debuted at the number four position on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 129,000 copies, surprising critics following the success of Mariah Carey (1990). In total, the album spent twenty-seven weeks in the top twenty and a total of fifty-five on the albums chart, becoming Carey's lowest-peaking album until Glitter (2001). Emotions was certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over four million copies within the United States. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album's stateside sales are estimated at over 3,584,000, not including sales from BMG music clubs. On the Canadian RPM Albums Chart, Emotions debuted at number fourteen, on the issue dated October 5, 1991. Four weeks later, on the issue date November 2, 1991, the album reached its peak position of number five, staying there for one week. At the end of the year, Emotions finished number 35 on the Year-End Albums Chart of 1991. To date, the album has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), denoting shipments of over 400,000 units. In Japan, Emotions debuted at number three on the official Oricon chart, and according to Sony Music, has sold over 1,000,000 copies throughout the country. In Australia, the album debuted at number twelve on the Australian Albums Chart during the week of October 10, 1991, attaining its peak position of number eight the following week. After eighteen weeks fluctuating within the chart, Emotions dropped out of the top forty, being certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

In France, Emotions peaked at number nine on the albums chart, eventually receiving a gold certifications from the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP), denoting shipments of over 100,000 units. The album made its debut on the Dutch Top 40 at number seventy-nine. The following week, it moved up to number fifty-nine, which became its peak charting position. In total, Emotions spent six weeks within the Dutch charts, being certified platinum by the Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers (NVPI), denoting shipments of over 100,000 units. During the week of October 17, 1991, Emotions debuted at its peak position of number six, spending a total of sixteen weeks on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) certified the album platinum, denoting shipments of over 15,000 units within the country. In Sweden, Emotions debuted at number twenty-six on the Swedish Albums Chart, peaking at number thirteen and spending a total of five weeks fluctuating in the chart. Following its exit from the chart, the album was certified platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), denoting shipments of over 100,000 units. On October 13, 1991, Emotions debuted at number sixteen on the Swiss Albums Chart, attaining its peak position of fifteen the succeeding week. Following a run of nine weeks in the albums chart, the album was certified gold by the IFPI, denoting shipments of 50,000 units throughout the country. On the UK Albums Chart, dated October 26, 1991, the album debuted at number ten. In its seventeenth week, Emotions attained its peak position of number four, placing higher than Carey's debut reach of six. After charting in the United Kingdom for forty weeks, the album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments of over 300,000 units. Worldwide, Emotions has sold over eight million copies worldwide, short of the 15 million sold by her debut in 1990.