Rainbow (Mariah Carey Album) - Commercial Performance

Commercial Performance

Rainbow debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart with 323,000 units sold, the highest first-week sales of Carey's career at that time. In its second week, the album stayed at number two, selling an additional 228,000 copies, barred from the top by Faith Hill's Breathe. In its eighth week, Rainbow experienced its highest weekly sales—during the Christmas week of 1999—selling 369,000 copies, while placing at number nine. It became Carey's first studio album since Merry Christmas (1994) to not reach the top position in the United States. In total, Rainbow stayed in the top twenty for ten weeks and on the chart for thirty-five, making one re-entry. It was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over three million copies throughout the continent. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album's sales in the US are estimated at over 2,946,000 copies, not including sales from BMG music clubs. In Canada, Rainbow debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, and was certified double-platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). Sales in Canada are estimated at over 300,000 units.

Rainbow debuted at number three on the Australian Albums Chart, staying within the chart for seven weeks. The album was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of over 35,000 copies. In France, the album experienced strong success, debuting atop the albums chart and remaining inside the top forty for thirty-four weeks. The album was certified platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP), with estimated sales of over 813,000 copies. In Germany, Rainbow peaked at number three, and received a platinum certification from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI), denoting shipments of over 500,000 units. The album's success in the United Kingdom was limited; it debuted at number eight and stayed within the top 100 for four weeks. Rainbow was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments of over 100,000 units. Additionally, Rainbow received a platinum certification in Brazil, New Zealand, and Spain, and a gold certification in Argentina, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Throughout Europe, Rainbow shipped in excess of two million units, and was certified platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).