Rabat — Bruno Mars has earned his second career No. 1 on the Billboard 200, as his fourth studio album, “The Romantic,” debuted atop the chart dated March 14.
The album opened with 186,000 equivalent album units in the United States for the tracking week ending March 5, according to Luminate’s data as reported by Billboard. The total was driven by a near-even split between sales and streaming, with 93,500 units from album sales and 90,500 units from streaming activity.
Mars last reached No. 1 in 2013 with “Unorthodox Jukebox,” making this his first return to the summit in more than a decade and his first album to debut directly at No. 1.
A sales and streaming surge powered the debut
Billboard reported that “The Romantic” delivered Mars’ best streaming week for an album, totaling 93.95 million on-demand official streams across its nine songs. The release also benefited from a wide physical rollout, including multiple vinyl variants, plus CD, cassette, and digital formats.
The album arrived after its lead single “I Just Might” made history as Mars’ 10th Hot 100 No. 1 and his first to debut at the top of that chart, Billboard reported.
New top 10 debuts for Gorillaz, BLACKPINK, and Mitski
Beyond Mars’ chart-topping opening, the March 14 top 10 featured three additional debuts from global acts with distinct fan bases and strong physical sales strategies.
Gorillaz entered at No. 7 with “The Mountain,” launching with 53,000 equivalent album units.
BLACKPINK followed at No. 8 with “DEADLINE,” debuting with 52,000 units and marking the group’s return to the Billboard 200 top 10.
Mitski rounded out the top 10 at No. 10 with “Nothing’s About To Happen to Me,” opening with nearly 43,000 equivalent album units, a personal best by total units, according to Billboard’s chart report.
A snapshot of a crowded release week
The week’s results highlight how today’s biggest releases compete across multiple consumption lanes, where streaming scale and collectible physical editions can both meaningfully shape a debut.
With “The Romantic” leading the pack and multiple high-profile acts arriving in the same frame, the Billboard 200’s top tier reflected a release calendar built for event albums, fan-driven formats, and fast-moving chart momentum.
