Ashlee Simpson’s Debut Sells Nearly 400k In 1st Week

Critics are stumped by news that Ashlee Simpson debut just landed at No. 1 in Billboard after selling 398,000 copies of ‘Autobiography’. That crushed sister Jessica Simpson’s career peaks in sales and rank, reached in March when ‘In This Skin’ soared to No. 2 with 160,000 copies sold in one week. How did it happen? “Right thing at the right time,” says Geoff Mayfield, Billboard’s director of charts. “The MTV show is a huge catalyst, radio jumped all over the song, and her famous sister opened the door. If Jessica never happened, then Ashlee doesn’t get her own show and this album doesn’t happen. It’s a no-brainer.” Read more.