‘Yesterday’ Gives Beatles Chart Boost
The Beatles-themed movie Yesterday provided the band with an expected chart boost, according to Billboard – with lead actor Himesh Patel’s version of the title track selling twice as many download copies as the original.
The Patel recording was purchased 4,000 times in the chart period dated July 13 vs. 2,000 for the 1965 recording, along with 2.3 million streams. That was enough to place the original at No. 14 in the Hot Rock Songs chart.
The Beatles had four more entries in addition: “Here Comes the Sun” at No. 9 (2,000 downloads, 3.8 million streams); “Let It Be” at No. 12 (2,000 downloads, 2.8 million streams); “Hey Jude” at No. 16 (2,000 downloads, 2.4 million streams) and “Come Together” at No. 17 (1,000 downloads, 2.7 million streams).
You can hear both versions of "Yesterday" below.
“In the June 28-July 4 tracking week, the Beatles saw a 26 percent boost in equivalent album units, earning 54,000, according to Nielsen Music,” Billboard reported. “Of that sum, 17,000 comprised traditional album sales, a 41 percent increase. Additionally, the band's catalog was streamed 51.2 million times on on-demand services, up 17 percent, and it moved 35,000 digital downloads, a vault of 40 percent."
The Beatles’ compilation 1 moved from No. 9 to No. 4 in the Top Rock Albums chart with a 31 percent sales boost; the album also moved it from No. 60 to No. 43 on the main Billboard 200 chart.
Yesterday did better than expected during its opening weekend at the end of June, taking $17 million in the U.S. as opposed to its predicted $10 million, with a global total of $24.7 million. By last weekend it had reached a worldwide take of $57 million, from a production budget of $26 million.
Everything (Else) You Need to Know About the Beatles 'Yesterday' Movie