Megadeth scores another major sales win as “Puppet Parade” debuts at No. 2 on iTunes ahead of the band’s final album Megadeth arriving in a few days. LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Musicians David Ellefson, Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of musical group Megadeth attend The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Fans of legendary metal band Megadeth are preparing to say goodbye, as the group will release its seventeenth and final full-length, Megadeth, in just a few days on January 23. In an effort to give the act the best send-off possible, longtime listeners of the rock troupe are turning out in large numbers to support the musicians and each and every tune shared from the upcoming album.
Shortly before Megadeth arrives, the band of the same name nearly climbs to No. 1 on iTunes with its latest single, but the outfit is blocked by perhaps the hottest new song on the planet.
Megadeth Launches New Single “Puppet Parade” at No. 2
On Monday (January 19), Megadeth released the single “Puppet Parade,” the latest from the group’s forthcoming set. As of the time of writing, “Puppet Parade” lands at No. 2 on the iTunes Top Songs chart, which details the bestselling tracks on what is often considered the most important online storefront for purchasing music in America.
Bruno Mars Blocks Megadeth From a New No. 1 With “I Just Might”
Just one smash keeps Megadeth from earning another iTunes winner. “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars is currently comfortable at No. 1. The track was released a little more than a week ago, and it is expected to score an impressive start across multiple Billboard charts when the company publishes new rankings. “I Just Might,” which introduces Mars’s upcoming album The Romantic, due next month, has been selling extremely well since the singer-songwriter dropped the tune.
Dolly Parton’s Collaboration Slips Below Megadeth
“Puppet Parade” pushes several of the most successful women in music down a peg. Dolly Parton recruited her friends Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire, Queen Latifah, and her own goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, to rerecord her single “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Parton initially shared the track back in 1977, and the country legend celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the classic by reimagining it as a group effort, one which raises funds for a children’s hospital.
Megadeth Has Already Delivered Four Singles from the Album
“Puppet Parade” is the fourth single shared from Megadeth, and the first in exactly a month. The band last delivered a tune, “Let There Be Shred,” on December 19. Megadeth began promoting its self-titled studio effort back in the fall, beginning with “Tipping Point,” which dropped in October. A month later, “I Don’t Care” arrived. All three previous Megadeth tunes became fast bestselling successes on iTunes.
Megadeth’s Impressive Sales Record
LOKEREN, BELGIUM – AUGUST 6: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs at Lokerse Feesten Festival on August 6, 2023 in Lokeren, Belgium (Photo by Elsie Roymans/Getty Images)
Getty Images
All three previously shared singles from Megadeth have become top 10 bestselling cuts on Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. Megadeth claimed its first No. 1 last fall when “Tipping Point” opened in first place. That cut immediately became the group’s highest-rising win, grabbing that honor from “We’ll Be Back,” which peaked in the runner-up space several years prior.
Just weeks later, “I Don’t Care” opened at No. 5, while “Let There Be Shred” debuted and peaked at No. 8 on the list of the bestselling hard rock cuts on digital download storefronts such as iTunes.
Half a Dozen Hard Rock Bestsellers from Megadeth
Throughout the years, Megadeth has only collected half a dozen hits on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, and 50% of them come from the band’s final full-length. In only a few days, “Puppet Parade” could also land on the sales tally, and if it does manage to debut, the cut will help Megadeth become the group’s most successful album in terms of generating bestselling cuts.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/01/20/megadeth-blocked-from-no-1-by-one-of-the-hottest-new-singles-in-the-world/


