Disney’s
High School Musical franchise is an entertainment juggernaut, crushing all of the competition that gets in its way. High School Musical 2, which premiered on August 17, 2007, drew an audience of 17.2 million, making it the most-watched basic cable program ever, according to Nielsen Media Research. It more than doubled the viewership of the first movie, “High School Musical,” which drew 7.7 million in 2006. At the same time, the soundtrack to
“High School Musical 2” landed in the top position on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, selling 615,000 copies in its firs
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t week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Only three other soundtracks have moved as many copies in their first week since Nielsen began keeping track in 1991—Eminem’s “Eight Mile,” “
Titanic” and “The Bodyguard.”
Starring a cast of unknowns, the original High School Musical followed jock
Troy and whiz kid
Gabriella through high school musical auditions, stirring contempt and a sense of social upheaval among friends and cliques. But in this Disney world, calm ensues, talent flourishes and a happy ending prevails. To date, the High School Musical soundtrack has sold over 4 million copies with the single Breaking Free jumping to No. 4 from No. 86 in its first week on the Billboard singles sales/airplay chart, the steepest rise in 48 years.
