American Idol Season 5: Encores is compilation album released on May 23, 2006 and contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 5 of the television show American Idol. It is the only American Idol album that does not feature an ensemble track by all the contestants, and is the first year in which several individual finalists made the popular music charts. The album sold over 154,000 units in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, behind the Disney Channel Original Movie's High School Musical Soundtrack and the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way, thus becoming the best-selling debut any American Idol compilation disk.[2] It was also number two on Top Soundtracks, number four on Top Digital Albums and number six on Top Internet.
With five albums in the Top 10, American Idol became the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program, beating out Star Wars.[3] This Season 5 album sold 381,075 copies by September 2, 2006.
^"American Idol 'Season 5 Encores'". RCA Records. PR Newswire. June 5, 2006. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. All five "American Idol" season compilations have peaked in the top 10, making the popular Fox-TV series the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program. The previous record-holder was the "Star Wars" series, which produced four top 10 albums out of six soundtracks released.