[color=#44444:5d933fc79e][color=#44444:02d8d6dd09][color=red]YOUR WEAKEND TOP 10 (OR 15) CHART PREVIEW: The race for the top remains very close, but we’re giving Keith Urban a slight lead over Prince for #1 going into the weekend. Once again, at least half of the Top 10 will be debuts. Based on midweek sales, here's how things are shaping up:
** Keith Urban (Capitol Nashville) 170-180k
** Prince (NPG) 160-170k
** Diana Krall (Verve) 95-105k
Now 30 (UMe) 90-100k
Twilight (Chop Shop/Atlantic) 75-80k
Hannah Montana: The Movie (Walt Disney) 75-80k
** UGk (Jive/JLG) 70-75k
** Flo Rida (Atlantic) 45-50k
Lady GaGa (Interscope) 45-50k
Keri Hilson (Interscope) 35-40k
Taylor Swift (Big Machine) 35-40k
** Rodney Atkins (Curb) 30-35k
Kelly Clarkson (RCA/RMG) 30-35k
U2 (Interscope) 30-35k
** Chris Botti (Columbia) 30-35k
** Denotes debut
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Capitol Nashville Country Star Tops Prince for #1 Next Week

April 1, 2009

All kidding aside, Capitol Nashville country star Keith “Don’t Call Me Mr. Kidman” Urban’s Defying Gravity does just that, with the New Zealand cowboy chalking up between 160-175k in first-week sales, good enough for #1 on next Tuesday’s HITS Album chart.

The total is compiled from one-day reports from those retailers whose stores are still open out there in this recession-racked land of ours.

NPG’s main man for all seasons Prince is up next, with his three-CD $11.98 Target exclusive (alongside online sales at his newly launched website) resulting in a total between 130-140k, good for #2.

Diana Krall’s reportedly very intimate new Verve Music Group effort, Quiet Nights, is next with 95-105k, which seems a fair reward for revealing what goes on behind closed doors with hubbie Elvis Costello.

Jive/JLG rappers UGK follow with UGK for Life, the first effort since the death of Bun B’s fellow founding member Pimp C in Hollywood back in December 2007. The album looks headed for the 65-75k range.

Atlantic’s Flo Rida is next with his sophomore album, R.O.O.T.S., which includes the hit single, “Right Round,” which memorably samples the Dead or Alive song, on target for 40-50k, a testament to the power of an iTunes smash to cannibalize album sales.

Curb’s Rodney Atkins (35-40k) and Columbia’s Bow Wow (30-35k) are up next, followed by Columbia’s Chris Botti (25-30k), J/RMG’s Gavin DeGraw, Verity/JLG’s Donnie McClurkin and Victory’s Silverstein (20-25k), Rhino’s Queensryche (15-20k), Interscope’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs (15-18k in its first week of physical release) and Almost/Columbia’s Peter Bjorn & John (12-15k).

The market was up 10% vs. last week, down 12% vs. same week last year and still down 14% year to date. You may now return to crying over your hopelessly decimated NCAA brackets.
[Edited 4/2/09 5:32am]

http://www.billboard.com/...8005.story

Update: Prince, Keith Urban Vie For No. 1


[color=#44444:9f6c3057cf]
April 02, 2009 07:58 AM ET

Keith Caulfield, L.A.
New albums from Keith Urban and Prince are on track to debut high on the Billboard 200 chart next week, with each artist's latest release aiming for a start in the neighborhood of 150,000 copies and a shot at No. 1.

Industry prognosticators suggest Urban's "Defying Gravity" (Capitol Nashville) may shift somewhere in the range of 150,000-160,000 in its first week, while Prince's Target-exclusive "LotusFlow3r" (NPG) could sell between 140,000-150,000.

If Urban debuts at No. 1, he'll earn his first chart-topper on the Billboard 200. He's hit No. 3 twice previously with 2004's "Be Here" and 2006's "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing." If Prince reigns atop the list, it'll be his fifth No. 1.

Prince and Urban respectively lead Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, which was released today (April 1). We'll have a better gauge on how next week's official Billboard 200 chart will shake out on April 3, when SoundScan releases its next Building Chart.

Billboard estimates the seven merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, iTunes, Starbucks, Borders, Target and Anderson Merchandisers -- comprise about 60% of all U.S. album sales.

Other albums looking good for a top 10 debut on next week's Billboard 200 chart include UGK's "UGK For Life" (UGK/Jive/JLG), Diana Krall's "Quiet Nights" (Verve) and Flo Rida's "R.O.O.T.S." (Poe Boy/Atlantic).

Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in the official Billboard 200 chart, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. The newest Billboard 200 chart, released today -- where the "Now 30" compilation debuted at No. 1 with 146,000 -- reflected the week that ended on March 29.[/color]
[Edited 4/2/09 5:38am]
[Edited 4/3/09 9:39am]
[Edited 4/3/09 9:40am]

[b][Edited 4/3/09 9:54am]

asg said:

first

good for 2 not 1?

I hope ya'll ready for a record breaking week 2 drop, i doubt the album will be in the top 20 after the opening week. But honestly im shocked it moved that much, but the album will not have "legs" for the most part, the fans got it now, its a done deal.

Keith urban's last album opened with 270k and has been on sale at amazon for a low price of $4 if he didnt have it at $4 prince had a good chance at #1
[Edited 4/1/09 15:51pm]

Congratulations Sweetie.

http://www.billboard.com/...8005.story
Prince's 'Lotusflow3r' Off To Strong Sales Start



April 01, 2009 05:52 PM ET

Keith Caulfield, L.A.
Prince's new album, "LotusFlow3r" (NPG), issued exclusively in the U.S. through Target stores on Sunday, March 29, leads Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, which was released today, April 1.

Yet, the album may not finish the week at No. 1.

Why? The Building Chart reflected unweighted sales through the close of business on Tuesday, March 31. Which means that new releases -- which almost always bow on Tuesday -- usually only have one day's worth of sales included on the Building Chart that is released on Wednesday of each week. However, Prince's album dropped on Sunday, so the Building Chart actually reflects the set's first three days worth of sales.

We'll have a better gauge on how next week's official Billboard 200 chart will shake out on Friday, April 3, when SoundScan releases its next Building Chart. As it stands now, Prince's album is ahead of the No. 2 set, Keith Urban's new "Defying Gravity" (Capitol Nashville), by a very wide margin.

Billboard estimates the seven merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, iTunes, Starbucks, Borders, Target and Anderson Merchandisers -- comprise about 60% of all U.S. album sales.

Other albums looking good for a top 10 debut on next week's Billboard 200 chart include UGK's "UGK For Life" (UGK/Jive/JLG), Diana Krall's "Quiet Nights" (Verve) and Flo Rida's "R.O.O.T.S." (Poe Boy/Atlantic).

Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in the official Billboard 200 chart, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. The newest Billboard 200 chart, released today (April 1) -- where the "Now 30" compilation debuted at No. 1 with 146,000 -- reflected the week that ended on Sunday, March 29.
[Edited 4/1/09 16:08pm]

so he is in the lead or not....

im shocked too...

i think 130-140k is HUGE for this..

nothing on the radio, no video airplay,, just his own website and target..

im really pleasantly surprised.....

itsjustaroundthecorner said:

it is go baby go!!

Hmmmm....very interesting indeed.

Lotusflow3r - 5/10 (Not bad, could have been way better)

MPLSound - 4/10 (Kinda corny - where are the real instruments?)

Elixr - 2/10 (Sade she is not.....cute does not cut it.)

when do we get to celebrate

WetDream said:

They aren't conflicting reports. The Billboard article plainly states that he may not open at #1 because current data is tracking 3 days of sales for him vs only 1 day for normal new releases.

u also are not including $77X approx 3,000,000 Fans for the Web site

Fantastic news! P deserves to be #1 with these soon to be classic CDs!

More and more people that I know have commented on the new CDs because either they've seen the cool ass commercial or heard about or saw his amazing performances on Leno! Everyone wants to get their own copy and I told them to head to Target! The kids still got it!
[Edited 4/1/09 17:40pm]

bobbyc17 said:

You mean 300 people, right?

lastdecember said:

Ummm. In your earlier post you said it was going to sell 150,000 "honestly" total. It did almost that in its first day.

And next week it will be number 1. Honestly.

sro100 said:

I hope he somehow pulls off the #1 spot!

But I think 150K is the projected sales for the whole week, not how many he has sold in one day.

Seventeen said:

Correct.

jtfolden said:

All is nice with the first week of sales. And I 4 1 am happier for P than anyone. But I'm also a realist. Just like lastdecember stated earlier it will fall big time in the second week or at least when the die-hards are done purchasing their copies. The key question is will it have legs for the next few months and besides that upcoming Leno appearance on 28 May, what does P have in store for futher promotion?
[Edited 4/1/09 22:34pm]
[Edited 4/1/09 22:35pm]
[Edited 4/1/09 22:36pm]

bobbyc17 said:

:

there, that looks more realistic

IstenSzek said:

Do you think there were really 3,000 that not only were willing to pay $77 but that, also, found the way in?

That's pretty good actually! Congrats Prince

Who's up for buying a couple more copies each?

I would do it but I'm in Canada and had to wait 90 mins. just to get into the
States last Sunday to get my two copies. Had my keys taken, trunk opened and the top of my wheels checked out and everything. The customs agent didn't believe I was going through all this just for a CD. He even asked me "Don't they sell Cds in Canada?"

It took me about three hours to buy Lotusflow3r.

It was all worth it though. It's been one of the best weeks of my life.

jtfolden said:

if it weren't for the "how to get in" threads on the org i think the site
would now have no more than 300 members, lol.

PRINCE IS #1

69starchild said:

i like the pussy cat

But he's #1 at the bank. 100k at $77. not too shabby.

http://www.billboard.com/...8005.story
Update: Prince, Keith Urban Vie For No. 1



April 02, 2009 07:58 AM ET

Keith Caulfield, L.A.
New albums from Keith Urban and Prince are on track to debut high on the Billboard 200 chart next week, with each artist's latest release aiming for a start in the neighborhood of 150,000 copies and a shot at No. 1.

Industry prognosticators suggest Urban's "Defying Gravity" (Capitol Nashville) may shift somewhere in the range of 150,000-160,000 in its first week, while Prince's Target-exclusive "LotusFlow3r" (NPG) could sell between 140,000-150,000.

If Urban debuts at No. 1, he'll earn his first chart-topper on the Billboard 200. He's hit No. 3 twice previously with 2004's "Be Here" and 2006's "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing." If Prince reigns atop the list, it'll be his fifth No. 1.

Prince and Urban respectively lead Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, which was released today (April 1). We'll have a better gauge on how next week's official Billboard 200 chart will shake out on April 3, when SoundScan releases its next Building Chart.

Billboard estimates the seven merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, iTunes, Starbucks, Borders, Target and Anderson Merchandisers -- comprise about 60% of all U.S. album sales.

Other albums looking good for a top 10 debut on next week's Billboard 200 chart include UGK's "UGK For Life" (UGK/Jive/JLG), Diana Krall's "Quiet Nights" (Verve) and Flo Rida's "R.O.O.T.S." (Poe Boy/Atlantic).

Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in the official Billboard 200 chart, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. The newest Billboard 200 chart, released today -- where the "Now 30" compilation debuted at No. 1 with 146,000 -- reflected the week that ended on March 29.

Marrk said:

The tally includes online sales and the Target sales.