WEEK IN PREVIEW: KORN & EMINEM GO MANO A MANO

This week, rock goes up against the hard place, as Immortal/Epic Korn tries to prevent Aftermath/Interscope’s reigning rap ruler Eminem from spending a fourth consecutive week at #1.

The two records are heading for tomorrow’s chart finish line neck-and-neck, as they each head for upwards of 500k in sales. And you thought World Cup soccer was exciting.

Of course, the Korn vs. Eminem battle has been shaping up for weeks. But this week’s chart rundown has a few surprises in store as well. Florida emo-punk rockers New Found Glory, a band on the San Fernando Valley-based Drive Thru label distributed by MCA, will make a Top 5 debut approaching 100k sold with Sticks and Stones after several indie releases. Also, L.A. Reid’s newest protege, Avril Lavigne, is proving an album can grow in its second week as her label debut, Let Go, continues to be solidly entrenched in the Top 10 and maybe even higher. Epic’s The Osbourne Family Album, featuring Ozzy’s daughter Kelly’s smash rendition of "Papa Don’t Preach," should bow in the Top 10 as well.

In the radio world, at Top 40, Pink’s "Just Like a Pill" (Arista) and Celine Dion’s "I’m Alive" (Epic) are cleaning up any holdouts, while Cam’ron’s "Oh Boy" (Roc-a-Fella/IDJ) impacts this week.

On the Urban/Crossover tip, Ashanti’s "Foolish" (Murder Inc./IDJ) is Most Added, with Slum Village (Barak/Priority/Capitol), Nappy Roots (Atlantic/Atl. G) and AZ (Motown) next in line.

Hitting the streets tomorrow is Papa Roach’s lovehatetragedy (DreamWorks), Wyclef Jean’s Masquerade (Columbia/CRG) and Our Lady Peace’s Gravity (Columbia/CRG).