ONE-DAY SALES:
NOW 16 POP COMP GOES BANG

Following the younger Simpson sister’s big debut this week, the latest installment of the “Now That’s What I Call Music” pop compilation series, Now 16 (UME), hit the streets yesterday and is gearing up to steal her thunder.

According to early reports from national accounts, Now 16, which features major hits including D12’s “My Band,” OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” and Hoobastank’s “The Reason,” will likely soar past 400k through the weekend. By comparison, Capitol's Now 15 sold around 340k its first week out in March. Given that Ashlee’s Autobiography (Geffen) will likely see the standard 40-50% settling from her 408k debut this week, the early projections give the nod to Now to celebrate its sweet 16th incarnation.

Another big story taking shape is Victory Records' Taking Back Sunday, which already has the distinction of being the indie label’s best-selling band. After one day on sale, the band’s sophomore effort, Where You Want to Be, appears likely to sell around 150k for the week—a big number that assures their continued dominance of the Victory roster and might put them in contention for #2 on next week’s chart.

Also hitting the street yesterday were SRC/Universal’s Terror Squad, which appears headed for a first-week total shy of 100k, as well as VP/Atlantic’s Kevin Little and Mercury Nashville’s Terri Clark, both of whom are poised to sell over 50k for the week.

In addition, look for Pearl Jam's new live album, through its own Ten Club Records, distribbed by J Records, to also threaten 50k, thanks to strong fan club sales, which will be counted in its total.