MUSIQ HITS A HIGH NOTE
Musiq Soulchild’s Atlantic debut tops this week’s HITS album sales chart, with a total of 155k, less than 5,000 more than The Inc./Universal Motown’s Atlanta-based R&B star Lloyd, whose Street Love bows at #2.
Mobile, AL, rapper Rich Boy’s self-titled Interscope bow checks in at #3, with a total of 110k, followed by a couple of returning Top 5 entries in RCA/RMG’s Idol alum Daughtry and SRC/Universal Motown’s Akon, both still going strong.
Reprise Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young’s acoustic Live at Massey Hall heads a list of three more Top 10 debuts that includes Universal Republic’s beehived U.K soul diva Amy Winehouse, with an impressive #7 finish and 50k sold, and Bad Boy/Atlantic veteran rappers Eightball & MJG’s Ridin’ High, at #8.
Jive/ZLG’s Justin Timberlake and Island/IDJ’s Fall Out Boy round out the Top 10.
Other Top 50 bows include Interscope’s James Morrison (#25), SPV Records’ Type O Negative (#36), Interscope’s Fratellis (#41) and Warner Bros.’ 300 soundtrack (#43).
Manhattan/BNLG’s Celtic Woman is up (#21, +20%), along with the sale of 1,876,000 green beers for St. Patrick’s Day. Capitol’s Lily Allen (#37-32 +18%) and Walt Disney Records’ Hannah Montana soundtrack (#42-35, +13%) are the week’s other double-digit gainers.
Hitting the streets are Virgin’s Joss Stone, next week’s frontrunner for #1, along with Epic indie faves Modest Mouse, Hickory’s ex-Idol Elliott Yamin, Universal Republic's Baby Boy Da Prince, Universal Motown's Marques Houston and Priority/Capitol’s incarcerated rapper Murder-C, under house arrest for, yup, murder.
Next week, the major releases include Capitol’s “Hot” rapper Mims, Curb country superstar Tim McGraw, will.i.am/Geffen Music Group’s comebacking soul star Macy Gray and G Unit rapper and 50 Cent protege Young Buck.
On April 3, expect albums from Interscope’s Timbaland, Hollywood’s Hilary Duff, Epic’s Chevelle, Virgin’s Fountains of Wayne, SBMG Nashville’s Martina McBride and Atlantic’s Paul Wall.
