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Sony Music’s Now 31 is the week’s top debut at #2, with 168k, followed by Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley (#4), with 130k, giving Rolf Schmidt-Holtz's SME every one of the Top 5 albums this week.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

KING OF POP RULES OVER CHARTS

Michael Jackson Albums Take Three of the Top 5, Six of Top 50, as Now 31, Brad Paisley, Rob Thomas, Wilco, Jeremih and Killswitch Engage Debut in Top 10
As Michael Jackson was laid to rest, the music business reaps the rewards of the worldwide grief over his passing.

Jackson’s Epic/Sony Legacy collection Number Ones tops this week’s chart with 337k, with a remarkable 225k from Wal-Mart stores alone, while Thriller lands at #3 (165k) and Essential at #5 (122k).

In all, a total of six Jackson albums hit the Top 50, including Off the Wall (#11), Dangerous (#22) and Bad (#28).

Sony Music’s Now 31 is the week’s top debut at #2, with 168k, followed by Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley (#4), with 130k, giving Rolf Schmidt-Holtz's SME every one of the Top 5 albums this week.

Atlantic’s Rob Thomas (#6), Nonesuch’s Wilco (#7), Def Jam/IDJ’s Jeremih (#9) and Roadrunner’s Killswitch Engage (#10) round out the new entries, with Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas the only other holdover outside of Michael at #8.

Other chart newcomers include Def Jam/IDJ’s Ace Hood (#26), Atlantic rapper Maino (#32), Mute’s Moby (#36), 19/RCA/RMG’s American Idol Season 8 (#39), Sony Music’s Now 80s, Vol. 2 (#42) and Koch Urban’s Wu-Tang (#50).

Aside from Jackson, the double-digit gainers for the week include a slew of Country titles benefiting from July 4 and Wal-Mart store traffic in Atlantic’s Zac Brown Band (#21, +10%), Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean (#23, +14%), Capitol Nashville’s Darius Rucker (#29, +16%) and Lady Antebellum (#34, +11%), as well as LaFace/JLG’s Pink (#38, +10%) and Interscope’s Keri Hilson (#47, +12%).

Next week, look for a robust chart debut for Columbia’s Maxwell, who seems to be gaining from the Michael Jackson spillover effect, and Disney’s Hannah Montana 3 soundtrack.

 
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