Weakend Chart Preview

Universal Republic's The Hunger Games soundtrack will be the first non-Columbia title in 12 weeks to top the chart as the album appears on track for an opening just shy of 200k. With the film opening tomorrow, a strong weekend box office could potentially help drive sales even higher. UMG will also score the #1 album in the following two weeks as Madonna and Nicki Minaj will both debut on top. Columbia will have five of the Top Six albums next week and although Adele's 21 is no longer #1, it has sold a whopping 2.4 million albums this year alone and will repeat as 2012's best selling album. Here's how it looks headed into the weekend:

*The Hunger Games (Universal Republic) 180-200k
Adele 21 (XL/Columbia) 125-135k
*The Shins (Columbia) 70-75k
One Direction (Columbia) 55-60k
*Odd Future (Columbia/RED) 40-45k
Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) 35-40k
Whitney Houston (RCA) 28-32k
*Melanie Fiona (SRC/Universal Republic) 27-30k
Now 41 (Capitol/EMI) 24-27k
fun. (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic) 21-24k
Gotye (Fairfax/Universal Republic) 20-23k
*Diggy (Atlantic) 20-23k
*Esperanza Spaulding (Concord) 20-23k
Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 18-21k
Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville/EMI) 17-20k
Rihanna (Def Jam/IDJ) 17-20k
Kelly Clarkson (19/RCA) 17-20k

*Debuts (3/22p)