ROSS IS BOSS, JOSS IS NEXT

The large and in-charge rapper continues Def Jam/IDJ’s recent dominance of the marketplace with God Forgives, I Don’t, which will debut next week with between 200-220k in sales, easily going #1. His last album, Teflon Don, sold 176k upon release in July 2010. Previous label winners include Nas, who debuted at #1 last week, and newcomer Frank Ocean, with a #2 bow last month for his acclaimed debut, channel ORANGE.

S-Curve soul diva Joss Stone’s The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 reunites her with Steve Greenberg, and it’s on tap for between 21-25k, based on one-day sales reports from those music retailers not summering at their homes in the Hamptons or Laguna.

Emblem/Reprise/WB country music group Gloriana’s sophomore album, A Thousand Miles Left Behind, is looking at first-week sales of between 18-21k.

Veteran Nuclear Blast Berkeley thrash band Testament’s tenth studio album, Dark Roots of Earth, is looking at between 15-18k.

RCA’s Sparkle soundtrack, featuring the last recorded music by the late Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks, is looking at 13-16k, in front of the movie’s Aug. 17 opening.

Album sales were down 9% vs. last week, down 15% vs. same week last year and down 3% year to date.

Track sales were down 3% vs. last week, up 2% vs. same week last year and up 6% year to date.

TEA sales were down 7% vs. last week, down 10% vs. same week last year and down 1% year to date.

That's enough to put a chill in the air.