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“Thanks, we needed that.”
——The record and retail industries

HATS OFF TO JACKSON

Retail Shows Signs of Life,
Thanks to a Big Country Star
As the summer nears its end, the record business is emerging, thanks to a pair of explosive chart debuts. One is from a country star and the other from an emerging emo icon.

Arista Nashville’s Alan Jackson saw his Greatest Hits Volume II ride in with a tally north (pardon the expression) of 325k. Meanwhile, Dashboard Confessional (aka Chris Carrabba), an emerging star from a different world altogether, brings his emotion-charged pop to the mainstream via an impressive #2 start for his Vagrant-released/TVT-distributed/ Interscope-worked album. A third bow, Roc-A-Fella/IDJ’s State Property, nailed down the #6 spot, with Beanie Sigel and company scoring sales of more than 65k. Said the record and retail industries: “Thanks, we needed that.”

After topping the charts for four consecutive weeks, Bad Boy/Universal’s Bad Boys II dropped slightly to #3. Wind-up’s Evanescence stayed solid at #4, while Columbia/CRG’s Beyonce had another strong showing, coming in at #5, with DTP/Capitol rapper Chingy not far behind at #7, followed by UTV’s Now 13, which slipped #2-8.

Another big story was Hilary Duff’s Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack (Walt Disney Records), which catapulted #28-9 off a whopping 87% boost, after the DVD of the hit film came out. That augurs well for the new Duff album, Metamorphosis, which hits next Tuesday (8/26) with 700k-plus on the street and the single “So Yesterday” storming Top 40. Top 10 perennial Norah Jones (Blue Note) did it again, coming in at #10.

The other standbys hung around, too, including Shady/Aftermath/Interscope’s 50 Cent (#11), WB’s Linkin Park (#12) and Murder Inc/IDJ’s Ashanti (#15). Hollywood’s Freaky Friday soundtrack went 29-16, with a 23% rise in sales.

Other chart newcomers included UTV’s Lynyrd Skynyrd collection (#13), Razor & Tie’s Kidz Bop 4 (#14) and Roadrunner/IDJ’s heavy metal Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack (#19).

Double-digit increases were registered by TVT’s Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz (33-28, +11%), Universal’s 3 Doors Down (42-37, +17%) and Atlantic’s Matchbox Twenty (45-41, +14%). Elektra’s emerging troubadour Jason Mraz, who broke into the Top 50 last week, stuck around as his single continues to garner big spins at radio. Columbia’s Ataris, experiencing a similar, radio-powered upsurge, re-entered at #50.

Next week, the momentum continues with Star Trak/Arista’s Neptunes and Columbia/CRG’s Bow Wow, who’s no longer a lil’, but not quite a big.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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