WEEK IN PREVIEW: CENT-SATIONAL RUN CONTINUES

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) should register a little over 200k in sales for the past week, dipping in the 20% range compared to the week prior. Similarly, #2 Norah Jones should see her Blue Note debut come in at around 170k-175k.

Market observers, including our own staff of retail patriots, note that remaining even relatively flat in a down market is a good thing. And while holding ground isn’t as good as gaining it, it’s still better than the other alternative.

Also hanging tight are R. Kelly, who should log about 100k for the week, the Chicago soundtrack, also expected to log about 100k—but look out for the post-Oscar sales spike next week—and Evanescence, which should drop very slightly to about 80k-90k.

The Dixie Chicks, meanwhile, continue to be dogged by their criticism of Dubya, as sales of their latest, Home (Open Wide/Monument/Columbia) appear to be dipping to as little as 80k from last week’s level of 123k.

At radio, our observers embedded with Top 40 operations indicate that the Most-Added medal will go to Madonna’s "American Life" (Warner Bros.), with heavy action continuing on Avril Lavigne (Arista), Evanescence (Wind-up), Lillix (Maverick) and Sean Paul (VP/Atlantic).

Those in the Crossover trenches predict Joe Budden’s "Pump It Up" (Def Jam/IDJ) will be among the top add-getters this week, followed by DJ KaySlay (Columbia), Snoop Dogg’s "Girls Girls" from the Malibu’s Most Wanted soundtrack (Universal), Justin Timberlake (Jive) and Novel (Rawkus/MCA).

At PoMo, meanwhile, most add action will go to The Datsuns’ "In Love" (V2) and Hot Hot Heat’s "Bandages" (Sire/Sub Pop/Reprise). Reprise is going for a double with Zwan’s "Lyric" (Martha’s Music/Reprise), but any two-for-one specials have yet to be confirmed.