USHER-ING IN A NEW #1

While the Blue Note chanteuse will once again top the HITS album chart announced here later today (for the sixth time in a row), Ms. Jones will be displaced next week at #1 by Usher's Confessions, which ironically comes out on Arista during a week when the label itself is expected to be dismantled.

The new album's second single, "Burn," is following on the heels of the #1 "Yeah," which featured rapper Ludacris and crunkster Lil Jon.

The Arista team is particularly proud of their role in setting up and breaking the record, particularly Exec. VP/GM Larry Mestel and promotion head Steve Bartels.

The torch on the project at radio will now be passed to Sr. VP Joe Riccitelli and the Jive promo team.

The album hits the streets today, and many are predicting first-week sales north of 700k based on extensive airplay for the first two singles and a total of 1.4 million being put on the street.

The record features a plethora of hit producers, including Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri and The Neptunes, with guest appearances by Nelly ("My Boo"), and excerpts from Willie Hutch and McFadden & Whitehead.