NOW AND HOW!!

No, not a pirated disc, silly. It’s UTV’s Now That’s What I Call Music! 16, the latest chapter in the five-year-old series that has sold more than 90 million copies. The album debuts at #1, with more than 500k in sales, thanks to recent hits from Hoobstank, D12, Britney Spears, OutKast, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson, Chingy, Switchfoot, JoJo, Gretchen Wilson and Los Lonely Boys.

Virgin Entertainment Group's Jerry Suarez told us to shove it before delivering the following pungent analysis: "This is the biggest Now compilation in memory. The line-up that includes so many songs that are currently on the radio, including Hoobastank and OutKast, is the strongest in years."

Now beats back last week’s champ, Geffen’s Ashlee Simpson, who still logs an impressive 269k for #2, with a less-than-35% drop-off.

Added Suarez: "Ashlee Simpson had a phenomenal second week, avoiding the usual 50 or 60% drop that would be normal with most records. She showing some real staying power that might carry her easily through the holiday."

Victory Records’ indie emo torchbearers Taking Back Sunday score an impressive #3 bow with 161k sold, one of four newcomers to the Top 10.

Launch Head of Label Relations Jay Frank, for one, was not surprised. "Taking Back Sunday has had a very strong showing on Launch from day one. The minute we premiered the video a month ago, users went nuts. Naming them Emerging Artist for this August was an easy, logical choice to raise their visibility and help generate sales for them. But why do they call them Eno? Emo? Oh, never mind."

SRC/Universal’s Fat Joe-fronted Terror Squad was #6 and Atlantic/Atl G dance-hall star Kevin Lyttle debuted at #8 as the other Top 10 first-timers.

The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by LaFace/ZLG’s still-strong Usher (#4), Mailboat/RCA Nashville/RLG’s Jimmy Buffett (#5), Epic/Sony Nashville’s Gretchen Wilson (#7), G-Unit/Interscope’s Lloyd Banks (#9) and Warner Bros. Nashville’s thinking man’s cowboys, Big & Rich (#10).

Other chart debuts come from Mercury Nashville’s Terri Clark (#13), Ten Club Records’ Pearl Jam live and Koch’s B.G. (#50).

Among the double-digit sales gainers, Octone/J/RMG’s Maroon 5 leads the way with a 21% increase (#22-16) as "This Love" continues to climb, followed by Columbia/CRG’s Lil’ Flip (+14%, #47) and Blue Note’s Norah Jones (+11%, #49).