IL DIVO READY TO WHIP IT GOOD

All hail Il Divo. Proving the music business embraces devolution, the multi-national throwback opera crooners will nail the top slot on this week’s HITS chart. Not even an Ancora (which just happens to be the name of their new Columbia album) can sink them, with sales looking to be in the 140-150k range, the first big debut of 2006. And to top off your joy at this occurrence, which brings back the glory days of Mario Lanza, it means more money in the pocket of already stinking-rich American Idol gadfly Simon Cowell. What’s next? Ryan Seacrest inking a $21 million deal with E!? Whaddaya mean that already happened? We want Isaac Mizrahi to administer a hernia test...

Last week’s #1, Jamie Foxx’s J Records best-seller Unpredictable was flat, though it will continue at around the 100k mark, bolstered by two prime-time airings of his special last week, good enough for #2 over MCA’s hard-charging country gospel star Josh Turner at around 90k. Capitol rockers Yellowcard are hovering in the north of 80k range with their sophomore album Lights and Sounds, which will put them neck-and-neck with Geffen diva Mary J. Blige in the Top 5.

Hitting the street tomorrow: Barry Manilow, Train, She Wants Revenge, Andrea Bocelli, the Flaming Lips and Heather Headley.

Until then, keep checking out the hitsdailydouble.com Building Album Sales chart to be the first one at your water cooler to know how much Il Divo is selling.