DISNEY'S HIGH ON #1

The heat from Walt Disney Records is enough to thaw the company’s legendary founder, as High School Musical 2 dominates the HITS’ Album Sales chart with a #1 finish and 618k in sales, second only to Linkin Park’s 625k for the year’s biggest debut.

The total was more than the rest of the Top 10 combined, with #2 finisher Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley and Hollywood Records’ Jonas Brothers at #8 giving Chairman Bob Cavallo’s recently renamed Disney Music Group three in the charmed circle.

RCA/RMG’s Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City album is the week’s other top debut, landing at #3.

The rest of the Top 10 includes UTV/UMe’s Now 25 (#4), New Line’s Hairspray soundtrack (#5), A&M/Interscope’s Fergie (#6), Jive/ZLG’s chart-topper from last week, Texas rappers UGK (#7), Geffen’s Common (#9) and Grand Hustle/Atlantic’s T.I. (#10).

Other chart newcomers include Interscope’s Blaqk Audio, a spin-off project from goth-rockers A.F.I. (#19), Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan (#25), Capitol’s Tooth & Nail alums Mae (#39), Koch’s 2Pac remix album and Capitol’s Dean Martin Forever Cool compilation (#49).

Biggest gain of the week goes to Fueled by Ramen’s Paramore, (#42, +143%), fueled, in fact, by being one of the premier artists on MTV’s 52/52 initiative, where artists take over the channel’s on-air promos.

Other double-digit gainers include Disney’s first High School Musical soundtrack (#30-16, +54%), Arista/RMG’s Avril Lavigne (#23, +10%) and Curb’s Tim McGraw (#34-28, +13%).

Also up for the week are Montana 2 (+8%), Fergie (+5%), Roadrunner’s Nickelback (#12, +2%), Reprise’s Michael Buble (#31, +2%), Interscope’s Timbaland (#32, +2%) and Universal Republic’s Colbie Caillat (#38, +3%).

Next week, look for Universal Motown’s rap impresario Swizz Beatz and Victory's Aiden to enter the HITS Top 50, with all eyes on the Sept. 11 showdown between Interscope’s 50 Cent, IDJ’s Kanye West and SBMG Nashville’s Kenny Chesney.