Chart preview

YOUR SOMEWHAT DISPIRITING WEAKEND CHART PREVIEW

After a strong start to 2010 and some very successful Q1 releases, it's back to the race for the bottom, with next week potentially marking the lowest total for a #1 album since the industry started tracking sales totals. Yikes. The current record holder is the Dreamgirls soundtrack, which held the #1 spot with 60k in January 2007. On the bright side, what’s sucky for the majors and the mainstream represents an opening for the indies and the arty fringe, led by critical and grass-roots faves The National, on 4AD, who are on track for a 50k+ first-week and a possible #2 bow. Lady A once again gets the slight edge for the top, but several titles are on track to challenge, including The National, along with the usual suspects. Here's how things are shaping up as the weekend approaches:

Lady Antebellum (Capitol Nashville/EMI) 55-65k
* The National (4AD) 50-55k
Justin Bieber (Island/IDJ) 50-55k
AC/DC (Columbia) 45-50k
Carole King & James Taylor (Hear Music) 45-50k
Godsmack (Universal Republic) 40-45k
Usher (LaFace/JLG) 40-45k
* The Dead Weather (Warner Bros.) 40-45k
* Charice (Reprise) 40-45k
* As I Lay Dying (Metal Blade) 35-40k
Lady Gaga (Interscope) 30-35k
Court Yard Hounds (Columbia) 30-35k
B.o.B (Atlantic) 30-35k
Now 33 (Capitol/EMI) 25-30k
* Tenth Avenue North (Reunion) 20-25k
Michael Buble (Reprise) 20-25k
Deftones (Reprise) 20-25k
* Denotes debut

You may now return to praying for LeBron to drop into your team’s lap come July 1. (5/14a)