Keys Storms Chart With Mega-Selling 'As I Am'

Alicia Keys storms The Billboard 200 this week with "As I Am" (J), which debuts at No. 1 after selling 742,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's the best sales week for a solo female artist since Norah Jones' "Feels Like Home" shifted 1 million copies in 2004.

In a week where every top 10 album shifted more than 100,000 units, Josh Groban's "Noel" (143/Reprise) zooms 6-2 with a 93% increase to 223,000. Celine Dion's "Taking Chances" (Columbia), her first new pop album in four years, opens at No. 3 with 214,000. The multi-label, multi-artist "Now 26" collection is new at No. 4 with 208,000, the third lowest opening tally for the "Now" line.

Garth Brooks' "The Ultimate Hits" (Pearl) slips 3-5 (-42%, 204,000), while the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) drops 2-6 (-45%, 197,000). Led Zeppelin's two-disc retrospective "Mothership" (Swan Song/Atlantic) debuts at No. 7 after selling 136,000, 25% of which came digitally.

Last week's chart-topper, Jay-Z's "American Gangster" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) plummets 1-8 with a 70% decrease to 131,000, while Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" (Arista Nashville) drops 5-9 despite a small 6% decrease to 113,000. Chris Brown's "Exclusive" (Jive) falls 4-10 in its second week, thanks to a 63% decline to 110,000.

Comedian Dane Cook's "Rough Around the Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden" (Comedy Central) debuts at No. 11 with 90,000. His last set, 2005's "Retaliation," made history as the highest debuting comedy album in the history of The Billboard 200 when it bowed at No. 4. That effort started with 86,000.

At No. 12, the Killers enter the chart with the rarities collection "Sawdust" (Island), which sold 82,000. George Strait's "22 More Hits" (MCA Nashville) is new at No. 13 with 80,000, while James Taylor's debut for Starbucks' Hear Music imprint, "One Man Band," arrives at No. 16 with 63,000.

Five other albums open inside the top 40 this week, led by Boyz II Men's "Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA" (Decca) at No. 27 with 42,000. Right behind are Trisha Yearwood's "Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love" (Big Machine, No. 30, 33,000), Goo Goo Dolls' "Greatest Hits, Volume 1, The Singles" (Warner Bros., No. 33, 33,000), Seal's "System" (Warner Bros., No. 35, 30,000) and Duran Duran's "Red Carpet Massacre" (Epic, No. 36, 29,000).

Album sales are up 17.9% from last week's to 11.72 million, but down 6.2% from the same week last year.

Artist Update: Goo Goo Dolls

"The Goo Goo Dolls Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 -- The Singles" comes out Nov. 13, featuring 14 chart entries since "Name" gave the band its first Hot 100 berth in 1995. The album includes chart-toppers such as "Iris" and "Slide" as well as "Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)" from the "Transformers" film soundtrack. A "Vol. 2" is slated for February with B-sides, rarities, remixes and some new tracks.

By that time, Rzeznik tells Billboard.com, the Goos should be back in their Buffalo, N.Y., studio working on the follow-up to 2006's "Let Love In."

"I'm going into the studio in Buffalo in January and gonna hang out there until the record's done, which will probably be, like, June," Rzeznik says. He has "maybe six or eight (song) ideas floating around in my head," as well as a concrete idea of how he wants the album to sound.

"I want the next record to have a little more of an edge on it," Rzeznik explains. "I don't want the rough edges taken off so much. The band's gonna play live on it more, not so many overdubs. When we were on tour we recorded every single show and we would listen back, and the difference between the band on record and the band live was ... I want it to sound more like we do live. It's a lot more energy. It's a more aggressive sound."

Rzeznik says he'd also like the Goos to work with "a tougher producer" this time around, listing Gil Norton, Tim Palmer and Rich Costey (The Kills) among those who could push the band.

"We've learned so much from so many great people," Rzeznik says, "working with Rob Cavallo and Glen Ballard, Jack Joseph Puig and all those guys. I just think sometimes the albums may be a little too polished. I don't want to give you the idea I'm about to make a metal record or something; I still want to have good songwriting on the record, but I want some more muscle this time, too."

The Goos have one more show scheduled for this year, on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.

source: Billboard Music News

#1 Again

In a slow week for album sales, Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" returns to the summit of The Billboard 200 despite a 42% sales decline. The Columbia effort moved 77,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, climbing 2-1. The album bowed at No. 1 three weeks ago with 335,000.

Album sales are down 4.9% from last week at 7.93 million units and 19.6% from the same week in 2006 (9.86 million units).

Damn whats happening with the Music Industry???

October 17, 2007 Top 10 Albums of U.S.

1. Kd Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" - 170,000 units sold
2. Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" - 130,000 units sold
3. Rascal Flatts' "Still Feels Good" - 96,000 units sold
4. LeAnn Rimes' "Family" - 74,000 units sold
5. matchbox twenty's "Exile on Mainstream" - 72,000 units sold
6. Kanye West's "Graduation" - 71,000 units sold
7. Reba McEntire's "Reba Duets" - 68,000 units sold
8. Sara Evans "Greatest Hits" - 66,000 units sold
9. Disney's "High School Musical 2" - 66,000 units sold
10. Josh Groban's "Noel" - 64,000 units sold

--Source: Billboard.com

Coming Soon: Carnival Ride

The following tracks were confirmed by Underwood that will appear on this album.

1. Flat on the Floor (Ashley Monroe, Brett James) - 3:18
2. All-American Girl (Ashley Gorley, Carrie Underwood, Kelley Lovelace) - 3:32
3. So Small (Robert Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsay, Carrie Underwood) - 3:47
4. Just a Dream (Gordie Sampson, Steven McEwan, Hillary Lindsay) - 4:44
5. Get Out of This Town (Gordie Sampson, Steven McEwan, Hillary Lindsay) - 3:02
6. Crazy Dreams (George Berry Dean, Troy Verges, Carrie Underwood) - 3:36
7. I Know You Won't (Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher, Steven McEwan) - 4:19
8. Last Name (Robert Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsay, Carrie Underwood) - 4:01
9. You Won't Find This (Cathy Dennis, Tom Shapiro) - 3:19
10. I Told You So (Randy Travis) - 4:17
11. The More Boys I Meet (Scott Kennedy, Steven McEwan) - 3:33
12. Twisted" (Robert Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsay, Brett James) - 3:56
13. Wheel of the World (Hillary Lindsay, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo) - 4:42

In Stores Now: Kyla Heartfelt

Kyla - Heartfelt
Tracklisting:

1.) Love Will Lead You Back (Taylor Dane)
2.) Always & Forever (Luther Vandross)
3.) Broken Hearted (Brandy)
4.) Over The Rainbow (Patti Labelle)
5.) For You (Kenny Lattimore)
6.) I Miss YOu So Much (TLC)
7.) I don't HAve THe Heart (James Ingram)
8.) It's Over Now (Joey Albert)
9.) I Don't Want You To Go (Lani Hall)
10.) If I Were You (Tamia)
11.) Someone (EMI) original
12.) Last Chance (Allure)
13.) Home (Brian McKnight)
14.) Wait For You (Elliot Yamin)
15.) With This Tears (Celine Dion)
16.) One Day In Your Life (Michael Jackson)

Kanye Crushes 50

A new hope has arise for the suffering sales of the music industry. Kanye West went head to head with 50 Cent last week with the release of his album entitled Graduation that sold 957,000 units which is the biggest sales debut in 2 years, outselling the latest release from 50 Cent with the album Curtis that sold 691,000. Compared to his last album The Massacre (2005) which sold 1.14 units. With the battle of album sales it is clear that Kanye crushes 50 Cent.

50 Cent had claimed he would retire from making solo albums if West won the sales battle, but in an interview with Billboard, he maintains the race is still early and there is no concrete winner just yet.

'NOW 25' Scores 12th No. 1 Album Of The Series

July 25, 2007, 10:55 AM ET
Katie Hasty, N.Y.

The "NOW! That's What I Call Music" hits compilation series adds another trophy to its collection of No. 1 albums on The Billboard 200 this week. The 25th installment debuts at the summit after moving 223,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the 12th No. 1 of the series.In fact, the last four in a row have claimed the top spot. In March, "NOW 24" started at No. 2 with 230,000 but moved to No. 1 the next week. The latest installment features hits from loyd, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, Fall Out Boy and Bow Wow, among others.Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" climbs 3-2 this week despite a 12% sales decrease to 113,000 units. After topping the 200 for two weeks straight, T.I.' s "T.I. vs. T.I.P." (Grand Hustle/Atlantic) slips to No. 3 with 94,000, a 47% dip. After its parent movie opened at box offices last weekend, the New Line soundtrack to "Hairspray" flies up the chart 20-4, moving 72,000 with a 95% increase in sales. "Hairspray" is the fifth soundtrack to log time in the top 10 this year, following "Hannah Montana," "Hannah Montana 2," "Dreamgirls" and "Jump In!"With help from a high-visibility campaign on iTunes and MySpace, Colbie Caillat's debut album, "Coco" (Universal Republic), enters at No. 5 with 51,000. Her single "Bubbly" was available through iTunes' free single of the week program, while the digital store is selling the album for only $7.99.

Fergie's solo debut "Duchess" ascends 8-6 in its 44th week on the chart with 50,000, a flat sales change from last week. Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" (Machine Shop/Warner Bros.) keeps the No. 7 spot warm for a second week with 47,000 (-13%) while Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" (Universal) moves 9-8 with 45,000 (-7%).In its 94th week on the chart, Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner) climbs back into the top tier 12-9 with 43,000, an uptick of 2%, aided by a reissue version of the album released July 10. Bon Jovi's Island set "Lost Highway" descends 6-10 with 42,000, a 24% decrease.Yellowcard's third Capitol album, "Paper Walls," debuts at No. 13 this week with 40,000; the band's last effort, "Lights and Sounds," bowed at No. 5 with 90,000 last year. Other big debuts this week include Rooney's sophomore set "Calling the World" (Geffen, No. 42, 15,000), the Rocket Summer's Island debut "Do You Feel" (No. 44, 15,000) and Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne Callabos' "Misery Loves Kompany" (Strange Company, No. 49, 13,000).Sales this week are down 2.2% compared to last week's sum at 8.11 million units and down 8.9% compared to the same week last year.

T.I. Is Top Dog Again On The Billboard 200

July 11, 2007, 10:45 AM ET

Katie Hasty, N.Y.

A release during the usually quiet 4th of July week didn't deter sales of T.I.'s "T.I. vs. T.I.P.," which shifted 468,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and debuts at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Grand Hustle/Atlantic set is T.I.'s second chart-topper in the past year-and-a-half; "King" opened at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with 522,000 copies in late March 2006.

After entering at the summit last week, Miley Cyrus' double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" (Disney) slips to No. 2 with 188,000 units, a sales decrease of 42%. Kelly Clarkson's RCA set "My December" follows suit, falling 2-3 with 113,000 (-61%). Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" (Island) descends a rung 3-4 with 94,000, taking a 25% hit.

Velvet Revolver's sophomore RCA album, "Libertad," debuts at No. 5 with 92,000. The supergroup's first album, 2004's "Contraband," climbed onto the chart at No. 1 with 256,000.

Another sophomore set bows inside the top tier this week as Kelly Rowland's Music World/Columbia set "Ms. Kelly" debuts at No. 6 with 82,000. The former Destiny's Child singer was last on the chart in 2002, when her solo debut "Simply Deep" entered and peaked at No. 12 with 77,000.

Brad Paisley's "5th Gear" (Arista Nashville) moves 5-7 after a 27% drop to 59,000, while Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" (Universal) falls 6-8 with 57,000 (-9%) in its 17th week on the chart.

Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" (Machine Shop/Warner Bros.) descends 8-9 with 57,000, a 1% decline. The White Stripes' "Icky Thump" (Third Man/Warner Bros.) is down 4-10 after a 37% sales slide to 56,000.

Warner Bros.' "Transformers: The Album" soundtrack debuts at No. 21 this week with 32,000, while Victory rock act Silverstein's fourth album, "Arrivals & Departure," earns the group its best charting week yet, entering at No. 25 with 27,000. Other big debuts this week include Grupo Montez De Durango's "Agarrese" (Disa) at No. 41 with 18,000 and Sara Bareilles' "Little Voice" (Epic) at No. 45 with 16,000.

Sales this week are down 1.1% compared to last week's sum at 8.73 million units and down 3% compared to the same week last year.