Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Amy Cooper

After a beach bum's weeklong lounge on the throne, pop music has reclaimed its crown.

Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography has earned the top spot on the next Billboard 200 albums chart after selling more than 398,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (July 28). The singer's debut album comes on the heels of her MTV series, "The Ashlee Simpson Show," and her first single, "Pieces of Me."

Simpson's chart-topping debut easily trumps big sister Jessica's first-week sales for her debut, Sweet Kisses, which landed at #65 when it was released in 1999, selling more than 45,000 copies. In fact, none of Jessica's albums has enjoyed such a big first week; Irresistible debuted at #6 in 2001, and In This Skin (currently #22) landed at #10 in 2003.

Jimmy Buffet's License to Chill drops a spot to #2 after Parrot Heads snapped up another 147,000 copies last week. Van Halen jump onto the chart at #3 with The Best of Both Worlds, a two-disc compilation of the band's biggest hits from the past 25 years. The set, which includes "Jump," "Jamie's Cryin' " and "Hot for Teacher," as well as three new Sammy Hagar-fronted tracks, sold more than 138,000 copies.

After spending six weeks at #2, Usher's Confessions drops to #4. In its 18 weeks on the top 200, Confessions had never dropped below the #3 spot. The album saw a 9 percent dip in sales last week, moving some 113,000 copies, bringing its total sales to more than 4.9 million.

In the rest of the top 10: Gretchen Wilson's Here for the Party holds strong at #5; Lloyd Banks' The Hunger for More drops three notches to #6; Avril Lavigne's Under My Skin slides a spot to #7; Prince's Musicology clings to #8 for a second week, following a huge jump from #64 two weeks prior; Big & Rich slip from #7 to #9 with Horse of a Different Color; and the soundtrack to Hilary Duff's "A Cinderella Story" moves from #9 to #10.

The Roots' The Tipping Point, after debuting at #4, drops to #15 in its second week following a 50 percent decline in sales. Maroon 5, meanwhile, jump seven spots with Songs About Jane (#20) and a whopping 21 notches with 1.22.03 Acoustic (#42).

Other notable debuts include Lloyd's Southside at #11 (67,000 copies sold); the Hives' Tyrannosaurus Hives at #33 (35,000); Maria Mena's White Turns Blue at #102; Dillinger Escape Plan's Miss Machine at #106; and Mis-Teeq's self-titled effort at #125.

For a full-length feature on Ashlee Simpson, check out "Ashlee Simpson: The Rock Sister."

• Ashlee Simpson
• Jimmy Buffett
• Van Halen
• Usher
• Gretchen Wilson

The Roots (file)
Photo: Geffen

The Parrotheads will be toasting with cheeseburgers in paradise tonight!

Key West troubadour Jimmy Buffett will have the #1 album on next week's Billboard albums chart, after his latest LP, License to Chill, sold more than 238,000 copies, according to SoundScan. The 16-track release finds the 57-year-old self-confessed beach bum collaborating with a who's who of contemporary country artists, including Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait.

The "Margaritaville" minstrel more than doubled the sales of the chart's second-highest debut, the Roots' The Tipping Point. The hip-hop collective's sixth album will bow in at #4, with more than 109,000 copies sold. The Tipping Point ties with 1999's Things Fall Apart in giving the band its highest chart position, though the latter debuted with a greater first-week total by more than 83,000 copies. The band's last LP, 2002's Phrenology, landed at #28 on the chart after its first week, with more than 89,000 copies sold.

Usher's Confessions will keep its place at #2 for the sixth straight week, tacking more than 125,000 copies onto its now 4.8 million total, while Lloyd Banks' The Hunger for More will vacate the top spot, which it held for two consecutive weeks. The G-Unit rapper's debut moved more than 110,000 copies last week to land at #3.

The only other new album to crack next week's top 10 is the soundtrack to Hilary Duff's new film, "A Cinderella Story." Led by its single, a cover of the Go-Go's' "Our Lips Are Sealed" by Hilary and sister Haylie Duff, the 14-track album (which also includes contributions by Josh Kelly and the Goo Goo Dolls) will debut at #9, with more than 72,000 copies sold.

Without any tour dates to bolster his album sales — since a portion of every ticket price involuntarily buys a copy (see Billboard Sours On Prince's Musicology Sales Experiment") — Prince's Musicology plummeted 49 spots, from #16 to #64, two weeks ago. However, with last week's five-night run of shows in New York and New Jersey padding his weekly totals, the Purple One will re-enter the top 10 at #8, with more than 74,000 copies sold.

Rounding out the rest of the top 10 are country singer Gretchen Wilson's Here for the Party, down two spots to #5 (with more than 89,000 copies sold); Avril Lavigne's Under My Skin, falling a notch to #6 (79,000) while vaulting over the 1 million mark in total sales; country duo Big & Rich's Horse of a Different Color, slipping a notch to #7 (78,000); and Los Lonely Boys' self-titled debut, holding to the #10 spot (67,000) for the second week.

Three albums in the #11-#20 bracket succumbed to seven-spot slips, Jadakiss' Kiss of Death (#4-#11), the "Spider-Man 2" soundtrack (#7-#14); and the Beastie Boys' To the 5 Boroughs (#9-#16). Conversely, Maroon 5's Songs About Jane and Yellowcard's Ocean Avenue will each rise four spots, to #27 and #37, thanks to respective 10 and 11 percent increases in weekly sales.

Notable debuts on next week's chart include Metallica's soundtrack EP to coincide with the documentary "Some Kind of Monster" at #37; Adam Sandler's comedy album "Shhh ... Don't Tell at #47; Beenie Man's Back to Basics at #51; Devin the Dude's To Tha X-Treme at #55; Sparta's Porcelain at #60; the Polyphonic Spree's Together We're Heavy at #121; They Might Be Giants' Spine at #130; and Widespread Panic's Über Cobra at #158.

• The Roots
• Jimmy Buffett
• Usher
• Jadakiss
• Lloyd Banks

Crystal Method's <i>Legion of Boom</i>
Photo: V2 Records

The Crystal Method's Legion of Boom features ex-Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland on "Weapons of Mass Distortion." Other guests such as Milla Jovovich ("I Know It's You") and the Roots' human beatbox, Rahzel ("American Way"), appear on the album as well.

Oh! From the Girls is a compilation from the Oxygen network that features songs by Avril Lavigne, Dido, Tori Amos, Macy Gray, Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan, Stacie Orrico and the Pretenders.

Lou Reed's Bataclan 72 is a live album from a show with John Cale and Nico recorded in Paris in 1972.

Finally, WWE Originals includes such classics as "Where's the Beer?" by Stone Cold Steve Austin, "I Don't Suck (Really)" by Kurt Angle and "Put a Little Ass on It" by Rikishi.

Out Tuesday, January 13:

• Ahvak - Ahvak (Cuneiform)
• Chava Alberstein - End of the Holiday (Rounder)
• Amici Forever - The Opera Band (RCA Victor)
• Bingo - The Cicada and Other Stories (Cravedog)
• Brian Bromberg - Choices (A440)
• Jimmy Buffett - Live in Cincinnati (Mailboat)
• Barbara Carr - Talk to Me (Mardi Gras)
• Claudia Quintet - I, Claudia (Cuneiform)
• The Crystal Method - Legion of Boom (V2)
• Joey DeFrancesco - Plays Sinatra His Way (HighNote)
• Joel Frahm with Brad Mehldau - Don't Explain (Palmetto)
• Achille Gajo Trio - Blue Sand (Piadrum)
• Guapo - Five Suns (Cuneiform)
• Holmes Brothers - Simple Truths (Alligator)
• The Honorary Title - The Honorary Title (EP)
• Jamie Hoover & Bill Lloyd - Paparazzi (Paisley Pop)
• Keren - Gone (Big Pea & a Dime)
• Habib Koité & Bamada - Fôly! Live Around the World (World Village)
• Laika and the Cosmonauts - Local Warming (Yep Roc)
• Brennen Leigh - Lonesome, Wild & Blue (Barking Dog)
• Lucky Dube - The Other Side (Heartbeat)
• Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath - Bremen to Bridgwater (Cuneiform)
• Mr. T Experience - Yesterday Rules (Lookout!)
• Kenny Neal and Billy Branch - Double Take (Alligator)
• Nerissa & Katryna Nields - This Town Is Wrong (Rounder)
• The New Original Sonic Sound - The New Original Sonic Sound (Book)
• David Newman - Song for the New Man (HighNote)
• Shane Nicholson - It's a Movie (Virt)
• Peligro - Sum of Our Surroundings (Dirrty)
• Richard Pinhas - Tranzition (Cuneiform)
• Lou Reed - Bataclan 72 (Pilot)
• Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana - Spirit Dome (Projekt)
• Kate Rusby - Underneath the Stars (Compass)
• Skrape - Up the Dose (RCA)
• Sons of Champlin - Secret (Sons of Champlin)
• Eddie Spaghetti - The Sauce (Mid-Fi)
• Mike Stern - These Times (ESC)
• Tanglefoot - Captured Alive (Borealis)
• Volebeats - Country Favorites (Turquoise Mountain/Rainbow Quartz)
• Matthew West - Happy (Universal South)
• Zao - Legendary (Solid State)
• Miguel Zenón - Ceremonial (Rounder/Marsalis Music)
• Various artists - Drum Nation, Volume 1 (Magna Carta)
• Various artists - Oh! From the Girls (Nettwerk)
• Various artists - "Pixel Perfect" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - "Teacher's Pet" (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - This Is Trance! (Water Music)
• Various artists - WWE Originals (DMZ/Soundtrax)
• DVD: Rammstein - Lichtspielhaus (Republic/Universal)

January 20:

• Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (Arista)
• Ani DiFranco - Educated Guess (Righteous Babe)

January 27:

• Stereolab - Margerine Eclipse (Elektra)

• The Crystal Method
• Lou Reed
• Jimmy Buffett
• Tori Amos
• Avril Lavigne

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
George Strait

Female Vocalist of the Year
Terri Clark
Alison Krauss
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Dolly Parton

Vocal Group of the Year
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sons of the Desert
The Warren Brothers

Horizon Award
Gary Allan
Buddy Jewell
Joe Nichols
Blake Shelton
Darryl Worley

Vocal Event of the Year (Awards presented to artists and producer(s))

• "Beer for My Horses"
Artists: Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Artists: Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
Record Label: Arista Nashville

• "Picture"
Artists: Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow
Record Label: Lava/Atlantic

• "Tears in the Holston River"
Artists: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Johnny Cash
Record Label: Capitol Nashville

• "The Truth About Men"
Artists: Tracy Byrd (with Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton)
Record Label: RCA

Album of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s) and producer(s))

• American IV: The Man Comes Around -- Johnny Cash
Producer: Rick Rubin
Record Label: Lost Highway

• Home -- Dixie Chicks
Producers: Dixie Chicks and Lloyd Maines
Record Label: Open Wide/Monument/Columbia

• Man With a Memory -- Joe Nichols
Producer: Brent Rowan
Record Label: Universal South

• Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors -- Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw and Darran Smith
Record Label: Curb

• Unleashed -- Toby Keith
Producers: James Stroud and Toby Keith
Record Label: DreamWorks

Song of the Year (Awards presented to the songwriter(s) and publisher(s))

• "Beer for My Horses" -- Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Writers: Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick
Publishers: Tokeco Tunes and Big Yellow Dog Music

• "Celebrity" -- Brad Paisley
Writer: Brad Paisley
Publishers: EMI April Music and Sea Gayle Music

• "Have You Forgotten?" -- Darryl Worley
Writers: Darryl Worley and Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Pittsburg Landing Songs and Warner-Tamerlane Pub.

• "Red Dirt Road" -- Brooks & Dunn
Writers: Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn
Publishers: Sony and ATV

• "Three Wooden Crosses" -- Randy Travis
Writers: Doug Johnson and Kim Williams
Publishers: Mike Curb Music, Sweet Radical Music, Sony and ATV Tunes

Single of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s)and producer(s))

• Beer for My Horses" -- Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Producers: James Stroud andToby Keith
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "Celebrity" -- Brad Paisley
Producer: Frank Rogers
Record Label: Arista Nashville

• "Have You Forgotten?" -- Darryl Worley
Producers: Frank Rogers and James Stroud
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "Hurt" -- Johnny Cash
Producer: Rick Rubin
Record Label: Lost Highway

• "Three Wooden Crosses" -- Randy Travis
Producer: Kyle Lehning
Record Labels: Word, Curb and Warner Bros.

Music Video of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s) and director)

• "Beer for My Horses"
Artists: Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Director: Michael Salomon

• "Celebrity"
Artist: Brad Paisley
Director: Peter Zavadil

• "Concrete Angel"
Artist: Martina McBride
Directors: Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV

• "Hurt"
Artist: Johnny Cash
Director: Mark Romanek

• "Red Dirt Road"
Artist: Brooks & Dunn
Director: Steven Goldmann

Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas -- Dobro
Paul Franklin -- steel guitar
Aubrie Haynie -- fiddle/mandolin
Brent Mason -- guitar
Randy Scruggs -- guitar

• Brooks & Dunn
• Kenny Chesney
• Alan Jackson
• Toby Keith
• Tim McGraw