Ludacris' <i>Release Therapy</i>
Photo: Def Jam

After two weeks of dominance, could any disc dethrone Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds — an album that surpassed the 1-million-sold mark in just three weeks — to claim Billboard's albums-chart crown?

Timberlake, it turns out, is not invincible — just ask Ludacris. For the third time in his career, the rapper will see his latest disc debut at #1 on the Billboard albums chart. Luda's Release Therapy sold more than 309,000 copies during its initial week of release to earn the top spot. Luda's last two efforts, 2004's The Red Light District and 2003's Chicken-N-Beer, both debuted at #1 — with 322,000 and 430,000 sales, respectively.

While Ludacris' mission was clear — bump Timberlake from the top of the chart — he didn't go it alone. Three other new releases played a part in Justin's slip from #1 to the #5 spot he holds after selling close to 147,000 copies of his FutureSex/LoveSounds its third week in stores. Janet Jackson bows at #2 with 20 Y.O. putting up 296,000 in first-week sales. Tony Bennett's Duets: An American Classic — featuring collaborations with Bono, Sting and Stevie Wonder, among others — opens at #3 with close to 202,000 scans. Alan Jackson finishes fourth, with first-week sales of Like Red on a Rose nearing 149,000.

According to the latest SoundScan figures, a total of five albums penetrated Billboard's top 10 — the fifth is "Weird Al" Yankovic's Straight Outta Lynwood, which opens at #10 with more than 74,000 sales. In at #6 is John Mayer's Continuum, with week-three sales reported at 91,000 and change, while Hinder's Extreme Behavior climbs three spots to #7, selling 77,000 units. Clay Aiken's A Thousand Different Ways falls six spots to #8 with 74,000 copies sold. And Fergie's The Dutchess follows at #9, chalking up second-week sales of nearly 74,000.

All told, 28 new releases break into Billboard's next top 200. Scissor Sisters' Ta-Dah opens at #19 with 42,000 scans — not bad considering the album was not stocked in some of the nation's largest record stores (see "Scissor Sisters' Ta-Dah Cut Out Of Major U.S. Retail Chains"). Saosin's self-titled disc claims #22 with 35,000 in week-one sales, while V, the debut from Vanessa Hudgens — best known for her role as Gabriella Montez in the Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" — bows at #24 with more than 34,000 sold.

At #37 is the Dave Matthews Band, with their four-disc set, Fenway Park, Boston, MA, July 7-8, 2006, selling more than 26,000 units. The self-titled debut from former "American Idol" contestant Mario Vazquez finishes at #80 with 12,000 scans, followed at #95 by Enigma's A Posteriori with 10,000 sales. Dave Hollister's The Book of David, Vol. 1: The Transition claims #98 with 10,000 copies sold, while Mewithoutyou's Brother Sister opens at #116 with 9,000 discs scanned. My Morning Jacket follow at #131 with Okonokos: Double Live Album selling more than 8,000 units, while Rhino Records' two-disc collection The Very Best of Jerry Garcia opens at #166 with 6,000 scans. And Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood's Out Louder ranks at #188 with 5,000 sold.

Check out "Think You Know Luda? Meet Chris Bridges" to step into the studio with the chart champ. And see "Justin's Future Shock" for more on Timberlake's LoveSounds.

• Ludacris
• Justin Timberlake
• Tony Bennett
• Alan Jackson
• Scissor Sisters

Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Mark Liddell

In a week when few new albums were able to crack the Billboard albums chart, country and old soul will rule the top 5.

Alan Jackson will take the top spot with his 12th album, What I Do, which sold more than 177,000 copies, according to SoundScan. That's a huge departure from the 423,000-plus copies his last album, Drive, sold on the strength of its 9-11 tribute single, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

Fellow Southern gent Tim McGraw will give up his two-week grip on the #1 position and take a step back with Live Like You Were Dying. The 153,000 copies it sold last week helped the album push past the 1-million mark in its third week.

Ray Charles' posthumously released duets album, Genius Loves Company, will slip down to #3 with more than 134,000 copies sold, followed by the latest album from R&B chanteuse Anita Baker at #4. Baker's first studio album in a decade sold more than 130,000 copies. A few rungs below Baker, fellow R&B singer Jill Scott will drop from #3 to #7 by selling more than 79,000 copies of Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol 2.

Pop and hip-hop will occupy the remaining slots of the top 10, as the unwavering Now That's What I Call Music! 16 will maintain its #5 spot for the fourth straight week by selling another 127,000 copies; Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography will move up two spots to #6 (with more than 88,000 copies sold); LL Cool J's Definition will drop four spots to #8 (76,000); R. Kelly's Happy People/ U Saved Me will slip three places to #9 (71,000); and Young Buck's Straight Outta Cashville will move from #7 to #10 (68,000).

Let It Enfold You, the debut LP from San Francisco emo quintet Senses Fail, will land at #34; while rapper Silkk The Shocker's fifth album, and first in three years, Based on a True Story, will come in at #88. Other notable debuts include indie-rock duo the Black Keys' Rubber Factory at #143; jam trio Medeski Martin and Wood's End of the World Party at #162; and former Replacements singer Paul Westerberg's Folker at #178.

• Ashlee Simpson
• Ray Charles
• Tim McGraw
• Alan Jackson
• LL Cool J

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

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Nelly
Photo: Universal

With eight artists grabbing five nominations each, this year's Grammy Awards looks to be one of the most competitive in the ceremony's 45 years. (Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

Three relative newcomers, Ashanti, Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, join Sheryl Crow, Eminem, Nelly, Raphael Saadiq and Bruce Springsteen as the artists with the greatest chances of leaving New York's Madison Square Garden on February 23 with the most golden gramophones in their arms.

All eyes will be on Norah Jones, who stands to reign supreme on Grammy night with four of her five nominations arriving in the big four categories: Best New Artist; Album of the Year, for Come Away With Me; and Song of the Year (given to the songwriter Jesse Harris) and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." Jones and her full-length debut album also received nods in the categories Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while the LP's producer, Arif Mardin, scored one in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category to give the Norah Jones camp a whopping eight nominations combined.

Eminem, Nelly, Springsteen and Lavigne received two nods apiece for the big awards. Em's "Without Me" is up for Record of the Year, along with Nelly's "Dilemma" (which features Kelly Rowland), Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." The Eminem Show will vie for Album of the Year honors against Come Away With Me, the Dixie Chicks' Home, Nelly's Nellyville and Bruce Springsteen's The Rising.

Springsteen was also nominated in the Song of the Year category for "The Rising." The Boss' tune, which resonated with many after the events of September 11, 2001, will face off against another song inspired by the tragedy, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

The Best New Artist category finds John Mayer the sole male amidst a quartet of ladies, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Lavigne, whose single "Complicated" is also up for Song of the Year. (Last year, Alicia Keys walked off with the prestigious honor. Who do you think should win Grammy's equivalent to Rookie of the Year? Take our poll.)

"Chauvinists unite!" Mayer joked at Madison Square Garden, in a half-hearted attempt to strum up support for his cause. "I'm just going to go to sports bars and lobby.

"It's cool," he continued sincerely. "I look at the list and say, 'It makes sense to me.' "

While Ashanti is likely to have her fingers crossed for the big Best New Artist win, she'll be doubly excited when the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category is awarded. Besides receiving a nod for assisting Fat Joe with "What's Luv?" the songbird with the second-best-selling debut album of 2002 has increased her chances of winning with "Always on Time," her collaboration with Ja Rule. Ashanti likes both songs, but she looks to the phrase "blood is thicker than water" when deciding whom to root for.

"I don't necessarily have a preference, but it I had to choose, it would have to be my brother Ja," she said. "That's my family, Murder, Inc. Records."

Nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (January 7) at a press conference held in Madison Square Garden. Among the artists on hand to read the roster of those hopeful for Grammy gold were Ashanti, country singer Kenny Chesney, '80s faceplate Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and producer Jimmy Jam, who filled in for a previously scheduled but absent Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

The artists each took the podium in turn to announce the contestants for two of the categories, which made for some interesting pronunciations. Ashanti (pronounced a-shan-tee) became the faux-fabulous sounding "A-shan-tay" whenever most on hand mentioned her name; and Lavigne, in announcing the nominees for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance botched David Bowie's name, pronouncing it 'Bow-wee" (as in the dog sound "bow-wow"). The flub is not likely to go unnoticed among Lavigne's critics, and it just might go down in pop-star infamy, the way Britney Spears' remark that suggested Pat Benatar sang "I Love Rock 'N Roll," a song Joan Jett made famous, did in a fall 2001 interview.

Four nominations fell on the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, R&B singer Remy Shand and Chad Kroeger, who scored one with his band Nickelback, and three others for his song "Hero," penned for the soundtrack to "Spider-Man."

Besides two in the big four, Vanessa Carlton's other nomination came in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). While most categories in the Composing/Arranging field are often overlooked in favor of more artist-specific ones, the 21-year-old pianist doesn't consider her third nod to be any less important. In fact, considering that she's the only nominee who's also an artist in that category, she said she's perhaps most proud of that honor because it shows her as the well-rounded artist she is.

"I am most excited for that nomination because it is recognizing the process, something other than the vocal and the song itself," she explained. "It kind of acknowledges how the puzzle fits together. I think [Be Not Nobody] is a beautiful record and I'm really proud to know that people recognized that. I was totally surprised, though. I really was."

India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Dr. Dre, Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and No Doubt also nabbed three nominations each.

Touting over 100 categories, the Grammys is the most comprehensive music awards show, but even with classifications such as Best Polka Album (for which Jimmy Sturr's Top of the World looks to be the odds-on favorite) and Best Remixed Record, Non-Classical, there just aren't enough designations for some folks.

"Actually, one they didn't mention was best haircut-changing-style every year,' a near-bald Timberlake kidded. "I'm hoping I get the Victrola for that."

Maybe next year, Justin. In the meantime, the 'NSYNC star must be content with just one nomination, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for the Clipse-featured "Like I Love You," the first single from his solo debut, Justified.

Super production duo the Neptunes were puzzlingly absent from the Producer of the Year category, which instead found Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Arif Mardin, Rick Rubin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis attempting to stake their claim to the title. After producing a number of Grammy-nominated tracks, including Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," it's a mystery why Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams didn't receive any love from the Recording Academy.

"For the second year in a row, can you imagine that?" Williams said of his Grammy dis. "All the work we've done? For whatever reason, nobody thought to put us on the ballot."

The 45th annual ceremony marks the Grammys' return to New York, after Los Angeles hosted the previous four events. The show will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Before the show, catch MTV's pre-show telecast "Backstage at the Grammys," airing at 7 p.m. ET.

MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Nelly
• Avril Lavigne
• Norah Jones
• Eminem
• Vanessa Carlton

B2K
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

It took the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack over a year on the charts to make it to #1, but now that it has, it can't be stopped.

For the second week in a row, the Grammys' Album of the Year will take the top position on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling nearly 150,000 copies, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (March 20).

The self-titled debut album by boy band B2K will come in second place on next week's chart, selling nearly 110,000 copies, and Alan Jackson will reclaim top-three status after falling into the still-formidable fifth slot last week. His Drive moved nearly 96,000 units.

Alanis Morissette's Under Rug Swept will slip a spot from last week to #4, while Brandy's Full Moon, down from last week's second-place debut, will round out the top five albums, selling more than 87,000 copies.

Linkin Park and Ludacris, longtime fixtures in the top 10, will hold their ground again next week. Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory will take sixth place, with Word of Mouf right behind it.

Already maintaining a steady presence in the upper reaches of the charts, Pink will get a little bump from #10 to #8 as a result of her new single, "Don't Let Me Get Me," in which she tries (but fails) to find similarities between herself and Britney Spears.

Kylie Minogue and Jennifer Lopez fill out the top 10 with Fever and J to Tha L-O!, respectively, each selling more than 68,000 copies.

Except for Jackson, all of the artists in the top 20 who have been on the chart previously did not see increases in sales. The only thing to really disrupt the lounging chart-dwellers is a crop of debut records.

The "Resident Evil" soundtrack will come in at #24, selling over 41,000 copies in its first week. Destiny's Child's This Is the Remix will check in a little lower than J. Lo's top-spot remix LP debut, but it puts in a fine showing nonetheless at #29. Remy Shand's Way I Feel will take #39 with over 30,000 copies sold, while N.E.R.D's Stateside debut of In Search Of ... will come in at #61.

There are also a handful of jumps and tumbles in next week's numbers. The White Stripes will spend their second week on the chart 28 spots higher than their first, with White Blood Cells coming in at #157 with almost 8,500 more copies sold. Trik Turner's eponymous album continues to climb the charts, moving from #129 to #100.

Gorillaz's G-Sides will plummet from #105 to #144 with over 9,000 albums sold. Train's next stop will be downtown when they appear at #69, slipping from #48 the week before. Bob Dylan's Love and Theft, which enjoyed a Grammy bump after his performance at the awards, will take the biggest plunge, down 56 places to #199.

• B2K
• Alan Jackson
• Alanis Morissette
• Linkin Park
• Ludacris

Enrique Iglesias
Photo: Interscope

For Jennifer Lopez, it was fun while it lasted — Alan Jackson's Drive will reclaim the top spot on next week's Billboard 200 chart.

Jackson's LP sold over 183,000 copies last week to return to #1 next week, according to SoundScan data released Wednesday (February 20). Creed's Weathered also returns to familiar territory, as it will check in at #2 with nearly 144,000 albums sold. Lopez' remix album, J to Tha L-O!, will drop two spots and round out the top three after moving almost 134,000 units in its second week in stores.

The new chart will reflect an overall sales surge, though most artists won't make any significant headway in their chart positions. One person that doesn't apply to, however, is Enrique Iglesias, whose new single, "Escape," will help his album of the same name jump from #21 to #10 after selling almost 82,000 copies last week.

Chris Isaak's Always Got Tonight will debut at #24 after selling over 57,000 albums in its first week. Other debuts include the Pat Metheny Group's Speaking of Now (#101), Australian country singer Kasey Chambers' Barricades & Brickwalls (#104) and folk singer Fernando Ortega's Storm (#197).

The biggest chart-climber by far will be John Williams, who will benefit from Olympics Fever. In just his second week on the charts, Williams, composer of the official theme of the 2002 Winter Games, will jump (triple lutz perhaps?) from #146 to #98. The album, American Journey, moved over 16,000 units last week.

Another impressive move is Frank Sinatra's leap from #75 to #32, thanks to a Valentine's Day sales push behind his Greatest Love Songs.

On a downward course are the Chemical Brothers and Jay-Z. Come With Us will slide back 30 spots in its third week (from #66 to #96), while Jay-Z's MTV Unplugged will fall from #69 to #89.

• Enrique Iglesias
• Jennifer Lopez
• Alan Jackson
• Creed
• Chris Isaak

Judging by the title of Korn's long-awaited fifth album, the follow-up to 1999's Issues will be positively peerless: Untouchables, produced by Michael Beinhorn (Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson), is scheduled for release May 14, their publicist said. Korn are rehearsing for a South American tour that begins March 14 in Venezuela, and North American dates are expected soon. ... While their Latin Grammy Awards performance was canceled (along with the ceremony itself) in the wake of September 11, Destiny's Child will get to perform with singer/guitarist Alejandro Sanz after all — at the 44th annual Grammy Awards on February 27. Train and Alan Jackson were also added to the event as performers, while Kid Rock, the Dixie Chicks and comedic actors Kevin James ("The King of Queens") and Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond") will present awards. ... Neither Destiny's Child nor Dave Matthews Band will be going home empty-handed come Grammy time, as Rock the Vote will honor the bootylicious trio and the huggable jam band with this year's Patrick Lippert Award for their activism and efforts to educate young people about political issues. The Goo Goo Dolls and Nelly Furtado will perform at the ceremony, which takes place the day before the Grammys (February 26) in Los Angeles. ...

Jamie Foxx will host LIFEbeat's UrbanAID 2 charity concert, featuring previously announced acts P. Diddy and the show’s headliners, Jay-Z and R. Kelly. The April 9 event is focused on raising awareness of HIV prevention. ... Title TK, the Breeders' first album since 1993's Last Splash, will hit stores May 21. Sisters Kim and Kelley Deal and their new band, currently in the midst of a club tour, will launch another outing in the summer, according to Elektra Records. ... the Who have lined up 18 dates in the U.S., kicking off June 28 in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Cafe and winding up August 31 in Wantagh, New York, at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre. The seasoned survivors will hit Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and more along the way. ... Before they tour Mexico, Argentinean fusion-rock collective Los Fabulosos Cadillacs will play a one-off U.S. show at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre on April 4. ...

Henry Rollins, X frontwoman Exene Cervenka and MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer will share the bill next month in Los Angeles to benefit three young Arkansas men convicted of murder. The show, set for the Troubadour on March 8, will benefit the legal defense fund of the West Memphis Three, whose case was chronicled in the 1996 documentary "Paradise Lost." ... Funky franchise Fishbone and their Familyhood Nexperience collective will release The Friendliest Psychosis of All, the follow-up to 2000's Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx, on February 19, the same day they play the Winter Olympics Ice Village in Salt Lake City. The EP features contributions from the Fishbone fellas Norwood Fisher, Walt Kibby II and Angelo Moore as well as Primus bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia; peculiar GN'R guitarist Buckethead; and funk godfather George Clinton. ... Rhett Miller, frontman for the alt-country outfit Old 97's, has announced plans to begin recording his first solo album. ...

That '80s show: Depeche Mode have announced a "One Night in Paris, the Exciter Tour" pay-per-view concert debuting Friday, March 8 on iN, TVN, Echostar and DirecTV. Directed by Grammy-nominated photographer/filmmaker Anton Corbijn, the show was recorded at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy during the band's 2001 Exciter world tour. ... On Wednesday, an L.A. Superior Court judge ruled that ex-Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy must stop using the band's name and logo and also ruled that Pearcy must hand over all the money he earned while billing himself as "Stephen Pearcy and Ratt" to his former bandmates, who have also been touring as Ratt. Ironically, the decision stemmed from a suit Pearcy filed last year to gain sole ownership of the name; the judge determined that Pearcy's claims against his former comrades were without merit because he vacated the band of his own accord, leaving guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer as the sole holders of the Ratt trademark. ...

02.07.02

Alicia Keys and Angie Stone will sing "America the Beautiful" during the NBA All-Star pre-game show on Sunday, before Elton John takes the court to perform "Philadelphia Freedom." ... Our condolences go out to Slayer vocalist and bassist Tom Araya, whose father died Wednesday night of a heart attack. The group has canceled its Friday (February 8) show in Dallas and may postpone or cancel other dates as well. ... A court date scheduled Wednesday for rapper Capone was adjourned until March 19. The MC is facing second-degree assault charges stemming from an alleged altercation involving a gun at a Queens, New York, nightclub in September. ...

The entire "Queen of the Damned" soundtrack — featuring new tracks penned by Korn's Jonathan Davis and interpreted by Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Disturbed's David Draiman, Wayne Static of Static-X and Jay Gordon of Orgy — is available for preview at WBR.com via streaming audio. The album is due February 19. ... Ben Folds will embark on his first solo piano tour February 25 in Iowa City, Iowa. The 17-date outing, to support last year's Rockin' the Suburbs and his new single and video, "Still Fighting It," ends March 20 in Los Angeles. ... Marc Anthony will deliver Mended, his second English-language album, to stores on March 26. ...

Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough will host a one-hour meet-and-greet February 16 at the Rock & Sports Experience, a weekend event held at the Washington Convention Center and sponsored by Washington, D.C. radio station Hot 99.5 FM. Dorough will promote awareness of the autoimmune disorder lupus via his Dorough Lupus Foundation, which provides financial assistance to victims who cannot afford treatment and aids in research of the disease, which took his sister's life in 1998. ... Mindless Self Indulgence and Dillinger Escape Plan will fight for marquee space when they jump aboard the System of a Down tour, which kicks off Valentine's Day in Las Vegas. ...

Soul Coughing will release a greatest-hits album, Lust in Phaze, on April 9. Along with radio favorites like "Soundtrack to Mary" and "Rolling," the album will include Ruby Vroom outtake "Buddha Rhubarb Butter," "Unmarked Helicopters" from the "X-Files" compilation Songs in the Key of X, a Propellerheads remix of "Super Bon Bon" and a live version of "Casiotone Nation." ... Cornershop will attempt to break a record for the longest remix ever when their official Web site (www.cornershop.com) streams a dynamic, continuously mixed version of "Spectral Mornings" for 24 hours beginning February 12. The song, in its original 15-minute form with Oasis' Noel Gallagher on guitar, appears on Cornershop's Handcream for a Generation, which is now due April 9. ...

Turntablist ensemble the X-ecutioners will kick off a two-month tour to support their second album, Built from Scratch, at the South by Southwest music conference on March 14 in Austin, Texas. The trek wraps May 6 in Los Angeles. ... Hardcore band Speedealer will release their third album, Second Sight, on Palm Pictures on May 14. The record was produced by ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and features heartwarming songs such as "Leave Me Alone," "Slowly Burning Alive" and "Kill Myself Tonight."... Pro File 1, a collection of remixes by Meat Beat Manifesto (a.k.a. Jack Dangers) due February 19, will include the famed sound manipulator's takes on Nine Inch Nails' "Closer," David Bowie's "You've Been Around" and others. Pro File 2, featuring Frankie Bones remixes, is due in May.

• Korn
• Marilyn Manson
• Destiny's Child
• Train
• Alan Jackson

Mary J. Blige
Photo: MCA

The queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige, will cause the biggest stir at the top of next week's Billboard 200 albums chart, which remains relatively stagnant save for the 18-spot leap to #10 by her No More Drama. The LP, Blige's fifth studio effort, sold more than 61,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (February 6).

No More Drama's sales spike, more than double the total of the week before, can be attributed to its January 29 reissue, which features the single "Rainy Dayz," a collaboration with Ja Rule; a new song, "He Don't Think I Know"; and remixes of "Dance for Me," featuring Common, and the title track by P. Diddy, the pair's first collaboration since Blige's 1994 album, My Life (see "Mary J. Blige Plans Even More No More Drama"). The original version of No More Drama was released August 28.

Alan Jackson will remain in next week's pole position for the third consecutive week with Drive, which sold more than 188,000 copies, followed by Creed's three-week lock on #2 with Weathered (108,000), and Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory at #3 (90,000), a slot the rap-metal quintet has held for the past four weeks. With last week's tally tacked to its total, Hybrid Theory has sold more than 6 million copies since its release in October 2000.

Ludacris continues to improve at the cash register, moving about 5,000 more copies of Word of Mouf last week than the week before. Despite the retail surge, a top-10 phenomenon that only Blige can share with the Atlanta rapper, Word of Mouf will remain in the #4 slot.

Besides No More Drama, all the other albums in the top 10 will retain their present position on next week's chart: Nickelback's Silver Side Up at #5; Ja Rule's Pain Is Love at #6; Nas' Stillmatic at #7; Usher's 8701 at #8; and Pink's Missundaztood at #9.

More than five weeks past Christmas, notable debut albums are beginning to return to the top chart slots, and next week will find two landing in the top 20. The soundtrack to "State Property," a film starring Beanie Sigel, who is part of the State Property musical collective along with Freeway, the Young Guns and Oschino & Sparks, will land at #14, with more than 51,000 copies sold. It's followed by the 42-track collection Essential Barbra Streisand at #15 (51,000).

Other notable debuts will include dance music duo the Chemical Brothers' Come With Us at #32; progressive metalheads Dream Theater's two-disc Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence at #46; Denials, Delusions and Decisions, the debut by onetime Jay-Z backing vocalist Jaguar Wright, at #56; SoCal skatepunks Unwritten Law's first album in four years, Elva, at #73; and Hank Williams III's Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' at #156.

Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean is the third of the three top 20 albums to experience a rise in sales, and will advance four places on next week's chart to #13 with more than 54,000 in sales. Its weekly total has grown for the second week thanks to the album's second single, "Blurry." While the band's debut will make strides ahead, Enya's A Day Without Rain, down seven spots to #18, and Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 8, which takes a six-spot plunge to #19, seem on their way out of the upper bracket where they've resided since November. Meanwhile, No Doubt's Rock Steady appears to be on shaky ground at #20, slipping six places and losing more than 7,000 in sales.

Rounding out the top 20 will be the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack at #11; Alicia Keys' Songs in A Minor retaining its #12 slot; Shakira's Laundry Service at #16; and P.O.D.'s Satellite at #17.

After making a 30-spot jump on this week's chart, following a performance on "Saturday Night Live," the Strokes fall back 25 places to #58, putting them among next week's biggest chart sliders. The New York quintet falls in behind even bigger divers, such as the compilation Totally Hits 2001 and Jaheim's Ghetto Love, each plunging 31 spots to #33 and #52, respectively. The deepest sinker, however, comes courtesy of California punk stalwarts Bad Religion, whose 10th album, The Process of Belief, freefalls to #100, after debuting this week at #49.

The most unusual success in next week's chart is Keke Wyatt's Soul Sista, which will appear at #43 with nearly 25,000 copies sold last week. When the R&B album was released in mid-November, it debuted at #60 but fell to #190 by Christmastime. Then over the holidays, Wyatt allegedly stabbed her husband five times with a steak knife. Ever since, Soul Sista has been steadily rising up the chart, moving to #143, #95, #77, #67, #50 and #43 in the weeks following the alleged incident. The single "Nothing in This World" has been receiving major spins at radio, and the LP has sold more than 250,000 copies.

• Mary J. Blige
• Alan Jackson
• Ludacris
• Diddy
• Creed

Creed's Scott Stapp
Photo: MTV News

For the second week in a row, Alan Jackson's Drive paves the way for the top 200 albums in the country. The country singer's latest album will again sit atop the Billboard 200 albums chart, with sales of more than 230,000 copies, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (January 30). Much of the LP's success can be attributed to Jackson's fast-rising single, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a tune he wrote after the events of September 11.

Although the weekly tally dropped by more than 200,000 copies, Drive was still the frontrunner, coming in ahead of next week's #2 album, Creed's Weathered, by more than 110,000 copies. Following an eight-week run at the top before being bested by Drive, Weathered sold more than 119,000 copies last week.

This week's figures mark the first time since the holidays that a handful of albums actually saw a sales increase, and Ludacris' Word of Mouf is the highest-charting album among the modest pack to lay claim to that feat. The Atlanta rapper's second major-label release experienced a sales bump of more than 6,000 copies to take a step up the chart to #4, with more than 81,000 copies sold.

Other albums in next week's top 20 to show retail improvement include Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean and the soundtrack to the film "I Am Sam." The first band signed to Fred Durst's Flawless Records augments last week's figures by more than 5,000 to advance a place to #17, no doubt thanks to the crossover radio play of Come Clean's second single, "Blurry," which has been receiving spins on Hot AC and Pop stations. Meanwhile, the 17-song soundtrack to the Sean Penn-Michelle Pfeiffer flick, composed of Beatles covers by Aimee Mann ("Two of Us"), Rufus Wainwright ("Across the Universe") and Eddie Vedder ("You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"), among others, will come in at #20, with nearly 8,000 more in sales.

Stagnancy pervades the rest of the top 20, as most albums will change position by only one place — if at all — while encountering a minor decrease in sales. Rounding out the top 10 will be Nickelback's Silver Side Up, dropping a place to #5; Ja Rule's Pain Is Love, maintaining a #6 home; Nas' Stillmatic, holding at #7; Usher's 8701, stable at #8; Pink's Missundaztood, steady at #9; and the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" stepping up a slot to #10.

Much larger leaps occur further down the chart, led by Hoobastank's self-titled debut, which will advance 15 places to #25 thanks to a sales increase of almost 10,000. New York rockers the Strokes, behind their "Saturday Night Live" performance on January 19 and the success of the single "Last Nite" at radio, will occupy the #33 position, making a 30-slot jump with a sales boost of more than 11,000 copies.

The biggest chart vault, however, comes courtesy of pop singer Mandy Moore, who contributes four songs to the soundtrack for "A Walk to Remember," a film in which she also stars. With the movie now in theaters, the 13-track LP will rocket 125 places to #56, while nearly tripling last week's sales figures. Moore's media prominence has also helped her self-titled third album re-enter the top 200 at #186, with more than 7,000 in sales.

Nine Inch Nails' first live album, And All That Could Have Been, will debut on next week's chart in two positions. A limited-edition deluxe package of the LP — containing the live album, recorded during 2000's Fragility 2.0 Tour, as well as Still, a companion disc of alternate studio takes — comes in at #26, with more than 33,000 sold; while the live album alone will land at #37, moving 28,000 copies.

Other notable debuts include Bad Religion's The Process of Belief at #49; the country-rock compilation Goin' South, Volume 2 at #122; and Houston MC Lil Keke's Platinum in Da Ghetto at #123.

• Creed
• Alan Jackson
• Ludacris
• Puddle Of Mudd
• Hoobastank