Keith Caulfield, L.A.
Britney Spears' sixth studio album, "Circus," is on track to debut
at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 next week, as the Jive set will lead
Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart when it is released later today
(Dec. 3).
Unweighted first-day sales of "Circus" through the close of
business yesterday stood at 219,000. Billboard estimates the eight
merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart -- Trans
World Entertainment, Best Buy, Circuit City, iTunes, Starbucks,
Borders, Target and Anderson Merchandisers -- comprise about 80% of
all U.S. album sales.
Sources close to the project suggest that "Circus" could move as
much as 450,000 in its first week.
If "Circus" arrives atop the tally, it will be Spears' fifth No. 1
album. Among female artists, only four have racked up more
chart-toppers: Barbra Streisand (eight), Madonna (seven) and Mariah
Carey and Janet Jackson (both with six).
Spears' last release, 2007's "Blackout," bowed at No. 2 with
290,000 behind the debut of Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden"
(711,000).
