Ask Billboard is updated every week. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.


OH, CANADA! ... ON THE BILLBOARD 200

Hi Gary,

This week's U.S.-based Billboard 200 albums chart features four Canadian acts in the top six:

No. 1, Michael Buble , "Christmas"
No. 2, Nickelback , "Here and Now"
No. 4, Drake , "Take Care"
No. 6, Justin Bieber , "Under the Mistletoe"

Canadian artists sure are having it good these days.

Christopher Craib
Toronto, Canada


Hi Christopher,

Clearly, it's a great time to be a Canadian artist, as the country is exporting several hits of late.

Chart Beat reader Jody McKinnon, also of Toronto, likewise noted the chart's current Canadian invasion (even with an authentic, "Greetings, Gary, from Canada, eh!")

Beyond that dominating foursome, other Canadian artists are currently enjoying U.S. success, as well.

Buble's duet of "White Christmas" with Shania Twain bounds 28-16 on Adult Contemporary. It's Twain's first entry on the list since 2005.

On Pop Songs, Avril Lavigne rises 35-32 with "Wish You Were Here." The song follows the No. 8-peaking "What the Hell," the first single from her fourth album, "Goodbye Lullaby." "Here" also lifts 30-29 on Adult Pop Songs.

Vancouver's Marianas Trench enters Heatseekers Albums at No. 5 with "Ever After," marking the alternative quintet's first chart visit.

And, honorable (sorry, honourable!) mention to Alanis Morissette, who appeared on the American Music Awards Nov. 20 to introduce Mary J. Blige's performance.

The current run of Canadian success on the Billboard 200 is actually fairly in line with the country's contributions since the advent of Nielsen SoundScan data in 1991. Three of the top 10-selling albums in the U.S. in that span are by Canadian acts:

No. 2, Shania Twain, "Come on Over," 15,512,000
No. 3, Alanis Morissette, "Jagged Little Pill," 14,709,000
No. 10, Celine Dion, "Falling Into You," 10,789,000

( Metallica's self-titled 1991 album leads with sales of 15,720,000).

In the group's home country this week, in a reverse of the Billboard 200, Nickelback bests Buble on the Top Canadian Albums chart, where "Here and Now" narrowly tops "Christmas," 50,000 to 45,000, according to SoundScan.

On the Billboard 200, "Christmas" looks set for a second week at No. 1 after topping "Here" this week in the chart's tightest race for No. 1 in four years.


NEXT: More Potentially Uncoverable Cover Songs