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SALES REPORTING UPDATE 6/6/05: Mariah Carey moved back into the #1 spot on Hits Daily Doubles "Building Album Sales Chart" this week as the so-called urban genre (R&B/rap/hip-hop) reasserted its popularity. A reminder that HDD has the first public sales reporting of each week and represents "raw" album numbers. No singles and no separation by genre. It begins reporting on Mondays (except when Monday is a holiday) and posts its finals on Tuesday. The finals for the week come out on the Billboard charts, normally on Thursday. BB bases its numbers on HDD and Nielsen Soundscan numbers. This is why HDD calls this "Building Album Sales," because you can track the early sales numbers as they come in and build over the first two days of the week.

The only two AI-related albums in the top 50 are Kelly's "Breakaway," and the Season 4 compliation album. Kelly moves back into the top 10 with the strongest sales increase of the leading albums. "Breakaway" jumped from #15 last week to #9 this week, with a +15% sales increase, selling a remarkable 69,376 in its 27th week of release. Only one other album saw a sales increase this week, Gwen Stefani's rap album "Love, Angel, Music, Baby." It's sales are being driven by the only top single on the album, "Hollaback Girl."

The American Idol Season 4 album saw a steep sales decline of -30%, dropping from #19 to #25 with only 38,250 units sold. To put this in perspective, Kelly's "Breakaway" sold 31,126 more units than AI Season 4 this week. It is the weakest-selling group album of the four AI seasons. If it keeps dropping at this rate, it will be out of the top 50 quickly.

Time will tell if this weakness carries over to sales for this year's winner and runner-up.

A final note for now: If the info from the AI boards is accurate that both Carrie's and Bo's singles debuted on BB at #60 and #63, I won't be able to report anything until (unless) they rise into the top 50. This is because only the top 50 singles are available on BB's public website. A subscription is needed to see complete data. In any case, I will keep an eye out for us re their actual sales.

I have to admit, sorry to say, that when the first AI was on air I did not watch. I laughingly thought that Kelly Clarkson wouldn't last long. But I am glad she did. I have liked several of her songs and she still seems untouched from all the fame. Not sleazy like Brittney. I hope she maintains that image and doesn't do things to shock the public.

It is the weakest-selling group album of the four AI seasons.

And country music is over populated right now with slightly heavey pie faced blonds.

Not looking good.

Thanks Wolfstar.