How Will Former Hit Makers Fare This Time Around?

If ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Eminem, Limp Bizkit and the rest of the hot pop properties think that they’d like to take a little break from the fame treadmill rather than cashing in while they’re on top, they might want to talk to someone like, say, Hanson, Chumbawamba or Aqua.

Those three, who in the late ‘90s all had breakthrough hit albums, are getting ready to return to the market with new releases--and may be in for a tough time.

One reason: ‘N Sync, Spears, Eminem and the Bizkit are cashing in while they’re hot, and their new albums are among the most anticipated of a large crop of spring-into-summer season releases. That means there may be little room left on radio playlists and store shelves for what in pop standards is now old news.

The interesting thing about Hanson: Taylor, Isaac and Zack are still younger than the Backstreet and ‘N Sync crews. But they’re trying to sound older. The new album, “This Time Around” (due May 9), combines the band’s classic-pop roots with new influences ranging from the Grateful Dead to Smash Mouth and features fellow precocious star Jonny Lang on the title song.

“They’ve definitely matured as musicians,” says Michael Steele, music director of L.A. pop radio leader KIIS-FM (102.7), who has heard the Oklahoma trio’s new album. “Anyone who thought they were just kids screwing around will be proved wrong.”

Making another run at the top of the charts could prove an even bigger challenge for Chumbawamba and Aqua. The groups are as different as can be--the former a bunch of English anarchists who broke through after more than a decade of underground struggles with the sing-along portrait of British pub denizens, “Tubthumping,” the latter cartoonish Danes who scored with the goofy “Barbie Girl.” But both’s success was marked by the stigma of the novelty, one-hit wonder.

Whatever, here’s some of the competition the groups will face:

* ‘N Sync’s “No Strings Attached” (due March 21). Could the fivesome surpass last year’s million-plus opening-week sales mark of the Backstreet Boys’ “Millennium”? The group’s single “Bye, Bye, Bye” is huge, and the market hasn’t lost any hunger for them. “I’ve heard most of the tracks and they’re very good,” says Steele. “The songwriting’s very strong, though they don’t write the songs themselves, of course.”

* Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP” (due late May). Last year’s “The Slim Shady LP” made the Detroit rapper the one to watch in the genre, and he’s riding high again thanks to his prominent guest role on Dr. Dre’s “Dr .Dre 2001.” Dre’s back at the controls for the Eminem follow-up, with guests including Snoop Dogg and Xzibit. “The collaborations and guest appearances and production will make this take off like crazy,” says E-Man, the music director for L.A. hip-hop station KPWR-FM (105.9), who also notes Xzibit’s coming album, overseen by Dre as well, among the most anticipated.

* Spears’ still-untitled follow-up to the 9-million-selling “. . . Baby One More Time” (due May 16). She lost the best new artist Grammy to Christina Aguilera, who also is getting (relatively speaking) more respect for her singing. No wonder Spears is doing a version of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” on this sophomore effort. Satisfaction or no, the sales seem a sure thing. (Aguilera will be on her heels again, with a Spanish-language album probably in late summer and a Christmas album in the fall.)

* Limp Bizkit’s follow-up to last year’s “Significant Other” is due in early summer. Success hasn’t dampened leader Fred Durst’s fighting spirit. Rick Rubin only lasted one week as producer on the new project before he left, with rock veteran Terry Date taking over. In any case, it’s a sure-thing smash to KROQ-FM (106.7) music director Lisa Worden, who is looking at a potential July 4 release, declaring it “Limp Dependence Day.”

* Matchbox 20’s “Mean Season by Matchbox 20” (due May 23). It’s been three years since the Florida band’s multi-platinum debut was released, but singer Rob Thomas’ “Smooth”-Santana collaboration made him one of pop’s most ubiquitous figures even before the Grammy wins. “This will be spectacular, especially now that Rob Thomas is a star thanks to Santana,” Steele says. “Before it was a nameless, faceless band and still sold a lot of records.”

* Big Pun’s “Yeeah Baby!” (due April 4). This album, finished just before the rapper’s heart-failure death last month, will be in high demand, with the new single “It’s So Hard,” featuring guest Donell Jones, paving the way on rap radio.

* Lil’ Kim’s “Notorious K.I.M.” (due June 27). With a wardrobe that makes Jennifer Lopez seem like a Victorian spinster, Kim should have no trouble getting, um, exposure. E-Man reports that bootlegs of some of the new material are indicating a lot of public demand for the album.