Compilation Album ‘Now 6’ Is Now No. 1

Thanks to hits from such hot acts as Destiny’s Child, ‘N Sync and Creed, the latest volume in the “Now That’s What I Call Music” compilation series entered the nation’s sales charts Wednesday at No. 1.

The collection, the sixth in a series that was introduced in the U.S. in 1998, sold more than 525,000 copies in its first week in the stores. That topped the 444,000 first-week total of last year’s “Now 5,” the previous high for the series, which packages recent hit singles by various artists.

The concept has long been popular in England, but it was resisted for years in this country by record companies because they feared fans would buy the compilations to get a favorite single rather than buy the artist’s own album.

But research shows that about half of those who buy the “Now” albums also buy an album by one of the artists on the compilation.

Among the tunes on “Now 6”: Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open,” ’N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Destiny Child’s “Independent Women Part I” and Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me.”

The album’s success pushed “Until the End of Time,” the latest posthumous album by rapper Tupac Shakur, to second place. The two-disc album entered the charts last week at No. 1, selling 427,000 copies. It’s second week total fell to 243,000.

Besides “Now 6,” other albums entering the chart in the Top 10 this week: R&B; singer Ginuwine’s “Life” at No. 3; Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s “Live in New York” at No. 5; and rapper Big Pun’s posthumous “Endangered Species” at No. 7.

The rest of the Top 10 was claimed by Shaggy (No. 4), the Dave Matthews Band (No. 6), Limp Bizkit (No. 8), Dido (No. 9) and 112 (No. 10). The nation’s No. 1 single remains Janet Jackson’s “All for You.”