So Far, Shaggy Is the Year’s ‘Hotshot’ in Sales

The seventh volume in the “Now That’s What I Call Music” hit compilation series holds the top spot on the nation’s album sales chart for the third consecutive week, according to SoundScan.

The album, which features recent hits by such artists as Destiny’s Child and Janet Jackson, sold 279,000 copies last week, enough for a comfortable lead over Alicia Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” (180,000) and ‘N Sync’s “Celebrity” (167,000).

The “Now” package has sold 1.3 million copies since it was released July 31, making it one of 48 albums this year that have sold at least 1 million copies.

The year’s Top 10 sellers as the record industry enters its busy fall season:

(1) Shaggy’s “Hotshot” (4.2 million).

(2) Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” (2.9 million).

(3) “Now That’s What I Call Music 6” (2.8 million).

(4) ‘N Sync’s “Celebrity” (2.8 million).

(5) Staind’s “Break the Cycle” (2.7 million).

(6) The Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday” (2.6 million).

(7) The Beatles’ “1” (2.5 million).

(8) Janet Jackson’s “All for You” (2.2 million).

(9) Dido’s “No Angel” (2.1 million).

(10) Linkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” (2.1 million).

The artists holding the next 10 spots, in order: Limp Bizkit (2.1 million), Nelly (2 million), the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack (1.9 million), the “Save the Last Dance for Me” soundtrack (1.8 million), Jennifer Lopez’s “J.Lo” (1.8 million), Tupac Shakur’s “Until the End of Time” (1.7 million), Lifehouse’s “No Name Face” (1.6 million), Alicia Keys (1.6 million), the “Coyote Ugly” soundtrack (1.6 million).

The remaining spots in this week’s Top 10 are held, in order, by the Isley Brothers, Usher, Jadakiss, the “American Pie” soundtrack, Staind, Linkin Park and Lopez.

While no new release entered the Top 10 this week, “American Pie 2” jumped 19 places to No. 7 in its third week on the charts.

On the singles front, Janet Jackson’s “Someone to Call My Lover” replaces Mariah Carey’s “Loverboy” as the No. 1 seller.

Several high-profile new releases are expected to challenge for Top 10 positions next week, headed by Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama.” Others with new releases likely to do well next week: Slipknot, Brian McKnight, Bjork, Afroman, Toby Keith and Krayzie Bone.