That’ll be more than enough to topple the King of Pop’s reign at #1, though expect Michael releases to dominate the rest of our Top 5, if not, inexplicably, Soundscan's.

STRAIT TO THE TOP

MCA Nashville Vet Unseats Michael, Cobra Starship Rises
Twang goes bang.

Yep, that’s the sound of honky-tonk veteran George Strait’s latest MCA Nashville hitting the #1 spot on next week’s HITS Album chart, the latest success in a long and still-potent career.

Based on one-day sales figure from all those music retailers who haven’t become medical marijuana dispensaries shows the country star will sell a total close to 150k.

That’ll be more than enough to topple the King of Pop’s reign at #1, though expect Michael releases to dominate the rest of our Top 5, if not, inexplicably, Soundscan's.

Red-Hot Cobra Starship, the latest Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen release (home of Panic at the Disco, among others), distributed by Atlantic, are the next heighest debut at 40-45k, fueled by the Top 5 single, “Good Girls Go Bad,” featuring Gossip GirlsLeighton Meester. The band’s led by clever Gabe Saporta, who fronted the group Midtown on Columbia several years ago.

Valory country singer/songwriter Justin Moore’s self-titled album could do in the 34-37k range, thanks to a hit single on the format, “Small Town USA.”

E1 (formerly Koch) rap all-star group Slaughterhouse, consisting of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5’9”, should do between 23-25k.

Mercury/IDJ country pop pin-up Jessie James debuts with between 18-20k, while Vagrant thrash-rock perennials Thrice’s iTunes exclusive will net them 12-14k.

The market was up 1% vs. last week, down 16% vs. same week last year and still down 14% year to date.

Hey, what are you doing just sitting there? Go disrupt a town hall meeting or something.

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