US Charts: Beyoncé's '4' Headed For No. 1

From Billboard.com:

Beyonce's fourth studio album, "4," is headed for a No. 1 debut next week on the Billboard 200 chart with maybe 300,000 copies sold by week's send on Sunday, July 3, according to industry prognosticators. If it starts at the top, it will be her fourth No. 1 solo album -- her three previous studio sets all hit No. 1 as well.

A 300,000 launch is off from the 482,000 (according to Nielsen SoundScan) that greeted her last effort, 2008's "I Am... Sasha Fierce" and the 541,000-first week for 2006's "B'Day." Still, 300,000 could be viewed as a handsome bow in today's soft album-sales market and considering the set has yet to launch an across-the-board smash single.

Its lead-off track, "Run the World (Girls)," has so far peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 424,000 downloads in the U.S. That stands in stark contrast to "Sasha Fierce," which was ushered in by two hit lead tracks: "If I Were a Boy" (No. 3) and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" (No. 1).

So far, "4," is Beyonce's first album that didn't see its lead single reach the Hot 100's top 10. Her 2003 "Dangerously In Love" debut launched with "Crazy In Love" (No. 1 for eight weeks) while "B'Day's" first single, "Deja Vu," hit No. 4.

Beyonce's "4" was one of a number of big albums that hit retailers on Tuesday, June 28. Among the other titles headed for a top five bow next week are rapper Big Sean's "Finally Famous" and Selena Gomez and the Scene's "When the Sun Goes Down." They are perhaps going to sell 90,000 and 80,000, respectively, in their debut frames.

Also aiming for a top 10 entry is David Cook's second album, "This Loud Morning" and Limp Bizkit's first studio album in six years, "Gold Cobra."

This Week's New Releases (Jun28,'11)

Were you waiting for these? Not? Here's a list of some of this week's biggest releases, including superstar Beyoncé and the return of Limp Bizkit (didn't see that one coming!):

4 by Beyoncé
Gold Cobra by Limp Bizkit
Finally Famous by Big Sean
When The Sun Goes Down by Selena Gomez & The Scene
This Loud Morning by David Cook
I'm American by Billy Ray Cyrus
Taking Back Sunday by Taking Back Sunday

Lil Wayne Tops Hot 100 Amid 'Idol' Infusion

Lil Wayne is No. 1 for a third week on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Lollipop," amid the debut of 14 tracks from "American Idol" contestants David Cook (11) and David Archuleta (three). As previously reported, "Idol" winner Cook's debuts are a record both here and on Hot Digital Songs, where he has 14 new entries.

He has the top debut on the Hot 100 this week at No. 3 with "The Time of My Life," which sold 236,000 downloads. Leona Lewis remains No. 2 with "Bleeding Love," while Rihanna's "Take a Bow" slides 3-4 and Jordin Sparks' "No Air" featuring Chris Brown holds at No. 5.

Usher's "Love in This Club" featuring Young Jeezy drops 4-6, Ray J & Yung Berg's "Sexy Can I" falls 6-7, Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake is down 7-8 and Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine" slips 8-9.

Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" explodes 41-10 and is the top digital gainer after selling 139,000 downloads. The song is prominently featured in a TV ad for Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Chris Brown's "Forever" is the greatest airplay gainer this week, although is drops 20-23. Besides the "Idol" debuts, the only other new Hot 100 entries this week come from Taylor Swift's "Should've Said No" at No. 84, Julianne Hough's "That Song in My Head" at No. 88, Lloyd's "Girls Around the World" featuring Lil Wayne at No. 93 and Kanye West's "Homecoming" featuring Chris Martin at No. 96.

"Lollipop" is in a fifth week at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, where his guest turn on "Girls Around the World" is the top airplay gainer and jumps 28-22.

Brad Paisley starts a second week atop Hot Country Songs with "I'm Still a Guy." On that chart, Sugarland enjoys its career-best debut at No. 27 with "All I Want To Do," the first single from its July 22 Mercury release, "Love on the Inside."

On Billboard's rock chart, Weezer is No. 1 on Modern Rock with "Pork & Beans" for a fourth week, and Disturbed's "Inside the Fire" tops Mainstream Rock for a fourth as well.

Source: Billboard.com