October 21, 2009

By By Keith Caulfield, L.A.

Next week, the "New Moon" may rise ... to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Industry prognosticators suggest that "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" soundtrack, which debuted at No. 2 this week on the Billboard 200, has a shot at moving into the penthouse next week. It may sell 100,000 to 120,000 copies by week's end on Sunday night. What could stand in its way? Tim McGraw's new "Southern Voice" album, which could shift 95,000 to 110,000.

"New Moon" bowed at No. 2 with 115,000 copies this week after the album was rushed forward from its original Tuesday, Oct. 20 street date to a release on Friday, Oct. 16 in order to combat leaks. The soundtrack album and its No. 1-peaking "Twilight" predecessor mark the first soundtracks from a theatrical film release and its sequel to each reach the chart's top two positions.

Other albums in the hunt for high entries next week include Joss Stone's Target and iTunes-exclusive "Colour Me Free," Rammstein's "Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da" and Flight of the Conchords' "I Told You I Was Freaky."

Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in Billboard's sales charts, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. Next week's album charts will be revealed on Wednesday, Oct. 28 and will reflect data through the week ending Sunday, Oct. 25.

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