February 04, 2010

By by Keith Caulfield, L.A.

Next week on the Billboard 200, look for Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" to hold atop the chart for a second week. The set could sell between 190,000 to 220,000 copies sold by week's end on Feb. 9.

That sales forecast is based on how, in the past year, most high-bowing country albums have generally dropped by anywhere between 55-60% in sales in their second week. However, throwing a wrench into predicting Lady A's second week is this past Sunday's (Jan. 31) Grammy awards, where the trio performed. It's likely that a full-week's worth of impact from the show will help soften "Need You Now's" second-week decline.

The highest debut will likely be Lil Wayne's almost-mythical rap/rock "Rebirth" album, which industry sources are suggesting may sell 125,000 to 150,000 copies. The repeatedly delayed "Rebirth" finally arrived in stores this week, nine months after its initial announced release date.

The Cash Money set was originally slated for an April 7, 2009 release, but that changed a number of times last year until the album was finally set to drop on Dec. 15, 2009. At the last minute, its release was postponed -- but not before a number of copies of the CD were accidentally shipped by Amazon.com to some customers who pre-ordered the album.

Other albums headed for notable debuts on next week's Billboard 200 include Nick Jonas and the Administration's "Who I Am" and Rob Zombie's "Hellbilly Deluxe 2."

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