Monica, Bonnie Raitt and Counting Crows Aiming High on Billboard 200
April 13, 2012   |    By Keith Caulfield, Los Angeles

R&B singer Monica is heading for her fifth straight top 10 album, as New Life is aiming to sell around 60,000 by week's end on Sunday, April 15, according to industry sources. That figure might be enough to give her a top five placing on the tally next week.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed the morning of Wednesday, April 18.

Monica's last album, 2010's Still Standing, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, shifting 184,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. All of her efforts, save for her 1995 debut Miss Thang, have reached the top 10. Her lone No. 1 remains 2003's After the Storm.

While Monica will likely be the chart's top debut, she may not sell enough to hit No. 1. That honor will probably fall to Adele's 21 -- again! -- which could move perhaps 90,000 to 100,000 and notch a 24th nonconsecutive week at No. 1.

Veteran singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt may have her highest charting album in nearly two decades, as Slipstream may sell around 40,000 copies. That could be enough to start in the top 10, depending on how the rest of the week shakes out. Raitt hasn't visited the top 10 since 1994, when Longing in Their Hearts spent seven weeks in the region, peaking at No. 1 on April 16.

Counting Crows are also in the hunt for a high start next week with Underwater Sunshine, the rockers' first studio album since 2008. It may move around 20,000 or so, which would likely enable a top 20 debut. The band's previous studio release, 2008's Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 106,000.

On Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart (below), Monica's New Life is No. 1, Adele's 21 is No. 2 and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is No. 3. The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking, reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week as reported by six major merchants.

One Direction's Up All Night is in fourth place, Hoodie Allen's All American is fifth, Raitt's Slipstream is sixth and Lionel Richie's Tuskegee is seventh. Rascal Flatts' Changed is at No. 8, Alabama Shakes' Boys & Girls is at No. 9 and Counting Crows' Underwater Sunshine is at No. 10.

Nielsen SoundScan Building Chart
Rank LW
BB 200
Artist Title
1 NEW Monica "New Life"
2 2 Adele "21"
3 1 Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"
4 5 One Direction "Up All Night"
5 NEW Hoodie Allen "All American"
6 NEW Bonnie Raitt "Slipstream"
7 4 Lionel Richie "Tuskegee"
8 3 Rascal Flatts "Changed"
9 16 Alabama Shakes "Boys & Girls"
10 NEW Counting Crows "Underwater Sunshine"
The Building Chart reflects the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week (which ends Sunday) as reported by six major merchants: iTunes, Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates that they make up about 85% of all U.S. album sales.
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