Weakend Chart Preview

As many as six debuts will land in next week's Top 15, with Madonna leading the way, the second of at least three weeks for UMG in the #1 slot. Next week, ending 4/8, Nicki Minaj is expected to debut on top. Lionel Richie continues to astound with remarkable, sustained sales. Also note: a year ago, Adele’s 21 was also in the #3 spot, with 94k in sales. Twelve months later, she’s in the same place, this time with between 110-120k as her remarkable story continues. Here's how it looks headed into the weekend:

*Madonna (Interscope) 325-350k
*Lionel Richie (Mercury Nashville) 150-175k
Adele 21 (XL/Columbia) 110-120k
*Shinedown (Atlantic) 85-95k
The Hunger Games soundtrack (Universal Republic) 65-75k
One Direction (Syco/Columbia) 40-45k
Katy Perry (Capitol/EMI) 30-35k
Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) 27-30k
*The Used (Hopeless) 27-30k
Now 41 (Capitol/EMI) 25-28k
The Shins (Columbia) 24-27k
Whitney Houston Greatest Hits (RCA) 21-24k
Gotye (Fairfax/Universal Republic) 19-22k
*The Mars Volta (Warner Bros.) 17-20k
*All-American Rejects (Interscope) 17-20k
Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville/EMI) 17-20k
fun. (Fueled by Ramen) 17-20k
Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 17-20k

*Debuts (3/29p)