Steve Barnett’s Team Columbia begins the new year like they ended the old one—on top of the chart.

The leading marketshare label for 2006 enters 2007 with the year’s first #1 album in the Dreamgirls soundtrack, which could be in for a longer stint at the top if the persistent Oscar buzz remains true to form.

Of course, the one-week total of 68k is the lowest for a #1 album since these stats were first compiled, so it’s nothing to write home about.

In addition, it could easily be one and done, with Walt Disney Records’ Jump In soundtrack, starring curly-haired High School Musical heartthrob Corbin Bleu, on deck for next week.

SRC/Universal Motown rapper Akon continues to ride his two smash duets with Eminem (“Smack That”) and Snoop Dogg (“I Wanna Love You”) to a #2 finish for one of the stronger performers over the holidays. Up next, a third single, “Don’t Matter,” which is Top 5 Most Added at Rhythmic this week.

RCA/RMG American Idol alum Daughtry is another strong performer, landing at #3, ahead of Jive/ZLG’s still-strong Grammy nominee Justin Timberlake.

Sony Label Group’s perennial Now 23 keeps its momentum going at #5, followed by last week’s chart-topping Omarion with his Columbia album 21, at #6. Nas’ Def Jam/IDJ bow, Hip-Hop Is Dead, proves it most definitely is not, at #7 after topping the chart two weeks ago.

Rounding out the Top 10 at #8, Walt Disney’s Hannah Montana soundtrack continues the remarkable roll for Bob Cavallo’s Buena Vista Music Group, which had three albums in the 2006 year-end Top 10, including High School Musical and Lyric Street’s Rascal Flatts. Def Jam/IDJ’s Young Jeezy (#9) and Rascal Flatts (#10) complete the leaders.

Roadrunner/IDJ’s Nickelback (#11), Arista/RMG’s Carrie Underwood (#12), LaFace/ZLG’s Ciara (#13), Columbia’s Beyonce (#14), Epic’s The Fray (#15), Shady/Aftermath/Interscope’s Eminem (#16), Universal Republic’s Hinder (#17), Apple/Capitol’s The Beatles (#18), Interscope’s Gwen Stefani (#19) and A&M/Interscope’s Fergie (#20) comprise the second 10.

Among the newcomers, keep an eye on Star Trak/Interscope’s Robin Thicke (#28) and Virgin’s surging 30 Seconds to Mars (#29).

Next week, aside from Jump In, there’s a new album from rapper/actor Mos Def on Geffen.