Country combo Rascal Flatts logged its fourth No. 1 on the U.S. pop album chart on Wednesday, while Miley Cyrus enjoyed a big boost for the soundtrack to her new box office champ.
Rascal Flatts' sixth set of new songs, "Unstoppable," sold 351,000 copies during the week ended April 12, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In line with the overall music business, the group's sales have been on a downward trajectory since "Me and My Gang" blew in with 722,000 copies in 2006. The follow-up, "Still Feels Good," started with 547,000 units in 2007.
With its fourth chart-topper, the group moves out of a tie with Dave Matthews Band, Disturbed, Linkin Park, Staind and System of a Down, all of whom have three No. 1s on the Billboard 200 this decade.
Cyrus jumped three places to No. 2 with "Hannah Montana: The Movie," which sold 196,000 copies. The title, which started at No. 2 (136,000) two weeks ago, benefited from the movie's first-place debut at the North American box office last weekend with ticket sales of $32 million.
A pair of debuts earned the next two spots: Jadakiss' "Last Kiss" opened at No. 3 with 135,000 copies. The rapper last hit in 2004 when "Kiss of Death" started at No. 1 with 246,000 units. Country rocker Jason Aldean followed with "Wide Open," which sold 109,000. His last set, "Relentless," also began at No. 4 in 2007 with 98,000 units.
The multi-artist set "Now 30" slipped one to No. 5. Taylor Swift, who appears in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," jumped four places to No. 6 with "Fearless."
Keith Urban's reigning champ "Defying Gravity" fell to No. 7, in its second week. The "Twilight" soundtrack slipped one to No. 8. Prince's Target-exclusive triple-disc set "Lotus Flow3r/MPLSound/Elix3r" slid seven places to No. 9, also in its second week. Lady GaGa's "The Fame" was down one at No. 10.
Also new was a reissued version of Dolly Parton's 2008 album "Backwoods Barbie," which entered the chart at No. 40.
(Reuters April 16, 2009)
