Madonna set to top U.S. chart despite sales slump

By Keith Caulfield

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Madonna is on track to net her seventh No. 1 album on next week's Billboard 200, despite a big drop in sales, according to preliminary data issued Wednesday.

Her new album "Hard Candy" sold about 100,000 copies during its first day of sale Tuesday, according to estimates provided by tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.

Late last year, R&B singer Chris Brown's "Exclusive" posted a first day number of 107,000 and ended up with 294,000 copies for the week. However, sources close to the Madonna project indicate that with much of "Hard Candy's" first-day figure driven by iTunes sales, its full sales week could end up closer to the range of 225,000-250,000.

Madonna's last studio effort, 2005's "Confessions on a Dance Floor," started at No. 1 with 350,000 copies for the week. Before that, 2003's "American Life," widely considered a commercial disappointment, debuted at No. 1 with 241,000 copies.

Among all female artists, only Barbra Streisand has earned more No. 1s -- with eight. Currently, Madonna, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson are all tied at No. 2, with six apiece.

Leading the charge for "Hard Candy" is first single "4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Madonna first rang the Billboard 200's bell when "Like a Virgin" reached No. 1 in late 1984. Since then, she's claimed No. 1s with "True Blue" (1986), "Like a Prayer" (1989), "Music" (2000), "American Life" and "Confessions."

Five sets peaked at No. 2 -- "I'm Breathless" (1990), "The Immaculate Collection" (1990), "Erotica" (1992), the soundtrack to "Evita" (1996) and "Ray of Light" (1998).