Madonna's new album 'American Life' is likely to top both the UK and US charts this week - the album is currently the best selling on both sides of the Atlantic.
That said, there's tough competition in the US. Madonna's album is expected to get to number one with sales somewhere between 200,000 and 250,000. That's considerably less that the 300,000 American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson sold to top the chart last week, and Clarkson is still selling well this week. And some reckon 50 Cent might triumph, again. 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' sold another 200,000 units last week, while hybrid CD/DVD '50 Cent The New Breed' sold 250,000 copies, so this week's chart could yet prove another coup for Shady Records.
In the UK Madonna's number one seems more secure (though we all thought she'd top the singles charts this time last week) with MeatLoaf the only other album expected to enter into the top ten. Mr Loaf's new album is expected to fair better than the first single release, which only managed number 31 on its first week. But as Meat Loaf fans will tell you - he's always faired better when it comes to album sales.
Singles wise midweeks expectations are that Busted will end Room 5's four week run at the top with their first number one with 'You Said No'. In fact current sales figures suggest Room 5 will slip to number five to make way for four new entries - Busted, David Sneddon, Lisa Maffia and White Stripes in that order.