‘High School Musical 2’ Still Rules Billboard Chart

In what was a slow week for album sales, the ‘High School Musical 2’ Soundtrack remained atop the Billboard 200 album chart for the fourth time in a row, selling 164,690 copies.

Fergie’s “The Dutchess” climbed three spots to come in at # 2 this week, even though sales were slightly less for the album than last week.

Miley Cyrus faced a similar situation at # 3, as “Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus” sold less, but climbed one spot nonetheless.

Christian pop/rock group Casting Crowns dropped two spots to land at # 4, with “The Altar And The Door” facing a 69% sales decrease.

In at # 5 is Chiodos’ “Bone Palace Buffet” — the only new album to crack the top 40 this week. The rock group’s third album moved 38,696 copies, which is a vast improvement over the 6,000 copies sold of their last album upon its debut in 2006.

The “Hairspray” movie soundtrack and the “NOW 25” hits collection remain at #‘s 6 and 7, respectively.

Nickelback rises two spots to # 8 this week, while Amy Winehouse and Linkin Park enjoy slight sales upticks to round out the Top 10.

Souljaboy holds on to the top of the Hot Downloaded Singles Chart, while Matchbox 20’s latest, “How Far We’ve Come,” debuts at # 3.

Singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat makes an impressive leap from # 18 to # 8 with “Bubbly,” a single that was a phenomenon on MySpace when she was still an unsigned artist (she’s now with Universal Republic).

Next week’s album charts will reveal the winner of the much-hyped “sales war” between Kanye West and 50 Cent. Early reports indicate that West will come out on top, with sales projections in the 500-700 thousand range. But 50 Cent also needs to be wary of country superstar Kenny Chesney, whose latest album is pacing closely with his in the 550,000 range!

Below are Billboard’s Top 10 Album and Top 10 Downloaded Singles charts for the week.

TOP 10 Albums

ARTIST- TITLE -UNITS SOLD

1. SOUNDTRACK – High School Musical 2 – 164,690
2. FERGIE – The Dutchess – 48,590
3. MILEY CYRUS – Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus – 46,976
4. CASTING CROWNS – The Altar And The Door – 40,501
5. CHIODOS – Bone Palace Ballet – 38,696
6. SOUNDTRACK – Hairspray – 38,691
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Now 25 – 37,846
8. NICKELBACK – All The Right Reasons – 36,217
9. AMY WINEHOUSE – Back To Black – 28,930
10. LINKIN PARK – Minutes To Midnight – 28,406

TOP 10 Downloaded Singles

1. SOULJA BOY – Crank That (Soulja Boy) – 170,858
2. KANYE WEST – Stronger – 156,086
3. MATCHBOX TWENTY – How Far We’ve Come – 94,010
4. TIMBALAND FEATURING KERI HILSON – The Way I Are – 82,645
5. NICKELBACK – Rockstar – 77,450
6. FERGIE – Big Girls Don’t Cry – 70,638
7. SEAN KINGSTON – Me Love – 62,509
8. COLBIE CAILLAT – Bubbly – 62,133
9. SEAN KINGSTON – Beautiful Girls – 59,944
10.50 CENT feat. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & TIMBALAND – Ayo Technology – 54,204