Friday March 28, 8:51 PM
Mariah Carey set to rule singles chart
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Mariah Carey is on track to
collect her 18th No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart
next week.
"Touch My Body," the first single from her upcoming album,
dipped one place to No. 15 on the latest survey, issued
Thursday. But the fresh availability of a digital download
should send the song hurtling to the top next week.
That will push Carey to second place among artists with the
most No. 1s in the rock era. The record is held by the Beatles
with 20. She is currently tied with Elvis Presley.
Carey's album, "E=MC2," the follow-up to her 2005
Grammy-winning smash "The Emancipation of Mimi," is due in U.S.
stores on April 15.
The current Hot 100 champ is Leona Lewis, who becomes only
the third British solo female artist in the rock era to reach
the top with her debut chart entry, "Bleeding Love." The only
other artists to achieve this milestone were Sheena Easton with
"Morning Train (Nine to Five)" in 1981 and Petula Clark with
"Downtown" in 1965.
Counting all U.K. solo females who have spent time at No. 1
on the pop singles chart, Lewis is the first to visit the
penthouse since Kim Wilde had a one-week stay in June 1987 with
her cover of "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Counting all U.K. acts
that have reached the summit, Lewis is the first to do so since
James Blunt occupied the top rung for one week in March 2006
with "You're Beautiful."
A little further down the latest Hot 100, Madonna's "4
Minutes" entered at No. 68. The Material Girl was last on the
Hot 100 with "Sorry," which peaked at No. 58 in March 2006.
"4 Minutes" represents the 53rd entry of Madonna's career,
but only the second single on which she shares billing with
another musician: Justin Timberlake is credited as a featured
artist. Madonna's first shared credit was "Me Against the
Music," the 2003 single that was billed as Britney Spears
featuring Madonna.
The new single comes from the album "Hard Candy," which is
due in U.S. stores on April 29.
Reuters/Billboard
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