EMINEM STILL TOPS
IN A WEAK WEEK

Eminem's Encore (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) will remain atop the sales chart this week, in early returns from retailers across the country, and it looks like the only album that will top 100k.

In all, the chart totals are down a whopping 35% from last week as we head into 2005.

Reprise's Green Day appears headed for #2, with Good/Sony Urban/Columbia red-hot newcomer John Legend at #3, followed by Def Jam South/IDJ's Ludacris, TVT's Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz, Mercury Nashville's Shania Twain, LaFace/ZLG's Usher, Columbia/CRG's Destiny's Child and WB's Jay-Z/Linkin Park and RCA/RMG's Kelly Clarkson.

This week's only significant release is Capitol's R&B/hip-hop soundtrack to the MTV theatrical film Coach Carter, which hits retail tomorrow (1/11). The lead single is "Hope," by Twista featuring Faith Evans with additional tracks by Fabolous, Chingy, The Game f/Lil Scrappy, Ciara, Kanye West, Van Hunt, Mack 10 f/Da Hood, St. Lunatics and Red Cafe's "All Night Long," the second single.

The year's first big release comes a week from Tuesday, Jan. 18, when The Game's Documentary streets. The album's the latest from 50 Cent's G Unit/Aftermath posse, which is expected to sell more than 200k.