TIMBALAND TRIES TO CUT DOWN TIM

The much-in-demand hip-hop producer’s new Mosley Music Group/ Blackground / Interscope album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value, will challenge for the top spot on next week’s chart with a total approaching 140k, which should put it neck-and-cowboy hat with Tim McGraw for #1.

Three divas, one country, the others pop and R&B, could profit from strong Easter sales to challenge the two guys. SBMG Nashville chanteuse Martina McBride’s latest, Waking up Laughing, could have her doing just that next week, with a shot at 120k. Hollywood Records’ Hilary Duff is all grown up on Dignity, which is also heading towards 120k . Finally, Beyonce releases a deluxe version of her hit Music World/Columbia/CRG album, B’day, which should add 100-110k to her total, featuring the hot new duet with Shakira, “Beautiful Liar.”

Asylum rapper Paul Wall appears to be all up in your grill with an estimated first-week total of 80-90k for the Houston hip-hop star with the gold teeth’s aptly titled Get Money, Stay True album

Mercury Nashville’s Live at Texas Stadium, featuring country superstars Alan Jackson, George Strait and Jimmy Buffett, looks to be in the 50-55k range, the same total for bluegrass star Alison Krauss’ greatest hits album for Rounder, A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection

RCA’s southern rock critical darlings Kings of Leon return with the acclaimed Because of the Times, which seems headed for an impressive 40-45k in first-week sales.

Next Tuesday’s (4/10) releases include Cassadaga, the eagerly anticipated new album from Bright Eyes phenom Conor Oberst, on Omaha indie Saddle Creek.

The market was up almost 5% vs. last week, down over 15% vs. same week last year and now down between 16-17% year-to-date.