MIDNIGHT STRIKES FOR LINKIN PARK

The band’s new WB album, Minutes to Midnight, fueled by the #1 Active Rock track, “What I’ve Done” and favorable reviews from legit papers like the N.Y. Times, is headed for an impressive debut of 550k, maybe even 600k, which would be by far the biggest first week of the year. Blue Note chanteuse Norah Jones’ Not Too Late was the previous topper, with 418k back in February.

That’s what our crack team of retail counters assure us is the trend as we head into the weekend.

What you heard was Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Lyor Cohen breathing a sigh of relief in two-part harmony.

Blackground/Universal Motown’s Tank is a pleasant surprise for Sylvia Rhone and company at almost 100k, while SBMG Nashville’s Gretchen Wilson will do 65-70k first week. Speaking of, look for last night’s Academy of Country Music Awards telecast, where Wilson was a presenter, to boost several titles on next week’s chart.

Metal legends Megadeth, now on industry bulwark Roadrunner, are headed for a still-impressive first-week total of 60k, give or take, while Nonesuch critical darlings Wilco return with a lauded new album, Sky Blue Sky, that seems headed for 50-55k, based on its #3 ranking on iTunes and a Starbucks presence.

The market was up less than a point vs. last week, down 23% vs same week last year and now down 17% year-to-date. You may return to dreaming about the good old days of nu metal.