SWIFT’S STILL FEARLESS

Riding her hot streak through the holidays into the new year, Taylor Swift returns to #1 for the fourth consecutive week atop the HITS’ Album Sales chart as Fearless remains the leader, drumming up another 74k in sales. The Big Machine release is now up to 2.3 million and counting, with no end in sight.

Vancouver rockers and American Express commercial stars Nickelback climb #6-2 as their Roadrunner album, Dark Horse, generates another 53k in sales.

Roc-a-Fella/IDJ rap icon Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak remains strong at #3, with Columbia’s Beyonce (#4) and Chop Shop/Atlantic’s Twilight soundtrack (#5) rounding out the Top 5.

Jive/ZLG’s Britney Spears (#6), Geffen’s Keyshia Cole (#7), J/RMG’s Jamie Foxx (#8), UMe’s Now 29 (#9) and SRC/Universal Motown’s Akon, riding the momentum of a trio of singles in “Right Now (Na Na Na),” “I’m So Paid” and “Beautiful,” back into the Top 10, are the other chart leaders.

For those scoring at home, that gives Doug Morris’ Team UMG five of the Top 10, including #1.

Among the Top 50 returnees are Columbia’s rookie phenoms MGMT (#36), Island Best New Artist Grammy nominee Duffy (#40), Virgin’s Saving Abel (#41), A&M/Octone’s Internet and radio sensations Hollywood Undead (#44) and Ultra’s Ultra Dance 10 (#46).

Capitol newcomer Katy Perry’s One of the Boys is the week’s only double-digit gainer, up 10%, moving #23-12 as she embarks on a U.S. tour.

Showing similar upward mobility are Interscope’s disco diva Lady GaGa (#24-15), riding her chart-topping single, “Just Dance,” and Mercury Nashville’s country sweethearts Sugarland (#41-30).

Hitting stores this week is the Bad Boy soundtrack to the Biggie Smalls biopic, Notorious, with Sony Legacy’s Mariah Carey ballads best-of and Sony Nashville’s Gretchen Wilson at retail next Tuesday (1/20).

Columbia rock god Bruce Springsteen’s Working on a Dream and a new album from Asylum rapper Mike Jones street on Jan. 27.