BRITNEY BIG TOPS THE CHART

Britney Spears’ Jive/ZLG release Circus debuts at #1 this week with an impressive 505k in sales, culminating an impressive pre-release promotional campaign that included an MTV documentary, a Rolling Stone cover story and a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Now, the one-time teen queen embarks on a world tour, which starts March 3 in New Orleans.

Big Machine’s Taylor Swift is up next, remaining at #2 with another solid week for Fearless, selling 183k, with the rest of the Top 5 rounded out by Columbia’s Beyonce (#3), Roc-a-Fella/IDJ’s Kanye West (#4) and Roadrunner’s Nickelback (#5).

Atlantic’s Twilight soundtrack (#6) heads the bottom half of the Top 10, followed by SRC/Universal Motown’s Akon, debuting at #7, UMe’s Now 29 (#8), 19/RCA/RMG’s David Cook (#9) and Disney’s High School Musical: Senior Year (#10).

Asylum/Atlantic Geto Boy alum Scarface is the week’s other top entry at #29, while Decca’s Mamma Mia! soundtrack reenters along with Reunion Christian rocker Michael W. Smith (#41), Hollywood’s All Wrapped Up compilation (#43) and Disney’s Camp Rock (#50).

Biggest movers are all holiday-themed albums, including Legacy’s Elvis Presley Christmas Duets (#29-18, +45%), Provident/Reunion’s Casting Crowns (#34-20, +44%), Sony Classical’s Yo-Yo Ma (#47-32, +24%), UMe’s Now Essential Christmas (#44-31, +22%) and Columbia’s Harry Connick Jr. (#28-21, +19%). Give the gift that keeps on giving…music.

Next week’s chart debuts should include Geffen’s Common, Brandy with her first album for new label Epic, Atlantic’s Musiq Soulchild and Capitol’s Avant.