GRAMMY SPIKES RUN SWIFT

Epic’s The Fray, last week’s leader, drops to #2, just ahead of multiple Grammy winner Plant/Krauss, whose Raising Sand album on Rounder is up nearly 700% to #3 with 73k.

A pair of newcomers round out the Top 5 in Universal Republic’s India.Arie, with Testimony Vol. 2: Love and Politics at #4 and Capitol’s Lily Allen, whose sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You lands at #5. The other Top 10 chart debut is registered by Capitol R&B crooner Bobby Valentino, using his namesake holiday to score #10 for his album Rebirth.

Rhino’s Grammy Nominees 2009 compilation receives a boost from the telecast, up 170% at #6, followed by Capitol’s Grammy winner Coldplay, up 255% at #7, Columbia’s Bruce Springsteen at #8 and the label’s Best New Artist winner Adele, up 198% at #9.

The Top 50’s other newcomers include Universal Republic’s Lonely Island, the comedy troupe featuring SNL’s Andy Samberg, with such viral hits as “Jizz in My Pants” and “Dick in a Box,” entering at #13, Provident/Reunion Christian heavy metal rockers Red (#20), and Casablanca/Universal Motown’s Ryan Leslie (#37).

Other artists who receive a benefit from Grammy exposure include Atlantic’s Jason Mraz (#16, +32%), Grand Hustle/Atlantic’s T.I. (#17, +45%), Def Jam/IDJ’s Ne-Yo (#23, +50%), Cash Money/University Motown’s Lil Wayne (#27, +33%), Arista/RMG’s Jennifer Hudson (#45-28, +123%), Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland (#40-33, +88%), RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon (#34, +32%), Capitol’s Katy Perry (#36, +27%), Big Machine country diva Swift’s debut (#38, +31%), J/RMG’s Leona Lewis (#42, +22%) and WB’s Metallica (#43, +39%)

Next big releases on tap include the Jonas Brothers’ Hollywood Records soundtrack to their upcoming 3-D movie on Feb. 24, Interscope’s U2 and Def Jam/IDJ’s The-Dream on March 3 and RCA/RMG’s Kelly Clarkson streeting March 10.