Omarion leads weak post-Christmas album chart

NEW YORK (Billboard) - R&B singer Omarion led the last pop album chart for 2006 with his new album "21," while discs from Akon and the "Dreamgirls" movie rocketed up the rankings to round out the medal tally.

Omarion's Columbia Records release sold 119,000 copies across the United States in the week ended December 31, according to Nielsen SoundScan data issued Wednesday. His 2005 solo debut "O" also opened at No. 1, but with 182,000 copies in its first week.

The Billboard 200 hosted a number of major gains fueled by deep discount pricing at large retailers. Akon's "Konvicted" climbed eight places to match its previous high of No. 2, even though sales fell more than 50% to 112,000.

The soundtrack for "Dreamgirls," which opened nationally in theaters on Christmas Day, soared 28 places to No. 3 despite a 16.6% sales drop to 104,000. Last week's No. 1, Nas's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," fell to No. 4 on a 71% slide to 101,000.

Rounding out the top 10, Young Jeezy's "The Inspiration" rebounded 13 places to No. 5 with 92,000 copies; the multi-artist compilation "NOW 23" fell three to No. 6 with 89,000; the Eminem-led collection "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up" jumped 17 places to No. 7 with 84,000;

Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" rose one to No. 8 with 83,000; Ciara's "Ciara: The Evolution" climbed two to No. 9 with 79,000; and the "Hannah Montana" soundtrack slid eight to No. 10 (78,000).

The Billboard 200's other top debut was Switchfoot's "Oh! Gravity" at No. 18 with 63,000. The San Diego rock act's prior album, "Nothing Is Sound," debuted at No. 3 in September 2005 with a career-best sales week of 131,000.

Other titles making significant jumps despite sales declines this week included My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade," up 42-16; the Game's "Doctor's Advocate," up 66-35; 30 Seconds To Mars' "A Beautiful Lie," up 80-39; and the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' "Don't You Fake It," up 101-47.

Also new this week were the compilations "15 Years on Death Row" at No. 100, "Family Values Tour 2006" at No. 102, and "Rocky Balboa: The Best Of" at No. 109.

Overall, album sales were down 55% from the previous week and down 15.5% from the year-ago period, at 14.17 million units. Final sales totals for 2006 were down just shy of 5% from 2005 at 588 million units.

Reuters/Billboard