<b>Taylor Swift's</b> 'Speak Now' On Track for Massive Billboard 200 <b>...</b>

by Keith Caulfield, L.A.  |   10? 26, 2010 2:54 EDT

Though we've yet to unveil whether Sugarland's "The Incredible Machine" or Kings of Leon's "Come Around Sundown" has won the battle for the No. 1 crown on this week's Billboard 200 chart, we're already looking at next week's chart, where Taylor Swift's "Speak Now," released on Monday (Oct. 25), is aiming for a monster debut.

Industry prognosticators are suggesting the Big Machine set may arrive with as much as 800,000 to 900,000 copies sold by week's end on Oct. 31. And, there's even a chance it could approach 1 million.

Taylor Swift: The Billboard Cover Story

Swift's start is on track be more than 2010's current biggest week, when Eminem's "Recovery" arrived at No. 1 with 741,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. If "Speak Now's" fortunes turn out to be especially rosy, it could be the industry's first album to sell 1 million copies in one week since Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" bowed with 1,006,000 in June of 2008.

Photos: Taylor Swift's Fashion Evolution

"Speak Now's" sales must be music to the industry's ears, after many superstar album releases this year have failed to meet or exceed first-week expectations. A month ago, sources were projecting the "Speak Now" would start with 750,000.

Taylor Swift's last album, "Fearless," started at No. 1 with 592,000 in November 2008 and has sold 6 million.

ChartBeat: Taylor Swift By-The-Numbers

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Billboard Bits: Taylor Swift Canoodles with Jake Gyllenhaal, Coldplay Puts ... - Billboard

Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.

Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal Spotted Apple Picking

Taylor Swift has been spotted around New York City with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. The two spent the past weekend (Oct. 23-24) apple picking in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., where they were caught canoodling between the trees. The couple is rumored to have been dating for only two to three weeks now, but neither have decided to "Speak Now" to confirm or deny reports. (Us Weekly)

Coldplay Most Likely to Put Insomniacs to Sleep, Survey Says

If you suffer from insomnia, try a warm glass of... Coldplay. The rock group topped a recent survey conducted by Travelodge that ranked music most likely to help people fall asleep. If Coldplay doesn't do the trick, the survey found that Michael Buble and Snow Patrol produced the next best snooze-worthy tunes. The list also included melodic and calming acts like Jack Johnson, Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift. ( Travelodge via NME)

Kanye West and Jay-Z Collaboration Goes from EP to Full-Length

The recording project between Kanye West and Jay-Z will now be turned into a full-length album, titled "Watch The Throne." "We're going to the South of France at the end of the month to just record new ideas. But we'll probably be done with the album in a day," West said, regarding the collaboration. (MTV) 

Girl Talk Readies New Album for End of Year Release

Girl Talk, aka mash-up DJ Greg Gillis, recently revealed in an interview that his next album is on track for release by the end of 2010. The currently untitled album will feature samples from Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Black Sabbath and Supergrass, to name a few. "It's definitely in the same ballpark as 'Feed the Animals,' but the production's more complex and there's more of a variety in the source material," said Gillis. (Pitchfork)

T.I. Dropped by Remy Martin Cognac

After being dropped by Axe last week, T.I. has also been dropped by Remy Martin Cognac. A spokesperson for Remy Martin said that the company has severed ties with the rapper, but they hope he will "devote his energy to staying the course." (Rap Radar)

J.Lo's Twins Model for Gucci

Jennifer Lopez took her twins, Max and Emme, to the beach to model for the new Gucci children's line. J.Lo said that Emme is the budding fashionista, already picking out her own outfits, while Max is resistant to getting dressed at all. Gucci is making a donation to the UNICEF Schools for Africa initiative in honor of the launch, which encouraged J.Lo to sign on. "It's exactly why I'm excited to be a part of this," Lopez said. "Now there are two Gucci spokesbabies for a beautiful cause!" (Popeater)

Keith Richards to Release Solo Retrospective Album

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is set to release his first-ever solo album, titled "Vintage Vinos," on Nov. 2. The album will include remastered hits from out-of-print albums from the '80s and '90s, as well as unreleased original tracks. 

(Reporting by Jillian Mapes, Walter Frazier, Megan Vick and Emma Gaedeke)

View the original article here

<b>Taylor Swift's</b> 'Speak Now' On Track for Massive Billboard 200 <b>...</b>

by Keith Caulfield, L.A.  |   October 26, 2010 2:54 EDT

Though we've yet to unveil whether Sugarland's "The Incredible Machine" or Kings of Leon's "Come Around Sundown" has won the battle for the No. 1 crown on this week's Billboard 200 chart, we're already looking at next week's chart, where Taylor Swift's "Speak Now," released on Monday (Oct. 25), is aiming for a monster debut.

Industry prognosticators are suggesting the Big Machine set may arrive with as much as 800,000 to 900,000 copies sold by week's end on Oct. 31. And, there's even a chance it could approach 1 million.

Taylor Swift: The Billboard Cover Story

Swift's start is on track be more than 2010's current biggest week, when Eminem's "Recovery" arrived at No. 1 with 741,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. If "Speak Now's" fortunes turn out to be especially rosy, it could be the industry's first album to sell 1 million copies in one week since Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" bowed with 1,006,000 in June of 2008.

Photos: Taylor Swift's Fashion Evolution

"Speak Now's" sales must be music to the industry's ears, after many superstar album releases this year have failed to meet or exceed first-week expectations. A month ago, sources were projecting the "Speak Now" would start with 750,000.

Taylor Swift's last album, "Fearless," started at No. 1 with 592,000 in November 2008 and has sold 6 million.

ChartBeat: Taylor Swift By-The-Numbers

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