The chart's record for the most No. 1 debuts in a year is 23, set in both 2001 and 2002. We have already seen 15 albums bow on top this year, compared with 12 during the first 27 weeks of last year, so another milestone may be in the making.

buddy love: "American Idol" isn't the only TV talent show wielding influence on Billboard's sales charts. Buddy Jewell, the inaugural winner of USA Network's "Nashville Star" series, bows at No. 1 on Top Country Albums and No. 13 on The Billboard 200 (see Nashville Scene, page 27).

The Columbia artist becomes the first rookie in seven years to enter the country list at No. 1 (see Chart Beat, page 54).

Although Jewell's Billboard 200 rank is seven places higher than first-season "Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini's rank in his first chart week, the latter's opening sum was 10% larger than Jewell's 52,000-unit start.