Susan Boyle, if expectations hold, could surpass 2009's debut week bestseller. Eminem's Relapse, which scanned 608,000 units in its first week of release, currently holds the title. Also rising through the Billboard ranks this week is Adam Lambert, whose controversial AMA performance has done nothing but boost his sales. The American Idol alum is projected to sell around 225,000 copies of his debut album, For Your Entertainment. Similarly, Lady Gaga is expected to sell around 200,000 copies of her newly released EP The Fame Monster and 150,000 additional units of her debut album, The Fame, thanks to the debut of the deluxe edition.

Then there is the good girl gone bad, Rihanna. Her 4th studio album, Rated R, is expected to move around 162,000 units this week. This is disappointing considering the whirlwind of press and promotion for her latest effort, including multiple interviews, several live performances, three singles, and two music videos. Most people argue that Rihanna has never had amazing first week sales. Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna’s last studio album, scanned 162,000 units its first week of release. However, Rihanna wasn't the international superstar she is today when Good Girl Gone Bad debuted back in 2007. The fact that she's being beat out by the re-release of one new artist and the debut album of another is embarrassing. She's seemingly not even providing any real competition for her competitors. In a last ditch effort to boost sales her label has even slashed the price of the CD to 99 cents on Amazon. Even iTunes singles are more expensive than 99 cents these days. McDonald's dollar menu anyone?

(Source: Billboard and IDJ)