Album sales plummeted last week, typical for the time of year but atypical in magnitude. Sales fell 34% from the previous week and were 18% lower than the same week in 2006 (which were 7% higher than the same week in 2005). Here's why: J Records released Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable on December 20, 2005. In its third week of release -- the week that is comparable to last week -- it dropped 34% but still sold 131,000 copies.

Last week's best seller didn't sell half of what Foxx's album sold in its third week out. This year, The Dreamgirls soundtrack moved a mere 66,000 last week and took #1. Last year, new releases from Mary J Blige and Eminem were still selling strong. This year, the highest debut was Carly Simon's Into White (Columbia), which sold 40,000. Last year, The Strokes' First Impressions of Earth debuted with sales of 88,000.

The last two Tuesdays of January will have some big releases and should offset the slow start to 2007.

Akon's Konvicted (SRC/Universal Motown) sits at #2 after selling 63,000 and change. In just eight weeks, Konvicted has sold 1,222,000 units (3% digital) but is still 16,000 units shy of Jay-Z's seven-week total. (That should definitely change next week. I'm surprised Kingdom Come hasn't fallen further down the chart.) Young Jeezy's Inspiration (Def Jam) Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam) are still in the Top 10, at #8 and #9, respectively.

Robin Thicke's Evolution of Robin Thicke (Interscope) is finally getting momentum. It rose 27 spots to #35 after rising 33 spots a week earlier. "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks is going the opposite direction. The chart position of his self-titled Arista debut has gone from #2 to #15 to #36 to #47. It's currently #53 at adult-oriented Amazon.com. That's bad news for Sony BMG.

New York University is seeking a Department Chair for The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.