The Times Music Index Stacking Up Sales

Total album and single sales of CDs and cassettes for the week ending May 2, versus week-ago and year-ago levels. In thousands of units sold. Latest week: Albums: 8,132 Singles: 1,861

Week ago: Albums: 8,762 Singles: 1,887

Year ago: Albums: 8,480 Singles: 1,852

Atop the Charts

The biggest-selling albums and most popular singles--based on sales or radio airplay--for a range of musical categories. Both are indicators of music company performance. For the week ending May 2. ALBUMS

Rank Category Title Artist Last Wk. Label Overall Get a Grip Aerosmith New Geffen Classical Gorecki: Zinman 1 Nonesuch Symphony No. 3 Country Some Gave All Billy Ray 1 Mercury Cyrus New artists Connected Stereo MC’s 1 Gee Street Jazz So Near, So Far Joe Henderson 1 Verve Contemporary Wes Bound Lee Ritenour 2 GRP R&B; The Chronic Dr. Dre 1 Death Row

Parent Category Company Overall MCA Classical Time Warner Country Polygram New artists Polygram Jazz Polygram Contemporary MCA R&B; Priority

SINGLES

Rank Category Title Artist Last Wk. Label Overall Freak Me Silk 2 Keia Contemporary I Have Nothing Whitney Houston 1 Arista Country Alibis Tracy Lawrence 1 Atlantic Dance Show Me Love Robin S. 2 Big Beat Latin Me Estoy Enamorando La Mafia 1 Sony Discos R&B; That’s the Way Janet Jackson 75 Virgin Love Goes Rap Down With the King Run-D.M.C. 1 Profile Album rock track Livin’ on the Edge Aerosmith 1 Geffen Modern rock track Regret New Order 1 Qwest

Parent Category Company Overall Elektra Contemporary BMG Country Time Warner Dance Big Beat Latin Sony R&B; EMI Rap Profile Album rock track MCA Modern rock track Time Warner

Source: SoundScan Inc.; Billboard magazine