LIL WAYNE’S ‘CARTER III’ IS 2008′S TOP SELLER

Rapper Lil Wayne’s latest CD, “Tha Carter III,” sold almost 3 million copies last year to become 2008’s best-selling album.       

       However, its 2.88 million copies marks the first time since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991 that the best-selling album of a calendar year has moved less than 3 million copies, according to Billboard.      

       Also among 2008’s Top 10 best-selling albums are T.I.’s “Paper Trail” at No. 8 and Beyonce’s “I Am … Sasha Fierce” at No. 10 with 1.46 million.      

       The rest of the top ten is as follows: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” ranked No. 2, followed by Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” at No. 3,  Kid Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus” at No. 4,  AC/DC’s “Black Ice” at No. 5, Swift’s self-titled debut at No. 6, Metallica’s “Death Magnetic” at No. 7 and Jack Johnson’s “Sleep Through the Static” at No. 9.

       Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” was 2008’s best-selling digital album, and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” was the year’s best-selling digital track, according to Nielsen SoundScan’s year-end data.