According to midweek sales numbers that were released yesterday, Britney is on course to debut at #3 this week on the official UK album chart.

Not bad, considering her last studio album, In The Zone, only debuted at #14.

We’ll see on Sunday what the official chart placing is.

Hits Daily Double has released its initial prediction for the US album chart this week.  This is what they had to say:

Britney Spears’ Blackout album will debut on next week’s HITS chart at #1, with an impressive total that could threaten 400k. As it is, the beleaguered grown-up teen diva looks on target to sell between 350-380k, which ain’t bad at all.

The album is also #1 on most of the international iTunes stores, including the UK and US stores.

For three of the most turbulent months of the pop star’s life, Kalie Machado was a constant by Britney Spears‘ side.

Plucked from a hairdresser’s assistant gig in December 2006 to serve as Spears’ personal assistant, Machado, 23, soon found herself a featured player in Brit’s daily soap opera, a drinking companion and shoulder to cry on.

Now living back in Northern California, Machado tells Us all the heartbreaking details of Brit’s breakup with Kevin Federline, and how Spears, 25, even desperately tried to win him back.

Unable to move on, Spears hung her wedding dress in the bedroom of her Malibu home. She also kept framed photographs of she and K-Fed all over the house. “She would ask, ‘Why did he do this to me?’” Machado tells Us, adding: “It just made her crazy and depressed.”

Source: Us Weekly

Britney (sort of) spoke to Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM this morning, she said she won’t do any promotion for the album.  She didn’t really say much and basically let her friends do the talking.

Download Part 1 and Part 2. 

Aside from maybe Britney Spears herself, there is probably no one on this planet more familiar with the ins and outs of the pop starlet’s life in recent months than her good friend and constant companion Sam Lufti. From the courthouse to the nightclub, the “Gimme More” singer rarely goes anywhere these days without her guy-friend Sam, which made him the perfect person to sit down with OK! to clear the air of all the rumors and allegations surrounding the former Mrs. Kevin Federline.

In an exclusive interview in the new issue of OK!, Sam talks openly about everything from what Brit’s career plans are for the future to stories of drug and alcohol abuse by the 25-year-old mother of two.

“When the state does eight random drug tests and they all come out negative, that speaks for itself,” Sam explains to OK!. “I said five months ago that she doesn’t do drugs, and now the judge is saying it.”

Well, one of the reasons so many believe those substance abuse rumors is Britney’s odd behavior in recent months, including her seemingly aimless, multi-hour-long drives around Malibu and Los Angeles. “Sometimes she just doesn’t want to deal with the paparazzi,” says Sam. “It gets scary out there for her and she decides, ‘All right, I’m just going to go home.’”

As for Brit’s tense relationship with ex-hubby K-Fed, Sam says Britney wants to remain friendly with the wannabe rapper and that it hurts her when people slam him in the press. “She doesn’t like anyone talking bad about him. He’s the father of her children.”

For the complete, raw interview with Sam, pick up the new issue of OK! — on stands everywhere Thursday.

Source: OK! Magazine

As Britney Spears’ new album “Blackout” earns praise from critics, one of the producers on the album has come forward to say Britney deserves all the credit.

“Extra” spoke to Kara DioGuardi, who produced and wrote songs for Britney.

“When I worked with her she was pregnant with her second child. Her spirits were up,” DioGuardi says. “She came to the studio on time. She worked really hard. She would get into her zone and was unstoppable. I had a great experience with her. I felt very confident about what we would do together.”

DioGuardi co-wrote the single, “Ooh Ooh Baby,” with Britney and says, “I spent time with her and her first baby in the studio. I would look at the two of them, the way they looked at each other and the way she would hold the baby. It kind of struck me as interesting. At times it’ll be about a kid at times about a lover. She contributed to the lyric. She came up with some really cool parts.”

Since work on the record wrapped up, DioGuardi has not kept in touch with Britney but is still standing behind her.

“Everybody is rooting for Britney,” DioGuardi says. “There’s a lot of sympathy for her. Britney is Britney, she’s made a lot of people smile over the years. I’m hoping this record is as well received as the other ones. I have nothing but good things to say about her.”

Source: Extra

Issuing his order today, Commissioner Scott Gordon gave Spears three visits per week, two from 12:00 Noon to 7:00 PM and one overnight visit. The visits will be monitored.

Spears and K-Fed are ordered to figure out holiday schedules with the kids.

Britney must submit evidence that she childproofed her pool area by Friday.

In the order, the Commish wrote that when Britney has the kids, “the environment at the house ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all.” The Commish also recounts what the parenting coach complained of — that “during all three of my visits, Ms. Spears rarely engaged with the children in either conversation or play.”

According to the report, the coach wrote, “It seems that [Britney's] choices are dependent more upon what she wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children.”

The coach also said Spears seemed to have “a lack of general attention at times” but there was nothing she would characterize as “abusive in a traditional sense.”

And then the most damning comment from the parenting coach: “The problem is that unless Ms. Spears realizes the consequences of her behavior and the impact that it has [on] her children, nothing is going to be successful.”

Source: TMZ

Britney’s official record label has finally had a worthwhile update!

They have assumed a blog format and it looks like there is going to be an official message board for fans to interact.

Check it out here. 

Britney got in the Halloween spirit last night by going out to Winston’s in Hollywood in a pirate style dress.  Ahoy!

Britney was spotted at Virgin Megastore in Hollywood last night as fans lined up to get their hands on her eagerly anticipated new album “Blackout”.

Unfortunately, the paparazzi ruined things.  There were about 12 photographers there waiting for her so she decided not to get out of the car and leave straight away.

On her new CD, “Blackout,” Britney Spears acknowledges that 2007 hasn’t been a charmed year. “I’m Mrs. Bad Media Karma, another day another drama,” the 25-year-old pop princess croons to a thumping dance groove on the song “Piece of Me.”

“Another day, another debacle” might have been a more apropos lyric. In just a year’s time, Spears has become the ultimate case study for the “When Celebs Go Bad” file. She’s been an out-of-control party girl, landed in rehab, lost temporary custody of her two young sons, given a horrendous performance on live TV and gotten herself arrested.

But despite her litany of woes, “Blackout,” due out Tuesday, may be the one positive note in an otherwise dreadful year. So far, it’s earned her a Top 10 single (with “Gimme More”) and some of the best reviews she’s had in ages.

Could “Blackout” be the break Britney needs? Industry insiders, fans and some critics are saying “yes.”

“One of the problems for Britney right now is the public is more focused on her personal life than her music. This record is an opportunity to change that,” says Rolling Stone executive editor Joe Levy, who called the album “state of the art.”

“A lot of people are tired of hearing about the negative stuff going on in her personal life and they’ll gravitate to the new sound she’s putting out,” says Nate “Danja” Hills, who produced five songs on dance-focused “Blackout.”

“This is a rebirth. It’s a new musical chapter for her,” he says.

Spears’ musical past is already the stuff of legend. She was 16 when she put out her first album, “… Baby One More Time,” in 1999. Fueled by title track, which had the teen crooning the refrain “hit me baby one more time,” the album sold more than 14 million copies in the United States and made her an international superstar. She’s released three multiplatinum studio albums since then, had best-selling tours, several hit singles and starred in a movie (the less-than-successful 2002 flick “Crossroads”).

But Spears, who turns 26 in December, hasn’t released an album of original material since 2003’s “In the Zone.” Since then, she’s been relegated to the tabloid realm of celebrity, in danger of rivaling Michael Jackson in freak-show status.

Still, Junior Sanchez of Los Angeles, a 21-year-old college student, says the singer’s woes make him “feel more attached to her.”

“I can really tell she’s going through a lot of bad stuff right now,” he says. “Her real fans don’t care about her personal life. We care about her music and the way she performs.”

Though Sanchez was “really disappointed” with Spears’ appearance at MTV’s Video Music Awards, he eagerly sought leaks of her new album online and says he likes what he’s heard so far.

“It’s one of her best, I honestly think,” he says. “I’m ready to buy her records and I’m ready to buy tickets to her concert.”

Sanchez isn’t alone.

“Gimme” was the top-selling digital song on the week of its release, and Spears losing custody of her two toddlers a week later didn’t slow sales.

Fans remain loyal despite the drama, says Jerry Del Colliano, a music-industry professor at University of Southern California.

“Look at her single sales,” he says. “She couldn’t have been through a darker time. She embarrassed herself on television, she was ridiculed by bloggers and still she was No. 1.”

However, “Gimme” topped out at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and, after seven weeks, has dropped to No. 13.

Still, marketing consultant Ryan Schinman, president of Platinum Rye Entertainment, said: “I’d be shocked if this didn’t go platinum.”

“It certainly doesn’t help that she can’t promote this properly, but she doesn’t need that much promotion,” he adds. “You can’t get more out there than she’s been out there. (The album) is going to sell. People are curious because they know what a train wreck she’s been.”

It may help Spears that her club-friendly sound appeals to an older audience rather than the teens and tweens she originally courted, says Geoff Mayfield, Billboard’s senior analyst and director of charts: “If kids were still a huge part of her album base, the nefarious publicity would be more troublesome.”

“Blackout” features 12 thumping dance tracks crafted by top pop and hip-hop producers including Bloodshy & Avant (who produced Spears’ 2004 Grammy-winning hit, “Toxic”) and Danja, the beatmaster behind Spears’ single “Gimme More.”

Danja, a Timbaland protege who already scored hits with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, says he was “excited” to work with Spears and expects people to support the album, which has a “hard-hitting, dark and sexy vibe.”

Jive Records, Spears’ label since her debut, has remained mostly mum about the pop star. Jive officials declined to discuss why the album’s release date was changed (it was originally set for Nov. 13), how many more albums are in Spears’ contract, or the marketing challenges involved with promoting the troubled singer.

“As Britney’s label, it’s not our place to comment on her personal issues, but we do care about her and support her,” label spokesman Allan Mayer said in a recent statement. “Britney’s a grown woman who makes her own choices, and we respect that. But she faces challenges that most of us can’t really imagine.”

Source: Rolling Stone Magazine

Britney’s fifth studio album, “Blackout”, was released today in the United Kingdom. The disc was released in most continental European countries, including Ireland, at the end of last week.

Unfortunately, SonyBMG UK changed the tracklisting and the UK edition of the album doesn’t have any bonus tracks. Nevertheless, the bonus tracks are still set to appear on the Japanese version.

All the big music shops are stocking it, and it’s album of the week at Sainsbury’s.

The CD will be released tomorrow in the USA and some other parts of the world.

“Gimme More” has fallen 3 places this week and is now at #6.

This was the first week that included physical sales.

Leona Lewis is #1 with “Bleeding Love”.

“Extra” spoke exclusively to Britney Spears’ former manager, Larry Rudolph, last night at the Maloof brothers’ house warming party.

Rudolph spoke about his high expectations for Spears’ new album, Blackout, declaring, “I think it’s going to do great! I have heard almost all of it!”

Rudolph tells “Extra” that his partnership with the pop princess is not over, indicating that the two of them plan to work together again very soon. Rudolph admits that the door is still open for another go at being Spears’ manager.

In fact, Rudolph is so close to the Spears clan that he talks to Britney’s parents almost daily and says he has nothing but love for the entire family.

Source: Extra

The hearing is over.

Britney Spears has left the courtroom, escorted by her attorneys and several Sheriff’s deputies. Britney’s visitation has been extended over the weekend, and the judge took the bigger custody issue under submission.

K-Fed’s attorney spoke to reporters after the hearing, and told the group that the court will issue a written ruling sometime Monday or Tuesday.

Source: TMZ

During a brief break from her custody hearing on Friday, Britney Spears told reporters that “everything’s great” at the court appearance.

The singer and her ex-husband Kevin Federline both arrived at the courthouse amid a media frenzy earlier in the afternoon.

Spears, who arrived in her white Mercedes-Benz along with longtime friend Alli Sims, wore a long-sleeved dress and sunglasses. Spears, who came through security at around 1:40 p.m., followed by most of her legal team, smiled slightly and ignored questions as she walked into the courtroom.

Five minutes later, Federline arrived decked out in a dapper gray suit and sporting close-cropped hair and diamond studs in each ear. He silently made his way into the courtroom with his attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Inside the courtroom, Federline took a seat and discreetly glanced over to his right where Spears was seated. She, however, kept her arms folded in front of her, and never turned to look at her ex.

After the judge entered the courtroom, both Spears and Federline stood simultaneously and were sworn in. When asked to state her name, Spears replied quietly, “Britney.” Federline stated his full name.

About an hour into the hearing, Spears exited courtroom with attorney Anne Kiley for a short break. Asked how the appearance was going, she replied, “Everything’s great.”

A judge had ordered the couple to appear for a progress-report hearing in their ongoing custody battle. L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon will be hearing from various custody experts involved in the case.

For now, Federline retains physical custody of sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. Spears has monitored visitation rights, and one overnight per week with her children.

The judge is not expected to reinstate the 50-50 custody arrangement that was in place before Spears was stripped of custody and allowed only visitation.

“At best, she may get unmonitored visits and more overnight privileges,” says family law attorney Scott Weston, who’s not involved with either party. “This case is still in the early stages and could go on for months.”

Source: People Magazine

At 1:40pm PT on Friday, Britney Spears walked into an L.A. courtroom to make her first appearance in the ongoing custody battle with Kevin Federline, wearing a very short blue dress, brown cowboy boots and Dior sunglasses and carrying her white Versace bag, kept her head down and, according to an onlooker, “seemed really nervous.” And from the get-go, it was clear the former marrieds weren’t prepared to put their differences behind them any time soon.

“They barely looked at each other,” an eyewitness tells OK!. “They did exchange a couple of glances but there were not smiles. The rest of the time they were just looking straight ahead.”

The Toxic singer removed her sunglasses after sitting down at a table at the front of the courtroom. Britney, who had been smoking rapidly as she pulled up to court, “looked nervous” as she waited for proceedings to begin.

Kevin, wearing a snappy grey suit and tie, entered the courtroom five minutes later and thanked his security team, saying “Thank you, gentlemen.” The eyewitness tells OK! “Kevin was looking confident, more in control.”

Before the hearing, Brit’s attorney kept leaning in and talking into her ear. All the while, she sipped water and at flipped through a datebook.

Britney and Kevin, positioned with his attorney at a table opposite his ex, both said “I do” when they were sworn in by a court clerk. “There was a lot of tension in the courtroom,” adds the eyewitness. “There’s a lot at stake for both sides.”

The press and members of the public were removed from the courtroom a short while later.

After about an hour, the hearing broke for a short recess, during with Britney was escorted to the ladies’ room by five sheriff’s deputies.

During the hearing, the court security blocked off the whole floor and wouldn’t let anyone through, including Brit’s friend and cousin Alli Sims and hanger-on Sam Lufti, who damaged two cars in the courthouse parking lot while attempting to block paparazzi from taking photos.

“Alli looked very worried,” one witness tells OK!. “She was biting her nails and I heard her say to Sam, ‘God, I hope she’s okay.’”

Source: OK! Magazine

The Britney AM hearing is over — it was all about videotaping Brit’s deposition.

K-Fed’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told the judge he wanted to videotape Spears’ depo, because the way Britney speaks is as important as what she says.

Sources tell us that during Britney’s last court appearance, her words to the Commissioner sounded sincere but they were dripping with sarcasm.

Spears’ lawyer, Thomas Dunlap, argued that there have been tons of leaks and he didn’t want the videotape ending up on TMZ.com.

The Commish said he was not concerned about Britney being videotaped because she seems to court all that with the media. He said, “Your client’s concern on paper makes sense, but the ongoing pattern with the media and with the kids doesn’t square.”

Parent Crap — click to launchBut ultimately, Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled he would not allow a video because he was concerned about the content leaking to the media.

As for TMZ getting the story as to what was in the parenting coach’s report, Commissioner Gordon said, “I am deeply impressed by the investigative work of the media, although I think it’s a little stretch of their talent.” Aw, shucks!

Source: TMZ

I take it they mean that the hearing planned for 3pm today is still going on…

Just a day before she’s due in court for another custody hearing, Britney Spears was spotted out shopping with her sons — and the court-approved monitor — at Swings ‘N Things.

TMZ caught Spears arriving at the Calabasas emporium yesterday afternoon, her monitor driving Brit’s white Mercedes as Jayden and Sean slept in the back seat. Spears emerged to her usual paparazzi crush while the boys stayed in the car with Brit’s new “friend.” The popwreck quickly pointed out which wooden swing set she wanted and went inside.

Both Britney and K-Fed are due in court today at 1:30 PM.

Source: TMZ