Kid Rock Rolls To No. 1 Album Chart Debut

As expected, Kid Rock scores his first No. 1 on The Billboard 200 this week with "Rock N Roll Jesus." The Top Dog/Atlantic set sold 170,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Rock has had several bigger weeks in terms of sales (2000's "The History of Rock" bowed in the runner-up slot with 457,000) but this is the best debut of his four prior top 10 albums.

Last week's No. 1, Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" (Columbia), suffers a 60% drop-off to 130,000 and falls to No. 2. Rascal Flatts' "Still Feels Good" (Lyric Street) is down 2-3 after a 43% slide to 96,000.

LeAnn Rimes' "Family" (Curb) is new at No. 4 after selling 74,000, her 12th charting effort on The Billboard 200. matchbox twenty's "Exile on Mainstream" (Atlantic) falls 3-5 in its second week after a 45% sales decline to 72,000. Kanye West's "Graduation" (Def Jam) rebounds 7-6 despite a 23% sales fall to 71,000.

Reba McEntire's "Reba Duets" (MCA) also inches up 8-7 on a 15% drop to 68,000, whie Sara Evans debuts at No. 8 with "Greatest Hits" (RCA) on sales of 66,000. Her last set, 2005's "Real Fine Place," debuted at No. 3 with 126,000.

Disney's "High School Musical 2" soundtrack climbs 10-9 despite a 14% drop to 66,000, while Josh Groban's holiday album "Noel" (143/Reprise) debuts at No. 10 with sales of 64,000.

Three debuts arrive in the Nos. 12-14 spots, with Jennifer Lopez' "Brave" (Epic) new at No. 12 with sales of 53,000. All of her previous six studio albums, including this year's Spanish-language "Como Ama Una Mujer," debuted in the top 10 -- and four of those peaked in the top two slots.

Alter Bridge's Universal debut, "Blackbird," starts at No. 13 with 47,000, while Eric Clapton's "Complete Clapton" (Reprise) bows at No. 14 with 45,000. Additional top 40 debuts come from the Naked Brothers Band's self-titled Sony album (No. 23; 34,000), Puddle Of Mudd's Geffen set "Famous" (No. 27; 31,000) and Band Of Horses' sophomore Sub Pop album, "Cease To Begin" (No. 35; 21,000).

Album sales are down 6.3% from last week at 8.34 million units and 17.4% from the same week in 2006 (10.09 million units).

Kid Rock Splits With Longtime Manager

Just as he's reached the top of the album charts for the first time, Kid Rock has made a major change at the top of his business operations.

Rock's manager, Detroit-based Ed "Punch" Andrews, who also handles Bob Seger, has resigned after seven years of working with the Michigan rocker. Sources tell Billboard.com that Andrews has decided to retire after shepherding Rock's latest album, "Rock N Roll Jesus," to release last week.

"Rock N Roll Jesus" is Rock's first No. 1 album on The Billboard 200, selling just over 170,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Rock has reportedly replaced Andrews with Nashville-based Vector Management, which handles Bon Jovi, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others.

Neither Rock, who was performing in Nashville, nor Andrews could be reached for comment. It's unknown whether Andrews will continue working with Seger, whom he's handled since the late '60s.

Rock is in the midst of a theater tour to promote "Rock N Roll" Jesus." He also has TV appearances slated for "Ellen" on Oct. 25, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Oct. 26, the American Music Awards on Nov. 22 and on Larry the Cable Guy's VH1 Christmas special in December.

"Amen," the second single from "Rock N Roll Jesus," will ship to radio later this month, according to Rock's web site.