Charts: Now 43 hits No. 1, Rick Ross drops to No. 2

Now That’s What I Call Music 43, the latest entry in the popular hits compilation series, debuts at No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The album sold 111,000 copies its first week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and marks the Now series’ 16th No. 1.

In an era of iTunes and Spotify, it’s somewhat surprising these compilations continue to sell so well. But as these things go, Now 43 is pretty good, compiling Poptropolis-endorsed hits from Carly Rae Jepsen (“Call Me Maybe”), Maroon 5 (“Payphone”), David Guetta (“Titanium”), Ellie Goulding (“Lights”), Justin Bieber (“Boyfriend”), Demi Lovato (“Give Your Heart a Break”), M83 (“Midnight City”), Calvin Harris (“Let’s Go”) and our favorite new British pixie Cher Lloyd (our choice for Song of the Summer, the sassy “Want U Back”).

Rick Ross, who covers the current issue of Rolling Stone, falls to No. 2 with his latest, “God Forgives, I Don’t.” Staying power is not Ross’ forte; of his four No. 1 albums, none have repeated at No. 1, and they have spent a combined total of four weeks in the chart’s top spot. Ross is a boss of many things, but chart longevity is not one of them.

Amazon’s MP3 store, which has had a ball toying with the charts in recent months, sends a deeply discounted Frank Sinatra hits set all the way to No. 3. The Chairman’s “Nothing But the Best” was sold on Amazon’s MP3 store for 99 cents last week, sending its sales sky high, just as last week Amazon landed a Bee Gees hits set in the top five. In a light chart week, Amazon could send a chart nugget all the way to No. 1.

Elle Varner and Colt Ford round out this week’s top five.

Next week’s chart will see big debuts from Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz and from Insane Clown Posse, who look to make a big chart splash with “The Mighty Death Pop,” which is being sold in three separate collectible editions.  The group’s last set, 2009′s “Bang! Pow! Boom!” landed at No. 4 with 50,000 first-week sales.

Billboard’s Top 10 albums (sales in parentheses, figures according to Nielsen SoundScan)

1. Now 43 (111,000)

2. Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don’t (60,000)

3. Frank Sinatra, Nothing But the Best (40,000)

4. Elle Varner, Perfectly Imperfect (33,000)

5. Cold Ford, Declaration of Independence (31,000)

6. Zac Brown Band, Uncaged (31,000)

7. Justin Bieber, Believe (29,000)

8. One Direction, Up All Night (29,000)

9. Adele, 21 (26,000)

10. Kidz Bop 22 (23,000)