Week Ending Jan. 20, 2013. Songs: Timberlake Loses Battle Of The Justins

“Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z vaults from #84 to #4 in its second week on the Hot 100. The song sold 315K copies in its first week, a good, but not great, total. Many songs have gotten off to faster starts, including Flo Rida’s “Right Round,” which sold 636K in its first week in February 2009; Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which sold 623K in its first week in August; and—and this is the one that will probably be hardest for Timberlake to take—Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend,” which sold 521K in its first week in April.

This is Timberlake’s best one-week sales tally. It tops “Sexyback,” the first single from Timberlake’s last album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, which sold 250K in its first week in August 2006. But digital sales tallies were much more modest back then than they are now.

For his part, Jay-Z has seen a better week. “Empire State Of Mind,” his Grammy-winning smash with Alicia Keys, sold 362K during Christmas week 2009.

“Suit & Tie” is Timberlake’s 20th top 10 hit on the Hot 100 (counting seven *NSYNC hits); Jay-Z’s 19th. This extends Jay-Z’s lead as the hip-hop artist with the most top 10 hits. Ludacris and Lil Wayne are runners-up, with 17 each. This is the first single from Timberlake’s third solo album, The 20/20 Experience, which is expected to be released in March.

“Suit & Tie” leaps from #27 to #2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, just behind “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz. It’s Timberlake’s third single to reach #2 on the R&B chart. It follows “My Love” and “Dead And Gone,” a pair of collabos with T.I. (Timberlake has yet to top the R&B chart, which I’m sure would be a thrill for him.)

Macklemore

& Ryan Lewis will soon be able to shop on Rodeo Drive if they choose. The duo’s “Thrift Shop,” a genial song about the hunt for 99-cent bargains, jumps from #2 to #1 in its 16th week on the Hot 100. It displaces Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven,” which held the top spot for six weeks. Billboard’s Gary Trust reports that Macklemore (real name: Ben Haggerty) & Ryan Lewis are the first duo to reach #1 with their first Hot 100 hit since Los Del Rio, which did the trick with “Macarena” in August 1996. (Let’s hope Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have better long-term prospects.)

The pair’s album The Heist rebounds from #24 to #15 on The Billboard 200. It has sold 272K copies in its first 15 weeks.

“Thrift Shop” holds at #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the second week. It’s the first song by a white artist to top the R&B chart since Robin Thicke’s “Sex Therapy,” which had two weeks on top in March 2010. As noted, this week’s #2 R&B hit is also by a white (lead) artist, a sign of how profoundly white artists have been influenced by black music.

“Thrift Shop” also holds at #1 on Hot Rap Songs for the third week and jumps from #17 to #16 on Hot Alternative Songs. That’s some reach.

“Thrift Shop” sold 341K digital copies this week. This is the second time the song has topped 300K in weekly sales. It sold 304K copies during Christmas week. The song this week surpasses Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.” to become the best-seller so far in 2013. (OK, we’re only three weeks in, but still…)

The Lumineers’

“Ho Hey” logs its fourth non-consecutive week at #3. It’s #1 on Hot Rock Songs for the 10th week…“Scream & Shout” by will.i.am featuring Britney Spears holds at #6 for the second week. It’s #1 on the new Dance/Electronic Songs chart for the second week.

Phillip Phillips’ “Home,” which dips from #9 to #10, this week surpasses Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” in total digital sales. “Home” is now second only to Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” as the best-selling song by any American Idol contestant. “Stronger” has sold 4,068,000 copies. “Home” is up to 3,728,000. “Before He Cheats” has sold 3,687,000.

Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 songs.

The Top Five: “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz jumps from #2 to #1 in its 16th week on the chart. This is its fifth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #1 (341K)…Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven” dips from #1 to #2 in its 16th week on the chart. This is its 13th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #7 (135K)…The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey” holds at #3 for the fourth non-consecutive week in its 33rd week on the chart. This is its 10th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #5 (156K)… “Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z vaults from #84 to #4 in its second week on the chart. It’s Timberlake’s 20th top 10 hit on the Hot 100 (counting *NSYNC hits); Jay-Z’s 19th. Digital sales rank: #2 (315K)…Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.” dips from #4 to #5 in its 14th week on the chart. This is its seventh week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #3 (221K).

The Second Five: “Scream & Shout” by will.i.am featuring Britney Spears holds at #6 for the second week in its eighth week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #4 (185K)…“Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin holds at #7 for the second week in its 18th week on the chart. This is its second week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #6 (141K)… Rihanna's “Diamonds” drops from #5 to #8 in its 17th week on the chart. This is its 14th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #15 (82K)…“Beauty And A Beat” by Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj dips from #8 to #9 in its 15th week on the chart. This is its seventh week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #9 (106K)…Phillip Phillips’ “Home” dips from #9 to #10 in its 30th week on the chart. This is its 12th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #8 (122K).

Flo Rida’s “I Cry” drops from #10 to #12, ending a nine-week run in the top 10.

“Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys featuring Nicki Minaj dips from #13 to #14 in its 20th week. The song peaked at #11. Digital sales rank: #10 (93K).

“F**kin’ Problems” by A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar jumps from #18 to #15 in its 12th week. A$AP’s debut album, Long.Live.A$AP, enters The Billboard 200 at #1 this week. Two more songs from the album enter this week’s Hot 100. “Wild For The Night (featuring Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam) debuts at #82. “Long Live A$AP” bows at #86.

Imagine Dragons have two songs in this week’s top 40. “It’s Time” dips from #15 to #16 in its 33rd week. “Radioactive” jumps from #41 to #36 in its 21st week.

“Sweet Nothing” by Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch jumps from #20 to #17 in its 11th week…Maroon 5’s “Daylight” jumps from #25 to #21 in its seventh week.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools (Drank)” drops from #21 to #23 in its 23rd week. The song climbed as high as #17. The song tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week. It’s Lamar’s first million-seller…“Hall of Fame” by The Script featuring will.i.am holds at #26 in its 17th week. The song also tops the 1 million mark. It’s The Script’s third single to reach this level, following “Breakeven” (2,615,000) and “For The First Time” (1,489,000).

The Band Perry’s

“Better Dig Two” jumps from #33 to #28 in its 12th week. The song jumps from #3 to #1 on Hot Country Songs, displacing Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” which spent five weeks on top. This is The Band Perry’s third #1 country hit, following “If I Die Young” and “All Your Life.”

Gary Allan’s “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” jumps from #35 to #29 in its 16th week. The song jumps from #4 to #2 on Hot Country Songs. Allan’s album Set You Free is expected to enter both The Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums at #1 next week.

Ke$ha’s “C’mon” jumps from #48 to #30 in its fifth week. It’s vying to become her ninth top 10 hit…Trinidad James’ “All Gold Everything” jumps from #52 to #42 in its sixth week.

“Love Me” by Lil Wayne featuring Drake and Future is the week’s top new entry at #53. It’s from Lil Wayne’s 10th solo studio album, I Am Not A Human Being II, which is due February 19. “Love Me” is vying to become Lil Wayne’s 18th top 10 hit; Drake’s 10th and Future’s first. It would be the fifth top 10 hit on which Lil Wayne and Drake have collaborated, following Lil Wayne’s “Right Above It” and “She Will,” Drake’s “Forever” (which also featured Kanye West & Eminem) and DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One” (which also featured Rick Ross).

Rihanna’s “Pour It Up” jumps from #76 to #58 in its third week.

Bruno Mars’

“When I Was Your Man” leaps from #89 to #74 its fifth week. The song has already climbed as high as #62. The tender ballad echoes, in both mood and theme, Michael Jackson’s 1980 classic “She’s Out Of My Life.”

fun.’s “Carry On” jumps from #92 to #81 in its third week…“Troublemaker” by Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida debuts at #87. The song spent two weeks at #1 on The Official U.K. Chart in December. It’s from Murs’ third studio album, Right Place Right Time, which was released in November.

One Direction’s “Live While We’re Young” drops from #82 to #94 in its 16th week. The song tops the 1 million mark. It’s the group’s third single to reach this level, following “What Makes You Beautiful” (3,981,000) and “One Thing” (1,305,000).

Darius Rucker’s

“Wagon Wheel” debuts at #96. The song is from his fourth solo studio album, True Believers, which is due June 13…George Strait’s “Give It All” re-enters the chart at #98. It has climbed as high as #94…“Between The Raindrops” by Lifehouse featuring Natasha Bedingfield re-enters the chart at #100. It has climbed as high as #79.

Foster The People’s quirky “Pumped Up Kicks” tops the 5 million mark in digital sales. The song spent eight weeks at #3 in 2011…“6 Foot 7 Foot” by Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz tops the 3 million mark in digital sales. The song reached #9 in January 2011.