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Bruno Mars Eyeing First No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Bruno Mars could notch his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 next week, thanks to Amazon MP3.

On Feb. 26, the digital retailer offered a bevy of albums for just $1.99, including Bruno Mars’ latest, “Unorthodox Jukebox.” Sources say that the title could jump to No. 1 on next week’s Billboard 200 chart, thanks to robust sales from Amazon MP3.

It’s a bit early to say exactly how much ” Unorthodox Jukebox” could sell in the week ending March 3. But don’t rule out a figure in the range of 70,000 to 80,000, which should be enough to fend off the rest of the chart competition. (Discounted sales of “Unorthodox Jukebox” count toward its weekly total because the album has been out for more than four weeks; Billboard doesn’t count sales of albums priced below $3.49 in their first four weeks of release.)

If “Unorthodox Jukebox” does hit No. 1, it will be Mars’ first chart-topper. His first album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” (2010) reached No. 3, while “Unorthodox” has peaked at No. 2 — where it debuted.

The new Billboard 200 chart’s top 10 will be revealed on the morning of March 6.

In “Unorthodox’s” 11 weeks on the chart, the Atlantic Records set has shifted 865,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It returned to its No. 2 peak this week on the chart, as it rose 3-2 with another 48,000 sold.

The album has yet to leave the top 10 so far, and is currently riding high thanks in part to the popularity of its current single, “When I Was Your Man.” The song jumps 16-11 on the Pop Songs airplay tally this week, while also hiking 4-3 on the Digital Songs chart (229,000; up 6%).

Other titles that were offered for the one-day-only price of $1.99 include Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “The Heist,” Tegan and Sara’s “Heartthrob” and Muse’s “The 2nd Law.” [Billboard.biz]