Sales slide for Beyonce's new chart-topper (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B singer Beyonce went to No. 1 on the U.S. pop album chart with her fourth consecutive release on Wednesday, although its sales were the lowest of her solo career.

Her new album "4" sold 310,000 copies during the week ended July 3, according to tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan -- about the same amount as the next four albums combined.

Her previous release, the double-disc "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," sold 482,000 copies during its first week of sale in November 2010, fueled by the hits "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."

Her first solo outing away from Destiny's Child, "Dangerously in Love," started with 317,000 in 2003, while 2006's "B-Day" opened with 541,000.

The new album has not yet had the benefit of a hit single, with "Run the World (Girls)" stalling at No. 29 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart. It is now at No. 84.

Executives at her Sony Music label have been on the counter-attack in recent days after the album leaked on June 7 and fans took to the Web to give it a lukewarm reception.

Elsewhere on the album chart, English pop singer Adele's "21" rebounded one place to No. 2 in its 19th week, with 91,500 copies. Its tally stands at 2.5 million copies, easily making it the biggest album of the year.

Rapper Big Sean's debut release "Finally Famous: The Album" came in at No. 3 with 87,000 copies.

Disney starlet Selena Gomez, currently in theaters with the teen comedy "Monte Carlo," arrived at No. 4 with sales of 78,000 for "When the Sun Goes Down," an album on which she shares credit with her band the Scene. Their previous set, "A Year Without Rain," opened at No. 4 with 66,200 last September.

Last week's champ, R&B singer Jill Scott, fell to No. 5 with "Light of the Sun" (54,800).

"American Idol" accounted for the two other newcomers in the top 10. Season 7 winner David Cook debuted at No. 7 with his second album "This Loud Morning" (45,800 copies). It marked a sharp drop from his self-titled debut, which arrived at No. 3 with 280,000 copies in the same week as Beyonce's previous album.

Reigning champ Scotty McCreery came in at No. 10 with the Walmart-exclusive EP "American Idol Season 10: Scotty McCreery" (40,400). A full-length album, released immediately after his victory in May, debuted at No. 12 with 23,000 copies.

Filling out the top 10, country singer Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" (47,800) rose four to No. 6 in its 35th week, talent contest winner Jackie Evancho's "Dream With Me" (43,900) fell four to No. 8 in its third week, and the Eminem side project "Hell: the Sequel" (42,200) fell three to No. 9, also in its third week.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

(To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)

Wal-Mart tops view; key sales down 1.1 percent (Reuters)

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc's U.S. same-store sales have fallen for two straight years, as customers struggle with high unemployment and wages that are not keeping up with rising prices for food and other basics.

The world's largest retailer's breadth offset the impact of the U.S. slump, as strong sales at its warehouse clubs and international stores, cost-cutting and share repurchases helped it post a better-than-expected 3.8 percent rise in profit.

"The risk/reward ratio on Wal-Mart stock is constantly improving, despite the painful U.S. experience over the last two years, " said Gilford Securities analyst Bernard Sosnick.

Wal-Mart's shares, up about 4 percent since the beginning of the year, skidded 1.1 percent to $55.49 on Tuesday.

Wal-Mart is steadfast about fixing its sales at U.S. stores open at least a year. It is widening its assortment of goods and emphasizing low prices to woo back customers who chose to shop elsewhere, including grocery and dollar stores.

"We do think we're getting traction," Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley said. "But it's a work in progress."

Now, after seeing increased same-store sales of groceries and health and wellness items for two consecutive quarters, Wal-Mart must figure out how to get shoppers to buy more clothing and other items from the rest of the store.

Its core U.S. shoppers are still on a budget and have concerns about rising gas, energy and food prices, as well as employment issues. At the same time, small business owners who shop at its Sam's Club warehouse stores remain concerned about the economy and their access to credit.

U.S. same-store sales fell 1.1 percent, in line with the company's forecast of a drop of 2 percent to flat, and slightly better than the average 1.3 percent decline expected by analysts according to Thomson Reuters.

"We recognize we still have work to do and comp sales growth remains the greatest priority for me and the entire Walmart U.S. team," Wal-Mart Chief Executive Officer Mike Duke said in a recorded call.

PAYCHECK CYCLE PERSISTS

Wal-Mart continues to see a paycheck cycle, where people stock up around payday and then as the money runs out, spend less as the month progresses.

"If they have $20 left, that's all they have and that's all they can spend," Holley said.

Most of the decline in first-quarter U.S. same-store sales came from a drop in store traffic, while the average shopper spent more.

Weather also hurt sales of outdoor items. Wal-Mart is not alone feeling pressure from major snowstorms and floods. Home Depot Inc and Lowes Cos Inc experienced weak spring demand.

Wal-Mart earned $3.4 billion, or 98 cents per share, in the first quarter that ended on April 30, up from $3.3 billion, or 87 cents per share, a year earlier.

Sales rose 4.4 percent to $103.42 billion.

Analysts forecast earnings of 95 cents per share on $102.93 billion in sales, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

International sales soared 11.5 percent, with strong gains in all countries except Japan. At Asda, its British arm, sales growth was much slower than a year earlier.

Wal-Mart forecast second-quarter earnings of $1.05 to $1.10 per share, up from 97 cents a year earlier. It expects U.S. same-store sales to be down 1 percent to up 1 percent.

The company did not update its fiscal year earnings per share forecast of $4.35 to $4.50.

Analysts currently expect Wal-Mart to earn $1.08 this quarter and $4.44 this year.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl; Editing by Dave Zimmerman and Maureen Bavdek)