New albums due out today

Aria “Haze” (Bleep)

Busta Rhymes “The Genesis” (J Records)

Nate Dogg “Music and Me” (Elektra)

Warren G “Return of the Regulator” (Universal)

Ludacris “Word of Mouf” (Def Jam)

The Melody Unit “Choose Your Adventure” (Parasol)

Receiver “Receiver” (Not Lame)

Skating Club “Skating Club” (Wishing Tree)

Smash Mouth “Smash Mouth” (Interscope)

Twilights Moon “Emergency Exit” (Protocol)

Melanie Thornton dies in plane crash

Melanie Thornton, former singer of La Bouche, was killed with 23 others in a plane crash Saturday in Switzerland. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

Thornton was traveling in Europe to promote her latest album, “Ready To Fly.”

La Bouche scored a No. 1 hit with “Be My Lover” on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music: Club Play Chart.

Thornton left La Bouche last year to pursue a solo career. She was 34 years old when she died and is survived by her husband.

Garth’s latest album debuts at No. 1

“Scarecrow,” the newest release from country mega-star Garth Brooks, sold 466,000 copies last week, placing at the top of the Billboard charts last week.

The first single from the album, “Wrapped up in You,” is perched at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks. “Beer Run,” another of the album’s songs, is No. 24.

Brooks stole the No. 1 spot from Britney Spears, as her “Britney” album dropped to No. 2.

– News gathered by Bethany Kohoutek from billboard.com