The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated Mar. 22, we look at whether the latest album from one of the century's greatest pop stars will return her to the top of the chart for the first time in five years.

It’s time to gobble up the last of those Chromatica Oreos, because a new Lady Gaga era is upon us. That’s right, the singer and actress has finally announced her long-awaited seventh album Mayhem, set to drop on March 7.