Ke$ha sets female download record in U.S.

In what is traditionally a high-volume download week thanks to shiny new MP3 players under the tree and download cards stuffed in stockings, a digital sales mark has fallen by the wayside.

Rookie pop singer Ke$ha's " TiK ToK " shifted 610,000 digital tracks for the week ending December 27, according to Nielsen SoundScan . That's the highest weekly sum by a female artist since tracking began in 2003, and the second-best overall after Flo Rida's "Right Round" sold 636,000 this past February. Coincidentally, Ke$ha was an uncredited singer on the track.

"TiK ToK" eclipsed the female mark set by Lady Gaga with "Just Dance" exactly a year ago.

Ke$ha's hefty download sum will ensure "TiK ToK's" place atop the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for a second week when that chart is released Thursday. The song previews her debut album "Animal," which is set to hit stores on January 5.