Although R&B singer Usher’s latest album ‘Raymond v. Raymond’ took the top spot on the US album charts this week by selling nearly 330,000 copies, Justin Bieber has achieved the near impossible as his sales for his ‘My World 2.0’ album have actually gone up from last week when it came in at number 1. The young pop singer’s sales were at almost 219,000 this week for the number 2 spot. I wonder how his mentor Usher feels about that. He’s got to be proud of the fact that Justin is doing so well but his ego must be swelling because he can still beat the young ones.
Here’s some pretty amazing but hardly surprising news – Lady Gaga’s debut album ‘The Fame’ is officially certified as diamond worldwide having sold 10,000,054 copies. As for the singer’s follow-up ‘The Fame Monster’, it’s nearly double platinum in the United States. And if the charts are anything to go by, it won’t be long until that garners just as much success too. Congratulations to the princess of pop! She definitely deserves the title after all the achievements she’s gotten in such a short amount of time. And the best thing about it is that I doubt she’s even reached her prime yet. I’m sure there’s still much to look forward to with Lady Gaga.
Helping Haiti, the single released by Simon Cowell and The Sun, has become the century’s fastest-selling charity single.
The British newspaper reported that it had sold 206,000 copies in two days.
Cowell selected the REM tune Everybody Hurts for the single, which the paper forecasts will hit number one in the charts this weekend.
Cowell masterminded the track on the request of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who arranged for the VAT tax to be dropped on it.
Stars including Robbie Williams, Cheryl Cole and Susan Boyle have contributed to the song. Half the proceeds will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee and half to The Sun’s Helping Haiti Appeal.
Sources are saying that the Hope for Haiti compilation album is likely to take the number one spot on the HITS sales chart this week. That would give the album a place in history as it would be the first all digital album to hit the top spot. It’s already reached the top spot in iTunes. The numbers are expected to easily reach over 100,000 but it’s uncertain by how much. For me, that margin really isn’t important as each sale made means that you also help save a life in Haiti. So please, buy the album and share some goodness to the rest of the world. It’s for a great cause.
Susan Boyle continues her stay at the top of the US album chart, as her debut I Dreamed a Dream marks its fourth straight week at number one.
Still selling at a rapid rate, 661,000 copies were sold in the run-up to Christmas, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures for the week ending December 20.
Boyle’s American sales have topped 2.4m within a month.
It seems that Eminem’s work was not all in vain. The artist has recently been declared the top-selling artist of the decade with 33.2 million copies of his albums sold worldwide. The best-sold album however went to The Beatles’ hits compilation. Well, well… looks like Eminem might as well retire now. And he should’ve done himself a favor and taken that decision because his latest stuff really won’t make it on the top ten list… but hey, Eminem can dream, can’t he? But since he’ll get the job on American Idol, he will probably have less time to focus on his already dying musical career.
Taylor Swift doesn’t seem to be slowing down as the country singer officially has Billboard’s longest charting album of this century with her self-titled debut album. ‘Taylor Swift’ was first released in October 2006 and now in its 157th week in the Top 200 albums chart beating out previous record holder Nickelback. If the cutie’s first album has done this well, I can’t wait to see how well ‘Fearless’ ends up doing. I can just imagine it breaking even more records. Congratulations Taylor! You are truly one amazing talent. I don’t think us music fans will ever get to see another one like you in our lifetime.
Just as it was predicted, Mariah Carey is going downhill. According to Hits Daily Double, the singer’s ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ displayed some lacklustre sales, as her album was overshadowed by both Paramore and Barbra Streisand, coming in at a lowly number 3. Any other time in Mariah’s music career and you would have easily predicted that she’s going to be at the top of the mountain. But to be topped by a young band and an iconic diva who didn’t even do any promotion for her album, all I can say is that it’s a long way down for Mariah.
Black Eyed Peas ‘The E.N.D.’ Lands At #1 On The Billboard 200 Chart
‘The E.N.D.’ Marks The Group’s First #1 Album & Their Highest Sales Week Ever!
Black Eyed Peas’ “The E.N.D.” bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 304,000 — the hip-pop act’s best sales week ever. It’s also the first No. 1 album for the group, which had previously gone as high as No. 2. Its last set, 2005’s “Monkey Business,” bowed in the runner-up slot with a then-best 291,000. It had the unfortunate luck to come out the same week as Coldplay’s “X&Y,” which kept the Peas’ at bay when it started at No. 1 with 737,000. -via Billboard.com
Billy Cyrus promoted the heck out of his new album all over the place this past week but how far did the self-promoting get the one hit wonder? Absolutely nowhere. Hits Daily Double has predicted that Miley’s dad’s album ‘Back to Tennessee’ will only sell 10,000 to 15,000 copies in its opening week. It looks like Billy Ray’s album plug disguised as an intro to Miley’s performance at the recent ACMs didn’t help sales one bit. I can’t believe he honestly thought that he had a chance at a music career past ‘Achy Breaky Heart’. Their family is just filled with delusional wannabes.
No Line On The Horizon, the new album from U2 featuring the single “Get On Your Boots” is in stores now. The album is the band’s 12th studio album and their first release since the nine million selling album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, released in late 2004.
The new album, produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, has been chose as Amazon’s “Deal of the Day” for today’s release and offers special pricing for one only.
No Line On The Horizon is also being released in a standard format with a 24- page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album’s companion film “Linear” by Anton Corbijn. A limited edition package with album, cd and 64-page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens, and new Anton Corbijn photographs. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl.
Not only is Britney Spears’ Circus the # 1 album on iTunes today, but the title track is the # 1 single and # 1 requested ringtone too. Britney fever is in the air, and now is the time for fans everywhere to rally together to make her the highest debuting female artist of 2008! That means Ms. Spears needs to sell over 600,000 copies of Circus this week alone. Help give Britney the ultimate birthday gift this year and an automatic gold record.
While you’re in the Circus spirit, check out this birthday video that a few super fans made for Britney’s big day.
Britney Spears fan video:
Oklahoma hard-rockers Hinder are releasing their album, Take it to the Limit, next Tuesday, November 4th. Hinder?s debut album, Extreme Behavior has sold over 3 million copies so anticipation is high for this one! The band has hit the road on the Jagermeister tour featuring Hinder, Trapt, and Rev Theory. Check out dates for a show near you.
Hinder will also be performing on the Jimmy Kimmel Show next Thursday, November 6th.
She better enjoy all the glory while she?s on top because her days as the new sensation are numbered. I doubt she?s going to have staying power but as of right now, Miley Cyrus has the #1 album in America. The Disney skank?s new record ?Breakout? sold 371,000 copies this past week which makes it the second biggest debut by a female artist this year. She only came in behind Mariah Carey?s first week sales of 463,000 for ?E=MC2? in April. Congratulations go out to Miley. I hope you don?t blow it all on a new camera to take even more skanky pictures of yourself.
New Kids On The Block have sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. The group shattered concert box office records playing an estimated 200 concerts a year in sold out stadiums across the globe. They beat out Michael Jackson and Madonna for Forbes highest paid entertainers of 1990. Their faces were plastered on everything from lunch boxes to sleeping bags to pillow cases.
The guys may have gone their separate ways in 1994, but Joey, Donnie, Jordan, Danny and Jon are back and ready to pick up right where they left off. They were welcomed back to the world stage by a mass of screaming fans after announcing their reunion live on NBC?s Today Show.
In addition to catering to their pre-existing, dedicated fan base, NKOTB are looking to engage a new set of younger fans that may not be as familiar with their music. Their new single, “Summertime,” is the perfect summer jam that fans of all ages will enjoy.
The band is set to release their album September 2nd through Interscope Records and will kick off a tour in the fall with support from Natasha Bedingfield.
Alanis Morissette is set to release her highly anticipated album, Flavors of Entanglement, in the US on June 10th. Morissette has expressed that this is a very emotional record for her as it reflects upon many aspects of her personal life over the past few years. If you can?t wait until next week to hear the album, then head over to vh1.com where it can be previewed in its entirety!
Also, be sure to head over to Alanis.com to find out about the multiple editions being offered for this album. In addition to the original and deluxe retail versions, there will be a deluxe fan edition which is only available on her official site. This special edition has five bonus tracks as wells as special art, and the first thousand are autographed.
Be sure to tune in, set your TiVos, DVRs, VCRs or whathaveyous! Alanis Morissette is set to appear on the following programs to promote her new album, Flavors of Entanglement, due out in the US on June 10.
May 20 ? Ellen
May 23 – The Today Show
June 9 – The Today Show
June 10 – Late Show With David Letterman
June 12 – Howard Stern (radio)
July 18 – Jimmy Kimmel Live!
June 11 – The View
?more to come soon!
Listen to Alanis? new single, ?Underneath,? below.
A dozen years after the breakthrough debut of Jagged Little Pill, an album which earned four Grammys and spawned a dedicated worldwide fan base, Alanis Morissette remains not only an enduringly popular artist, but one whose success stems from a fierce commitment to authenticity and, to an equal extent, vulnerability. Both of these traits enable her to climb to new ground with her forthcoming album, Flavors of Entanglement, due June 10, 2008 in the United States and June 2, 2008 internationally from Warner Bros. Records.
This piece of news is already getting old but if it?s happening, I might as well write about it. According to the new Soundscan singles chart, Madonna knocks off Mariah Carey from the top spot this week. The Queen of Pop?s ?4 Minutes (To Save the World)? stays even with sales from last week but the curvaceous diva?s ?Touch My body? drops more than 40% in sales to come in at the number 4 spot. That doesn?t bode well for Mariah?s single or her album. Considering that it?s not even out yet and sales are already dropping, it may result in a flop. Maybe that full album leak has something to do with it.
Madonna’s 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records “HARD CANDY” is scheduled to have a global release on April 28th and a US release on April 29th, it was confirmed by her label. “HARD CANDY” (the follow up to Madonna’s “CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR” which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies), has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but this time adds an urban hip hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and Nate “Danja” Hills. The debut single, the pulsating “4 Minutes” will be released at the end of March. “The title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness?kind of like I’m gonna kick your ass but it’s going to make you feel good. And of course, I love candy” laughed the material girl. Madonna, a multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children’s book author, director and documentary film maker has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and is slated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10th.
If music pre-sales was a high jump competition, Madonna would win without any contest. Just a few days ago, the Queen of Pop?s upcoming album ?Hard Candy? was at the number 18 spot on the Amazon best sellers list for CDs and it?s not even out until the end of April. Just yesterday, the album is already at number 2. It?s not quite the top, but she?s getting there. Mariah Carey managed to move up on the list as well. She?s at number 40 ? a far distance from Madonna but at least she?s already on the list. Her record will be out a full 2 weeks before Madonna?s and she wasn?t even on the top 100 of the list a couple of days ago.
Scarlett Johansson is currently on a promo tour for her movie ?The Other Boleyn Girl? but sooner or later, she?s going to have to go on a promo tour for her album ?Anywhere I Lay My Head? since the album is set to drop in stores on May 20. The actress turned singer actually unveiled her debut album for media last Tuesday. Her album includes 10 Tom Waits covers ? ?Fawn?, ?Town with No Cheer?, ?Falling Down?, ?Anywhere I Lay My Head?, ?Fannin? Street?, ?Green Grass?, ?I Wish I was in New Orleans?, ?I Don?t Want to Grow Up?, ?No One Knows I?m Gone? and ?Who Are You?? as well as one original song called ?Song for Jo?.
Idol fans, this is your time for sweet revenge. He may not have won the competition, but he won the hearts of album buyers this year. Billboard named Chris Daughtry the most popular album of 2007. They sold about 3.2 million copies.
Just half a million shy of that, in second place, is Akon’s album “Konvicted”, followed by the Hannah Montana soundtrack (2.5 million), Fergie’s “The Dutchess” (2.4 million), and Carrie Underwood’s “Some Hearts” (2.3 million).
Number one song of the year was “Irreplaceable” by Beyonce, with Rihanna coming in just behind with “Umbrella”. Top tour of the year was The Police’s reunion tour, bringing in $212 million at last estimate.
John Mayer was spotted as he was shooting a secret music video just off Mulholland Drive with a Los Angeles backdrop late Sunday afternoon.
John?s latest song ?Say? from the soundtrack off ?The Bucket List? has sold over 39,700 downloads to date. The song is about saying out loud what you feel in your heart. On his official blog, John says that the video is a ?Sunset live performance for the upcoming DVD.?
John also had his solo acoustic First Annual Holiday Charity Revue on Saturday. He was pretty funny when he began the acoustic set saying ?It?s a real honor to be opening for myself. I ran into myself backstage and I was very nice ? and, I mean, I?m huge!?
Taylor Swift was thrilled to be asked to help announce Grammy nominees on Thursday. She became ecstatic when she heard her own name called by the Foo Fighters. She is nominated for best new artist.
As soon as she heard that, she ran over to the Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins). She grabbed them and repeatedly hugged the two. George Lopez, another announcer, leaned over and hugged her as well. He encouraged her by saying, “You got it in the bag.”
Taylor has seen immense success with her self-titled album. She has already sold more than 1 million copies since its release last year.
If you have Jermaine Dupri saying F you to you, just say F you right back. The music producer wrote a very impassioned and misguided essay about the state of the music business. And coming from one of the producers who can be considered a mogul already, it makes me sick.
Not only did it clearly show his lack of appreciation for the people that buy his music, but he also looks at iTunes as a big evil monster. Janet Jackson?s main squeeze thinks that albums should be sold as a whole and consumers shouldn?t have the option to buy songs individually like we can on iTunes.
Well at least we buy a song instead of downloading them illegally!
Get ready all you OneRepublic fans. Their album ?Dreaming Out Loud? will be hitting stores November 20.
Their current single ?Apologize? has been saturating the radio stations all across America. The band can thank Timbaland for the great remix he did with the single. ?It gave me goose bumps the first time I heard it,? the 28-year-old artist says.
Timbaland, who apparently saw Tedder, one of the band members, at an MTV contest, offered him a deal. He then spend the next two years hoping he’d record and release a solo album, but Timbaland kept telling him that he’s a producer and not an artist. ?Apologize? was written in 2003, but wasn’t touched until 2007.
I guess it takes awhile for a great song to hit the radio. And this song truly does give me the goose bumps.
The chart-topping multi-platinum hip-hop dynamos Bow Wow and Omarion have joined forces to create a new collaborative collection that promises to become one of the major musical events of 2007. Bow Wow-Omarion project, Faceoff, in stores December 11th.
While details of the Bow Wow-Omarion project remain under wraps, the new album marks the culmination of a joint collaborative process dating back to 2005. “Me and O have been trying to put this together for so many years, and now we’ve got the opportunity to do it,” Bow Wow told Billboard.com earlier this month. “We’re in the creative process right now, coming up with ideas daily, so the process is real smooth. We’re anxious to make this whole thing happen. It’s gonna be a special event. It’s gonna be crazy, something the people have been waiting on — the girls have been waiting on — for years.
Omarion shares his best friend’s enthusiasm for the as-yet-unnamed project. “This isn’t about money, this is about music,” says Omarion. “We both started young and have grown up together, working on the same tours, and have developed our identity in the music world. Jay-Z and R Kelly was the first big R&B/Rap combo, and we have great respect for them and have been inspired by them, but we still want to create something we can call our own. We just want to do our own thing. We want to have a great time and make good music for our fans. This is gonna be fun, so ‘World, Watch out! We’re coming!’”
Miss Independent — that would be 25-year-old Texas pop-rock-gospel belter Kelly Clarkson — came to Toronto’s Massey Hall last night and blew the roof off the joint. Clarkson clearly knows how to make lemonade out of lemons and wrote a catchy song about the experience, Chivas, which ended up as a hidden track on My December.
Clarkson later had the audience judge a band pumpkin-carving contest in honour of Halloween that included one she co-designed that was inspired by Steve Carell’s chest-waxing scene in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and his now famous utterance “Kelly Clarkson!”
And can the girl ever sing, as she demonstrated on such pulse-pounding standouts as Behind These Hazel Eyes, Because of You, a gospel treatment of Patty Griffin’s Up to the Mountain, Miss Independent — with snippets of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell and Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love thrown into the mix — Breakaway, Walk Away, Sober, Chivas, and Since U Been Gone. The barefoot Clarkson dramatically opened the hour-and-20-minute show by recreating the album cover of My December, right down to wearing the same burgundy ball gown, which was quickly torn away to reveal a purple and black camisole and wide-legged black pants, while her seven-piece band maintained frozen poses
A white ruffled curtain sometimes acted as a barrier between Clarkson and her band and backdrop, which included a small staircase and a video screen, but it was really her connection to the audience and that powerhouse voice that was most impressive.
Even if demanding everyone “Jump!” as she did during Gone and Since U Been Gone didn’t always work.
Leona Lewis has a ton of great songs on her upcoming debut album ?Spirit?. She already has a great single in ?Bleeding Love? and ?Angel? is shaping up to be another great one.
The ?X Factor? winner is already on the course to having the fastest selling single of the year in the UK. Her current single ?Bleeding Love? has already sold over 250,000 copies.
I guess everyone agrees that she does have the x factor to succeed in the fickle
business known as the music industry. No one can deny the amount of talent that she has and it shows with the numbers that are coming in for her.
