Chameleon / sent news
2006 U.S. Music Purchases Exceed 1 Billion Sales
Nielsen SoundScan, the entertainment industry's data information system that tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product, Nielsen BDS, the music industry's leading music performance monitoring service, and Nielsen RingScan, which tracks mobile ringtone purchases, have announced their 2006 U.S. year-end sales and airplay monitoring data for the 52-week period January 2 through December 31, 2006.
OVERALL MUSIC SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(ALBUMS, SINGLES, MUSIC VIDEO, DIGITAL TRACKS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
1,198 1,003 19.4%
TOTAL ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(INCLUDES CD, CS, LP, DIGITAL ALBUMS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
588.2 618.9 -4.9%
DIGITAL TRACK SALES
(01/02/2006 - 12/31/2006 - SALES IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
581.9 352.7 65%
OVERALL ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(INCLUDES ALL ALBUMS & TRACK EQUIVALENT ALBUMS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
646.4 654.1 -1.2%
INTERNET ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(Physical album purchases via e-commerce sites, In Millions)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
29.4 24.7 19.0%
DIGITAL ALBUM SALES
(01/02/2006 - 12/31/2006 - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % CHG.
32.6 16.2 101%
2006 GENRE ALBUM SALES REPORT (01/02/06-12/31/06) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Genre 2006 2005 % Chg. ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- -------- Alternative 109,672 120,797 -9.2% Christian/Gospel 39,715 39,211 1.3% Classical 19,447 15,875 22.5% Country 74,886 75,327 -0.5% Jazz 15,720 17,139 -8.3% Latin 37,774 35,907 5.2% Metal 61,557 64,473 -4.5% New Age 3,412 4,412 -22.7% R&B 117,005 143,392 -18.4% Rap 59,534 75,062 -20.7% Rock(a) 170,726 NA Soundtrack 27,177 22,849 18.9% (Note: Titles may appear in more than one genre.) (a) Rock was a new genre in 2006.
CURRENT VS. CATALOG ALBUM SALES (Sales In Millions: 01/02/06-12/31/06) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall Albums 2006 2005 % Chg. ------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- --------- Current 363.9 389.4 -6.5% Catalog 224.2 229.5 -2.3% Deep Catalog 158.2 157.5 0.4% Physical Albums: 2006 2005 % Chg. ------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- --------- Current 345.3 379.8 -9.1% Catalog 210.2 222.8 -8.1% Deep Catalog 148.4 152.7 -2.8% Digital Albums: 2006 2005 % Chg. ------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- --------- Current 18.6 9.6 93.7% Catalog 14.0 6.7 108.9% Deep Catalog 9.8 4.8 104.2%
2006 YEAR-TO-DATE RECORD COMPANY MARKET SHARE (1/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(reflects the market share for the entire entity, including sub-
distributed companies)
TOTAL ALBUMS (Catalog &
Current Titles) CURRENT ALBUMS CATALOG ALBUMS
-------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 2005
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
UMG 31.61% 31.71% UMG 34.37 34.82% UMG 27.14 27.72%
BMG 11.95% 11.78% BMG 13.71 13.16% BMG 9.08 10.54%
SONY 15.49% 15.67% SONY 14.42 14.55% SONY 17.23 15.77%
SONYBMG SONYBMG SONYBMG
Total 27.44% 27.45% Total 28.13 27.71% Total 26.31 26.31%
------------ ------- -------
WMG 18.14% 17.28% WMG 16.85 16.02% WMG 20.25 20.66%
EMI 10.20% 10.38% EMI 9.23 9.21% EMI 11.77 12.14%
OTHERS 12.61% 13.18% OTHERS 11.43 12.24% OTHERS 14.52 13.17%
2006 YEAR-TO-DATE RECORD COMPANY MARKET SHARE continued...(1/02/06 -
12/31/06)
(reflects the market share for the entire entity including sub-
distributed companies)
DIGITAL ALBUMS DIGITAL TRACKS
---------------------------------- -------------------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
-------- -------- -------- -------
UMG 27.35% 29.78% UMG 32.96% 33.27%
BMG 10.25% 11.75% BMG 12.21% 13.22%
SONY 13.75% 12.47% SONY 13.45% 13.39%
SONYBMG Total 24.00% 24.22% SONYBMG Total 25.66% 26.61%
--------------- --------------
WMG 23.29% 21.57% WMG 19.69% 18.26%
EMI 9.99% 11.44% EMI 7.93% 7.84%
OTHERS 15.37% 12.99% OTHERS 13.75% 14.02%
2006 TOP TEN SELLING ALBUMS 2006 TOP TEN SELLING ARTISTS
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
(01/02/2006-12/31/2006) (based on Album sales from
01/02/2006-12/31/2006)
Title/Artist Units Sold Artist Units Sold
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Soundtrack / High 3,719,071 1 Rascal Flatts 4,970,640
School Musical
------------------
2 Me and My Gang / 3,479,994 2 Johnny Cash 4,826,320
Rascal Flatts
------------------
3 Some Hearts / 3,015,950 3 Nickelback 3,160,025
Carrie Underwood
------------------
4 All the Right 2,688,166 4 Carrie Underwood 3,016,123
Reasons/
Nickelback
------------------
5 Futuresex/Love ... 2,377,127 5 Beatles 2,812,720
/ Justin
Timberlake
------------------
6 Back to Bedlam / 2,137,142 6 Tim McGraw 2,657,675
James Blunt
------------------
7 B'day / Beyonce 2,010,311 7 Andrea Bocelli 2,524,681
------------------
8 Soundtrack/ Hannah 1,987,681 8 Mary J. Blige 2,485,897
Montana
------------------
9 Taking the Long 1,856,284 9 Keith Urban 2,442,577
Way/ Dixie Chicks
------------------
10. Extreme Behavior/ 1,817,350 10. Justin Timberlake 2,437,763
Hinder
------------------
2006 TOP TEN SELLING DIGITAL
2006 TOP TEN SELLING DIGITAL TRACKS ARTISTS
------------------------------------- --------------------------------
(01/02/2006-12/31/2006) (based on digital track sales
from 01/02/2006 - 12/31/2006)
Title/Artist Units Sold Artist Units Sold
--------------------------------- ----------------------------
1 Bad Day (Album 1,935,974 1 Rascal Flatts 3,792,277
Version) / Daniel
Powter
----------------------
2 Crazy (Album Version) 1,628,599 2 Nickelback 3,715,579
/ Gnarls Barkley
----------------------
3 Over My Head / Fray 1,518,450 3 Fray 3,625,140
----------------------
4 Temperature (Album 1,504,658 4 All-American 3,362,528
Version) / Sean Paul Rejects
----------------------
5 Lips of an Angel / 1,371,907 5 Justin Timberlake 3,290,523
Hinder
----------------------
6 Hips Don't Lie / 1,365,433 6 Pussycat Dolls 3,277,709
Shakira
----------------------
7 How To Save A Life / 1,365,033 7 Red Hot Chili 3,254,306
Fray Peppers
----------------------
8 Unwritten / Natasha 1,355,792 8 Nelly Furtado 3,052,457
Bedingfield
----------------------
9 Sexyback Main Vers. / 1,316,531 9 Eminem 2,950,113
Justin Timberlake
----------------------
10. Dani 1,284,677 10. Sean Paul 2,764,505
California(Alb..)/Red
Hot Chili Peppers
----------------------
2006 TOP TEN SELLING DIGITAL SONGS TOP TEN SELLING DIGITAL ALBUMS
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
(combines all versions of the same (01/02/2006-12/31/2006)
Song: 01/02/06 - 12/31/2006)
Title/Artist Units Sold Artist Units Sold
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Bad Day / Daniel 2,015,594 1 How to Save a Life / 198,371
Powter Fray
------------------- --------------------
2 Promiscuous / Nelly 1,709,274 2 Continuum / John 176,522
Furtado Mayer
------------------- --------------------
3 Sexyback / Justin 1,657,798 3 FutureSex/Love Songs 141,809
Timberlake / Justin Timberlake
------------------- --------------------
4 Crazy / Gnarls 1,629,467 4 Curious 134,611
Barkley George:Sing.. /
Jack Johnson & Frie
------------------- --------------------
5 You're Beautiful / 1,623,417 5 Back to Bedlam / 131,434
James Blunt James Blunt
------------------- --------------------
6 Over My Head (Cable 1,570,207 6 Soundtrack / High 123,280
Car) / Fray School Musical
------------------- --------------------
7 How to Save a Life 1,559,704 7 Stadium Arcadium / 122,274
/ Fray Red Hot Chili
Peppers
------------------- --------------------
8 Temperature / Sean 1,533,362 8 Taking the Long Way/ 122,075
Paul Dixie Chicks
------------------- --------------------
9 Ridin' / 1,417,178 9 Fever You Can't 109,997
Chamillionaire Sweat... /Panic!At
the Disco
------------------- --------------------
10. Hips Don't Lie / 1,410,237 10. Me and My Gang / 105,808
Shakira Rascal Flatts
------------------- --------------------
2006 TOP TEN SELLING SEASONAL TOP TEN SELLING ALBUMS OF
ALBUMS SOUNDSCAN ERA
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
(01/02/2006-12/31/2006) (1991 - 12/31/2006)
Title/Artist Units Sold Artist Units Sold
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Wintersong/Sarah 759,162 1 Come on Over / 15,408,533
Mclachlan Shania Twain
------------------
2 Now Christmas 648,254 2 Metallica / 14,819,905
3/Various Metallica
------------------
3 Christmas 495,188 3 Jagged Little Pill 14,513,313
Album/James Taylor / Alanis
Morissette
------------------
4 Christmas 443,768 4 Millennium / 12,091,491
Collection/ Il Divo Backstreet Boys
------------------
5 Lost Christmas Eve/ 372,683 5 Bodyguard / 11,789,552
Trans-Siberian Soundtrack
Orch.
------------------
6 Charlie Brown 332,314 6 Supernatural / 11,588,453
Christmas/Vince Santana
Guaraldi Trio
------------------
7 Very Larry 312,125 7 Human Clay / Creed 11,483,557
Christmas/Larry the
Cable Guy
------------------
8 Christmas 308,199 8 No Strings 11,099,051
Celebration/Celtic Attached / N Sync
Woman
------------------
9 Christmas Eve & 288,639 9 Beatles 1 / 10,821,222
Other../Trans Beatles
Siberian Orch
------------------
10. Cool Yule/ Bette 271,312 10. Falling Into You / 10,752,658
Midler Celine Dion
------------------
Year End Factoids:Overall music purchases in 2006 exceeded the 1 Billion sales plateau for the second consecutive year; 1.2 billion (2006) vs. 1 billion (2005).The last two weeks of 2006, music sales exceeded 47.4 million (week ending 12-24) and 45.0 million (week ending 12/31), representing the 2 biggest weeks in the history of Nielsen SoundScan. The previous record was Christmas week 2005 with 44.7 million music purchases.More than 580 million digital tracks were purchased during 2006; an increase of 65% over 2005.In the final reporting week of 2006 (12/25/06 - 12/31/06) the following sales records were broken:
-- Digital track sales blew away the previous sales record with
a new record high of 30.1 million track sales (previous
record was 19.9 million, week of 12/24-1/1/05).
-- Digital album sales reached the 1 million plateau for the
first time with sales exceeding 1.2 million (previous record
was 12/24/06 with 855,000 sales).
-- Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" track sets the mark for the
biggest selling week for an individual Digital Track, with
sales of 269,000 (previous record was Justin Timberlake's
"Sexyback" at 250,000 sales).
-- Three different songs broke the previous mark for the
biggest selling week for a Digital Song (combining all
versions of the same song) with Fergie's "Fergalicious"
setting the new record with sales of 295,000. Both Beyonce's
"Irreplaceable" (269,000) and Akon's "Smack That" (252,000)
had greater sales than the previous record set by Justin
Timberlake's "Sexyback" (previous record was 250,000 sales).
Rascal Flatts was the biggest selling artist, with nearly 5
million physical album sales and nearly 4 million digital
track sales.High School Musical Soundtrack was the top-selling album of
year with sales exceeding 3.7 million units. The first
Soundtrack to sell more than 3 million units in a year since
the 8 Mile Soundtrack in 2002 and the first time since 1998
that a Soundtrack was the best selling album of year (Titanic
Soundtrack - 9.3 million).For the first time, a Digital Song broke the 2 million sales
mark in a year: "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter (2,015,000)22 Digital Songs exceeded the 1 million sales mark for the
year compared to only 2 Digital Songs in 2005.Internet album sales reached a record high of 29 million unit
sales; an increase of 19% over 2005 sales total.41% of all albums purchased were at a Mass Merchant outlet
compared to 40% in 2005 and 38% in 2004 (35% in 2003 and 34%
in 2002).Chain music stores accounted for 41% of all album sales,
compared to 45% in 2005 and 48% in 2004.Independent music stores accounted for 6% of all album sales
compared to 7% in 2005 and 9% in 2004.Non-Traditional music outlets accounted for 12% of all album
sales, compared to 9% in 2005 and 5% in 2004 (4% in 2003).Latin music sales exceeded 37 million units, breaking the
previous sales peak of 35 million in 2005. Latin album sales
grew 5% from 2005.Both Soundtrack albums and Classical albums gained in sales,
up 19% and 23% respectively.Overall Album sales (including Albums and Track Equivalent
Album sales) declined 1.2% compared to 2005.Total album sales declined 4.9% compared to 2005.Consistent with the previous two years, 20% of total album
sales occurred during the Holiday Season (last 6 weeks of
year).
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (Nielsen BDS), the music industry's leading music performance monitoring service, has announced the most played songs at radio, at video, as well as Internet music streams for 2006.
Nielsen BDS: Top 10 Most Played Nielsen BDS: 2006 Top 10 Artist
Songs Airplay
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Title/Artist Detections Artist Detections
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Be Without You/Mary 399,601 1 Nickelback 874,304
J. Blige
2 Unwritten/Natasha 342,283 2 Kelly Clarkson 786,810
Bedingfield
3 Temperature/Sean 327,664 3 Toby Keith 741,791
Paul
4 Me & U/ Cassie 317,865 4 Rascal Flatts 732,150
5 Hips Don't Lie/ 313,555 5 Tim McGraw 722,074
Shakira feat.
Wyclef Jean
6 Promiscuous/ Nelly 297,980 6 Kenny Chesney 715,427
Furtado
7 Bad Day/ Daniel 295,374 7 George Strait 657,490
Powter
8 Check On It/ 292,023 8 Keith Urban 644,769
Beyonce feat. Slim
Thug
9 Over My Head (Cable 282,583 9 Mary J. Blige 629,967
Car)/ Fray
10. So Sick/ Ne-Yo 279,663 10. Ne-Yo 578,336
Nielsen BDS: Top 10 Music Video Nielsen BDS: Top 10 Internet
Internet Streams Streams
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Title/Artist Detections Title/Artist Detections
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Hips Don't 50,494,051 1 Me & U/ Cassie 12,378,057
Lie/Shakira feat.
Wyclef Jean
2 Check On It/ 16,309,914 2 Hips Don't Lie/ 12,350,823
Beyonce feat. Shakira feat.
Slim Thug Wyclef
3 SOS/ Rihanna 15,437,252 3 Temperature/ Sean 12,236,883
Paul
4 Stupid Girls/ Pink 15,016,999 4 You're Beautiful/ 12,108,879
James Blunt
5 Buttons/ Pussycat 14,549,037 5 Check On It/ 10,427,511
Dolls Beyonce feat. Slim
Thug
6 I'm N Luv (Wit A 14,332,778 6 So Sick/ Ne-Yo 10,089,266
Stripper)/ T-Pain
7 Temperature/ Sean 14,169,125 7 I'm N Luv (Wit A 10,034,849
Paul Stripper)/ T-Pain
8 Unfaithful/ 13,952,532 8 Bad Day/ Daniel 9,886,562
Rihanna Powter
9 Beep/ Pussycat 13,785,499 9 Be Without You/ 9,870,366
Dolls Mary J. Blige
10. Promiscuous/Nelly 12,919,796 10. Crazy/ Gnarls 9,162,018
Furtado feat. Barkley
Timberland
Nielsen Mobile (Nielsen RingScan) has announced the Top Selling Mastertones (partial year) and Polyphonic ringtones for 2006.
Nielsen RingScan: Top 10 Nielsen RingScan: Top 10
Mastertones Polyphonic Ringtones
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
(Partial year - 09/04/2006- (01/02/2006-12/31/2006)
12/31/2006)
Title/Artist Sales Title/Artist Sales
------------------------------- ------------------------------
1 Smack That/ Akon 1,574,362 1 Super Mario Bros./ 747,900
Theme
2 Lips of An Angel/ 1,270,996 2 My Humps/ Black Eyed 517,757
Hinder Peas
3 Sexyback/ Justin 1,215,058 3 Grillz/ Nelly 499,935
Timberlake
4 Irreplaceable/ 1,039,231 4 Ms. New Booty/ Bubba 455,550
Beyonce Sparxxx
5 We Fly High/ Jim 1,012,949 5 Laffy Taffy/ D4L 367,106
Jones
6 Money Maker/ 944,581 6 Pink Panther/ Theme 347,217
Ludacris
7 Chain Hang Low/ 927,899 7 Gold Diger/ Kanye 310,763
Jibbs West
8 My Love/ Justin 901,369 8 Halloween/ Movie 291,077
Timberlake Theme
9 I Wanna Love You/ 884,912 9 Mission Impossible/ 284,335
Akon Theme
10. Walk It Out/ DJ Unk 753,487 10. Candy Shop/ 50 Cent 282,203
Contact:
Scoop Marketing Larry Solters, Anna Loynes, 213-639-6167
discuss | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend ">Digg | Reddit | simpy | myweb.yahoo | my favorites / bookmarks
"Dreamgirls" is the lowest sales total for a No. 1 album
In a slow week for both sales and new releases, the Sony soundtrack to the Beyonce-starring "Dreamgirls" ascends 3-1 to claim the summit. The set sold 66,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan, despite a sales decrease of 36%. Indeed, "Dreamgirls" registers the lowest sales total for a No. 1 album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.
However, "Dreamgirls" becomes the first film soundtrack to rise to the top since "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" in 2002.
discuss | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
Anna Netrebko’s new “Russian Album” pulls off highest pop-chart entry since “The 3 tenors”
Anna Netrebko's newest release, the Russian Album has made historic news by entering both the German and Austrian pop charts at number eight, signifying in both cases the highest chart entry of a classical recording since 1990. The album includes Russian songs and arias and was recorded with the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre conducted by Valery Gergiev.
discuss | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
Justin Timberlake Announces Tour
Justin Timberlake is taking his sexy back on the road in January with a 34-city tour. Pink will be the special guest on the tour, which kicks off in San Diego on Jan. 8.
The tour is in support of Timberlake's No. 1 album "FutureSex/LoveSounds" which features his No. 1 single, "SexyBack" and new single "My Love" featuring T.I. He'll be hitting arenas in North America with a 14-piece band and backup dancers.
Even though Timberlake will be playing larger venues than he did on his SexyBack Live Listening Sessions club tour earlier this year, he hopes to achieve a semblance of an intimate setting by performing in the round.
On-sale dates will be announced locally in each market, and dates for the complete worldwide tour will be announced shortly.
The 2007 FutureSex/LoveSounds North American Tour Confirmed Dates (subject to change)
1/8 - San Diego - PayOne Center
1/9 - Anaheim, Calif - Honda Center
1/12 - Sacramento, Calif. - Arco Arena
1/14 - Phoenix - Glendale Arena
1/16 - Los Angeles - Staples Center
1/17 - Fresno, Calif. - Savemart Center
1/27 - St. Paul, Minn. - Xcel Energy Center
1/30 - Toronto. - Air Canada Centre
1/31 - Montreal - Bell Centre
2/2 - Washington - Verizon Center
2/3 - Cleveland - Quicken Loans Arena
2/6 - Boston - TD Banknorth Garden
2/7 - New York - Madison Square Garden
2/18 - Buffalo, N.Y. - HSBC Arena
2/22 - Tampa, Fla. - St. Pete Times Forum
2/24 - Miami - American Airlines Arena
2/25 - Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - BankAtlantic Center
2/27 - Atlanta - Philips Arena
3/1 - New Orleans - New Orleans Arena
3/3 - Bossier City, La. - CenturyTel Center
3/4 - Houston - Toyota Center
3/5 - Dallas - American Airlines Center
3/8 - Omaha - Qwest Center
3/9 - Ames, Iowa - Hilton Coliseum
3/16 - Nashville, Tenn. - Gaylord Entertainment Center
3/18 - Charlottesville, Va. - John Paul Jones Arena
3/19 - Pittsburgh - Mellon Arena
3/21 - Uniondale, N.Y. - Nassau Coliseum
3/24 - Uncasville, Conn. - Mohegan Sun
3/27 - Philadelphia - Wachovia Center
3/29 - East Rutherford, N.J. - Continental Airlines Arena
discuss | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
Scarlett Johansson to launch pop career
It's very common for pop stars to launch acting careers.
Think Madonna, Whitney, Britney etc.
However, it's less common for Hollywood stars to branch out into the music industry - with any success.
Which is what Scarlett Johansson has apparently done.
The Black Dahlia star has reportedly signed a deal to record her first album.
Media reports claim Scarlett is currently recording a collection of songs by top singer/ songwriter Tom Waits.
Fox News say the record will be called Scarlett Sings Tom Waits and is expected to be released in spring 2007.
Sources also say the timing will all depend on the actress' movie schedule.
1 comment | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
UK Charts Commentary
There aren't many records that flag themselves up as enduring classics right from the moment they are released. Today we might just be in a position to welcome one. Given the amount of pre-promotion it has been given and the sheer care that has gone into crafting the project (right down to the radical new look and uniforms for the band) it was more or less a given that the new album from My Chemical Romance was going to be their biggest yet. I don't think anyone was quite prepared for just how big this is going to be.
The lead single from the album, 'Welcome To The Black Parade' is an epic in every sense of the word. A 200 track monster of a production that throws in drums, guitars, multi layered harmonies and choral backings in a song divided into what are effectively four separate movements. All the best rock classics have them you know. Make no mistake this is something of a masterpiece. Just to delight the older generation there are nods to the past as well. From the Brian May-esque guitar work in the middle eight down to the posing of lead singer Gerard Way. Somewhere you get the feeling Freddie Mercury is smiling with approval.
It is also a record with a spectacular chart performance. After landing at Number 23 on downloads last week, the combined sales of the single are enough this week to propel it straight to the very top of the chart to give the US band far and away the biggest hit of their career so far. The 23-1 jump is the biggest since the chart rules were changed this year, beating the 21-1 leap made by Beyonce back in September
I don't as a general rule presume to tell people what they should and shouldn't listen to but 'Welcome To The Black Parade' is a record that it would be wrong to ignore, even if it is only to decide that you hate it. Personally I can't remember the last time a single moved, thrilled and inspired me to the extent that you get goose bumps down your spine as it reaches its climax and to have it as the biggest selling single of the week is something of a joy to behold. Lest this all becomes too gushing, I played the single to one of my colleagues to get his opinion. Hearing the track for the first time, he listened carefully and said "I like that. It's like Busted for grownups isn't it?"
In a very quiet Top 10 the only other significant action is the flying 43-7 leap of 'Superfreak' from Dutch dance act Beatfreakz. The song is a genuine curiosity as it is rather better known in this country for the track which sampled it rather than its original form. Motown star Rick James wrote the song and took it to the US Top 10 in 1981. Over here the single didn't chart at all, its UK fame is almost entirely down to MC Hammer and his sampling of the central synth riff as the backing for his breakthrough hit 'U Can't Touch This', a Top 3 hit in the summer of 1990. This new Beatfreakz version uses the riff of course but also restores the song lyrics. A cover it may be but to all intents and purposes this is a new song for the UK audience. It is the followup to their new version of 'Somebody's Watching Me' which went Top 3 back in May and which was itself notable for sampling the one bit of Rockwell's track that was actually sung by Michael Jackson.
The highest brand new entry of the week arrives at Number 20, James Morrison following up his Number 5 debut 'You Give Me Something' with second single 'Wonderful World'. Nothing to do with the Louis Armstrong song, this is yet another smoothly produced soul track which he delivers with his now celebrated gravelley tones. This chart placing is on downloads alone which means a big rise next week is all but inevitable. He only needs a single place rise to outdo his closest musical rival Paolo Nutini whose single 'Jenny Don't Be Hasty' looks to have peaked at Number 20, the single dipping a place to give way to James Morrison this week.
There is frustration this week for acclaimed electropoppers Hot Chip who were clearly hoping the exposure given to them by their Mercury nomination would translate into singles success. Their hit 'Laid Back' has made the Top 40 once already this year, hitting Number 32 back in March. Re-released last week it charted at 51 on downloads but the combined release has only helped it to Number 27, still their biggest hit to date but not quite the mainstream success they deserve. Their time will come.
Is Corinne Bailey Rae a one hit wonder? She certainly seems to be tending that way with a hit followup to the Number 2 smash 'Put Your Records On' proving elusive. Its followup came in June when 'Trouble Sleeping' limped to Number 40 and now a re-release of her first single 'Like A Star' also fails to hit the grade, leaping 72-32 upon shop release. At the very least it has surpassed the Number 34 position it scaled in November last year to become her second biggest hit to date, but for an artist who was hailed as one of the finds of the year back in the spring, this is poor stuff indeed. At least she has the consolation that the album has sold by the bucketful.
As for the remaining Top 40 new entries, Placebo hit Number 35 with 'Meds' but as a combined release is no going any further, neither is Badly Drawn Boy whose brand new track 'Nothing's Going To Change Your Mind' hits the chart on combined sales and can only match the Number 38 peak of his last hit 'Year Of The Rat' from two years ago. The only track with potential is the Ordinary Boys' 'Lonely At The Top' which hits the shops for real this week and is set to improve on its Number 36 debut.
Finally for this week, watch out for two singles just outside the Top 40. Meat Loaf's 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now' is set to soar next week and will get proper treatment next time, but I'm going to be fascinated by the progress of the Goo Goo Dolls' single which lands at Number 42 on downloads. The lead track on the single is ostensibly 'Stay With You' from their current album 'Let Love In' but it comes as a double a-side with their 1999 classic 'Iris', recently covered by Ronan Keating. Their own original release of the track only made Number 26 and it is entirely possible the Ronan connection could finally help it become the big hit here it always deserved to be.
discuss | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
Evanescence Zooms By Killers To Take No. 1 in USA
In another major week for new releases, Evanescence's "The Open Door" bows at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. The Wind-Up effort moved 447,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the rock act's first No. 1 on the chart. The band's debut, 2003's "Fallen," spent 104 weeks on the big chart, peaking at No. 3 and selling more than 6.6 million copies in the United States.
"The Open Door" also marks the 700th No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 since the magazine began publishing the weekly chart 50 years ago.
Coming in at No. 2, the Killers' sophomore release "Sam's Town" (Island) sells 315,000 copies. It's the group's best sales frame and its best charting position, as their debut "Hot Fuss" only managed a No. 7 peak.
George Strait scores his 30th chart entry with "It Just Comes Natural," which opens at No. 3 with 232,000. The MCA Nashville set is also No. 1 on Top Country Albums chart, his 20th on that tally. Strait's 2005 effort, "Somewhere Down in Texas," bowed at No. 1 on both charts.
2 comments | trackback | | category: music | Add this link to... | tell a friend
« previous1 next »