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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: music sales

music sales stories: 19 news summaries


 With New No. 1, 
 Jay-Z Grabs 
 Record 
 From Elvis 

Beatles, meanwhile, maintain dominance with big week

(Newser) - Jay-Z and the Beatles lit up the charts this week, Billboard reports. Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 sold 476,000 copies, easily capturing the top spot for the week, and giving the rapper his 11th No. 1 album. That nabs him the record, previously held by Elvis, for the... More »

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Beatles music sales Billboard charts album Jay-Z album sales

Firm Mulls Release of Final Jackson Rehearsal

Concert promoter could earn millions from CD, DVD sales

(Newser) - Even in death, Michael Jackson may earn million of dollars for the company that was producing and promoting his comeback tour, The Wrap reports. The singer’s last rehearsal, recorded in Los Angeles the day before he died of heart failure Thursday, could be released as his last album. “... More »

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London cardiac arrest music sales Michael Jackson concert tour

 Coldplay 
 Tops World 
 Chart for '08 

Viva la Vida the year's bestselling album

(Newser) - Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was the best-selling album in the world last year, the BBC reports, selling 6.8 million copies. Coldplay was one of four British acts to crack the top 10. Here’s the rest of the list:
  1. AC/DC: Black Ice
  2. The
... More »

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music music industry Amy Winehouse music sales Metallica Rihanna Lil Wayne Coldplay Duffy AC/DC Leona Lewis

 Clarkson Soars to Top of Charts 

New single rocketed from 97th spot in Hot 100

(Newser) - Kelly Clarkson’s new single has jumped from No. 97 to No. 1 , breaking the record held by Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” for the largest leap to the top spot, Billboard reports. “My Life Would Suck Without You” sold 280,000 digital downloads in one week and is climbing... More »

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 Chinese Democracry
 No Boon for Best Buy 

Chain bought exclusive sales rights to new album

(Newser) - Best Buy paid millions for exclusive sales rights to Guns N’ Roses latest effort, but of 1.3 million copies ordered, only 318,000 have left the shelves, the Wall Street Journal reports. The chain was betting Chinese Democracy would be the record of the year. Instead, it debuted at... More »

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music industry music sales Guns N' Roses Best Buy Axl Rose Chinese Democracy album sales

 Top Albums, Tours of 2008

At midway point, Lil Wayne, Bon Jovi lead respective categories

(Newser) - A tough economy may be sending album sales toward a fourth straight year of decline, but tour sales are keeping pace with last year at the midway point, reports Rolling Stone. Here's a look at both categories. The top-selling albums so far:
  1. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III, 1.
... More »

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Van Halen Bruce Springsteen music sales Jon Bon Jovi Coldplay

 Love Sued
 Over Nirvana
 Catalog 

Company claims Cobain's widow broke verbal contract

(AP) - Business firm London & Co. sued Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, for $975,000 yesterday, claiming she didn’t give them their share of the $19.5 million she earned from selling part of Nirvana's publishing catalog. They allege Love broke a verbal contract to share 5% of profits from... More »

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Courtney Love music industry Kurt Cobain celebrity Nirvana music sales civil lawsuits

 Jay-Z, Kanye: Kings of the Road 

Traveling rap shows cashing in like never before

(Newser) - It took "live bands, big sound, pyrotechnics and showmanship," not to speak of an assist from an R&B diva, but Jay-Z and Kanye West have brought hip-hop into the big leagues in the touring business. The Jay-Z tour that ended last month grossed more than $23 million,... More »

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music industry Kanye West hip-hop music sales rap music Jay-Z concert tour

 Vinyl Back for Another Spin 

Seemingly obsolete, format is seeing increasing—even 'unbelievable'—sales

(Newser) - It might seem unlikely in an age where the CD’s obituary has already been written, but vinyl records are making a comeback as younger fans fall for the big artwork and warm analog sounds, the Boston Globe reports. Music stores report big yearly sales increases, and big-box stores like... More »

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Papa’s Got a Brand New … Jumpsuit?

James Brown's estate selling everything in August auction

(Newser) - Estate sales are always a mixed bag, but the James Brown auction at Christie’s in August will be something special, TMZ.com reports. Sure, fans will be able to snag coveted items like a Grammy or keyboard, but the Godfather’s socks, underwear and canceled checks? Say it loud:... More »

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Apple Pips Wal-Mart to Become No. 1 Music Store

iTunes rise to the top a major milestone for the Internet

(Newser) - Apple has become America's No. 1 music retailer, the Los Angeles Times reports. The company said yesterday that its iTunes store had overtaken Wal-Mart for the first time. Analysts say its ascent to the top spot after just 5 years is a major milestone for the industry and the Internet. More »

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music downloads iTunes Apple music sales Wal-Mart

 MySpace Music Takes On iTunes

Joint venture with record companies aims to create competition

(Newser) - The world of online music buying looks set for a shakeup with the launch of MySpace Music, announced today. The joint venture between MySpace and three of the big four record labels aims to compete head-to-head with iTunes, CNET News reports. Music industry bigwigs are said to have long felt... More »

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Mariah Carey Passes Elvis
in Chart Toppers

With her 18th No. 1, she moves into 2nd place behind Beatles

(Newser) - Mariah Carey unseated Elvis for the No. 2 spot in chart-topping songs this week. Her single "Touch My Body" became her 18th No. 1 and pushed Elvis into third place, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Beatles' all-time record of 20 remains, but Carey could eclipse the Fab Four... More »

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music music industry music downloads pop culture pop music singers Elvis Presley Beatles music sales Billboard charts Mariah Carey

US Album Sales Plummet In '07

Growth slows; future looks grim

(Newser) - Album sales in the US fell 15% in 2007, to just 500.5 million units. The total represents both the lowest sales figure and sharpest decline since Nielsen began keeping track of music sales estimates in 1993. Total digital sales, including both albums and singles, were up 14% with 1.... More »

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music industry digital music music sales

Billboard Names 'Daughtry' the Year's #1 Album

'American Idol' alum's debut beats out
Akon, Fergie

(Newser) - Billboard has declared "American Idol" alum Chris Daughtry the year's most popular artist, thanks to "Daughtry," his band's debut album, which has sold 3.2 million copies. Akon took second place with "Konvicted," which sold 2.7 million. Beyonce had the No. 1 single, "... More »

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'Guitar Hero' Amps Metal Sales

Rock star wannabes turning to real bands

(Newser) - Red-hot video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is helping lift heavy metal sales, the Boston Herald reports. Massachusetts metallers Killswitch Engage have seen CD sales top half a million since being featured in the game—pretty good going in the age of illegal downloads. The guitar simulator game... More »

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music sales Guitar Hero III Killswitch Engage heavy metal video games

Radiohead Denies Report That Fans Aren't Paying

Company said 62% chose not to pay in experimental album release

(Newser) - Just how successful has Radiohead's experimental pay-if-you-want online album release been? That's in debate as the band denies a report that just 38% of fans opted to pay for In Rainbows, and most paid under $4. Radiohead said the the figures from comScore Inc. are "wholly inaccurate," reports... More »

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Radiohead's Free Downloads Prompt Others

Oasis, Jamiroquai are among those mulling freebie releases

(Newser) - Oasis, Jamiroquai and other bands not tied to record labels may soon follow in Radiohead's footsteps by offering their music for free download, reports the Daily Telegraph. While fans may pay whatever they choose for Radiohead's new album, released today, a spokesperson says the majority of visitors preordering on the... More »

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music industry music downloads digital music music sales Radiohead Oasis Jamiroquai music label

Kanye Prevails in Battle of the Hip-Hop Stars

It's still early, but Graduation is outselling
50 Cent's Curtis

(Newser) - In the much-hyped battled between two music titans, early sales indicate hip-hop fans are going West. Kanye West’s latest album, Graduation, has been outselling rival 50 Cent’s Curtis—by 2 to 1 at one Hollywood store, the LA Times reportssince the two went on sale yesterday.... More »

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19 Stories