Music News Roundup - August 11, 2011
Adele’s 21 Scores 12th Week at No. 1, Most in Over a Decade
Adele’s unstoppable album notches a 12th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the most since Santana’s “Supernatural” also racked a dozen weeks in 2000. Since its release 24 weeks ago, the album hasn’t dropped out of the top three—the longest stay at the top since Witney Houston’s “The Bodyguard”. Unfortunately for Adele, this reign is likely to end next week, as Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch the Throne”, Luke Bryan’s “Tailgates and Tanlines”, and “NOW That’s What I Call Music 39” are each expected to have sales north of 100,000 units.
http://www.billboard.com/news/adele-s-21-notches-most-weeks-at-no-1-since-1005309992.story
http://www.billboard.com/news/billboard-200-preview-watch-the-throne-luke-1005313552.story
“Watch the Throne” to Set iTunes Record?
Speaking of “Watch the Throne”, the set is expected to post the largest sales week for an album in the history of iTunes. The large sales can be credited to the album’s unique release schedule, which gives the online music retailer exclusive rights of sale until tomorrow. The current record is held by Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends,” which shifted 282,000 iTunes downloads in its first week.
Gavin DeGraw will Resume Performing Later This Month
After being attacked in NYC this past weekend, Gavin DeGraw sustained a number of injuries. Although he is still in recovery, the singer insists he will rejoin Train and Maroon 5 on Tour before the end of the month.
http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/11/gavin-degraw-perform-concert-maroon-5-train-recovery/
American Idol’s Judging Panel Remains Intact For Season 11
After rumors that Jennifer Lopez might leave from the show after judging for one year, executive produce Nigel Lythgoe announced yesterday that she would be returning, alongside Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson. Although there were worries before Season 10 that viewers would stop watching after the departure of Simon Cowell, American Idol performed well in the ratings with the new judges.
Katy Perry: 5 Hot 100 No. 1’s?
If Katy Perry hopes to tie Michael Jackson’s record of 5 Hot 100 Number 1’s from one album with “Last Friday Night”, this week will be her best (and possibly only) opportunity. The song narrowly edged out the incumbent No. 1, “Party Rock Anthem”, on radio this week by 200,000 listeners, but the latter outsold the former by about 50,000 copies. However, a remix of “Friday Night” featuring Missy Elliot was released on Monday, and added sales from the remix might be enough to edge out “Anthem”. Judging from the popularity bars on iTunes, this is a very real possibility, but it will be a close call. Both “Friday” and “Anthem’s” sales are descending fairly quickly and only increased by 2% and 1% on radio last week, respectively. As such, a new song will likely take the top spot in the coming weeks, so this is potentially the last chance Perry has to tie the King of Pop’s record unless she releases a sixth single from “Teenage Dream” that achieves similar success.
