US snowboarding is back on the East coast and hitting up Jersey, as Mountain Creek, located in Vernon, New Jersey prepares to host the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix finals, February 5
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers lead the Recording Industry Association of America’s latest pack of album-sales award-winners by claiming their first diamond award.
The RIAA has given its diamond award, which signifies U.S. shipment of 10 million copies, to Petty & the Heartbreakers’ 1993 best-of set, “Greatest Hits.”
Also putting up double digits during this certification round are Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, and classic rockers Boston. Simon and Garfunkel’s current reunion tour apparently helped push the duo’s 1972 “Greatest Hits” collection past the 14-million mark, while Boston’s self-titled 1976 debut has shipped 17 million copies.
Other veterans hitting sales milestones include the late Johnny Cash, who scores his first platinum studio album with his final recording, “American IV: The Man Comes Around”; Rod Stewart, whose “As Time Goes By … The Great American Songbook, Vol. 2,” has gone platinum, and whose “Vol. 1” edition has achieved double-platinum status; Outkast, whose “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” is now certified quadruple platinum; and Michael McDonald, whose “Motown” covers collection is has gone gold, signifying U.S. shipment of 500,000 copies.
Also among the albums recognized are Alicia Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” with 6 million copies; Vince Gill’s “Souvenirs” with 3 million copies; Audioslave’s self-titled debut and Clay Aiken’s “Measure of a Man” with 2 million copies each; and Dido’s “Life for Rent,” Ludacris’ “Chicken & Beer” and DMX’s “The Grand Champ,” each with 1 million copies.
The Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” remains the top-selling album of all time, with certification of 28 million copies; Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” follows with 26 million copies.
Source Pollstar.com.
A federal judge has approved a settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of millions of record club members who alleged they had been overcharged in a price-fixing conspiracy.
Under the settlement signed Wednesday by U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby, the CD buyers will receive vouchers to give them 75 percent discounts for new compact discs, which they will receive with no shipping or handling charges.
Some members will be eligible for as many as three discounts, said an attorney for the plaintiffs, Michael Jaffe.
Hornby approved a $143 million settlement in a related lawsuit last July that accused major record companies and large music retailers of conspiring to set minimum music prices. Under that settlement, 3.5 million people are to receive checks for $12.60 and libraries and schools across the country will get $75.7 million worth of music CDs.
The lawsuit was signed by the attorneys general of 43 states and territories and consolidated in Portland in October 2000.
Defendants included Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music Distribution, Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corp., Universal Music Group and Bertelsmann Music Group, as well as retailers Tower Records, Musicland Stores and Transworld Entertainment.
In agreeing to the settlement, the companies denied any wrongdoing.
Source yahoo.com.
