LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Embattled R&B singer Chris Brown crashed his car into a wall in upscale Beverly Hills on Saturday, and later told police officers he was trying to elude aggressive paparazzi, police said.
The crash came on the eve of the Grammy Awards, almost exactly four years after Brown assaulted his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, the night before the awards show in 2009.
In the latest incident, Brown told Beverly Hills police that photographers were chasing him right up until the crash, said police Sergeant Kurt Haefs.
The singer was not cited or arrested at the scene, Haefs said. He added the damaged vehicle may have been towed away.
Media reports indicated Brown was driving a black Porsche.
A representative for Brown, who was not injured in the accident, did not immediately return calls on Saturday evening.
Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating and punching Rihanna and he faces ongoing legal troubles stemming from the case.
A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday ordered a new report on the community service Brown was due to perform as a result of the conviction, after prosecutors accused the singer of cutting corners on the work.
Prosecutors have cited occasions when they said Brown was not at the recorded location of his community service and instead was performing or traveling, once on a private jet bound for Cancun, Mexico.
Rihanna, who has admitted that she has resumed dating Brown, accompanied him to his court hearing on Wednesday.
Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, has denied the latest allegations about the singer's community service and accused prosecutors of persecuting his client.
This year, Brown's 'Fortune' is nominated for best urban contemporary album at the Grammy Awards.
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Sandra Maler)
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Springsteen says "freaky" to be honored at pre-Grammys tribute
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bruce Springsteen was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday at a star-studded pre-Grammys event where some of the biggest names in music like Sting, Alabama Shakes and Neil Young paid homage to 'The Boss.'
The annual event, now in its 23rd year, celebrates a star's musical achievements and philanthropic work, and is hosted by Grammy organizers to kick off the weekend of the awards show.
The 55th annual Grammy Awards will air this Sunday on CBS.
Past Musicares honorees include Bono, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.
'It's kind of a freaky experience,' said Springsteen, 63, as he accepted the award, saying it was 'like the Italian wedding' he never had with his wife Patti Scialfa, or a 'huge Bar Mitzvah.'
Scialfa later accompanied Springsteen on vocals and guitar, along with other members of his band, as he performed a set of his hits, including 'We Take Care of Our Own,' 'Born to Run' and 'Glory Days.'
Earlier in the night, he helped boost the value of an auctioned signed guitar. 'With this guitar comes one free guitar lesson with me,' he said to the audience to trigger more bids. Then he threw in a ride in the sidecar of his Harley motorcycle, and his mom's lasagna. The guitar sold for $250,000.
All of the proceeds from the show and silent auction go to Musicares, which provides support to struggling musicians in financial, medical and personal need.
Other artists including Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, John Legend and Patti Smith performed songs to honor Springsteen.
Springsteen recently performed at the 12/12/12 Hurricane Sandy charity concert in Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the thousands affected by the superstorm.
The singer-songwriter from New Jersey has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide and is vying for three Grammys on Sunday, including best rock album for 'Wrecking Ball.' His single 'We Take Care of Our Own' is nominated for both Best Rock Song and Best Rock performance.
President Barack Obama used 'We Take Care of Our Own' as one of his top campaign songs in last year's election, in which he defeated Mitt Romney.
(Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
The annual event, now in its 23rd year, celebrates a star's musical achievements and philanthropic work, and is hosted by Grammy organizers to kick off the weekend of the awards show.
The 55th annual Grammy Awards will air this Sunday on CBS.
Past Musicares honorees include Bono, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.
'It's kind of a freaky experience,' said Springsteen, 63, as he accepted the award, saying it was 'like the Italian wedding' he never had with his wife Patti Scialfa, or a 'huge Bar Mitzvah.'
Scialfa later accompanied Springsteen on vocals and guitar, along with other members of his band, as he performed a set of his hits, including 'We Take Care of Our Own,' 'Born to Run' and 'Glory Days.'
Earlier in the night, he helped boost the value of an auctioned signed guitar. 'With this guitar comes one free guitar lesson with me,' he said to the audience to trigger more bids. Then he threw in a ride in the sidecar of his Harley motorcycle, and his mom's lasagna. The guitar sold for $250,000.
All of the proceeds from the show and silent auction go to Musicares, which provides support to struggling musicians in financial, medical and personal need.
Other artists including Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, John Legend and Patti Smith performed songs to honor Springsteen.
Springsteen recently performed at the 12/12/12 Hurricane Sandy charity concert in Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the thousands affected by the superstorm.
The singer-songwriter from New Jersey has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide and is vying for three Grammys on Sunday, including best rock album for 'Wrecking Ball.' His single 'We Take Care of Our Own' is nominated for both Best Rock Song and Best Rock performance.
President Barack Obama used 'We Take Care of Our Own' as one of his top campaign songs in last year's election, in which he defeated Mitt Romney.
(Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Friday, February 8, 2013
Dame Shirley Bassey to appear at the Academy Awards
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dame Shirley Bassey, who recorded the theme songs for the James Bond films 'Goldfinger,' 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 'Moonraker,' will make her first appearance at the Academy Awards this month, the show's producers said on Friday.
Bassey, whose career has spanned more than six decades, will perform at the awards show on February 24 in Los Angeles, along with others including Adele, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand.
'Her association with film music is world renowned and we are proud that she will be making her first Oscar appearance on our telecast,' Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the show, said in a statement.
The 76-year-old British singer has recorded more than 44 albums, has sold more than 135 million records and has performed in concert halls across the world. Last June, she sang at Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee concert in London.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC television and in more than 225 countries worldwide.
(Reporting by Doreen O'Donnell; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Bassey, whose career has spanned more than six decades, will perform at the awards show on February 24 in Los Angeles, along with others including Adele, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand.
'Her association with film music is world renowned and we are proud that she will be making her first Oscar appearance on our telecast,' Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the show, said in a statement.
The 76-year-old British singer has recorded more than 44 albums, has sold more than 135 million records and has performed in concert halls across the world. Last June, she sang at Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee concert in London.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC television and in more than 225 countries worldwide.
(Reporting by Doreen O'Donnell; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Keep breasts, buttocks under wraps, CBS tells Grammy performers
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy performers have been told to cover up at Sunday's big music awards show, and keep their buttocks, nipples and genitals under wraps. Their politics can't show either.
In a 'wardrobe advisory,' broadcaster CBS also asked musicians and audience members likely to appear on camera at the February 10 Grammy Awards ceremony to avoid wearing brand names on T-shirts as well as clothing with political or activist slogans.
'Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered. Thong type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare flesh under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack,' said the memo issued by CBS standards and practices department and obtained by entertainment industry website Deadline.com on Wednesday.
'Obscenity or partially seen obscenity on wardrobe is unacceptable for broadcast,' the note added.
The warning follows a lengthy court battle over indecency and obscenity standards on U.S. network television.
CBS, a unit of CBS Corp, was fined $550,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for airing a glimpse of Janet Jackson's breast when her costume slipped while singing at the Super Bowl half-time show in 2004.
The fine was later thrown out and that decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2012. CBS has expressed 'deep regret' for the incident.
The annual Grammy Awards ceremony honors the best musicians of the year, but is also a major promotional showcase for rising stars and upcoming albums.
In 2010, singer Pink performed upside down in a flesh-colored bodysuit, while Rihanna last year wore a plunging black dress on the red carpet.
Performers at Sunday's three-hour show in Los Angeles include Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Frank Ocean, Alicia Keys and Elton John.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
In a 'wardrobe advisory,' broadcaster CBS also asked musicians and audience members likely to appear on camera at the February 10 Grammy Awards ceremony to avoid wearing brand names on T-shirts as well as clothing with political or activist slogans.
'Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered. Thong type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare flesh under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack,' said the memo issued by CBS standards and practices department and obtained by entertainment industry website Deadline.com on Wednesday.
'Obscenity or partially seen obscenity on wardrobe is unacceptable for broadcast,' the note added.
The warning follows a lengthy court battle over indecency and obscenity standards on U.S. network television.
CBS, a unit of CBS Corp, was fined $550,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for airing a glimpse of Janet Jackson's breast when her costume slipped while singing at the Super Bowl half-time show in 2004.
The fine was later thrown out and that decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2012. CBS has expressed 'deep regret' for the incident.
The annual Grammy Awards ceremony honors the best musicians of the year, but is also a major promotional showcase for rising stars and upcoming albums.
In 2010, singer Pink performed upside down in a flesh-colored bodysuit, while Rihanna last year wore a plunging black dress on the red carpet.
Performers at Sunday's three-hour show in Los Angeles include Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Frank Ocean, Alicia Keys and Elton John.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Kraftwerk mixes art with music in sell-out shows
LONDON (Reuters) - German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk have always aimed to combine music and art so performing at London's Tate Modern was the ideal venue for them after three years of planning.
Kraftwerk took over the 800-capacity Turbine Hall at the art gallery on Wednesday to play the first of eight consecutive shows, each focused on a different album, starting with 'Autobahn' from 1974 and ending with 'Tour de France' from 2003.
The sight of four middle-aged men in skintight neon suits standing almost motionless on stage behind a line of consoles backed by 3D images may look bizarre to the uninitiated but to the group's devoted following it all seems to make sense.
When tickets went on sale in December, priced at 60 pounds ($95) each, the demand crashed the gallery's website.
Two similar eight night runs at New York's Museum of Modern Art and in Kraftwerk's home town of Duesseldorf were also sold out with massive demand to see the group hailed by some as one of the most influential in pop history.
Catherine Wood, curator of contemporary art and performance at the Tate Modern, said it made sense for Kraftwerk to perform in an art gallery, and particularly at the Tate Modern which was once a power station - the English translation of Kraftwerk.
'They have a history of engaging with visual art, with minimal form, and perform in a way that is completely at odds with the usual idea of the rock star by putting the robot in the foreground,' Wood told Reuters.
'It takes away the aura of the artist and they have played with that in a very knowing way.'
In fact only one of the original members of Kraftwerk remains in the group -- Ralf Hutter -- and no details were available on the other three musicians in the line-up.
INFLUENCE ON POP
Kraftwerk rarely does interviews and a request for one this week was unsuccessful. In 2009, Hutter sent a robot in his place for an interview on a British television show.
The group dates back to 1970 when Hutter and Florian Schneider began the Kraftwerk project at their Kling Klang Studio in Duesseldorf, experimenting with electronic music and creating images of the future and the digital age.
Their international breakthrough came in 1974 with 'Autobahn' and they went on to build a strong following for using robotic and technical innovations in performances as well as computerized compositions.
They are credited for being the godfathers of synthpop, hip-hop and all range of electronic offshoots and cited as an inspiration for groups like Joy Division, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Human League.
In the past two decades Kraftwerk has produced little new material which some critics put down to the fact that synthesizers and electronics are now fully integrated into mainstream pop and dance music.
The restrospective performances at the Tate Modern, titled 'The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8', were their first London dates since 2004 and the crowd, handed 3D glasses on entry, was dominated by middle-aged men on Wednesday.
The show started with robotic figures in suits towering out of the screen over the audience as the group performed 'The Robots' before a Volkswagen Beetle sped up and down a motorway to their hit song 'Autobahn'.
Lunar landscapes, the galaxy, musical notes all rose and emerged from the screen during the two-hour show that started and ended precisely on time and included 'The Model' from 1981, their most successful UK single.
Fans and critics described the show as 'mesmerising', 'spectacular' and 'unique', even after 40 years.
'As a work of art, part of an abstract history lesson set to music, ghostly echoes of the 20th century, it is mesmerising,' Paul Morley wrote in The Telegraph.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, editing by Paul Casciato)
Kraftwerk took over the 800-capacity Turbine Hall at the art gallery on Wednesday to play the first of eight consecutive shows, each focused on a different album, starting with 'Autobahn' from 1974 and ending with 'Tour de France' from 2003.
The sight of four middle-aged men in skintight neon suits standing almost motionless on stage behind a line of consoles backed by 3D images may look bizarre to the uninitiated but to the group's devoted following it all seems to make sense.
When tickets went on sale in December, priced at 60 pounds ($95) each, the demand crashed the gallery's website.
Two similar eight night runs at New York's Museum of Modern Art and in Kraftwerk's home town of Duesseldorf were also sold out with massive demand to see the group hailed by some as one of the most influential in pop history.
Catherine Wood, curator of contemporary art and performance at the Tate Modern, said it made sense for Kraftwerk to perform in an art gallery, and particularly at the Tate Modern which was once a power station - the English translation of Kraftwerk.
'They have a history of engaging with visual art, with minimal form, and perform in a way that is completely at odds with the usual idea of the rock star by putting the robot in the foreground,' Wood told Reuters.
'It takes away the aura of the artist and they have played with that in a very knowing way.'
In fact only one of the original members of Kraftwerk remains in the group -- Ralf Hutter -- and no details were available on the other three musicians in the line-up.
INFLUENCE ON POP
Kraftwerk rarely does interviews and a request for one this week was unsuccessful. In 2009, Hutter sent a robot in his place for an interview on a British television show.
The group dates back to 1970 when Hutter and Florian Schneider began the Kraftwerk project at their Kling Klang Studio in Duesseldorf, experimenting with electronic music and creating images of the future and the digital age.
Their international breakthrough came in 1974 with 'Autobahn' and they went on to build a strong following for using robotic and technical innovations in performances as well as computerized compositions.
They are credited for being the godfathers of synthpop, hip-hop and all range of electronic offshoots and cited as an inspiration for groups like Joy Division, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Human League.
In the past two decades Kraftwerk has produced little new material which some critics put down to the fact that synthesizers and electronics are now fully integrated into mainstream pop and dance music.
The restrospective performances at the Tate Modern, titled 'The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8', were their first London dates since 2004 and the crowd, handed 3D glasses on entry, was dominated by middle-aged men on Wednesday.
The show started with robotic figures in suits towering out of the screen over the audience as the group performed 'The Robots' before a Volkswagen Beetle sped up and down a motorway to their hit song 'Autobahn'.
Lunar landscapes, the galaxy, musical notes all rose and emerged from the screen during the two-hour show that started and ended precisely on time and included 'The Model' from 1981, their most successful UK single.
Fans and critics described the show as 'mesmerising', 'spectacular' and 'unique', even after 40 years.
'As a work of art, part of an abstract history lesson set to music, ghostly echoes of the 20th century, it is mesmerising,' Paul Morley wrote in The Telegraph.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, editing by Paul Casciato)
Frank Ocean, FUN. are front-runners heading into Sunday's Grammys
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B artist Frank Ocean and indie-pop group FUN. go into Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony as front-runners for the music industry's top accolades in a year where new talent and male artists have attracted most of the attention.
After last year's Grammy ceremony was dominated by British singer Adele, and her best-selling album '21,' this year's awards show will be all about men.
FUN., Ocean, British folk band Mumford & Sons, rocker Dan Auerbach, Jay-Z and Kanye West each received six nominations, while Auerbach's band, The Black Keys, got five.
'It will be a very exciting night because it's so much the antithesis of last year, which was a once-in-a-lifetime show with Adele and her moment,' Jim Donio, president of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, told Reuters.
With the absence of new music from many major pop artists in the past year, emerging talent features prominently at the Grammys.
Pop chart staples Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Adele and Rihanna all picked up nominations for the 55th annual Grammy Awards, but only Clarkson and Taylor Swift received Record of the Year nods.
In the Album of the Year category, one style of music is making a comeback.
'This year seems very different ... we're seeing rock music and guitar music coming back to the Grammys and being appreciated this year,' said Patrick Doyle, assistant editor of Rolling Stone magazine.
New York-based FUN., made up of Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff, stormed the charts in 2012 and are back this year. They are the only artists going into Sunday's awards with nominations in the top four categories - Album, Record and Song of the Year as well as Best New Artist.
But unlike last year, where Adele was a clear favorite and went home with six Grammys, this year's big winners are less predictable. Experts said the chances are slim of one person or band winning the coveted trifecta of Song, Record and Album of the Year.
'I think voters went out of their way almost to assure that you're not going to see the photo of one person clutching six Grammy awards. There won't be one unified winner,' said James Montgomery, senior writer at MTV News.
OCEAN MAKING WAVES
FUN. had one of the biggest-selling singles of 2012 with their infectious hit 'We Are Young' featuring Janelle Monae, which is up for three Grammy awards. Both Doyle and Montgomery think they may take both the Song and Record of the Year titles.
'They're taking a classic sound and putting hip hop productions and fresh sounding beats on top of anthem-like melodies,' Doyle said.
The trio face strong competition from Ocean, who is nominated in six categories, including Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Ocean, 25, has paved an unconventional path to the Grammys after emerging on the music scene a few years ago as part of the Odd Future hip hop collective.
His debut album 'Channel Orange,' released in July, has been both a commercial and critical success.
The singer made waves after revealing that his first love was another man, an admission of same-sex attraction that was seen as groundbreaking in the hip hop community, which is often criticized for hostility towards homosexuals.
Ocean and FUN. will be competing with blues-rockers Alabama Shakes, folk-indie group The Lumineers and country singer Hunter Hayes for Best New Artist.
'Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers and Hunter Hayes may all draw from the some basic vote group, which leaves the race between FUN. and Frank Ocean. And due to his album success and story, I think it may be Frank Ocean,' Montgomery said.
Both Montgomery and Doyle said Ocean may be also win the night for Album of the Year.
'His album was so soulful and new, and it sounds really like nothing else. It's a completely honest record that people can really relate to, something that hasn't been seen or heard in a long time,' Doyle said.
'He's going to be a huge presence at the Grammys because there's no one like him.'
The Grammys Awards will be presented in Los Angeles and shown live on CBS television on Sunday.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Stacey Joyce)
After last year's Grammy ceremony was dominated by British singer Adele, and her best-selling album '21,' this year's awards show will be all about men.
FUN., Ocean, British folk band Mumford & Sons, rocker Dan Auerbach, Jay-Z and Kanye West each received six nominations, while Auerbach's band, The Black Keys, got five.
'It will be a very exciting night because it's so much the antithesis of last year, which was a once-in-a-lifetime show with Adele and her moment,' Jim Donio, president of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, told Reuters.
With the absence of new music from many major pop artists in the past year, emerging talent features prominently at the Grammys.
Pop chart staples Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Adele and Rihanna all picked up nominations for the 55th annual Grammy Awards, but only Clarkson and Taylor Swift received Record of the Year nods.
In the Album of the Year category, one style of music is making a comeback.
'This year seems very different ... we're seeing rock music and guitar music coming back to the Grammys and being appreciated this year,' said Patrick Doyle, assistant editor of Rolling Stone magazine.
New York-based FUN., made up of Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff, stormed the charts in 2012 and are back this year. They are the only artists going into Sunday's awards with nominations in the top four categories - Album, Record and Song of the Year as well as Best New Artist.
But unlike last year, where Adele was a clear favorite and went home with six Grammys, this year's big winners are less predictable. Experts said the chances are slim of one person or band winning the coveted trifecta of Song, Record and Album of the Year.
'I think voters went out of their way almost to assure that you're not going to see the photo of one person clutching six Grammy awards. There won't be one unified winner,' said James Montgomery, senior writer at MTV News.
OCEAN MAKING WAVES
FUN. had one of the biggest-selling singles of 2012 with their infectious hit 'We Are Young' featuring Janelle Monae, which is up for three Grammy awards. Both Doyle and Montgomery think they may take both the Song and Record of the Year titles.
'They're taking a classic sound and putting hip hop productions and fresh sounding beats on top of anthem-like melodies,' Doyle said.
The trio face strong competition from Ocean, who is nominated in six categories, including Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Ocean, 25, has paved an unconventional path to the Grammys after emerging on the music scene a few years ago as part of the Odd Future hip hop collective.
His debut album 'Channel Orange,' released in July, has been both a commercial and critical success.
The singer made waves after revealing that his first love was another man, an admission of same-sex attraction that was seen as groundbreaking in the hip hop community, which is often criticized for hostility towards homosexuals.
Ocean and FUN. will be competing with blues-rockers Alabama Shakes, folk-indie group The Lumineers and country singer Hunter Hayes for Best New Artist.
'Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers and Hunter Hayes may all draw from the some basic vote group, which leaves the race between FUN. and Frank Ocean. And due to his album success and story, I think it may be Frank Ocean,' Montgomery said.
Both Montgomery and Doyle said Ocean may be also win the night for Album of the Year.
'His album was so soulful and new, and it sounds really like nothing else. It's a completely honest record that people can really relate to, something that hasn't been seen or heard in a long time,' Doyle said.
'He's going to be a huge presence at the Grammys because there's no one like him.'
The Grammys Awards will be presented in Los Angeles and shown live on CBS television on Sunday.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Stacey Joyce)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Justin Bieber becomes youngest artist with five No. 1 albums
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian pop star Justin Bieber became the youngest artist to land five chart-topping albums in the United States on Wednesday when his latest record, 'Believe Acoustic,' debuted atop the Billboard 200 album chart.
'Believe Acoustic,' which features stripped down versions of Bieber's songs from his fourth No. 1 album, 'Believe,' released last June, as well as three new songs, sold 211,000 copies in its first week according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.
The album also topped iTunes downloads charts in 63 countries, and became a hot topic on social media platforms as the singer's 34 million-strong followers on Twitter raced to purchase the record as soon as it was released.
Bieber was previously tied with former Disney star Miley Cyrus with four chart-topping albums before turning 19, and he is only one of nine artists in Billboard history to have a No. 1 album for four consecutive years.
Bieber's 19th birthday is March 1.
The singer, who failed to pick up a Grammy nomination this year despite having a top-selling album and sold-out world tour in 2012, will be hosting and performing on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' this week, the night before the Grammy awards.
Four new albums debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 chart this week, led by 'Believe Acoustic.'
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's 14th studio album, 'Passione,' landed at No. 2 with sales of 93,000, while Canadian sister duo Tegan & Sara notched No. 3 with their seventh studio album, 'Heartthrob,' selling 49,000 copies.
R&B singer Charlie Wilson came in at No. 4 with his latest record, 'Love, Charlie,' selling 44,000 copies in its first week.
Singer Beyonce saw a boost in sales following her widely praised performance at the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, which was watched by more than 108 million people.
For the week ending Sunday, February 2, digital sales of Beyonce's songs 'Halo,' 'Crazy In Love' and 'Single Ladies' saw the biggest bumps. There were 19,000 digital copies of 'Halo' sold, a 338 percent increase from the previous week.
The new Destiny's Child compilation album, 'Love Songs,' didn't see as big a bump, selling under 6,000 copies last week.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Jackie Frank)
'Believe Acoustic,' which features stripped down versions of Bieber's songs from his fourth No. 1 album, 'Believe,' released last June, as well as three new songs, sold 211,000 copies in its first week according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.
The album also topped iTunes downloads charts in 63 countries, and became a hot topic on social media platforms as the singer's 34 million-strong followers on Twitter raced to purchase the record as soon as it was released.
Bieber was previously tied with former Disney star Miley Cyrus with four chart-topping albums before turning 19, and he is only one of nine artists in Billboard history to have a No. 1 album for four consecutive years.
Bieber's 19th birthday is March 1.
The singer, who failed to pick up a Grammy nomination this year despite having a top-selling album and sold-out world tour in 2012, will be hosting and performing on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' this week, the night before the Grammy awards.
Four new albums debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 chart this week, led by 'Believe Acoustic.'
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's 14th studio album, 'Passione,' landed at No. 2 with sales of 93,000, while Canadian sister duo Tegan & Sara notched No. 3 with their seventh studio album, 'Heartthrob,' selling 49,000 copies.
R&B singer Charlie Wilson came in at No. 4 with his latest record, 'Love, Charlie,' selling 44,000 copies in its first week.
Singer Beyonce saw a boost in sales following her widely praised performance at the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, which was watched by more than 108 million people.
For the week ending Sunday, February 2, digital sales of Beyonce's songs 'Halo,' 'Crazy In Love' and 'Single Ladies' saw the biggest bumps. There were 19,000 digital copies of 'Halo' sold, a 338 percent increase from the previous week.
The new Destiny's Child compilation album, 'Love Songs,' didn't see as big a bump, selling under 6,000 copies last week.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Jackie Frank)
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