Adele Notches Best Sales Year Since Usher's Confessions1676522

In 2011, 21 moved more than 5.6 million copies in the U.S.
By Gil Kaufman


Adele
Photo: Getty Images

The music industry has been stuck in a rut for nearly a decade. But every once in a while, it still manages to produce one of those unstoppable hit albums that give everyone that good old feeling.

This year's model is Adele's 21, which not only sold more copies than any other album in the U.S. in 2011 (more than 5.6 million to date), but which has also moved the most units of any artist since 2004. According to a Reuters report, those gaudy figures (which top 15 million worldwide) make the British songbird the first artist to cross the 5 million mark in one year since Usher did it with his fourth studio album, Confessions, which sold 7.9 million units more than seven years ago. And to think she did it by releasing just two mega singles, "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You," and barely touring North America due to recurring vocal issues.
 There have been other big hits along the way to Adele's mark, including Eminem selling more than 3.4 million copies of his comeback Recovery album last year and Taylor Swift taking the honors in 2009 with Fearless, which sold 3.2 million copies. But none have come as close to Usher's mark in the interim. There doesn't seem to be any chance Adele will be surpassed by the end of the year: The closest contenders are Lady Gaga's Born This Way (2.08 million) and Michael Bublé's Christmas (2.4 million). The other good news is that overall music sales are expected to be up slightly (3 percent) by the end of this year, marking the first time that's happened since 2004.

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Usher - There Goes My Baby

Rihanna, Usher Added To Grammy Nominations Concert1674539

Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco and the Band Perry also scheduled to perform at November 30 event.
By Jocelyn Vena


Rihanna performs in concert (file)
Photo: WireImage

Rihanna and Usher have been added to the performance lineup for "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! Countdown to Music's Biggest Night," set to go down November 30. They join already announced acts Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco, Sugarland and Jason Aldean. Country crossover act the Band Perry will perform a full concert of their own after the Grammy nominations concert wraps up at L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre. LL Cool J will again host the show, which will air at 10 p.m. on CBS, Billboard.com reports. This marks the fourth year the Recording Academy had held one of these concerts. As some of music's biggest names take the stage during the special, the nominations for major Grammy categories will be announced. The awards ceremony will go down February 12 at the Staples Center, and will air live at 8 p.m. Over the course of her career, Rihanna has taken home four Grammy Awards including Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella," two trophies for "Run This Town" (including Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration) and Best Dance Recording for "Only Girl (In the World)." Rihanna is currently riding high on the forthcoming release of her new album, Talk That Talk, and two buzzworthy singles, "We Found Love" and "You Da One." In the thirteen years he's been nominated for Grammys, Usher has amassed seven, including wins for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male for "U Remind Me," Best R&B Vocal Performance Male for "U Don't Have To Call," Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Yeah," Best Contemporary R&B Album for Confessions, Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo/Group for "My Boo," Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "There Goes My Baby" as well as Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond. Recently, he has been taking over airwaves with his David Guetta track, "Without You."

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Elizabeth Banks Covers Lucky Magazine February 2012

Adding to her portfolio, Elizabeth Banks is the cover girl for the February 2012 issue of Lucky Magazine.

And the ?Role Models? babe opens up about how atypical she is when it comes to fitting in with her Tinseltown contemporaries.

Banks confesses that her fashion sense isn?t exactly cutting edge. ?I was kind of late to the party. I mean, I have always appreciated fashion. But I?m a girl who loves a bargain. I?ll shop at Forever 21 and H&M.?

As for favorite designers, Elizabeth gushes, ?I love Prada shoes. I cannot get enough of them. Or Valentino. I wore gold-studded Valentinos at the shoot today?they were amazing. I?m always impressed by the craftsmanship and beauty of shoes.?

Growing up, she says, was always an adventure. ?We played baseball and fixed cars, because that?s what Dad liked to do with us.?

And it sounds like she?ll be passing that fearless spirit on to her son Felix. ?My plan is that when Felix is 15, we?ll go skydiving together. I mean, the guy is fierce and fearless, and I?m hoping he stays that way. Because I want to be that mom.?

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/elizabeth-banks/elizabeth-banks-covers-lucky-magazine-february-2012-573293

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Beyoncé - Run The World (Girls)

Sophie Monk Is An Organic Kind Of Shopper

Since she’s finally back in Sydney, Sophie Monk made sure she stocked up on groceries during an afternoon outing on Dec. 31. Before she could officially welcome 2012, the blonde beauty swung by a local market where she picked up a … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2012/01/03/sophie-monk-is-an-organic-kind-of-shopper/

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Amy Winehouse Goes Back To Rehab

She’s been so quiet lately, I practically forgot about Amy Winehouse! Unfortunately, news released today that the troubled singer has gone back into rehab. Amy actually checked herself into London’s The Priory. Sources say she bought a bottle of vodka … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/05/27/amy-winehouse-goes-back-to-rehab-2/

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Celebrity Pictures With Jennifer Garner And Ben Affleck

Both Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were spotted out today, just not together. Jennifer was seen making her way back to her car after doing some shopping at Williams-Sonoma. Seems Jennifer loves the store as much as we do! I … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/04/18/celebrity-pictures-with-jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck/

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides