Usher Sets All-Time 1st Week Soundscan Sales Record with New #1 Album, Confessions!

Business Wire, March 30, 2004

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2004

Arista

-- "Yeah!" Single Hits 2nd Month at #1 Pop and R&B; "Burn"

Follow-up Single & Video Starts Crossover Run

-- AOL Broadband Live Concert From NYC Precedes Dozen TV

Appearances

-- Record-Making Achievement Climaxes 30 Years of Arista Chart

History and Outstanding First Quarter, as Industry Celebrates

Reign of Legendary Label

A new chapter is written in Soundscan history this fateful week as Arista recording artist Usher weighs in with approximately 1.1 million first week U.S. sales of his long-awaited fifth album, CONFESSIONS (according to Nielsen Soundscan), the highest first week numbers ever scanned by a male R&B artist in Soundscan's 13-year history (breaking R. Kelly's record of 540k for TP-2.com back in 2000) and the highest first week scans by any male artist since Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP (also in 2000, with 1.7 million units).

More than tripling his previous highest week sales of 338k (for 8701), the first week sales give Usher his first #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, and his first simultaneous #1 pop/#1 R&B entry. As icing on the cake, Usher's success marks the biggest debut week in the 30 years of Arista's existence, breaking the 689k record held since 1997 by Notorious B.I.G.'s posthumous Life After Death.

"Usher's record-breaking - and record-setting - feat is not only a great artistic achievement but also underscores the hard work and dedication of the entire Arista Records team," said Larry Mestel, Executive Vice President & General Manager. "This success highlights one of the biggest first quarter performances in Arista's history, a testament to the professionalism of a staff that has given every ounce of effort throughout the difficult circumstances of the past three months."

"My feeling has always been that CONFESSIONS would be a landmark album for me," said Usher, "and I will be eternally grateful to my friends at Arista for making that a reality. The staff overcame every obstacle to give my record the reception I feel it deserved, and there is no way for me to thank them enough."

CONFESSIONS has obliterated several other long-standing chart records:

-- The highest overall R&B (non-Hip-Hop) debut in the Soundscan

era, surpassing Destiny's Child's Survivor in May 2001 (#1,

with 663k units);

-- The highest solo R&B (non-Hip-Hop) debut in the Soundscan era,

surpassing Alicia Keys' Songs In A Minor in June 2001 (#1,

618k units);

-- The highest overall debut in Arista history, surpassing

Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death in March 1997 (#1, with

689k units);

-- The highest single-week scan in Arista history, surpassing the

2nd week of The Bodyguard soundtrack in December 1992 (#1,

with 1.061 million);

-- The highest overall debut of 2004, surpassing Norah Jones'

Feels Like Home in February (#1, with 1.022 million).

CONFESSIONS was catapulted to the top by the hottest single of the new year, "Yeah!" - in its 7th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 5th week at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. "Yeah!" was co-written by - and features - Atlantans Lil' Jon and Ludacris, and was produced by Lil' Jon for BME Enterprises. The promotional video for "Yeah!" co-directed in Los Angeles by Mr. X and Usher - his directorial debut! - remains in XXL rotation this week at MTV, MTV2, VH1, BET, and other outlets.

Even as "Yeah!" shows no sign of slowing down at radio, CONFESSIONS gives up a second single: "Burn," co-written by Usher with the track's co-producers Jermaine Dupri (for So So Def Productions) and Bryan Michael Cox (for Blackbaby Inc.). "Burn" moves up to #10-bullet this week on the Hot 100 (with audience reach over 70+ million), and moves inside the top 10 on the Rhythmic Monitor and Rhythmic Mediabase charts, as well as the R&B/Hip-Hop Monitor, where it was the #1 Spin Gainer Of the Week. The promotional video for "Burn," directed by Jake Nava (whose credits include Beyonce and Jay-Z's "Crazy In Love") will make its debut in the weeks ahead.

Usher, who has sold more than 20 million albums in his career, begins his 10th year at the label with an explosion of media coverage centering on the release of CONFESSIONS. The excitement kicked off earlier this week with an exclusive AOL Broadband live concert from Webster Hall in New York City, featuring guest appearances by Lil' Jon and Ludacris.

Last weekend, Usher made the scene on Soul Train; television appearances continue on ABC's Good Morning America (March 23) and Live With Regis & Kelly (March 24), NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien (March 31) and Last Call With Carson Daly (April 1), ABC's The View (April 1), NBC's Tonight Show With Jay Leno (May 10) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show (May 13), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live (May 13), and Fox's On-Air With Ryan Seacrest (May 14). Looking ahead to the summer, Usher will headline the Good Morning America live outdoor concert series in July, a prelude to his North American tour opening in August. Usher is currently on a sold-out concert tour of Europe.