FIVE MILLION FANS MUST BE RIGHT
Eminem's five-million-unit first month equals the start of 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me" and "Greatest Hits" and is just a million shy of The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 album "Life After Death."
"The hip-hop scene continues to thrive, thanks in no small part to the popularity of artists like Eminem," said RIAA President and CEO hilary rosen',390,400);">hilary rosen',390,400);">Hilary Rosen. "But it's sad that, because of Napster, Eminem had such low numbers. I sure hope he doesn't starve."
The Real Slim Shady's numbers allowed him to put a retail beat-down on Britney Spears, whose sophomore release was only certified at the four-million level, tying her with Mariah Carey (1995's "Daydream") and Celine Dion (1998's "Let's Talk About Love" and 1999's "All The Way… A Decade Of Song") for the fastest start by a female solo artist. However, downloads are brisk on the MP3 remix of "The Real Slim Shady" over Britney's "Oops, I Did It Again."
The sophomore release by matchbox twenty recorded a double-platinum first month. "Yourself Or Someone Like You," the band's first disc, is currently certified at the 11-million mark.
Other notable Platinum awards include: Dr. Dre's "Dr. Dre 2001" (certified at five million); Erykah Badu's "Baduizm" (three million) and "Live" (double million); and Moby's "Play," Staind's "Dysfunction" and Jessica Simpson's "Sweet Kisses" (one million each).
Sales for Jennifer Love Hewitt's eponymous sophomore disc still fell below radar.
