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Tons of European certifications this month: Madonna, Britney, Enya, Kelly...
From the IFPI:
December 2005
February 13, 2005
The last month of 2005 presents a tally of ten European Platinum Awards honouring nine international artists, and confirms Robbie Williams' Intensive Care as the year's biggest European album seller.
American pop star Britney Spears receives her second platinum award for her album Greatest Hits - My Prerogative, which has sold over 2 million copies across 21 European countries since its May 2005 release. The album features hits from Baby One More Time to Toxic, and her Madonna duet Me Against the Music. The 24-year-old from Louisiana has sold an impressive 55 million albums during her five-year career.
Enya's November release Amarantine has also sold more than one million copies across Europe. This is the sixth album from the Irish singer songwriter and the first since 2000's A Day Without Rain. Renowned for her evocative melodies and haunting Gaelic lyrics, the Celtic artist made her solo debut in 1987. She had previously recorded with the band Clannad, fronted by her sister.
Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol, has been catapulted to global stardom since victory in the 2002 TV talent series. Breakaway is the second studio album from the 23-year-old former waitress from Texas, and the title has now sold one million copies across Europe. The title track was co-written with Avril Lavigne, and the Grammy-nominated album also features 2005 single successes Since U Been Gone and Because of You.
Westlife score another success with their latest album Face To Face, which has sold over a million copies in Europe since its October release. The title has gone four times platinum in the UK and seven in the band's native Ireland. The album features trademark power ballads from the group, including their latest single When You Tell Me That You Love Me, a duet with Diana Ross. The first single from the album, You Raise Me Up was the band's 13th UK Number 1, which makes them the most successful UK chart act since the Beatles.
Il Divo gain two platinum awards in December 2005 – double platinum levels for both their latest album Ancora, and their debut Il Divo. The group formed in December 2003 after a worldwide search that bought together members David, Sebastian, Urs and Carlos, hailing from the US, France, Switzerland and Spain respectively. The operatic four piece have been credited with bringing opera into the mainstream; the self-titled Il Divo reached number one in 13 countries and has now sold over two million copies in Europe. Il Divo's second album Ancora has mirrored that success, with sales having now crossed the two million mark across 19 European countries.
Eminem's greatest hits title Curtain Call goes double platinum in its month of release, with over two million European sales in December. The American rapper has been recording since 1996, but made his breakthrough on the hip hop scene after fellow artist and Aftermath CEO Dr. Dre heard him free-styling on an LA radio station. Eminem, AKA Slim Shady, has become famed for his lyrical style, and Curtain Call features singles ranging from the early My Name Is, to Stan (featuring Dido), and his most recent single When I'm Gone.
Madonna's Confessions on a Dancefloor gains its third PEA in two months. The artist's eleventh studio album has now gone platinum or multi-platinum in 17 European countries. This pop disco offering has been nominated for International Album at the 2006 Brit Awards, as well as securing a Best International Female nomination for the 47-year-old ‘Queen of Pop'.
James Blunt rounds off a phenomenal year with four Brit nominations and a fourth Platinum Award for his debut album Back to Bedlam. The album hit the shelves in October 2004, but it was the release of smash hit single You're Beautiful in June 2005 which saw sales of the album rocket. Having sold four million copies across Europe to date, Back to Bedlam was propelled to the top of the album charts and earns Blunt the accolade of biggest selling UK album of 2005.
Fellow Brit nominee Robbie Williams ends the year on a high as sales of his latest album Intensive Care pass the four million mark across the continent, making it the biggest selling 2005 release in Europe. The album has gone platinum or multi-platinum in 15 European countries, and a massive five times platinum in both the UK and Germany, all within three months of release. The October album - the eighth from the British solo artist - was co-written with new song-writing partner Stephen Duffy. Williams also has a record-breaking sold out world tour planned for 2006.
ARTIST
ALBUM TITLE
COMPANY
AWARD LEVEL
ENYA AMARANTINE WARNER MUSIC 1
KELLY CLARKSON BREAKAWAY SONYBMG 1
WESTLIFE FACE TO FACE SONYBMG 1
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BRITNEY SPEARS GREATEST HITS – MY PREROGATIVE SONYBMG 2
EMINEM CURTAIN CALL UNIVERSAL 2
IL DIVO ANCORA SONYBMG 2
IL DIVO IL DIVO SONYBMG 2
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MADONNA CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR WARNER MUSIC 3
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JAMES BLUNT BACK TO BEDLAM WARNER MUSIC 4
ROBBIE WILLIAMS INTENSIVE CARE EMI 4
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