The Eagles' new album, Long Road Out of Eden, debuts at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart after selling nearly 711,000 copies its first week of release. The set is being sold in the United States exclusively at Wal-Mart stores. Previously, Billboard didn't allow exclusive releases on their charts, but Wal-Mart made the decision to share sales numbers of "Long Road Out of Eden" with tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard's director of charts, Geoff Mayfield said, "We know that some retailers will be uncomfortable with this policy, but it was inevitable that Billboard's charts would ultimately widen the parameters to reflect changes that are unfolding in music distribution." The policy change was responsible for Britney Spears' Number 2 debut on the Billboard 200. First-week sales of her new album, Blackout, reached only 290,000 copies.
Jennifer Lopez and her husband, singer Marc Anthony, have confirmed that they're expecting their first child. Jennifer made the announcement in Miami on November 7, which was the last stop of their joint concert tour. Jennifer and Marc married in 2004. No word on when the baby is due.
Led Zeppelin's entire catalog will be made available as digital downloads on November 13. Guitarist Jimmy Page says releasing their songs through online outlets "will better enable fans to obtain our music in whichever manner they prefer." In other news, Page recently broke a finger, which led his group to postpone its November 26 London concert. The show, which is being staged to honor the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, will now take place on December 10.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
New albums scheduled for release on November 13 include: "Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 26" by various artists, "The Mirror" by Ja Rule, "As I Am" by Alicia Keys, "Brass Knuckles" by Nelly, "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion, "Just In Time For Christmas" by Pam Tillis, "Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love" by Trisha Yearwood, "Red Carpet Massacre" by Duran Duran, "Sawdust" by The Killers, "Mothership" by Led Zeppelin, "Greatest Hits" by the Goo Goo Dolls, "Intoxication" by Shaggy, "System" by Seal, "Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA" by Boyz II Men, "One Man Band" by James Taylor and "Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With The Queen" by Aretha Franklin (features two newly recorded duets with John Legend and Fantasia and Aretha's live performance of "Nessun Dorma," which she sang on the 2006 Grammy Awards).
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS
Nominations for the 34th annual People's Choice Awards have been announced. Here are the nominees in the music categories. Favorite Female Singer - Beyonce, Fergie, Gwen Stefani; Favorite Male Singer - John Mayer, Tim McGraw, Justin Timberlake; Favorite Group - Daughtry, Maroon 5, Rascal Flatts; Favorite Rock Song - "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's, "Home" by Daughtry, "Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon 5; Favorite R&B Song - "Beautiful Liar" by Beyonce with Shakira, "Because of You" by Ne-Yo, "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna; Favorite Country Song - "I Need You" by Tim McGraw with Faith Hill, "Never Wanted Nothing More" by Kenny Chesney, "Stand" by Rascal Flatts; Favorite Hip-Hop Song - "Give It To Me" by Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, "Party Like A Rock Star" by Shop Boyz, "Stronger" by Kanye West; Favorite Pop Song - "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie, "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce, "What Goes Around…Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake; Favorite Song from a Soundtrack - "Read My Mind" by The Killers from "Friday Night Lights," "What I've Done" by Linkin Park from "Transformers," "You Can't Stop the Beat" by the cast of Hairspray from "Hairspray." The Favorite Reunion Tour category includes Genesis, The Police and Van Halen. The People's Choice Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on January 8, 2008.
Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra led the winners at the 8th annual Latin Grammy Awards. During the November 8 ceremony in Las Vegas, Guerra walked off with the Album of the Year and Best Merengue Album trophies for La Llave De Mi Corazon. Its title track earned him the Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Tropical Song honors. Other winners included Ricky Martin, whose MTV Unplugged release won for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. His "Unplugged" special brought him a second award for Best Long-Form Music Video. Italian pop singer Laura Pausini won the Best Female Pop Vocal Album category for Yo Canto. Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy were named Best New Artist. La Quinta Estacion won the Best Pop Album By A Duo Or Group With Vocal category for El Mundo Se Equivoca. And, Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 received the Best Urban Music Album for Residente O Visitante. (Full list of winners at www.grammy.com )
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION
On November 14, R. Kelly will kick off a U.S. tour in Columbus, Georgia to support his latest album Double Up. He'll stop in 37 cities through January 13. Sharing the tour's opening slot are Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo and J Holiday.
