ATLANTIC SCORES 1-2 PUNCH

03.16.06

Atlantic Records has scored a major triumph on this week's Billboard 200 album chart, as Juvenile's label debut, REALITY CHECK has debuted at #1, and James Blunt's BACK TO BEDLAM leaps into the #2 spot. This marks the first time in 25 years that Atlantic releases have simultaneously held down the top two spots on the main album chart. As a result of this achievement, Atlantic ranks as the #1 label in the music industry this week, according to SoundScan, garnering 8.42% of the current marketshare.

REALITY CHECK is Juvenile's first album to hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and his fourth album to rank in the top ten. The collection also premieres at #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking his second album to debut at #1 on the chart (following 'THA G CODE' in 2000), and his fifth to hit the top five. REALITY CHECK features the top ten urban radio smash, 'Rodeo,' which is also the #1 most-played video at BET. His seventh solo album, REALITY CHECK marks the multi-platinum hip-hop star's first album through a long-term worldwide deal he and his UTP label inked with Atlantic Records in 2004. 

The #1 debut of REALITY CHECK marks a personal triumph for Juvenile on several fronts. His most fully realized musical expression to date, it not only marks his first album for Atlantic and his first-ever #1 on the Billboard 200, but it also marks his first album to be released since Hurricane Katrina devastated his native New Orleans last August. The foremost voice on his city's hip-hop scene, Juvenile was not home when the storm hit, but his house on Lake Pontchartrain was destroyed and he lost all of his possessions. Work on the album was delayed, while Juvenile joined the movement by the music community to support relief efforts. He subsequently wrote several new tracks for the album whose lyrics directly address the impact of Katrina. 

James Blunt's RIAA platinum BACK TO BEDLAM reaches its highest point to date with its #2 ranking on the Billboard 200, leaping seven spots this week. Released in the U.S. October 2005, the album is now in its 23rd week on the charts and its fifth week in the top ten. Last week, James scored another career milestone, when 'You're Beautiful,' the smash first single from 'BACK TO BEDLAM,' hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. He also became the first British artist to top the U.S. singles chart since Elton John reached #1 with 'Candle In The Wind' in 1997. 

James' sales explosion this week, with many retailers noting sales of double or triple last week's tally, was spurred by his moving appearance last week on The Oprah Winfrey Show. James kicked off his first full-fledged headlining North American tour on Monday, March 13th. The eagerly awaited itinerary is completely SRO, with every show instantly selling out the day that tickets were put on sale - including two shows this week at Webster Hall in New York City.

With worldwide sales now approaching the eight million mark, 'BACK TO BEDLAM' has hit #1 in 16 territories around the globe.  It currently ranks at #1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart for the eighth consecutive week (nine weeks total).

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