NEW YORK – Lady Gaga sold more than 1.1 million copies of her new album “Born This Way” and set a digital sales record last week — with an assist from Amazon.com.
Billboard announced Tuesday that “Born This Way” debuted at No. 1 on its Billboard 200 album chart, becoming just the 17th album to sell a million copies in its first week since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991 and the top-selling digital debut.
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The dance pop provocateur is just the fifth female with an album that sold more than a million copies in the SoundScan era.
Lady Gaga’s first No. 1 album sold the most copies of any debut since March 2005 when 50 Cent’s “The Massacre” sold 1.14 million. The last million-selling album was Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” in November.
Amazon’s attention-grabbing download price of 99 cents last Tuesday and Thursday helped drive “Born This Way” to an unprecedented 662,000 in digital sales. Amazon sold more than 440,000 of those copies alone.
The online retailer did grab the spotlight it had hoped in its battle for a larger piece of the online market, which is dominated by Apple’s iTunes. But it came with an image hit when customers overwhelmed Amazon’s system.
Witherspoon to receive MTV Generation Award
LOS ANGELES – Reese Witherspoon better make some room on her trophy shelf.
MTV says Witherspoon will receive its Generation Award at Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards.
The 35-year-old Oscar winner is being recognized for her range as an actress and for delighting the MTV audience throughout her career.
“Saturday Night Live” star Jason Sudeikis will host Sunday’s ceremony at the Gibson Amphitheater.
Fans voted online for the winners in categories such as best kiss, best villain and best line from a movie. MTV chose Witherspoon, who joins previous Generation Award winners Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.
‘Wire’ stars join crusade
WASHINGTON – Three stars from HBO’s “The Wire” joined Justice Department officials in calling attention to the tragic toll of drug abuse on children and families.
The three actors who depicted the lives of police detectives on the streets of Baltimore participated in a panel discussion with Attorney General Eric Holder in launching a new public awareness program.
They are: Sonja Sohn, who played detective Kima Greggs; Wendell Pierce, who played detective William “Bunk” Moreland; and Jim True-Frost, who played Roland Pryzbylewski.
Adele cancels five shows due to laryngitis
NEW YORK – British singer Adele has postponed five dates on her tour of North America due to laryngitis.
Columbia Records said in a statement Monday the 23-year-old Grammy winner was diagnosed last Thursday in Minneapolis, where doctors ordered immediate rest. Her show was canceled and rescheduled for June 22.
She performed in Denver on Saturday, but her show in Salt Lake City on Sunday was canceled.
The tour will resume June 4 in San Francisco.
Performances in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, will be rescheduled, as well.
Amazon’s move has been deemed controversial by some observers who say the steep loss of several dollars an album was not worth the investment.
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