Making history, record label Interscope Geffen A&M has swept the top three slots for the previous week's best-selling albums, according to figures released today by SoundScan. The albums will thus rank 1-2-3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, issue date May 31. According to the trade magazine HITS, the achievement solidifies the status of Interscope Geffen A&M as the industry's market share leader. This marks only the second time in the SoundScan era that any label has accomplished a 1-2-3. The first to do so, in 1996, was also Interscope.
Said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M: "I'm thrilled for everyone … from the associated labels to the artists to all the people at Interscope Geffen A&M. It's a great achievement and everybody should be very proud."
In this latest ranking, Marilyn Manson shoots straight to the top with "The Golden Age Of Grotesque" (Nothing/Interscope) entering the chart at #1 with sales of 118,174 copies. 50 Cent (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) lands at #2 with 106,486 copies sold of his 5 X platinum "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'." The debut week for "Year Of The Spider" (Flip/Geffen/Interscope) from hardcore rockers Cold nabs the #3 spot with sales of 101,462 copies.
"This calls for congratulations across the board: the artists, management, radio, retail, press, everybody we work with on a day-to-day basis contributed to this unbelievable week," said Steve Berman, senior executive, Marketing and Sales. "We have three artists from separate genres, at separate points in their careers, in the top three slots on the chart. From the longtime base of support for Manson that helped him reach #1 yet again to the hip-hop phenomenon that is 50 Cent to the work put into bringing a young rock band like Cold to a wider audience, everybody focused on the job at hand-and the result speaks for itself."
Added Gary Arnold, Sr., VP of Entertainment, Best Buy: "Interscope's success comes not from luck, but rather from cultivating great artists and music, then setting records up and marketing them like crazy."
The last time a label made such history was in November 1996 when Interscope claimed the country's top four best-sellers: (in order) Bush's "Razorblade Suitcase," Snoop Dogg's "Tha Doggfather," No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" and 2Pac's "Makaveli."
The Tragically Hip Sign With Macklam/Feldman Management
The Tragically Hip have signed with Macklam/Feldman Management fore worldwide representation. Since their debut EP was released in 1987, The Tragically Hip have emerged as one of the biggest selling rock bands in Canadian history, consistently shattering box-office records with their legendary live shows. Founded in Kingston in 1983 by childhood friends Gordon Downie, Bobby Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay, the Tragically Hip have released nine studio albums and won numerous awards, including 11 Junos. Their music has attracted a fanatical and loyal fan base in Canada and throughout the world.
"It is extremely fulfilling when you get to represent artists who you've admired, respected and most importantly listened to for years," say co-managers Steve Macklam and Sam Feldman. "Not only are The Hip one of this generations most important artists, but they are weaved into the very fabric of Canadian music culture."
"We feel really fortunate to be invited into the Macklam/Feldman Management family, " says Gord Sinclair on behalf the band. "Everything about the organization, from the artist roster to the people involved, is so impressive. Sam and Steve really set a high standard and their integrity and passion for music shines through in every aspect of their business. We had been looking for months, and the process involved a lot of soul searching within the group. We knew within minutes of first meeting with Sam and Steve that we had found a new home."
