AIKEN LEADS THE WAY AS BMG’S CHART ATTACK CONTINUES
November 4, 2003
Aiken, OutKast, Rod Stewart, The Strokes, Dido Land in Top 10, as R.E.M., Gerald Levert Debut
The bubbly is flowing fast in Gutersloh. BMG’s Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and Michael Smellie, not to mention Clive Davis and Antonio "L.A." Reid, are living the high life, as the German media conglom takes time out from their reported talks with Sony Music to celebrate five albums in the HITS Top 10, including four of the top five. RCA’s three-time champ Clay Aiken leads the way at #1, followed by Arista runners-up OutKast (#2), J Records’ Rod Stewart (#3) and RCA buzz-band The Strokes, debuting at #5. Only WB’s R.E.M. greatest-hits package, bowing at #4, broke up the BMG hegemony, while Sylvia Rhone’s Elektra sported two in the Top 10, including EW’s debuting Gerald Levert at #7 and WSM’s Eagles best-of at #8.
Virgin Entertainment Group’s Jerry Suarez took a break from his vigil waiting for Britney Spears’ new album to arrive to comment: "BMG is going great guns, as Clay Aiken and Rod Stewart have big third weeks, Dido continues to deliver huge numbers and the Strokes have a strong debut, coming in at the top of our chart. R.E.M. also had a solid first week in the streets, as their fans came out in force. It’s almost enough to make me want to don a pair of lederhosen and celebrate Novemberfest."
HITS DAILY DOUBLE