Online music store iTunes released its best-selling downloads of 2007. Number One on the album list is Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Rounding out the Top 5 are Back To Black by Amy Winehouse, Graduation by Kanye West, Daughtry's self-titled debut album and Coco by Colbie Callait. "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie was the top-selling single, followed by Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape," Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah," Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" and Fergie's "Glamourous."
Singer Josh Groban ended 2007 by setting a new Billboard 200 record. His holiday release, Noel, spent four straight weeks at the top of the chart. Elvis Presley also spent four weeks at Number One with his 1957 Elvis' Christmas album, but they weren't consecutive.
Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve" will once again air live on ABC-TV from New York's Times Square. Ryan Seacrest will co-host the special with Clark and Fergie has signed on to report from Hollywood during the show. This year's performers include Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry's band, Daughtry, has the top-selling album of 2007. The self-titled release sold one million copies its first week in record stores and has gone on to sell close to four million copies worldwide. Daughtry is nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album.
Other Billboard year-end chart leaders include Carrie Underwood, who's the Number One Country artist; Fergie, named the Number One Female Artist; Akon, Top Pop Artist; and Beyonce, who's the Number One R&B/Hip-Hop Artist.
The Recording Academy has added 80 songs and albums to the Grammy Hall of Fame. They range from Billy Murray's 1905 single "Give My Regards To Broadway" to Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album. 16 of the entries are classical recordings that include Arturo Toscanini's 1953 "Verdi: Otello," Vladimir Horowitz's 1932 "Liszt: Sonata In B Minor" and Arthur Nikisch's 1914 "Beethoven: Symphony No. 5." Among the contemporary songs inducted are Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," Jackie DeShannon's "What The World Needs Now Is Love," the Beatles' "Help" and the Mamas & The Papas' "Monday Monday." Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy, released a statement that said, "This year's inductees span nine decades and represent a diverse array of genres from classical and show tunes to blues, jazz and rock and roll. They exemplify the best qualities that make the recording arts such a vital part of our culture - and each not only uniquely reflects the zeitgeist of its time, but also possesses the enduring power of transcending time." The Grammy Hall of Fame now includes 798 titles.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS
The Recording Academy will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to Burt Bacharach, the Band, Doris Day, Itzhak Perlman, Max Roach, Earl Scruggs and the late Cab Calloway. They'll receive their honors at an invitation only ceremony on February 99. The recipients will also be acknowledged the following night on the 50th annual Grammy Awards. The awards recognize "lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium."
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION
Billboard Boxscore reports the Police had the top-grossing concert tour of 2007. As of Boxscore's November 13 reporting deadline, the band took in more than $212 million. In second place is Genesis with $129 million. Rounding out the Top 5 are Justin Timberlake ($126.8 million ), Kenny Chesney ($71.2 million) and Rod Stewart ($70 million).