Briefly: Ruben Studdard, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Jay-Z
American Idol winner Ruben Studdard tops this week's U.S. album charts, moving more than 416,000 copies of his debut album, "Soulful," according to industry sources.
While a solid showing, Studdard's first-week sales failed to live up to those of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken's debut, which sold 613,000 copies during its first week in stores.
"The Diary of Alicia Keys," the sophomore album from the R&B singer, sold about 325,000 copies, falling from No. 1 to No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Jumping from No. 4 to No. 3 is the hits compilation "NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 14," while Toby Keith's "Shock'N Y'all" falls from No. 2 to No. 4. Rounding out the Top 5 is Josh Groban's "Closer."
The first 2,000 fans that bring at least one "standard grocery bag of non-perishable food items" to The Forum in Inglewood, CA, on Thursday (12/18) will receive a wristband to attend Aerosmith 's soundcheck at the venue.
The food will be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; more details are available at the band's website.
Janet Jackson will perform during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, which is being produced by MTV. The game takes place on Feb. 1 at Houston's Reliant Stadium, and will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.
The Associated Press reports that hip-hop performer/impresario Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will star in the Broadway revival of the Lorraine Hansbury drama "A Raisin in the Sun."
Kenny Leon reportedly will direct the production, and preview performances should start in mid-March.
Jay-Z has become the first rapper to have his own signature cellular phone. Dubbed the Black Phone (after his new release "The Black Album"), it is a version of Nokia's 3300 Music Phone, which features a digital music player and a stereo FM radio.
- Artist Links:
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2008 Pitchfork Music Festival Photos - Day 1
Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor" tour
The Duke Spirit on stage and in the studio
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks
Metallica at the KROQ Weenie Roast in Irvine, CA
R.E.M. at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA
Herbie Hancock at the Sonoma Jazz Festival
Brad Paisley, Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler
Dengue Fever at The Independent, San Francisco, CA

