George Michael’s 2-CD best-of album “Ladies and Gentlemen” (Sony) collected its 6th IFPI Platinum Europe Award in February, for shipments of 6 million units in the region. Confirmation of the 1998 Sony set’s continuing success in Europe coincides with the former Wham! frontman’s planned March 15 release of his long-awaited new album “Patience,” his first since re-signing with the record company in November 2003.
In total, five separate albums were credited with Platinum Awards during February, each recognizing shipments of a million or more across Europe.
Following their curtain-raising performance at the Brit Awards Feb. 17 in London, the Black Eyed Peas’ “Elephunk” (A&M) goes double-platinum, a figure matched by Celine Dion’s “Live á Paris” (Sony) from 1996.
In the wake of extraordinary sales success at home, Aussie songstress Delta Goodrem’s debut “Innocent Eyes” reaches the platinum milestone for the first time. At the same time, Norah Jones’ sophomore album “Feels Like Home” (Blue Note/Parlophone), which is currently perched at the retail chart peak on both sides of Atlantic, scaled 1 million European shipments.
