Universal Music Group Nashville Captures #1, #2 and #3 SoundScan Positions, Marking Historic Sales Week

Universal Music Group Nashville Captures #1, #2 and #3 SoundScan Positions, Marking Historic Sales Week 'Shania Twain Greatest Hits' Secures #1 Biggest Country Greatest Hits Debut and #2 Biggest Overall Greatest Hits Debut Spots NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in history, Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN) sweeps the #1, #2 and #3 spots on SoundScan's Top Current Country Albums Chart. Securing the top seat is Shania Twain with "Shania Twain Greatest Hits." Catapulting her first-ever greatest hits to all-time highs, Twain now holds the titles of biggest country greatest hits debut in the history of SoundScan and the second biggest greatest hits debut behind The Beatles. Further contributing to this milestone are "Toby Keith Greatest Hits 2," which landed the number two spot and George Strait's "50 Number Ones" at number three, which concluded its five-week run at the top of the chart. With this news comes fresh kudos for Keith who takes the third biggest country greatest hits debut and the fifth biggest among all genres. Grabbing the top three slots puts UMGN in control with market share of 76% of the Top 10 chart and 65% of the overall Top 75 chart. "When any label group places records #1, #2 and #3 on the charts, it's an amazing achievement ... when the sales of those records accounts for 76% of the total top 10 sales for the week, its almost mind-boggling," exclaimed Ben Kline, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, UMGN. "In addition, UMGN amassed an unprecedented percentage of the Top 75 chart, and one of every two country records sold in America last week was a UMGN title ... simply incredible." "Shania Twain Greatest Hits," the first ever greatest hits album from the multi-Grammy, multi-platinum-selling artist consists of 21 tracks; 17 of Twain's chart-topping hits and three brand new songs, including the current smash duet "Party for Two." Twain is the only artist in history to have three consecutive 10x platinum certified albums ("The Woman In Me," 12x platinum; "Come On Over," 20x platinum and "UP!," 10x platinum). "Come On Over" is the best-selling record in SoundScan history. "This latest achievement by Shania proves that nothing should ever surprise us with her," said Kline. "She continues to prove herself as one of only a handful of artists that appeals to every corner of the music-buying population ... I am unbelievably proud to be a part of this historic week." "Toby Keith Greatest Hits 2" consists of 14 tracks, 3 new songs and 2 live recordings from his "Big Throwdown Tour." Reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, two times consecutive, Keith maintains a multi- platinum status with four albums ("How Do You Like Me Now?!," platinum; "Pull My Chain," 2x platinum; "Unleashed," 4x platinum and "Shock 'N Y'all," 4x platinum). Keith's current single, "Stays in Mexico" is also on the greatest hits album. Fifteen-time Country Music Association Award winner and 22-year country music veteran George Strait received his highest album debut ever with "50 Number Ones," which includes one new song, Strait's current single, "I Hate Everything." Giving fans more than they bargained for, Strait actually delivered an album of 51 #1's when "I Hate Everything" garnered the #1 spot on country radio within a week of the album's release. Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations. Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, DreamWorks Records, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing & Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division. Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company. For more information on UMGN or Shania Twain, contact Jason Owen at 615-524-7563 or jason.owen@umusic.com or Amber Williams at 615-524-7516 or amber.williams@umusic.com For more information on Toby Keith, contact Elaine Schock at 818-385-1051 or elaine@shockink.com For more information on George Strait, contact Kathy Allmand at 615-383-0412 or kathy@frontpagepublicity.com Source: Universal Music Group Nashville CONTACT: Jason Owen, +1-615-524-7563, or jason.owen@umusic.com , or Amber Williams, +1-615-524-7516, or amber.williams@umusic.com , for UMGN or Shania Twain; or Elaine Schock, +1-818-385-1051, or elaine@shockink.com , for Toby Keith; or Kathy Allmand, +1-615-383-0412, or kathy@frontpagepublicity.com, for George Strait Web site: http://www.mercurynashville.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment