Usher's 'U Got It Bad' Sets All-Time 1-Week Audience Chart Record With 149.85 Million Listeners, and Returns to #1

    NEW YORK, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Arista recording artist Usher, who
 performs his current #1 pop/#1 R&B smash "U Got It Bad" for the first time
 ever on national television on tonight's "American Music Awards," set a new
 standard for success in the ultra-competitive current music scene as his 8701
 album was certified triple-platinum today by the RIAA, it was announced by
 Antonio "L.A." Reid, President and CEO, Arista Records.  Topping this is the
 breaking news that "U Got It Bad" has set a new all-time record on the
 Billboard Hot 100 Audience chart with 149,858,700 listeners for the week
 ending January 8th (as published in the Jan. 19th issue).  This comes after an
 awe-inspiring Audience Chart number of 22.8829 million listeners logged
 yesterday (Tuesday), the final day of the weekly cycle.
     As it breaks the Hot 100 Audience record previously held by Alicia Keyes,
 "U Got It Bad" also bullets back to the #1 spot on the Hot 100 this week -- a
 remarkable chart achievement, even more impressive considering that there was
 no commercial single released!  "U Got It Bad" first hit the #1 pop/#1 R&B
 landmark in early December, following up the earlier #1 pop/#1 R&B crossover
 success of the Grammy-nominated "U Remind Me," the first single from 8701.
     Usher's stellar drive and unstoppable energy makes its way to Europe next
 month for his second major career tour of the Continent.  Opening in Amsterdam
 on February 21st and concluding in England on March 13th, the 16-city tour
 will also include shows in France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and
 Belgium (complete itinerary to be announced soon).
     Usher is experiencing a level of artistic recognition reserved for the
 very few mega-stars of the industry.  At last week's Grammy Awards press
 conference, it was announced that "U Remind Me" has been nominated for Best
 Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 44th annual awards, scheduled to be
 broadcast around the globe, live from Los Angeles on February 27th.  As a
 world-class recording artist, songwriter and producer, concert headliner, and
 television and motion picture leading man, Usher continues to present himself
 as a formidable and electrifying role model.
 
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SOURCE  Arista