Briefly: Norah Jones, Van Halen, Smashing Pumpkins, Loon, Jessica Simpson
According to Nielsen SoundScan, the company that tracks U.S. retail sales, more than 17 million albums were sold between Feb. 9 and Feb. 15, and year-to-date overall album sales are up 13% over last year. This past week also marked the first time that more than 2 million tracks were legally purchased over the Internet.
Following Jones on the new Billboard 200 album chart is hip-hop newcomer Kayne West's "The College Dropout," with about 440,000 copies sold, according to industry sources. Kenny Chesney's "When the Sun Goes Down" tumbles from No. 1 to No. 3.
Rounding out the week's Top 5 albums are OutKast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" and Josh Groban's "Closer."
One of the worst-kept secrets in rock may soon be publicly revealed; Atlanta radio station 96 Rock's website features an item under the heading "The Reunion They Said Wouldn't Happen," next to which is a blurred, 1995 photograph of guitarist Eddie Van Halen .
"Keep listening for a major concert announcement ... SOON!," reads the item.
Late last year, former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar announced that he had rekindled his friendship with estranged former bandmates Eddie and Alex Van Halen. Rumors suggest that the three, along with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, are recording new material and will likely tour this year.
Former Smashing Pumpkins frontman/guitarist Billy Corgan, in a statement posted on his official website, writes his version of "the truth" behind his former band's split.
"The truth is that James Iha broke up the Smashing Pumpkins," he wrote. "Not me, not [drummer Jimmy Chamberlin], but James. Did it help that [bassist D'arcy Wretzky] was fired for being a mean spirited drug addict who refused to get help? No, that didn't help keep the band together, not at all.
"...The Smashing Pumpkins were essentially my entire life ... a dream I still believe in. Many friends at the time suggested letting James leave so Jimmy and I could continue on under the name, but I was too loyal to the man I had started the whole thing with, and I protected him until the very end, right up until he left [the last Smashing Pumpkins' show at Chicago's Metro] without saying goodbye to the two people he had won and lost and traveled the world with. So I won't be protecting him anymore."
Loon , who is signed to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Entertainment label, reportedly was among three people arrested and booked on Friday (2/13) in connection with a stabbing incident. The rapper, whose real name is Chauncey Hawkins, was released after posting $1 million bail.
According to published reports, the incident took place outside the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA, where a security guard was stabbed after he refused to allow the three men to enter a party.
An expanded version of Jessica Simpson 's 2003 album "In This Skin" will hit stores on March 2, according to Columbia Records. Besides the original album, the new set includes Simpson's cover of Berlin's "Take My Breath Way" and Robbie Williams' "Angels," as well as an acoustic version of her single "Without You."
Fans who bought the original CD will be able to download the new tracks via Simpson's website.
The new version of the album will be packaged with a new DVD that features scenes from the first season of the MTV series "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," as well as footage from their wedding.
Van Halen returns to the road [April 2008]
Van Halen adds new show amid unplanned tour hiatus [March 2008]
Van Halen unveils makeup dates [March 2008]
Van Halen tour hits another roadblock [March 2008]
Van Halen postpones more shows, but tour not canceled [March 2008]


Tina Turner expands comeback tour
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Kate Voegele's music career blossoms
Bow Wow headlines summer outing
Joe Bonamassa launches extensive tour
The Hold Steady firms up summer trek
Cute Is What We Aim For takes aim at summer trek
Everclear maps patriotic headlining tour
Stone Temple Pilots add dates to reunion tour


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