IFPI Platinum Europe - Certifications for June 2005
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June's Platinum Europe Awards honour five international artists' albums that have each had significant sales in at least five European countries to attain their Platinum Europe sales award for a million units or multiples thereof.
The Massacre by America's 50 Cent achieves its first million sales in Europe - the performer's second Platinum Europe Award following a PEA for previous album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The Massacre finds 50 Cent expanding the parameters of hardcore rap, once again backed up by West Coast production icon Dr. Dre, hip-hop giant Eminem and G-Unit MC's Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck.
Hotly anticipated from Coldplay, the band's third studio album X&Y sold so quickly on its June 6 release that it has scored an almost immediate double Platinum Europe Award for sales of two million. The album reached No. 1 in the US charts and sold across 19 countries in Europe, achieving national gold and platinum awards in 13 countries along the way. Coldplay's debut album Parachutes has a double Platinum Europe and the follow up A Rush of Blood To The Head is currently at Platinum Europe x 4.
One of the UK's premier soul vocalists, Gabrielle made the Guinness Book of Hit Singles for the fastest-selling debut by a female act for Dreams, the track which got her signed to Go! Discs and launched her to a receptive public. Her 2001 greatest hits volume 1 release Dreams Can Come True - includes Dreams, a cover of Dionne Warwick's Walk On By, 2001 single Don't Need The Sun To Shine (To Make Me Smile) and Rise, from the album of the same name.
Katie Melua is one of the great British independent label successes of recent years. The young singer - born in Georgia - was signed while still a student at the BRITS school (one of the UK's most prestigious performing arts schools) to Mike Batt's Dramatico label. Her debut, Call Off The Search, contains two self-penned tracks and covers of songs by Randy Newman, John Mayall and Mike Batt along with the classic Lilac Wine, and won a legion of fans with its jazz/pop/blues crossover style. The album achieves a double platinum award, for sales of two million across Europe.
Lenny Kravitz receives double platinum Europe honours for 5, his 1998 release. The album adds electronic and trip hop elements to Kravitz' trademark funk workouts and features hit singles Fly Away, Black Velveteen and American Woman.
