Arista recording artist Avril Lavigne makes Soundscan history today, as Let Go, propelled by its first single pick, "Complicated," becomes the first debut album by an artist in recent memory (i.e. not a soundtrack or `hits' compilation) to post a rare second week gain in sales - as it scans 69,889 units and moves to #10 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, it was announced today by Antonio "L.A." Reid, president and CEO, Arista Records.
The album, which hit stores on June 4th and has already shipped Gold, debuted at #8 last week on sales of more than 62,000 copies.
"The first and second week chart success of Avril Lavigne is a clear indication that she has struck a responsive chord across a wide section of both teen and post-teen followers," says Mr. Reid. "The idea of a 17-year-old who writes and performs her own music is a refreshing breakthrough today. Avril speaks to her generation, and we are confident that, as others pick up on her music, they will discover an extraordinary artist who is on the threshold of an exciting career."
Fueling this surge has been a unique marketing campaign with AOL Music resulting in more than a million interactions with Avril's music preceding the album release date. The ascent of Let Go, especially over the course of a regular (i.e. non-holiday) sales period, is an extraordinary achievement for both artist, label and management. Arista Records now boasts three best-selling albums inside the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, as Life Goes On by Donell Jones (also in-store June 4th) moves to #9; and P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records Present...We Invented The Remix (in-store May 14th) goes to #5.
Praised by Mr. Reid as "one of the best new artists of this year," the 17-year old self-styled sk8er punk "is poised to be the next teen-pop princess," according to People magazine's rave review of Let Go ("Bottom line: Don't let this one go"). After appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno last week, followed by "The Late, Late Show" with Craig Kilborn this week, Avril is set for a guest shot on "Live with Regis & Kelly" next Thursday, June 27th. Meanwhile, the promo video for "Complicated" (directed by the Malloys) moves into its second month as a daily Top 10 favorite on MTV's "TRL" countdown program.
Currently on-tour (Avril plays New York's Irving Plaza on July 31), Avril is a true wild child, a self-taught guitarist who wrote her first song at age 12. She was personally signed to Arista at age 16 by "L.A." Reid, who served as the executive producer of Let Go. The album won kudos from USA Today (whose 3-star review characterized Avril as "a tunesmith to be reckoned with"); and Entertainment Weekly (which described "Complicated" as "flawless radio pop").