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Boy Band Allegiances: Why They Matter

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

In honor of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands, Above the Buzz breaks down boy-band mania and why picking a favorite really matters. By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted Photo: Island Def Jam There’s a full-on war happening out in the pop trenches. That war is being fought on the battlefield of the hearts of teen girls everywhere. The soldiers? Well, they are the new bevy of boy bands that are dominating the charts, the airwaves and the conversation. Some people ( mostly some older men that I know ) are confused by it. They may not understand why anyone should care about boy bands. Well, here’s why we do care: I think the rest of us are kind of into that joyful feeling of youthful exuberance that comes with boy bands. That feeling those five guys give you when they sing to you about love and how pretty you are. Heck, we’ve all been there. We’ve all had our Nick Carters or Justin Timberlakes. These days, some girls are proudly waving their freak flags and declaring their devotion to always-cheeky British boy band the Wanted . Meanwhile, other girls prefer the floppy-haired, puppy love vibe of One Direction . Either way, these guys are using well-produced pop tunes about the nuances of romance to win you (or your little sister or teen cousin or some other young woman you know) over. And those girls feel they must decide — they have to pick a band. Girls, I understand that strife. Listen, I’ve been there. I spent my formidable early teen years at the height of the greatest boy-band battle of all time: the Backstreet Boys vs. ‘NSYNC . Yep, I survived it. Like Katniss in “The Hunger Games.” They were like the Peeta and Gale of the pop world. Who would I choose? Well, I chose. And I’ve never doubted my choice. So, to aid you with this modern-day boy-band dilemma, here’s some handy advice to help you navigate the murky waters of a boy-band-pocalypse. Back then, I happily declared “BSB for life!” Sure, I enjoyed ‘NSYNC a lot. I had all their albums, saw them in concert, may have wondered what it would be like to date one of them. I was hardly a boy-band rookie at that point. As a kid, I had already been pretty obsessed with the New Kids on the Block. “Please Don’t Go Girl?” Psh, try, “Please don’t go guys … ever.” My love for boy bands has been and will always be a lifelong commitment. The fever I had for the Backstreet Boys was beyond. It was “wake up early to wait in line for concert tickets” obsessed. It was “get my VCR ready to tape their appearance on ‘TRL’ ” crazed. It was “break out my boom box and make mixtapes of their radio appearances and play them back … over and over” fevered. I had posters and T-shirts and concert stubs and more posters and T-shirts and albums and concert specials and everything BSB. I loved the guys so much that I may have even attempted to pen songs that I thought the guys might want to sing. (And no, you can’t ever read them or hear them. I’m no Max Martin.) So, as you can see, I get it. I get how you can love a band that much. But you might be wondering, how did I pick a side? Well, that’s not easy to put into words. I just did it — I just picked with my heart. I think when it comes to identifying with a boy band, it’s just something you feel in your gut. It’s their music, their brand of boy-band bravado, their flavor. Their sheer existence and the way it speaks to you. Why did I pick the Backstreet Boys? I don’t know. I just loved them. Those songs, those melodies. Man, it didn’t get better than that. They just spoke to me on some subatomic level. I mean, who could not pick a band who tells you “I’ll never break your heart/ I’ll never make you cry”? Now, as I watch a new generation of girls caught up in boy-band mania, I get it. These are the boys you crush on. These are the boys you pin your girlhood dreams on. So, get caught up in the fever, girls. It only happens once. Blast the tunes, go to the shows, buy the merchandise. I promise you, one day when you’re all grown-up, you’ll look back on this time fondly. Why? Well, to put it simply, nothing is better than your first boy band. Nothing. Voting in round two of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands runs until noon ET on Monday, April 30. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Tune in to AMTV and MTV Hits for their boy-band video takeovers each day and make sure to spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates! Related Videos Exclusive: Follow The Wanted Around NYC! MTV News Extended Play: One Direction Related Photos MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Battle Of The Boy Bands!

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Backstreet Boys Out Of Boy-Band Battle? Westlife Are Surprised Too

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘When I saw the bands that were listed, I thought we haven’t got a hope in hell in this,’ group member Nicky Byrne says. By Christina Garibaldi Backstreet Boys Photo: Getty Images The first round of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands certainly shocked a lot of fans when Westlife overtook early favorites the Backstreet Boys . And fans aren’t the only ones surprised by this early victory: Westlife themselves never thought they would be able to overtake BSB. “When I saw the bands that were listed, I thought we haven’t got a hope in hell in this, especially being up against the Backstreet Boys, to be honest with you. When I looked, I thought, well, these guys are probably going to win this, gonna be there or thereabout,” Westlife member Nicky Byrne told MTV News on Thursday (April 26) via Skype from Dublin, Ireland. “How it came about, I noticed it on Twitter and I went into the MTV website and I said, ‘What’s all this about?’ and I see us up against the Backstreet Boys and I thought, ‘Oh no, what a challenge that is!’ So I put it on my Twitter account and it kind of snowballed from there,” he continued. And snowball it did. The group beat the Backstreet Boys by a fairly large margin after their fans from all over the world rallied for their victory. Yet, according to Byrne, even though he’s ecstatic with the win, he expects there will be no hard feelings between the two groups. “The funny thing is we’ve met the Backstreet Boys quite a number of times,” Byrne said. “It will be interesting to see if and when we ever bump into the guys again to have a little bit of fun, a bit of a chat about it.” Westlife, who have been together since 1998, had minimal success in the United States, with only one single, “Swear It Again,” charting Stateside, back in 1999. Last year, the group announced that after 14 years they were calling it quits following their Greatest Hits Tour, which kicks off next month. “I think our manager really wanted us to announce it as a break, just to say to people that it’s going to be a couple years. We’ll do some different things on our own and see where we go,” Byrne said. “But I think we all knew it was the right time to get away from each other for a long time. And genuinely, I would hate to think that I spent half of my life — more than half my life with the lads — I would hate to think that we would never sing again. But I think what we couldn’t do was lead people on false promises, and you know, whatever the rest of us go on to do, we can’t be holding on to maybe one day do a tour again. So it was the right decision to be made. Everybody is going to walk away from this with great memories and, most importantly, our friendship intact. ” And even though they will remain close after the tour, Byrne is adamant that this will be the last time they will be together as a group. “Right now, there’s no chance of anything ever again with Westlife,” he said. “I know when I’m on my Twitter account, the amount of fans that would love me to say, or would love us all to say, ‘No, there’s still a hope, we’ll do something down the road,’ … but right now, if that happens, that would be incredible. But we haven’t even finished yet. The right thing to say … is right now, Westlife, come June 23, will be no more.” Before they go their separate ways, Westlife are still hoping to have some success in the United States, and what better way to do that than to win MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands? “What an amazing story it would be to finish our final 14 years to be named or even get far in this competition,” Byrne said. “But even if we don’t, we’ll hold our heads very high and say we never cracked the States, but we gave them a run for their money.” Voting in round two of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands runs until noon ET on Monday, April 30. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Tune in to AMTV and MTV Hits for their boy-band video takeovers each day and make sure to spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates! Related Videos Battle Of The Boy Bands Related Photos MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Battle Of The Boy Bands! Related Artists Backstreet Boys Westlife

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‘Total Recall’ Remake Heads In ‘A Different Direction’ From Original

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Director Len Wiseman tells MTV News about Kate Beckinsale going bad and Bryan Cranston’s complex villain. By Kara Warner Colin Farrell in “Total Recall” Photo: Sony Pictures We still have a while to wait for the August 3 release of the new “Total Recall,” but now that we’ve seen and obsessed over the official full-length trailer , we have a better idea of what to expect from Len Wiseman’s re-telling of the classic Philip K. Dick story, as well as how it compares to the 1990 cult favorite starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by Paul Verhoeven. In addition to providing MTV News with his expert commentary about the well-received trailer , Wiseman also gave us some in-depth insight into how he’s handled the precedents and expectations set by Verhoeven’s film, how closely the 2012 film sticks to Dick’s original story, as well as what fans can appreciate and expect from stars Colin Farrell and a villainous Kate Beckinsale . MTV : How much fun has incorporating all the new technology been? Wiseman : It’s great. And, I will be honest: It’s a blessing and a curse for me, because I’m so of a school of practical effects and practical stunts. And when you develop a movie like this, which is an entire world you’re creating, you can only build so much, and then you go into your effects world. And actually, there’s a lot of practical elements in here that people assume are CG, because CG is used so often. In the trailer, we did this really complicated shot of Colin doing a fight sequence shootout. The camera is spinning around, it’s 100 percent practical. And it’s funny when I really kicked the “how much time and how expensive” nightmare kind of math in to figure that all out and everything to put in, and what surprised me is a lot of people think that is CG. I think because you maybe don’t immediately process how that’s being done. But it’s funny, because I look at that and go, “That’s actually the shot that’s entirely 100 percent practical.” So I really do find it a blessing and a curse, because I started as a prop guy. I actually started building models initially and then went into the prop department, and I’m so much of a practical mind. But then you get into a point where, “OK, now we have to build a world that is 100 and some odd years in the future.” And your construction budget, that’s a surprise. MTV : How will fans be impressed by Colin’s performance? Wiseman : I think they’re absolutely going to love him. It’s a very different take on the character. It’s much more of the internal struggle that he’s faced with, and he did such a great job with this mystery of his own soul, really. It’s such a mystery, this film. It’s got the action and sci-fi, everything hovering on the perimeter of what makes it feel like a big action film. But in its core, it’s a mystery, and it’s a mystery of himself. And I just think people will be really captivated by following his journey. He really does allow you to be him. So I really think they’ll be excited by him. MTV : What about seeing Kate Beckinsale playing a villain? Wiseman : It’s fun for us as well. She’s never done anything like that. So to be able to have some fun with playing a villain — and she had fun doing it too, because she’s always like, “You have to be so earnest when you’re saving the world. Wow, you can actually just loosen up and just, the bad guys have more fun.” I would love to get, I’ll probably put this out on the DVD, but these girls are just kicking each other’s asses and really brutal. We wanted to attack it. It was just a really vicious brawl, and in between the cuts, they both get so girly. Right on “cut.” There’s plenty of times when Kate actually just nicked Jessica [Biel]’s nose or same thing with Jessica, and they immediately just go from these vicious badass lethal killers to immediately very apologetic and very polite and girly. It’s great to see. MTV : Will we see Mars? Wiseman : We won’t see Mars. And I got to say, it’s one of the things that attracted me to the script, because I really, I along with a lot of other people, I really loved the Verhoeven film. I was very skeptical on just the reboot, just the idea. And until I read the script, with a lot of speculation going, it takes it in such a different direction from that film. Because it didn’t go to Mars, funny enough, is why I was interested. And it’s also just like I said: It plays a little bit into the threat of what the Philip K. Dick story had of, much more of bringing the threat back, really Doug’s mission to save Earth, not Mars. MTV : What can you tell us about getting Bryan Cranston? Wiseman : He’s got one really fun personality. I think a lot of people, if you’ve seen him in his prior TV show, I’m sure, I happened to be introduced to him through films and then “Breaking Bad” as well. I’ve never seen “Malcolm in the Middle,” and I was taken by how fun and charming and funny the guy is. I probably came late to that game. That’s no surprise to anyone else. He really has a balance of evil and charming, which I really like. He plays off great [with Colin]. I wish they actually had more scenes together. It’s a bit of a weird structure, where the villain is kind of split between Kate and Cranston. So when they’re together, though, it’s great. He’s really got a good balance there, where when there’s a pure tendency that a lot of people have to play just very villainous, he has a little bit more passion for what he’s doing, where you actually believe it is the right thing, rather than twirling your mustache a bit too much. It’s Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated summer movies . Get ready to gorge on inside looks at “The Avengers,” Robert Pattinson’s “Bel Ami,” Kristen Stewart’s “Snow White,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and more! Related Videos Summer Movie Preview 2012 ‘Total Recall’ Trailer Breakdown Related Photos Get Psyched For 2012’s Summer Movies!

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Battle Of The Boy Bands Launches On MTV!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

One Direction, ‘NSYNC, Boyz II Men just a few who’ll duke it out for MTV’s coveted title of Greatest Boy Band of All Time. Voting begins Monday! By Christina Garibaldi MTV News’ Battle of the Boy Bands Photo: MTV News Given the undeniable popularity of British bands One Direction and the Wanted , it’s safe to say that boy bands are back, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! In celebration of their triumphant return, MTV News decided to pose the question: Who’s the greatest boy band of all time? Sounds impossible, right? Well, you, the fans, are going to help us answer that question as we officially kick off our Battle of the Boy Bands! Beginning on Monday, April 23, 32 groups — they span several decades and have all released music Stateside — will battle it out in our interactive bracket to determine the big winner. The first round of voting kicks off on Monday and ends on Thursday, April 26, when 32 bands will be narrowed down to 16. You can help your favorite band advance to the second round by voting as many times as you wish and by spreading the message on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB. But you won’t be the only ones fighting for your favorite band. The groups will be soliciting your votes with their own campaign videos urging fans to grant them the title of Greatest Boy Band of All Time. Will newcomers the Wanted and One Direction make it to the finals? Or will veteran acts like the Backstreet Boys , ‘NSYNC and New Kids on the Block stake their claim as the ultimate boy band? Do they even stand a chance against the first-ever U.K. boy-band sensations, the Beatles ? It’s up to you to decide. Find out if your favorite band made the bracket on Monday and to cast your votes early and often. The winner of the Battle of the Boy Bands will be announced Monday, May 7, so be sure to check back with MTV News for daily updates as we narrow the pool of 32 to a final champion. Voting in round one of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands begins Monday, April 23, at 7 a.m. ET and runs until noon ET on Thursday, April 26. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates!

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One Direction, The Wanted And Boy-Band Explosion 3.0

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Our columnist comes to terms with the latest wave of tween heartthrobs, in Bigger Than the Sound. By James Montgomery One Direction Photo: Getty Images No matter what my detractors (or therapist) might claim, I am not a 13-year-old girl. This probably explains why, up until this weekend, I remained largely unaware of the entire One Direction phenomenon — which is sort of indefensible, considering they made chart history with their #1 debut just last month, have spent quality time with Justin Bieber and display the kind of comb-over acumen that a slightly balding man like myself should probably be taking note of. Though now, thanks to their (genuinely not totally terrible) performance on “Saturday Night Live,” and a creeping sense of inevitability that only comes from living through the previous two boy-band eras (O-Town 4 Ever), I am willing to admit that it’s probably time I get to know the guys in 1D. Their names are Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis, they were formed from the ashes of the U.K.’s “X Factor,” and they are the logical successors to everything that has happened in the past five years of tween pop: a tight-trousered hybrid of the Disney factory’s saccharine hooks, Bieber’s hair, Miley’s Ziplocked vocals, Cody Simpson’s looks and the clean-cut camaraderie of the Jonas Brothers (or AllStar Weekend, who must really be jealous right now). In short, they were basically destined to happen. And happen big. In fact, One Direction might end up being the biggest thing to happen in a long time. Either them or fellow band-of-heartthrobs the Wanted, who only seem to be different in that they are older, hornier — their biggest hit to date is called “Glad You Came” — and able to unbutton their shirts (though, it should be noted that 1D’er Harry could probably be an honorary member of the Wanted, since he ). Perhaps both of them can coexist peacefully. After all, one need only look back to the last great era of boy bands — the late ’90s and early ‘aughts, when ‘NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys battled for supremacy — to realize that the music industry truly is big enough for two titans of tween. If that’s the case (and it probably is), well, then 1D are unquestionably this generation’s ‘NSYNC, and the Wanted the new BSB, since the former display a youthful exuberance and the latter, well, they’re not afraid to (which was A.J.’s only notable contribution to the Boys). All joking aside, though, I can’t help wonder if we know what we’re getting ourselves into here. I am aware that most 1D or the Wanted fans are probably too young to remember the last wave of boy-band mania, but suffice it to say, it was pretty terrible. Dudes had frosted tips and wore baggy neon pants. Aaron Carter got a recording contract. Are we really prepared to live in a world where boy bands are king? Are we ready for the dozens of coattail riders that will surely follow? Can we live with LFO version 2.0? The new Dream Street? 99 Degrees? All of this will happen, mark my words. Be prepared. And yet, I am beginning to realize that perhaps my opinion does not matter. After all, I am a 33-year-old music critic. I like the Cloud Nothings record and was not aware until today that Harry sleeps naked and Louis likes girls who eat carrots. And these are important things to know! By now, I’ve been around long enough to realize that pop music is eternally cyclical, that boy bands were bound to rise again, and that, as always, youth is king. Perhaps I’d be best served to just step out of the way, watch as the same mistakes are made and marvel at the sheer spectacle of history repeating itself. It is as inevitable as One Direction’s rise, really, if not more so. Enjoy it, kids, because I guarantee: Eventually you’ll look back on all this and laugh. And if that sounds like the ranting of a bitter old man, well, so be it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do my hair like Liam. He’s “the sensible one,” after all. What do you think of the latest wave of boy bands? Do you think there will be more to come? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: One Direction Bigger Than The Sound: Stories Behind The Bands Related Artists The Wanted One Direction

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98 Degrees Reuniting: Which Other Boy Bands Should Follow Suit?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

O-Town, ‘NSYNC make our list of boy bands that should get back together. By Jocelyn Vena 98 Degrees in 1999 Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images It’s about to get 98 Degrees and hotter in the boy-band bonanza. Nick Lachey’s old group is rumored to be getting back together to launch a summer tour. Sources tell Rumorfix that the band, which has been on a decade-long hiatus, is about to announce a 15-city trek set to take place in July and August. A formal announcement should be made in the next week. One source told the site that the tour would serve as a thank-you to the band’s fans. Rumors of a reunion kicked off on Wednesday, when the band’s website got a face-lift that includes a spanking new logo and a Twitter feed with the guys’ official pages scrolling through the homepage. A rep for the band had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment by press time. Given all the love boy bands are getting these days ( see One Direction and the Wanted ), there are still some that might want to capitalize on the mania sweeping the world. Here are MTV News’ picks for the groups we’d love to see get back together. O-Town O-Town was the product of the reality show “Making the Band.” Once managed by imprisoned boy-band impresario Lou Pearlman, the guys managed to put their reality-show pedigree behind them and launched a short-lived, successful run that included hits like the chart-topping “Liquid Dreams.” ‘NSYNC This would be the gold-star reunion. ‘NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys were the two boy bands of the late-’90s revival that reached mega heights of fame and success. Several albums into their career, there appeared to be no stopping Justin Timberlake and the boys. But in 2002, they went on a “temporary hiatus” and have never looked back. Westlife Westlife plan to break up later this year after they wrap up their 2012 tour. But now seems like the right time to keep it going a little bit longer. Given America’s love for boy bands that hail from the U.K., Westlife, who found fame under the guidance of Simon Cowell and serenaded ladies with tracks like “Swear It Again,” might just want to stick around and ride out this latest wave of boy-band love. Which boy band would you love to see get back together? Tell us in the comments!

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Justin Bieber Followers Challenge Lady Gaga Fans to Twitter War

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

It is on between the Beliebers and the Little Monsters. After Lady Gaga usurped Justin Bieber’s throne on Twitter this month, taking over as the most-followed person on that social networking service, a fan of the teenage sensation took to the Internet and – as excerpted by The New York Post – wrote: ” To all beliebers this is operation unfollow Lady Gaga. I’m sorry if your a ‘little monster’ but don’t [you] want Justin to be #1 followed on Twitter?” As a result of this campaign, the hastag #OperationUnfollowGaga has sprung up on Twitter. Naturally, Lady Gaga’s followers aren’t on board with this plan. One Tweeted it to be “pathetic.” And what are the current standings? Bieber – who released a new single this week – checks in at 19,115,097 million followers. Lady Gaga has him beat at 21,813,419. It’s now time for you to take a side. What are you, readers?

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98 Degrees: Reuniting!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Move on over, Backstreet Boys. Slide over a bit, New Kids On the Block. There’s room in this recent boy band revival movement for one more. Pop group 98 Degrees is reuniting! The crew – Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, expectant father Nick Lachey and his brother, Dancing with the Stars winner Drew Lachey – is planning a 15-city tour. 98 Degrees was best known for their hits “Because of You” and “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche).” And for looking oh-so-cute in group shots like this: Rumors of the boy band’s reunion began Wednesday after the group’s website was updated for the first time in a decade, with a new design and logo.

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98 Degrees: Reuniting!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Move on over, Backstreet Boys. Slide over a bit, New Kids On the Block. There’s room in this recent boy band revival movement for one more. Pop group 98 Degrees is reuniting! The crew – Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, expectant father Nick Lachey and his brother, Dancing with the Stars winner Drew Lachey – is planning a 15-city tour. 98 Degrees was best known for their hits “Because of You” and “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche).” And for looking oh-so-cute in group shots like this: Rumors of the boy band’s reunion began Wednesday after the group’s website was updated for the first time in a decade, with a new design and logo.

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Adele To The Rescue! Music Sales Up In 2011

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Last year, music sales increased for the first time since 2004, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. By Gil Kaufman Adele Photo: Getty Images It’s been a bleak decade for the American recording industry, with sales dipping nearly every year since the pop explosion lead by ‘NSYNC, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. But there was finally a sliver of good news this week when the Recording Industry Association of America announced that total U.S. music sales grew in 2011 for the first time since 2004. Don’t get too crazy: Sales were only up 0.2 percent to just more than $7 billion. But to an industry that has been moving in the wrong direction for the past seven years, it was reason enough to celebrate. It was a good news/bad news situation, though, as physical sales, which are mostly made up of CDs, were down by 7.7 percent. That was a narrower dip than in recent years but a dip nonetheless. That was more than made up, though, by a 9.2 percent rise in digital sales, which made up more than half of the industry’s revenues for the first time in history. Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney can complain all he wants, but the amount of cash being made from subscription services like Spotify, MOG and Rhapsody was up nearly 14 percent to $241 million, with total subscribers growing by 300,000 to 1.8 million. In a year when Adele became the first artist to go double-platinum on iTunes — while her massive breakthrough, 21, helped goose digital and physical sales numbers by collectively topping more than 8 million in 2011 — digital sales were huge. Both unit sales (105 million) and revenue ($1 billion) were up more than 20 percent. Single downloads were up nearly 11 percent to 1.3 million. And even as downloads gained ground on physical CD sales (more than 240 million sold, totaling $3.1 billion), the kids were still digging that old-school vinyl. Sales of records and revenue from that category were both up more than 30 percent to $119 million and 5.5 million copies. Related Videos MTV First: The Black Keys’ ‘Gold On The Ceiling’ Related Artists Adele

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