Eminem's 'Recovery' passes 1 million digital downloads in U.S.

 
Eminem’s “Recovery” this week has become the first album to sell 1 million digital downloads in the U.S., the rapper’s label, Interscope Records, announced Tuesday. That's about 25% of the collection's U.S. sales total, which is nearing 4-million copies since its release last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The achievement comes just a week after Eminem returned to the No. 1 slot on the national sales chart with his collaboration with rapper Royce da  5’9”, “Bad Meets Evil,” giving Eminem his second No. 1 album within 12 months.

“Over the years we've made a concerted effort to engage Em's online fan base,” the rapper’s manager, Paul Rosenberg, said in a statement, “so this achievement is especially rewarding. Eminem made an amazing album with ‘Recovery’ and the fans responded in record numbers.”

“Recovery” gave Eminem his sixth No.  1 album, and it yielded two Grammy Awards, for rap album and rap solo performance.  He is making only a handful of concert appearances in 2011, most recently at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee on June 11. Other tour dates are noted on his website.

The digital milestone for an album was reached 5 1/2 years after Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” became the first single to pass the 1-million mark for paid digital downloads in 2005.

RELATED:

Eminem and Royce da 5'9" reunite

Grammys: Eminem for best rap album

Stefani's 'Hollaback' set to break digital mark

-- Randy Lewis 

Photo: Eminem performs at Staples Center in February at the 2011 Grammy Awards. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Gwen Stefani's Japan relief auction to run April 11-25 on EBay

 
Gwen Stefani’s auction to raise money for tsunami and earthquake relief efforts in Japan will run for two weeks starting April 11, allowing participants to bid on admission to a special tea and lunch that the No Doubt singer and songwriter will host in Los Angeles, some vintage clothing items from her personal wardrobe and custom T-shirts designed and signed by her.

As previously indicated when Stefani announced she would donate $1 million to disaster relief, proceeds from the auction also will benefit the Japan Earthquake-Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund set up by the Save the Children organization.  In addition to the auction items, the musician and fashion designer has created limited-edition Harajuku Lovers T-shirts being sold at No Doubt’s website, with 100% of proceeds going to the American Red Cross Japan relief and recovery efforts.

The date of the tea has not been announced, but it is described at the auction site as “a private Harajuku-themed tea party at Los Angeles' first Japanese-style cosplay cafe, Royal/T.” About 100 people are expected to be admitted through the auction.

RELATED:

Gwen Stefani donates $1 million for Japanese disaster relief

--Randy Lewis

Photo of No Doubt at the start of the group's 2009 tour (from left) Adrian Young, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Gwen Stefani donates $1 million for Japanese disaster relief

 
No Doubt singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani is donating $1 million to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake-Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund to assist with the relief and recovery efforts following the recent disaster.

Stefani has been a devotee of Japanese culture and people since the band first toured the country in 1996, and has held a special affinity for the Harajuku art-fashion-music district in Tokyo. She wrote and recorded the song “Harajuku Girls” for her 2004 debut solo album, “Love.Angel.Music.Baby,” and named her fashion clothing and fragrance line Harajuku Lovers.

"I've been inspired by Japan for many years and have a true love, appreciation and respect for the Japanese people and their culture,” Stefani said in a statement issued Wednesday. “The disaster in Japan is beyond heartbreaking and I want to do anything I can to help. I would never be able to make a gesture like this without the love and support of all the fans over all these years.”

Additionally, she’s launching a charity auction next week on the band’s website, where fans can bid to join her at a fundraising event in Los Angeles. She also has designed a limited-edition Harajuku Lovers T-shirt to be sold at Nodoubt.com, with 100% of proceeds going to the Japanese relief efforts.

"Save the Children has been in Japan for 25 years,” said Charles MacCormack, the organization’s president and chief executive, “and we are working closely with our teams on the ground to address the immediate and ongoing needs of children and their families whose lives were turned upside down by this tragedy."

-- Randy Lewis

Photo of No Doubt in December at the Kennedy Center Honors saluting Paul McCartney (from left): Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, Gwen Stefani and Adrian Young. Credit: Kris Connor / Getty Images.