ClayManiacs.com
Archive => Media & Appearance Archive => Topic started by: Marilyn on April 29, 2010, 11:01:12 PM
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Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
FOR GOOD MEASURE - BILLBOARD
« on: October 26, 2003, 12:25:52 PM »
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Exactly six months after Kelly Clarkson debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with "Thankful," "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken enters the chart in pole position with his first album, "Measure of a Man" (RCA). First season "Idol" winner Clarkson held on to the top spot for just one week, so if his fans are still taking home the Aiken for a second week, the 24-year-old native of Raleigh, N.C., will be the longest-running "Idol" contestant at No. 1 on this tally.
Aiken is one of eight solo male artists to lead the album list in 2003, following 50 Cent, R. Kelly, Marilyn Manson, Luther Vandross, Alan Jackson, John Mayer and Ludacris. Clarkson is one of nine solo female artists to garner top ink. The others are Shania Twain, Norah Jones, Madonna, Monica, Beyonce, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige and Hilary Duff.
If that makes it seem that the women have it over the men in 2003, look again. Compare the number of weeks male artists have been No. 1 to the number of weeks that female artists have dominated, and the men win. Counting solo acts as well as groups, male artists have been No. 1 for 23 weeks, and female artists for 14. Soundtracks and multi-artist albums held the top spot for seven weeks.
BILLBOARD CHARTBEAT