The Black Eyed Peas' 'I Gotta Feeling' Becomes First Digital Download to Pass 6 Million Mark — From Worldwide 7.33 Million Selling #1 Album The E.N.D., 59 Weeks on Billboard 200 Chart
Grammy-winning The E.N.D. is first album in two decades to yield five Top 10 hits: Grammy-winner "Boom Boom Pow" ( 12 weeks at #1 ) , Grammy-winner "I Gotta Feeling" ( 14 weeks at #1 ) , "Meet Me Halfway," #1 "Imma Be," and "Rock That Body"
NEW YORK, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- For six-time Grammy Award winning multi-platinum megastar group The Black Eyed Peas — will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie — it has been a year to remember. This week, as the Peas' worldwide 7.33 million-selling #1 album The E.N.D. moves into its 59th week on the Billboard 200 albums chart ( still bulleted inside the Top 20 after more than 13 months out ) , its landmark single "I Gotta Feeling" ( released June 2009 ) becomes the first digital download ever to pass the 6 million threshold.
"It's incredible to have the Black Eyed Peas put their first album out 12 years ago and evolve into what they are today; it's a sign of true greatness," commented Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M. "I just want to take this opportunity to congratulate some people I really care about."
"I am so proud to be leading our industry with 6 million digital sales," said will.i.am. "It means so much for the future of the music industry."
"This is an incredible accomplishment for us," said Taboo. "Of all the exciting news that has happened to us over the past year, reaching this 6 million mark with 'I Gotta Feeling' stands out as one of our proudest achievements." "Congratulations to all the people behind the scenes who made this happen, and most of all the fans — they are the best!" added Fergie.
At the same time this week, The Black Eyed Peas move into the final month of North American concerts on their sold-out 100-date tour: BlackBerry® Presents "The E.N.D. World Tour 2010," supported by BACARDI® Rum, the official spirit of the tour, and Outspoken by Fergie, the exclusive fragrance by Avon. The tour is already ranked as one of the most successful — if not the most successful — of the year, having grossed $47.7 million ( as of the end of June ) and drawn 740,000 fans to 54 shows, including 53 sellouts, according to Billboard Boxscore. The tour ends on August 23rd at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta ( Canada ) .
Released June 2009, the Grammy-winning Best Pop Vocal Album The E.N.D. debuted at #1 on theBillboard 200 albums chart with the highest first-week sales of the group's career ( over 300,000 ) . At the time of the album release, "Boom Boom Pow" ( which also received a Grammy ) was starting its 12-week reign at #1 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Top Digital Tracks chart, while also topping the UK national chart. "I Gotta Feeling" ( also a Grammy winner ) debuted at #2 on the Hot 100 in June 2009, marking the first time in five years that any act held the #1-#2 spots with songs from their #1 album, which feat has only occurred less than a dozen times in Billboard history.
"Boom Boom Pow" was supplanted by "I Gotta Feeling," which then spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at #1. Target launched the single "I Gotta Feeling" in a nationwide television campaign and subsequently CBS used the song to promote their fall 2009 lineup. The Peas' 26 consecutive weeks at #1 was the longest stay for any act in 51 years of Billboard chart history. Both tracks also held the #1 spot at Top 40 radio for 6 weeks each, and each was eventually certified RIAA 5x-platinum. The streak was extended with the November release of the third single, "Meet Me Halfway," RIAA double-platinum and the Peas' next #1 UK hit.
Into early 2010, the fourth single "Imma Be" returned the Black Eyed Peas to #1 on the Hot 100 with a new triple-platinum seller, making them the first group or duo in nearly 20 years to place three #1's on the Hot 100 from one album. The E.N.D. also became the first album in 23 years to chart three #1's in the U.S. and three #1's in the UK ( since Madonna's True Blue in 1986-87 ) . When "Rock That Body," the fifth single, reached the Top 10, The E.N.D. became the first album by a group or duo in 20 years to spin off a quintet of Top 10 hits.
To date, as the YouTube video numbers continue to pile on, "Boom Boom Pow" has over 64.7 million views, "I Gotta Feeling" over 36.6 million, "Meet Me Halfway" over 31.6 million, and "Imma Be/Rocking That Body" over 22.4 million. The Black Eyed Peas have sold over 27 million combined units worldwide, led by sales of The E.N.D. — double-platinum in the U.S., France and Australia; platinum in the UK; triple platinum in Canada; and gold in more than 15 other countries. Total digital single sales in the U.S. alone are over 18 million.
