Briefly...

Beatles’ 1 ships over 18 million worldwide
According to EMI Recorded Music, since the release of the Beatles’ 1 album about five weeks ago, global shipments of the record now exceed 18 million. The sales have been at an astonishing rate of nearly six albums per second since its release in November. It has topped the album charts in 30 countries and been certified platinum over 100 times, making it the world’s favourite album this Christmas.

Ken Berry, president of EMI Recorded Music, said that the incredible success of the album proved that The Beatles are as contemporary today as they have always been. He added, “EMI is very proud of its long relationship with The Beatles, and we are especially proud that the global appeal of their music is clearly as strong now as it ever was. The 27 number one hits on 1, which changed the world when they were first released, are still as fresh and vibrant as the day they were first recorded.”

In the UK, the record has held the number one chart position since its release, and is the biggest selling album of the year, having been certified platinum six times. In the US, where the album is also six times platinum, with shipments in excess of six million, 1 looks set to be the biggest-selling album of the holiday season, having just returned to the top of the charts in both the US and Canada.

Elsewhere among its 106 platinum awards, 1 has been certified platinum six times in Australia, seven times in Italy, nine times in Canada, 10 times in Japan, 11 times in New Zealand and 15 times in Ireland. The official Beatles’ website, www.thebeatles.com, which was launched on the same day as 1, was had over 25 million hits in just five weeks.

Lalit Sen to compose for film
Music director Lalit Sen who won six awards at the IMI-Zee Sangeet Awards, for the pop album Maine Payal Hai Chhankayee, will compose for his first film Meri Zameen. Anupam Kher and Nandana Sen play the lead roles in the film, which is about the father-daughter relationship, and also a love story in strife-torn Kashmir.

Lalit, who is the son of yesteryear composer Shambhu Sen, has composed music for more than 30 teleserials including Saans, ...Kyonki Saa Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Koshish. He cut his first private album 10 years ago with the legendary singer Mehdi Hassan, titled The Legend. Since then he has composed music for many a private albums, including Deewangee and Jaaneman.