U.S. album sales increased 1.4 percent to 330.6 million units in 2011, up from 326.2 million units in 2010 and marking the first growth in album sales since 2004, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures.
President Barack Obama has asked GRAMMY- and Latin GRAMMY-winning artist and 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Shakira to join his Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
Digital album sales totaled 22.79 million units (when accounting 10 units per album) for the week ending Sept. 4, topping digital track sales of 22.42 million and marking only the second time album sales have exceeded track sales in the digital area, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
