Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” Rises to Number 1

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

On the Digital Songs survey, “Stronger” spends a second week at No. 1. The song sold 237,000 downloads (up 6%) in the list’s tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The sum marks Clarkson’s second-best sales week, outpaced only by the debut frame of “My Life” (280,000).

As Clarkson rises to the Hot 100′s top spot, Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” descends to No. 2 after two weeks at No. 1. The song pushes 4-2 on Radio Songs (127 million, up 8%) and holds at No. 2 on Digital Songs (after leading the tally three weeks ago) with 165,000 downloads sold (down 1%).

Adele’s “21,” meanwhile, logs a 19th week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Both Clarkson and Adele are among the scheduled performers at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, to be broadcast Sunday (Feb. 12) at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Lana Del Rey Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Newcomer Lana Del Rey makes her debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with “Born To Die,” selling 77,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. It’s the highest entry for a female artist’s full-length major label debut since Jackie Evancho’s “Dream With Me” bowed at No. 2 on July 2, 2011.

Meanwhile, Adele’s “21″ sits tight at No. 1 for a 19th nonconsecutive week (122,000; up 5%). Next week it could yield the top slot to the new Van Halen album “A Different Kind of Truth,” which was released yesterday (Feb. 7).

At No. 3 this week is Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen with the debut of “Old Ideas” (41,000). It’s the icon’s highest charting album ever and best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. The beloved artist’s new album is his first studio effort since 2004′s “Dear Heather,” which debuted and peaked at No. 131 (9,000 in its first week).

35% of Cohen’s new album’s sales came from physical albums sold via Internet retailers. To compare, only 1% of Del Rey’s first-week came from Internet sellers. On the other hand, 74% of Del Rey’s sales were downloads, while digital sales represented 30% for Cohen.

Bruce Springsteen to Perform at Grammys

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the 2012 Grammy Awards, joining the star-studded lineup of Adele, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj.

Springsteen announced last week the release of his new album, “Wrecking Ball,” on March 6 and his first U.S. tour with the E Street Band since the death last June of saxophonist Clarence Clemons. “We Take Care of Our Own” is the first single from the album.

Also scheduled to perform are Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Glen Campbell, Coldplay, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Blake Shelton.

The Grammys will be broadcast on CBS on February 12.

Adele Holds Number 1 Spot for 18th Week

Soulful singer Adele remained on top of the Billboard album chart with “21,” despite seven new entries vying for No. 1 this week, including stiff competition from country music singer Tim McGraw.

“21,” which has sold more than 6 million copies in the United States since its release in February 2011, notched its 18th week in the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart.

Adele, who has been resting her voice after vocal cord surgery last November, said she will be making her live comeback at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 12.

Country music star McGraw’s 11th studio album, “Emotional Traffic” debuted at No. 2, scoring the singer his 14th top 10 album in the Billboard 200 chart and 13th No. 1 in the Billboard Country Albums chart.

New albums from rock band “Lamb of God,” singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, “American Idol” alumnus Kellie Pickler, Christian music singer Kari Jobe and soul singer Seal dotted the top 10, along with the “2012 Grammy Nominees” and “Kidz Bop 21″ compilation and Drake’s “Take Care.”

“21″ was the only album to cross the 100,000 copies mark, partially driven by a re-issued deluxe edition released last week in Target retail stores.

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” Nears #1

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” single climbs from No. 8 to No. 2, nearing the top spot, currently held by Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain.”

On the Digital Songs survey, “Fire” remains at No. 2 after topping the chart two weeks ago. The song sold 167,000 downloads (down 10%) in the list’s tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As announced yesterday, Adele will perform at the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Feb. 12, marking her first live performance since undergoing vocal surgery late last year.

Clarkson’s “Stronger” is aptly titled, as the second single from her album “Stronger” vaults 8-2 with top Digital Gainer honors. The song surges by 29% to 225,000 downloads sold and ascends 3-1 on Digital Songs, marking Clarkson’s second leader on the sales ranking. Her “My Life Would Suck Without You” spent two weeks at No. 1 on Digital Songs three years ago this month.

Katy Perry to Perform at Grammys

Katy Perry will take the stage at the Grammy Awards on February 12. The singer was announced as the latest performer on Wednesday (February 1).

The currently blue-haired pop star is up for Record of the Year for her feel-good empowerment track, “Firework.” The Teenage Dream single is also up for Best Pop Solo Performance. This is not her first time performing on the show.

Adele has also announced her long-rumored Grammy performance on Tuesday. It marks her first performance since a November vocal surgery.

Adele’s 21 Stays at Top – Biggest Album Since “Bodyguard”

Adele’s “21″ album hits its 17th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart (95,000; down 9%). “21″ has been No. 1 longer than any other album since “The Bodyguard” soundtrack wrapped a 20-week run at No. 1 on the chart dated May 29, 1993.

The second-highest debut arrives at No. 7 by James Fortune & FIYA, who sees its “Identity” land with 18,000. It’s the best sales week and highest charting album for the gospel singer — who also debuts at No. 1 on the Gospel Albums chart. On the latter tally, it’s his first leader after reaching No. 2 twice previously.

As for the rest of the top 10 this week, the Black Keys’ “El Camino” holds at No. 3 (29,000; down 20%) while Drake’s “Take Care” is also stationary at No. 4 (29,000; down 8%). (Only a couple hundred sales separate the two titles this week.)

Adele, Beyonce and Chris Brown all up for NAACP Awards

A number of R&B and hip-hop world royalty are among the nominees for this year’s NAACP Image Awards.

Anthony Hamilton, Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green, Chris Brown and Common will vie for the title of Outstanding Male Artist at the 43rd annual ceremony, while the women’s category includes Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Ledisi and Mary J. Blige.

In the Outstanding Album category, Beyonce’s “4″ faces Brown’s “Fame,” Hudson’s “I Remember Me,” Lupe Fiasco’s “Lasers” and Scott’s “The Light of the Sun.”

While the awards traditionally celebrate “the accomplishments of people of color,” the unstoppable Adele earned Outstanding Song and Music Video nods for single “Someone Like You.”

Among the non-musical categories, upcoming Grammy Awards host LL Cool J scored a nod for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role on “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

Bruno Mars Has #1 U.K. Spot After 1 Year on Chart

Bruno Mars’ “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” celebrated a year on the U.K. album chart on January 15th by going back to where it started, at No. 1.

Mars’ album debuted at the album chart summit a year ago, falling to No. 2 in its second week, but has never dropped lower than No. 14 in its entire sales year. It now has total U.K. sales of 1.28 million copies, according to the Official Charts Company, but sold a mere 24,000 new units last week to go back to the top.

Adele to Break Singing Silence at the Brit’s

After nearly four months of silence, Adele will break the whisper spell on February 21 at the Brit Awards. The Grammy-nominated singer has been off the live performance radar since surgery to stop bleeding from a polyp on her vocal cords
 in November, but organizers of the show confirmed on Thursday that she will sing again at the event where she is nominated for three awards.

“F—ing happy, thank you for the nods xx,” she Tweeted on Thursday in response to the nominations.

While the Brit Awards confirmation is great news for Adele’s fans, there is still no word on whether she’ll take the stage
 at the February 12 Grammy Awards, where she’s up for six honors. She also Tweeted the message, “Looking forward to the @theGrammys on Feb. 12!” a short after her Brit Awards note, indicating that, at the very least, she’ll be in the room for the show.

A recent report claimed that she is in talks to sing on the show now that she’s begun talking again with her doctor’s permission. Since she doesn’t want to rush back and injure her vocal cord again, the singer is reportedly waiting until early next month to decide if she can sing in public again as early as the Grammys.

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