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  • JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’S "THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE" DOMINATES GLOBAL ALBUM CHARTS

    CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALBUM BECOMES FASTEST-SELLING RELEASE OF 2013, SETS RECORD FOR FASTEST-SELLING ALBUM IN ITUNES HISTORY WORLDWIDE

    Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning Justin Timberlake’s new album "The 20/20 Experience" dominated the global charts this week as the acclaimed release soared to the #1 spot in the United States selling 968,000 copies, according to SoundScan. Internationally, the album hit the #1 spot on iTunes in 89 countries, stormed the UK charts to become the biggest debut of 2013 and earned Justin his first #1 album in Germany. The album is also officially #1 in Ireland, Australia, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland and across Asia.

    "The 20/20 Experience" shattered iTunes records as the fastest-selling album worldwide in their history. In the United States, Justin’s latest effort is the year’s fastest-selling album and earns Justin the biggest first week sales for a male artist in five years along with the third biggest digital debut in SoundScan history ranking just behind Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.

    Music critics across the country praised the album with Pitchfork raving “Timberlake seamlessly conflates the last 40 years of pop, soul and R&B into a series of warping seven-minute songs that extol the joys of music…” People Magazine awarded it 4 stars saying it’s “the best sounding album you’ll hear all year.” USA Today handed Justin a 3-star review while Rolling Stone hails the album with 4 stars. Billboard says it is “one of the genres…most full-realized efforts in ages” and the New York Daily News called Justin’s music “luxurious.” Vibe Magazine says the album “has the orchestrated feel of a motion picture” while Complex says “what better way to return to the musical world, than to do it in style.” The Associated Press called the album “near perfect” and a “brilliant piece of work that plays like a musical movement.” Internationally, the album received stellar reviews from the UK press as well with The Independent, Evening Standard and The Times all awarding Justin’s latest release with 4-stars reviews. The Independent calls the album “elegant” while the Evening Standard says the album’s music is "infectious".

    The album’s first two singles continue to shake up the charts as well. The platinum-certified ‘Suit & Tie’ had its best airplay week on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 40 Mainstream charts (week ending March 24, 2013). The song’s latest performance this week represents a career-high for Justin, according to Billboard Magazine. When first released in January, the song broke U.S. radio airplay records earning the biggest song debut, airplay increase and audience increase for a solo artist ever landing at #14* on the Billboard Top 40 Airplay chart. “Suit &Tie” is the first song to be added by every Top 40 station in the first week. Meanwhile, 'Mirrors' topped the official UK singles chart for a third week making it the longest running #1 single of 2013. Justin wowed audiences in the UK with an exclusive performance of 'Mirrors' at the Brit Awards in February only to follow up that performance with a sold-out concert at The Forum in London that had Q Magazine give him a 4-star review. Ratings for The Brits went through the roof helping lead 'Mirrors' to the #1 spot on the iTunes Store following the performance. As ‘Mirrors’ continues to gain steam in both America and the UK, Justin debuted the epic new video the song that garnered critical acclaim following its release last week.

    Supporting the album’s release, Timberlake made a series of appearances including well-received live performances during this year’s Grammy Awards and the Brit Awards in the UK, an interview on the long-running The Jonathan Ross Show in London, a performance and interview on Germany’s popular program called Wetten Dass, a ratings-busting hosting gig on Saturday Night Live where he helped the show reach a 14-month high in audience numbers as well as a week-long guest spot on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon where ratings were driven up 33% over last year among the coveted 18-34 demographic. Justin’s performances including several comedy sketches were often the most talked about events the following day and week earning even more praise from media across the world.

    Justin will headline the sold-out Wireless Festival in London on July 12th and will take the festival stage with JAY Z two days later on July 14th. He will also headline the Rock In Rio Festival on September 15th. This summer, Timberlake and JAY Z will kick off their Legends Of The Summer Stadium Tour in Toronto, Ontario on July 17th that will take the musical heavyweights to 12 cities across North America to perform at famed stadiums for thousands of fans.

    Giving fans even more news to get excited about, Justin also revealed in a recent interview in the US that he will release another album later this year.

  • BRESSIE MEET AND GREET COMPETITION!

    Tower Records and Sony Music Ireland want to give you and a friend the chance to be up close and personal with Bressie at his upcoming Dublin gig in The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on Friday 17th May! Be in with a chance of not only attending the gig, but meeting Bressie the very same evening!

    All you have to do is:

    - Take a photograph (on your mobile or camera) of the receipt from your purchase of Bressie's "Rage And Romance" CD from Tower Records (any Dublin branch)
    - Email the photograph to irelandcomp@sonymusic.com along with your name and address
    - We'll draw a winner after the closing date of Friday 5th April!

    Good luck!

    T&C:
    - STRICTLY OPEN TO OVER 18s *ONLY*
    - No accommodation or travel costs to the venue will be covered
    - One entry per receipt only
    - Winners must make themselves available on show day once Meet & Greet details are confirmed

  • OLLY MURS HEADLINES THE LONDON O2 ARENA THIS FRIDAY

    THE SHOW WILL BE STREAMED LIVE ON FACEBOOK,
    AVAILABLE FOR FANS TO VIEW ALL OVER THE WORLD!

    Olly Murs will stream his huge O2 Arena show live in HD on his Facebook page on Friday through Livebeats. The player will be available at www.facebook.com/ollymurs.

    The electrifying show, which features songs from Olly’s current double-platinum selling album ‘Right Place Right Time’, has been delighting fans throughout Ireland and the UK since it started in February. The sold-out tour reaches London’s O2 Arena on Friday 29th March.

    Livebeats, the company co-producing the event with ABC Entertainment, will deliver an uninterrupted HD signal in the best audio and sound quality available. A ticket to watch the show can be purchased in the player itself for just £3.19.

    Other major live streams delivered by Livebeats last year included shows from the bands Korn and NKOTBSB, the co-headlining tour between American boy bands New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys.

  • STREAM BRESSIE'S NEW ALBUM "RAGE AND ROMANCE" FOR FREE WITH DEEZER IRELAND!

    It might not be released in Ireland until Friday 29th March, but our friends at Deezer Ireland are giving you the chance to stream Bressie's brand new "Rage And Romance" album in full, for *FREE* today!

    Just hit the link HERE, to listen right now! Sign up to Deezer today and enjoy one year of unlimited access to 20m tracks for *FREE* (on your computer). Easy!

    The second solo album from singer-songwriter Bressie, "Rage And Romance" comes a year and a half after his debut album "Colourblind Stereo" hit the charts.

    While "Colourblind Stereo" earned Bressie success and a place on The Voice of Ireland judging panel, it also suffered from the weight of expectation. Bressie explained: "I released the first single "Can't Stay Young Forever" before I'd written the album, so when that got to number one on the airplay charts - which is rare enough for an Irish act - I naturally felt compelled to go in that direction."

    "Rage And Romance" sees Bressie return with a new sound and a new direction. He explained: "The only forethought was working with James - who makes brilliant melodies - and Eliot, who's known for making strong alternative albums, without diluting my own pop sensibilities. I've never gone into the studio with a blank slate before but I wanted to see what we could create together."

    Pre-order the deluxe version of "Rage And Romance" from iTunes Ireland HERE.

    Watch the video for lead track "Show Me Love" in the player below!

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