SONGS FOR JAPAN!

"Songs for Japan," the 38-track album featuring current hits, classic tracks and live performances benefitting Japan earthquake and tsunami relief, has been selling briskly since its exclusive release at the iTunes Store on Friday (Mar. 25) for the modest price of $9.99.

According to industry sources, the set moved approximately 25,000 units on its first day of release and could have shifted close to 75,000 units by the time the chart-tracking week concluded at the close of business Sunday (Mar. 27). That reported sum could land the album within the top five of next week's Billboard 200. As reported earlier this week, Chris Brown is set to lead the list with "F.A.M.E.," with industry prognosticators predicting debut week sales in the 250,000-300.000 range.  
The last major relief-effort album, "Hope for Haiti," which featured tracks performed on the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon, moved 171,000 in no more than two full days upon its Jan. 23, 2010 release, although that album featured newly recorded songs and/or performances and was bolstered by MTV's live telethon special.
"Songs for Japan" is a joint effort among the four major label groups, Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music and EMI Music. Proceeds from the album's sale will benefit the disaster relief efforts of the Japanese Red Cross Society. A physical version will be released as a 2-CD set on Apr. 4.
The 38 tracks on the compilation consist of 21 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including 16 top 40 entries, nine top 10s and five No. 1s: Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rihanna, Katy Perry's "Firework," Rihanna's "Only Girl (in the World)" and a remix of the list's most recent chart-topper, "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga.


To find out more about how you can help with earthquake and tsunami relief in Japan, go to RedCross.org 
(BILLBORAD)