Shaggy, *NSYNC, And Enya Top RIAA 2001 Year End Awards

12/21/2001 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Kastle

(12/21/01, 5 p.m. ET) -- Shaggy's album Hotshot has been certified six times platinum, making it the best selling record of 2001, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Tied for second place are Enya's album, A Day Without Rain, and *NSYNC's album Celebrity, with sales of five million copies each.

"When the industry has a year when you can mention Shaggy, Enya and *NSYNC in the same breath, there is a clear indication that Americans are not turning to any one genre of music," said RIAA President and CEO Hilary Rosen in a statement.

Newcomer Alicia Keys had an amazing year as her debut J Records album, Songs In A Minor, sold four million copies and became the cornerstone of Clive Davis' new label.

With sales of more than three million copies, the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? was the best selling soundtrack of the year. Produced by T-Bone Burnett and featuring a breakthrough performance by Dan Tyminski, the album was also awarded as album of the year at the 2001 Country Music Association awards.

Garth Brooks scored the best selling country record of the year with Scarecrow -- his 14th album for Capitol Nashville. Scarecrow was certified for sales of more than three million copies. In addition, Brooks' Double Live set added another million, and has been certified for sales of more than 14 million copies. In 2001 Brooks further strengthened his lead as the highest certified solo artist in history with his cumulative sales now topping 104 million.

The RIAA awarded a total of 27 multi-platinum, 33 platinum and 37 gold albums in December. Complete lists of all album, single, and video awards for December 2001 can also be viewed at riaa.com.

-- Jason Gelman, New York

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