2005 – Alicia Keys hosts and performs at a fundraiser for the AIDS charity Keep a Child Alive at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. She is joined by fellow music heavyweights Usher, Paul Simon, John Mayer and Common, as well as African acts Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Femi Kuti and the Agape Children’s Choir from Durban, South Africa.
2005 – Alicia Keys, Usher, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin are among those attending Luther Vandross’ funeral at New York’s Riverside Church.
2005 – US CD sales rose for the first time in four years. The CD format accounted for 98% of the 666 million albums sold, according to research company Nielsen Soundscan. A total of 140 million digital tracks were legally downloaded during 2004, equivalent to 14 million albums. R&B star Usher was the biggest-selling artist with his album ‘Confessions’ selling eight million copies. Other top sellers of the year were Norah Jones, Eminem and country stars Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson. The UK recorded a record year for album sales in 2004, with 237 million sold The Scissor Sisters proved the most popular album of the year, followed by Keane and Maroon 5.
2004 – The Grammy nominations are announced, with Kanye West snagging 10 nods for his debut album The College Dropout. Usher and Alicia Keys are in second place with eight nominations each.
2004 – No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani makes her solo television performance debut when she opens the American Music Awards broadcast on ABC. She joins performers Kenny Chesney, Josh Groban, Toby Keith, Jessica Simpson, Usher, Kanye West and Gretchen Wilson.
2004 – Usher and R&B queen Anastacia are named the top male and female artists at the first Nordic Music Awards is Oslo, Norway. Danish rap group Outlandish wins Best Nordic Artist.
2004 – Usher, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Cullum and Reba McEntire perform at a Los Angeles tribute to the late Ray Charles hosted by actor/comedian Jamie Foxx.
2004 – With three awards each, Usher and OutKast are the top winners at the 16th annual World Music Awards. Usher _ who opens the show with first single “Yeah!” from his contemporary LaFace/Zomba set “Confessions” _ earns the world’s best male artist, best pop male artist and best R&B artist awards. OutKast takes home the world’s best group, best pop group and best rap/hip-hop artist honors.
2004 – Usher’s Confessions returns to No. 1 in the American album charts, knocking D12′s D12 World down to No. 2. The highest new entry is rapper Petey Pablo with Still Writing in My Diary, in at No. 4.
2004 – Usher tops the U.S. album chart for the fifth week with Confessions. The top three is rounded out by two new entries: Mario Winans’ Hurt No More at No. 2 and Prince’s Musicology at No. 3.
2004 – Usher releases Confessions, featuring the hit singles “Burn” and “Yeah!” Allegedly inspired by his break-up with TLC’s Chili, the album tops the Billboard 200 chart.
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