Britney Spears' `Britney' First Week Sales Top 745,000 Units; First Female Performer in the History of Billboard to Have First Three Albums Debut At No. 1.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2001

Britney Spears' third album, "Britney", debuts at no. 1 on the album sales chart this week with 745,744 units sold, more than doubling last week's top selling album.

This gives Britney Spears the second best selling album of 2001 according to Soundscan (the no. 1 best selling album of 2001 goes to her label mates *NSYNC). Beyond all of this, Britney also becomes the first solo female performer in the history of The Billboard 200 to have her first three albums debut in the no. 1 spot.

Britney demonstrates the artist's global appeal with debuts at number one in Canada, Austria, Germany, Israel, and Switzerland, top five positions in France, Spain, Japan, Australia, The United Kingdom, Norway and top 10 for Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal.

"We are elated with this week's opening on Britney's album in the U.S. and internationally, particularly given the current difficult economic climate." said Barry Weiss, President of Jive Records. "This new Britney album is by far her best work to date and we plan to work it on a worldwide level through all of 2002 and beyond."

Britney is currently on tour in support of the new album. She is scheduled to play in Las Vegas this weekend, with a concert special to be broadcast live on HBO this Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Feb. 15, 2002 will bring Britney Spears to the big screen as the star of "Crossroads," the story of three childhood friends, who after eight years apart, rediscover their friendship on a cross-country trip. It will be Britney's major motion picture debut.

For further information on Britney Spears, contact Sonia Muckle at Jive Records 212/824-1370.