STACKING UP SALES

Total album and single sales of CDs and cassettes for the week ended Jan.16, compared to week-ago and year-ago levels, in thousands of units sold:

Latest week:

Albums: 10.1

Singles: 1.5

Week-ago:

Albums: 12.6

Singles: 1.6

Year-ago:

Albums: 10.3

Singles: 1.5

Hits Magazine Tip of the Week

The music industry’s executive inner circle is buzzing that Michael Jackson’s criminal and civil legal team of John Branca, Howard Weitzman and Johnnie Cochrane are close to reaching an out-of-court settlement to end the civil proceedings over alleged sexual misconduct with a minor. Further speculation has the settlement of the civil litigation leading to suspension of the criminal investigation.

Note: Hits magazine is a weekly music industry trade publication.

Source: Soundscan Inc.