Usher is salesman of the year

So how good a year was it for Usher?

The R&B; singer’s “Confessions” album not only outsold the competition during 2004, but it also had more than double the sales of the runner-up, Norah Jones’ “Feels Like Home.”

Through Sunday, “Confessions,” which has been nominated for album of the year in the Grammy competition, sold 7.9 million copies, whereas “Feels Like Home” checks in with 3.8 million.

“Confessions” may even extend its lead over “Feels Like Home” in the final days of the year.

Usher’s CD sold 316,000 more copies last week to rank No. 6 on this week’s sales chart, while the Jones CD sold 83,000 copies to rank No. 48, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Eminem’s “Encore” returned to the top of the sales chart Wednesday after selling 430,000 copies last week. That figure pushed total sales to 3.3 million, enough to claim the No. 3 position on the 2004 total sales list. That’s especially impressive because it was released only in November.

“Confessions” came out in March, and “Feels Like Home” was released in February.

Country artists did well this year, with albums by Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw finishing No. 4 through No. 6, respectively, on the 2004 chart.

Volumes 16 and 17 in the “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilation series ranked No. 10 and No. 16, respectively, on the year’s tally.

Other artists in the 2004 Top 20, in order starting at No. 7: Evanescence, Maroon 5, Ashlee Simpson, Josh Groban, Kanye West, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, OutKast, Shania Twain, Jessica Simpson, Alicia Keys and U2.

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By the Numbers: Southland CD rankings

Here are the 10 bestselling CDs in Southern California last week, along with their national ranking.

*--* TITLE, ARTIST NAT’L RANK LAST WEEK

1 “Love.Angel.Music.Baby,” Gwen Stefani 21 2

2 “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” U2 3 4

3 “American Idiot,” Green Day 9 6

4 “Destiny Fulfilled,” Destiny’s Child 4 5

5 “Encore,” Eminem 1 9

6 “Confessions,” Usher 6 10

7 “Collision Course,” Jay-Z/Linkin Park 8 7

8 “Loyal to the Game,” Tupac 13 1

9 “Genius Loves Company,” Ray Charles 14 8

10 “R&G; (Rhythm),” Snoop Dogg 20 15

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*--* Source: Nielsen/SoundScan Inc.

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