Chicks get a real shot in the wing

AND the Grammy winner is ... the music industry.

The CBS broadcast of the Grammy Awards on Feb . 11 delivered a powerful jolt to the nation’s album chart, especially the Dixie Chicks, who registered more than a 700% increase in sales of their CD “Taking the Long Way,” which totaled 103,000 copies sold. The Chicks CD, the album-of-the-year Grammy winner, jumped to No. 8 , up from No. 72 the previous week. The trio won five Grammys, including record and song of the year.

The Chicks’ album was one of nine last week to post six-digit sales. That’s a stark contrast to last month, when sales of 60,000 was enough to claim the No. 1 spot on the sleepy chart.

The No. 1 album this week belonged again to Norah Jones, who did not appear on the Grammys but did make a series of high-profile television appearances, including “60 Minutes.” Her album “Not Too Late” sold 211,000 copies in its third week of release, suggesting that it was a popular Valentine’s Day gift.

At No. 2 on sales of 165,000 copies, it was more romance in the form of “In My Songs,” a posthumous release from R&B; singer Gerald Levert, who died in November at age 40.

The rest of the chart is a study in the power of the Grammys broadcast. At No. 3, with sales of 131,000 copies, it’s the all-star collection featuring many of this year’s nominees and right behind that, the debut album from newcomer British singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae (120,000 copies) which surged 132% in sales.

Among other Grammy show performers who landed in the Top 20 were Justin Timberlake (No. 7 on sales up 123%), John Mayer (No. 10, 182%), the Red Hot Chili Peppers (No. 12, 194%) and best new artist winner Carrie Underwood (No. 13, 60%).

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