Idol Artists Continue to Dominate Album Charts Worldwide

Idol Artists Continue to Dominate Album Charts Worldwide

Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice and Kelly Clarkson All Top 10 in U.S., Clarkson and Will Young Reach Top 15 in the U.K.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- As reported online last week by Hits Magazine, American Idol stars Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice and Kelly Clarkson ruled the charts with three of the top ten spots on Billboard's Top 200 album chart the week before Christmas, historically one of the best selling weeks of the year for the music industry. In addition, American Idol and Pop Idol artists, Clarkson and Will Young, also took two of the top fifteen spots in the weekly sales chart in the United Kingdom. The Idol franchise was created by 19 Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ:CKXE). Idol artists in the U.S. and U.K. are signed to recording agreements with 19 Recordings, also a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX.

"Some Hearts," the debut album by American Idol 4 winner Carrie Underwood, rose from Number 5 to Number 2 on the chart with more than 271,000 units sold for the week. "Some Hearts" was certified platinum, with over one million albums sold, within just five weeks of its November 15, 2005 release.

American Idol 4 finalist Bo Bice's debut album, "The Real Thing" entered the chart this week at Number 4, with more than 226,000 albums sold. In addition, Bice's hit single "Inside Your Heaven/Vehicle" was number three on the Billboard Singles Chart.

American Idol 1 winner Kelly Clarkson's most recent album "Breakaway" moved back into the Top 10 to Number 8, with more than 180,000 units sold for the week. "Breakaway" has remained in the Top 20 since its release on November 30, 2004, for a total of for 55 consecutive weeks and has been certified 4X platinum in the United States, with over 4 million units sold in the U.S. and well over 7 million copies sold worldwide.

In the United Kingdom, Ms. Clarkson's "Breakaway" album was the number 8 selling album for the week, and Pop Idol 1 winner Will Young's album, "Keep On" rose to number 12 on the U.K. chart, with over 300,000 units sold to date in the U.K. alone.

In addition to these achievements, American Idol 3 winner Fantasia is approaching the double platinum mark with her debut album "Free Yourself" and American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's Christmas album, "Merry Christmas With Love" recently soared past the million unit mark. Aiken is expected to release a new album this spring.

Commenting on the successful recording careers of Idol contestants, Simon Fuller, creator and Executive Producer of American Idol said, "This success is a true testament to the power of Idol fans and people power worldwide. Carrie, Bo and Kelly are prime examples of the impact of the Idol format, having been discovered by the American public, taken from obscurity and made into true superstars. I am proud to have created a format which has captured the imagination of music fans around the world and which can launch the careers of so many talented young singers. We are looking forward very much to the start of American Idol's 5th season in January"

The success of Idol artists is not limited to the United States and the United Kingdom. Idol continues to produce best selling artists in countries around the world where a local version of the format is run. In France, the most recent winner, Myriam, and runner-up Pierrick have both reached the top five in sales for their recent albums and previous runner up, Amele, has sold close to 500,000 units. In Australia, the most recent Idol winner Kate DeAraugo's single reached Number 1 on the local singles chart and remains the third best selling single in the country. The first Australian Idol winner Shannon Noll's second album has been certified double Platinum. In Canada, the latest winner Melissa O'Neil recently reached Number 1 on the local radio charts with her single "Alive."

About 19 Entertainment

19 Entertainment, based in the United Kingdom, is a leading creator and producer of entertainment properties, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom, as well as versions of the Idol format in more than 30 countries around the world. The company has recording contracts with and/or manages or has managed former American Idol and Pop Idol participants, such as Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia as well as some of the world's best known musicians and other artists, including the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and S Club 7. The Company has also entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David Beckham, one of the most recognized athletes in the world, and Victoria Beckham, an influential symbol in both the fashion and music worlds.

About CKX, Inc.

CKX, Inc., a company controlled by Robert F.X. Sillerman and affiliates, is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. To date, we have focused on acquiring globally recognized entertainment content and related assets, including the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, the operations of Graceland and proprietary rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States, the Pop Idol series in the United Kingdom and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively, air in over 30 countries around the world. We plan to continue to make strategic acquisitions of, or partner or align with, companies or individuals that control various forms of established entertainment content, which may include intellectual property rights in music, film, television programming, written works and characters, rights to names, images and likenesses, video games, corporate brands and other related assets For more information about CKX, Inc., visit our corporate website at http://www.ckx.com/.

Source: CKX, Inc.

CONTACT: Sean Cassidy, +1-212-981-5233, Ed Tagliaferri, +1-212-981-5182,
or Robert Zimmerman, +1-212-981-5118, all for CKX, Inc.

Web site: http://www.ckx.com/

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