Fergie's 'London Bridge' Rises to #1 on Hot 100!

Fergie's 'London Bridge' Rises to #1 on Hot 100!

First Single From Debut Solo Album THE DUTCHESS, by Fergie - of Multi-Platinum Grammy Winning Group The Black Eyed Peas - Tops Hot 100 in Two Weeks; Album Set for September 19th Release on will.i.am Music Group/A&M

Fergie on Tour With the Black Eyed Peas in U.S. & Canada

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Fergie's solo single "London Bridge" is ... rising up! -- all the way up to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in just its third week out, following a spectacular jump last week from #84 to #5, the second-highest jump ever recorded in the 48-year history of the Hot 100. "London Bridge" is the first single from THE DUTCHESS, the debut solo album by Fergie, of the multi-platinum two-time Grammy Award winning group, The Black Eyed Peas. The album will arrive in stores September 19th on will.i.am Music Group/A&M Records.

Since its release on July 17th, "London Bridge" -- hailed by New York Newsday as "meant for the dance floor ... one of summer's hottest guilty pleasures" -- has enjoyed a meteoric climb up the charts. In addition to the top spot on the Hot 100, the single continues to bullet its way up the Billboard Top 40 (currently #11) and Rhythmic Top 40 (at #18). It's also #1 on the iTunes list of Top 100 Songs (most downloaded) this week. "I'm absolutely thrilled and extremely grateful. It's an exciting time in my life and I can't wait for people to hear the entire album," said Fergie. The single was produced by Atlanta beatsmith Polow Da Don, who has worked previously with Ludacris, The Pussycat Dolls and Ciara.

The "London Bridge" video, directed by Marc Webb (whose credits include Weezer's "Perfect Situation," Ashlee Simpson's "Boyfriend," and My Chemical Romance's "The Ghost of You" and "Helena"), has been aired on MTV's TRL everyday since its July 18th debut and was in "Big 10" rotation for 2 weeks. The clip is FUSE's #1 Most Played Video this week.

"I'm proud to have been a part of Fergie's major label recording career since the beginning," said Ron Fair, Chairman, Geffen Records. "A solo album has been her goal since she was seven years old and very few artists work this hard to reach it. Fergie is more driven, more focused and more disciplined than ever. THE DUTCHESS is the first album released on will.i.am's label with Interscope Geffen A&M. will's ideas are visionary, and as a producer he is in the middle of an unbelievable hot streak. Jimmy Iovine and I are beyond proud to stand behind Fergie and will as they make history together."

"All the work that Fergie has done with The Black Eyed Peas and on her own has paid off, and everyone can see the results over the last two weeks," commented Steve Berman, President of Sales and Marketing for Interscope Geffen A&M. "When you are lucky enough to be involved with a talented, driven artist like Fergie, it makes everything easier."

THE DUTCHESS is the eagerly anticipated first release from the will.i.am Music Group, distributed worldwide by Interscope Geffen A&M. The new label was launched by The Black Eyed Peas' frontman and in-demand producer will.i.am (among whose many production credits are Justin Timberlake, The Game, The Pussycat Dolls, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Diddy). THE DUTCHESS showcases Fergie's wide-ranging abilities as a solo artist, and features such guests as Ludacris and Rita Marley.

Rolling Stone has already declared that Fergie "delivers on her solo debut -- a banging mix of party-starters and down-tempo jams ... pure booty- shaking fun."

Fergie has been a member of The Black Eyed Peas for more than three years, since the group became a global sensation with the release of their third album, Elephunk (in June 2003, featuring the massive #1 hit, "Where Is the Love?" and the Rap Grammy-winning "Let's Get It Started"). It was followed by their first #1 pop/ #1 R&B crossover album, 2005's triple-platinum Monkey Business, which spun off a trio of smash hits, "Don't Phunk With My Heart" (their second consecutive Rap Grammy), "My Humps" -- which became the first 2-million selling Master Tone of all time -- and "Pump It." The Black Eyed Peas are an international success story, having sold more than 17 million units worldwide.

Fergie is currently on tour throughout the U.S. and Canada with The Black Eyed Peas.

Source: A&M Records

CONTACT: Hillary Siskind, Hillary.Siskind@umusic.com, or MC Joyce Lee,
+1-212-841-8047, Joyce.Lee@umusic.com, both of A&M Records

-------
Profile: intent