JLS outsell Robbie Williams to number one
JLS beat Robbie Williams to top of UK album charts with self-titled debut album
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By Darren Plant. |  |
Sunday, 15, Nov 2009 07:39
By Matthew Champion
JLS have beaten Robbie Williams to the top of the UK album charts in one of the most tightly-contested chart battles of all time.
There was only one per cent difference between the weekly sales of the X Factor runners-up's self-titled debut album and Robbie's Reality Killed the Video star, the Official Charts Company said.
Both albums sold 200,000 copies, making them the fastest-selling albums of the year ahead of Eminem's Relapse and No Line on the Horizon by U2.
JLS' album is also the fastest-selling debut by a UK group since Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not in 2006.
In a statement JLS, whose first two singles Beat Again and Everybody in Love both went to number one, said: "It is absolutely unbelievable that we have reached the number one spot on the album chart this weekend after such an incredible race with the pop icon that is Robbie Williams!
"We are so overwhelmed by the support of the people that have purchased our album and can't thank them enough for making our dreams come true. We truly have the best supporters in the world and can't express our gratitude enough."
Martin Talbot, managing director of Official Charts Company, added: "JLS and Robbie were neck and neck in the end, scoring the two biggest week one totals of the year. So while JLS will be rightly delighted with their first number one, Robbie should be too with his biggest opening week sale for four years."
In the singles chart meanwhile Black Eyed Peas are number one with Meet Me Halfway, ahead of Happy by Leona Lewis.
N-Dubz (I Need You), Britney Spears (3) and Sugababes (About a Girl) all also made it into the top ten.