Mary J. Blige's 'The Breakthrough' Debuts At No 1 On The Top 200 Albums Chart

SANTA MONICA, Ca. (Geffen Records/ www.mjblige.com) - Long live the Queen! Mary J. Blige's seventh album, "The Breakthrough," released on December 20th, follows through on its title's promise as it blasts to the top of the chart to debut at No 1. The outstanding first week sales of 727,000, her highest sales debut ever, foretells that this latest effort is without doubt one of her strongest albums ever and reminds us why she has the title - the Queen of Hip Hop Soul!!

"The Breakthrough" delivers more of Mary's straight-up, fan-pleasing messages all sung with her trademark serenity, conviction and compassion. The album takes the listener on a journey through its 14 tracks. Essential stops on this trip are the album's debut single, "Be Without You;" an inspiring duet with Bono on U2's "One;" "MJB Da MVP;" "Good Woman Down" and "I found My Everything." Helming this musical expedition is an all-star cast of producers including Bryan-Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins, the Black Eyed Peas' Will I Am, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dre & Vidal, Raphael Saadiq and more.

More than delivering a her loyal fans, Mary delivered a package of Christmas joy for many retailers with the smash "The Breakthrough" while winning over media and radio programmers along the way.

Vanity Fair raves, " ... she's still the Queen, 13 years and five studio albums later ... " Doc Wynter, Clear Channel's Senior Vice President of Urban Programming, enthuses, "We're so glad to have Mary's music back on the radio.
The journey that she's taken us on through her music continues to bring listeners back to the radio with each new single she drops." USA TODAY states, "Blige still touches souls, by laying bare her own."

Over the course of 14 years, with a voice that is rough and ready, sweet and pure, Mary J. Blige is capable of conveying heartache and happiness in a single musical phrase. A confessional singer, her emotional honesty reflects the great traditions of blues and soul with a ripped-from-the-pages-of-your- diary immediacy that has won her countless honors and a devoted, ever-growing audience around the world. More than a vocalist, she is an accomplished three-time Grammy Award winning recording artist known for her electrifying live performances and dramatic videos.

Mary will bring one of her thrilling performances into the nation's homes when she rings in the New Year with a headline performance on NBC's "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly." The broadcast will begin at 11:30 EST with a live Mary performance from Times Square in New York City on Saturday, December 31st. Mary will return again later in the show to perform a second song.

Mary's six prior platinum and multi-platinum hit albums include such classics, "No More Drama," "What's the 411," "My Life," "Share My World," "Mary" and "Love & Life."