NEW YORK (Virgin Records) - As the weeks and months pass, singer/songwriter KT TUNSTALL's debut album, EYE TO THE TELESCOPE, is looking more and more like pop music's most durable breakout of 2006. In response to demand generated by months of radio, video, television and film attention, Tunstall will return to the U.S. for a month of headlining dates in the U.S. northeast, midwest and southern regions in the early fall.
Tunstall's album, was certified gold by the RIAA on April 28, just three months after its February 2006 U.S. release on Virgin, thanks to radio and VH1 play of the lead single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," an enthusiastically-received pre-release Stateside tour, and an attention- grabbing early spot on NBC's Today. As spring turned into summer, the album kicked into a new level of awareness with a series of splashy cross-media placements. Both physical and digital sales enjoyed immediate surges and have now sustained strength through the album's sixth month of release. This week, the album's unit sales jumped 17%, the biggest sales increase of any album in the national top 50.
Even as "Black Horse," far from burning out, this week remains the most-played song at adult radio nationally, and mainstream top 40 radio play of the track continues to increase, the second single from EYE TO THE TELESCOPE, "Suddenly I See," enjoys a prime position as the opening song in the Meryl Streep/Anne Hathaway film comedy The Devil Wears Prada, which opened to movie audiences at a strong No. 2 position. Digital sales of the song spiked 162% this week, and Amazon added Tunstall's album to a mini-store dedicated to film-related items. The video clip of "Suddenly I See" will hit VH1.com on July 25th, and have a special world cable premiere on VH1's Top 20 countdown show on Saturday July 29th.
Tunstall's music has been repeatedly sought out this year by television's creatives: a one-verse excerpt of "Black Horse," performed on American Idol by the front-running contestant Katherine McPhee, created an instantaneous spike in Tunstall's online sales, through both Amazon.com and iTunes. "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" was also featured in the series finale of the long-running NBC comedy Will and Grace, while another Telescope album track, "Universe and U," was heard in the season-ending episode of the hit ABC hospital drama Grey's Anatomy.
Among the major live television performances Tunstall has made since her album release: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, Last Call With Carson Daly, Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Ellen, and DirecTV's satellite-based music program, CDUSA. Upcoming appearances will include Soundstage, airing on PBS July 27th; and, later in the fall, the renowned PBS institution, Austin City Limits.
In May 2006, Tunstall partnered with Origins Natural Resources and Virgin Records for cross-promotion of her music and Origins' line of wellness-based skin care, bath and beauty products, through personal appearances, in-store music programming and charitable endeavors, including Project Sunshine, a non-profit organization that provides free programs and services to children and families affected by serious medical challenges.
KT TUNSTALL HEADLINE LIVE SHOWS, FALL 2006 (confirmed as of 7/11)
Fri 9/8/2006 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
Mon 9/11/2006 Amos' Charlotte, NC
Tue 9/12/2006 The Ritz Raleigh, NC
Wed 9/13/2006 Center Stage/Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
Fri 9/15/2006 House of Blues New Orleans, LA
Sat 9/16/2006 Meridian Houston, TX
Sun 9/17/2006 Austin City Limits Festival Austin, TX
Wed 9/20/2006 The Pageant St. Louis, MO
Thu 9/21/2006 Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS
Fri 9/22/2006 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
Mon 9/25/2006 Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI
Tue 9/26/2006 Egyptian Room Indianapolis, IN
Wed 9/27/2006 Bogart's Cincinnati, OH
Mon 10/2/2006 City Hall Nashville, TN
Tue 10/3/2006 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
Wed 10/4/2006 Mr. Small's Theater Millvale, PA
Tue 10/10/2006 Toad's Place New Haven, CT
Wed 10/11/2006 Lupo's Heartbreak Providence, RI
