Eminem Leads 2002 RIAA certifications

LOS ANGELES (RIAA) - With the best-selling album and soundtrack of the year, Eminem dominates U.S. year-end certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The rapper's third album for Interscope, "The Eminem Show," exceeded platinum shipments (1 million copies) in its first week and closed out the year at seven-times platinum. In addition, the Eminem-led soundtrack to "8 Mile," also on Interscope, went triple platinum.

St. Louis rapper Nelly had the second biggest album of the year with "Nellyville", which shipped more than 5 million.
With her quadruple-platinum Arista debut, "Let Go," Avril Lavigne had the highest-shipping debut of the year and highest-shipping album by a female artist.

Also scoring big were the Dixie Chicks, who received a diamond award for 10 million shipments of their sophomore set, "Fly", just a few months before their August release, "Home", crossed the triple-platinum mark.

In an exceptionally successful year for rock legends, the Rolling Stones' "Forty Licks" and Elvis Presley's "ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits" were both certified triple platinum, while Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" and Santana's "Shaman" went double platinum.

Meanwhile, in December certifications, Justin Timberlake proved his mettle as a solo artist, as "Justified" reached double-platinum status. Also during the month, Elton John received his 35th gold and 25th platinum award for "Elton John's Greatest Hits: 1970-2002".