Gwen Makes Musical History

For the first time in the digital age, a recording passes the 1,000,000 mark in download sales. Gwen Stefani makes musical history with the 1,000,000th commercial digital download of "Hollaback Girl," the hit single from her debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. With sales as of Friday, September 30th at approximately 995,000 digital downloads, and purchases running at 15,000 per week, "Hollaback Girl" becomes the first downloaded song to ever cross the landmark number. The digital success of "Hollaback Girl" has also reached telephones; the track will soon cross the 1,000,000 mark in mastertone sales (downloads to mobile telephones).

"Gwen is one of the most forward-thinking and innovative artists in music today," said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, a unit of Universal Music Group (UMG), the global music leader. "That she would make history with digital downloads just emphasizes her role as a leader in so many ways for a new generation and for music. The music industry is changing and this is a major sign that digital downloading has reached the mass market and become a very significant business."



Added Stefani: "It's always an honor to be recognized for your music, and this is really the coolest. It's exciting to see people embrace the song and really make it part of their lives. Whether it's cds, computers, or cellphones...it really is bananas."

The Neptunes-produced and co-penned "Hollaback Girl" first became available, as did all of the tracks on Love. Angel. Music. Baby., with the album's release on November 23, 2004, but the song was not fully promoted on the digital front until May 2005. The tracks have been sold through Apple's iTunes, MSN, Napster, Rhapsody, Wal-Mart, Musicmatch, Sony Connect and other digital distributors.

Reflecting CD sales only, "Hollaback Girl" hit #1 on the Billboard Pop chart and Top 10 R&B/Hip-Hop. Love. Angel. Music. Baby. is currently RIAA- certified triple platinum with "Hollaback Girl" and "What Are You Waiting For?" platinum, and "Rich Girl" double platinum.