Biography
The Emergence of A Side Productions
Multi-Platinum Group #1 on the Billboard Hot 200
Il Divo had now turned into one of the biggest international acts. Having sold more than 9 million copies across the first two albums, the quartet had reached 22 worldwide number ones including the UK, Spain, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It soon became a 23rd. Reaching #4 in the US with their self-titled debut album, Il Divo now aimed higher - for the top position. Released on January 24, 2006, "Ancora" instantly hit #1 on the Billboard Album Chart selling more than 150,000 copies during the first week of sales.
When closing the books on 2005, it was clear that Shayne Ward's first single had not only become that year's Christmas Number One. Perhaps more amazingly, "That's My Goal" had entered the Top 5 list of the Fastest Selling Singles of all time. A Side Productions is holding, and keeps on holding, the list's next three positions behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind":
#2 Anything Is Possible/Evergreen (double A-side) - Will Young (2002)
#3 Unchained Melody (w b-side Evergreen) - Gareth Gates (2002)
#4 That's My Goal - Shayne Ward (2005)
Following the huge success with "That's My Goal", which to date has sold more than 1,3 million copies, The X Factor winner released his self-titled debut album on April 18, 2006. Including the smash hit and two more songs produced by A Side, the album reached #1 on the UK charts only six days later.
Simon Cowell
American Idol, with Simon Cowell in the jury, early had reached a status of a phenomenon. In the finale of 2003, aired on May 21, Clay Aiken came in second after Ruben Studdard who won by a narrow margin. Aiken's third album "A Thousand Different Ways" was set for release in the fall of 2006. The record was early decided to contain mainly covers and he turned to A Side for the production of Elton John's classic "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". Released on September 19, 2006, the album rushed straight to #2 on the Billboard chart, which made Aiken the 4th artist ever to have his first three albums debuting in the Top 5.
Westlife had in 2006 signed a brand new five-album deal with SonyBMG. Prior to the band's first Asian tour, they spent time in the studios recording songs for the forthcoming eighth record "The Love Album". On the new album, Westlife teamed up with multi-talented Australian singer Delta Goodrem for the duet "All Out of Love". Originally released by Air Supply in 1980, the new version was produced by A Side.