Amy Winehouse sales spike in US after her death

Updated: 2011-07-27 11:18

(Agencies)

  Comments() Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按钮 0

Amy Winehouse sales spike in US after her death
A man holds an invitation bearing a picture of British singer Amy Winehouse before her funeral at Golders Green Crematorium, in north London July 26, 2011. The funeral of British singer Amy Winehouse was held on Tuesday after an autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause of her death. [Photo/Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Thousands of Amy Winehouse fans went to "Rehab" in the United States for a fresh listen to the British songstress who died late last week, according to figures released on Tuesday.

Record sales tracker Nielsen SoundScan said fans of the soul singer snapped up 50,000 copies of her CDs in the week ended July 24, compared to 44,000 units that were purchased in all other weeks of 2011.

Her 2006 smash hit album, "Back to Black," which includes the song "Rehab," accounted for 37,000 of those units sold in the United States, which was the highest weekly total since March 2008. Winehouse's debut album, 2003's "Frank," chalked up 7,600 unit sales, Nielsen SoundScan said.

Of the totals, more than 95 percent were digital downloads.

"Rehab," in which the singer with the beehive hairdo belted out the the famous lyrics, "They tried to make me go to rehab. I said 'no, no no'," was the most downloaded single with 34,000 digital sales in the United States.

Fans purchased a total 111,000 Winehouse digital tracks via downloads, an increase of 2,000 percent over the previous week, Nielsen SoundScan said.

Winehouse died at her London home on July 24, at age 27, so it's likely the sales figures will spike even higher for the week ending Saturday, July 31, because fans were just learning of her death on the final day of the weekly tally.

Throughout much of her career, the singer struggled with drinking and drug problems, but on Tuesday, her father said she had been exercising every day and doing yoga recently.

An autopsy has been performed, but an official cause of death has not been determined as officials await results of toxicology tests.

The US sales spike mirrors results in Britain where 24 hours after Winehouse's death, "Back in Black" occupied the top spot on iTunes album download chart.

Amy Winehouse sales spike in US after her death
British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival in St Lucia in this May 8, 2009 file photo. Winehouse has been found dead at her home in north London, Sky News reported on July 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]