ANDRÉ RIEU Live In Australia DVD Outsells #1 ARIA Album

ANDRÉ RIEU Live In Australia DVD Outsells #1 ARIA Album

Exclusive Pre-Press Release From Universal Music
15th December 2008

Making history as the biggest ever first week scans for a music DVD and the first classical music DVD release ever to scan more units than the #1 ARIA album in one week.

Following the success of his recent national stadium tour, the phenomenon that is André Rieu turns another page in the book of firsts. His tribute to his Australian fans, the 14 X Platinum DVD Live In Australia, filmed in Melbourne on November 15, has become the biggest ever first week scans for a music DVD and the first classical music DVD release to scan more units than the #1 ARIA album in one week. What makes this an even more astonishing accomplishment is that ANDRÉ RIEU Live In Australia DVD achieved it with only four days at retail.

Unprecedented, last week André Rieu’s total music DVD scans accounted for 70% of the total top 40 music DVD scans and sales of his CDs and DVDs have now crossed the 2 million unit mark, the majority of these achieved in a record space of 18 months.

Upon receiving the news of the extraordinary debut chart success of his DVD, André Rieu commented, "It's the power of heart-warming music by great composers. It's a love-affair: I love my Australian fans, and they love me. Australia is my second home and it will always be!"

"André’s fans are such a dedicated bunch. His Live In Australia DVD easily outsold our #1 album and André was only on the shelf for four days" – Derek Durrant, JB Hi-Fi Key Buyer
"André Rieu is a phenomenon, not only in regards to the sales rate but the fact that he has dragged a completely new audience back into our stores who repeatedly purchase everything he releases" – Gavin Ward, General Manager, Leading Edge Music.

André Rieu will return to Australia in October/November 2009 for a series of arena shows with a new program which promises to be as fun-filled and energising as his recent Romantic Vienna Night tour.

Thanks to Jann for sending this to us from Universal Music Australia!