Embargoed until the 14th of September 2008
BRITNEY SPEARS BREAKS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
“RESURRECTED” POP PRINCESS RECLAIMS TITLE FROM PARIS HILTON IN GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2009
London, UK -14th September, 2008. A mere week after sweeping three MTV Video Awards, Britney Spears confirms her comeback with another global recognition. The 2009 edition of Guinness World Records (out 17th September) reveals that the pop princess has reclaimed her notorious record title Most Searched Person on the Internet from socialite Paris Hilton. Spears first grabbed the crown in 2007 but lost it to Hilton last year. The record is based on statistics from search engine Google and denotes a different type of accolade to the esteemed achievements that Britney accomplished with her music between 2000 and 2001, such as Best Selling Album by a Teenage Solo Artist (2000), Best Selling Album in the US by a Female Artist (2000), Best Selling Teenage Artist (2001), Fastest Most No. 1 Singles on UK chart by a teenage Female Solo Artist (2000). In addition to Spears, artists from the UK receive an abundance of accolades for their musical talent. Rebel Amy Winehouse makes an unprecedented mark for the Most Grammy Awards Won by a British Female Act, by taking home five of the six awards that she was nominated for at the 2008 annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. X Factor winner Leona Lewis is redeemed, after being overlooked by the Brit Awards in 2008, by grabbing both the record for Best Selling Debut Album in the UK in One Week by a Female and the brand new record for Fastest Selling Album to Reach 1 Million Copies in the UK by a Female Artist, for her debut album Spirit. Meanwhile, the Sugababes’ single ‘About You Now’ becomes the First Track by a British Pop Act to Top the Singles Chart solely on the strength of download sales. Moreover, the single jumped from No. 35 to the top spot and broke Captain Sensible’s long-standing record for ‘Happy Talk’ as the Biggest Chart Mover to the No.1 Position in the UK. But that’s not all! The new book also recognises legend Sir Paul McCartney as the Most Successful Songwriter of all time. Out of his 188 charted records, 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1. Up until the beginning of 2008, McCartney had totalled 1,662 weeks on the chart. The all new 2009 edition of the Guinness World Records is on sale from the 17th September 2008, bursting with new records, fascinating stats, celebrity gossip and – for the first time ever incredible 3D images.
About Guinness World Records
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Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PICTURES PLEASE CONTACT: Karolina Thelin or Amarilis Espinoza via email: press@guinnessworldrecords.com Phone: + 44 (0) 207 891 4584/+ 44 (0) 207 891 4516