1 hour, 31 minutes ago
LONDON (Billboard) -
British talent show winner Leona
Lewis' fast track to global stardom will not detour for a
full-scale live outing until after a second album is wrapped
next year.
The pop star's rise has been nothing short of a phenomenon
in the U.K., where her debut album, "Spirit," has sold more
than 1.6 million copies in just 14 weeks.
"We have absolutely no plans for her to tour until 2010,"
Lewis' manager, Richard Griffiths, tells Billboard. "We're
going to make ('Spirit') the biggest record in the world, then
we'll make another record in 2009, and tour on the back of
that."
"Spirit" arrives April 8 in the United States through Sony
BMG's J Records. Lewis will support the release with a six-week
promo trip.
"America is looking extremely positive. J Records is doing
an incredible job there," says Griffiths, a former president of
Epic Records. "The initial airplay position is very positive.
We've got no problems at the moment."
Lewis took center stage at the February 20 Brit Awards in
London, where she performed her hit second single "Bleeding
Love," the best-selling track in Britain last year. Although
the singer failed to convert any of her four Brits nominations,
Lewis' spirits remain high.
"We can get over it this year. She's going to have a long,
successful career," adds Griffiths. "We'll be back and picking
up awards in years to come. She's had so many great things
happen in her life already."
A former office receptionist, Lewis' life changed for good
when she won Britain's annual "X-Factor" TV series in December
2006. Her first single, a cover of the Kelly Clarkson's "A
Moment Like This," was rush-released and stayed at No. 1 for
four weeks in the U.K. But Lewis proved her enduring star power
10 months later when second single "Bleeding Love" ruled the
chart for seven weeks.
Reuters/Billboard
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