Rihanna's "Unapologetic" tops Billboard album chart

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Rihanna shot straight to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart on Tuesday with her seventh record "Unapologetic," scoring her first No. 1 album despite mixed reviews.

"Unapologetic," which topped iTunes charts in 43 countries just hours after its release on November19, sold 238,000 copies according to Billboard, scoring the 24-year-old singer from Barbados her best opening sales week to date.

The album's lead single "Diamonds" landed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, giving Rihanna her 12th No. 1 single and tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fourth-most chart-topping singles in Billboard history.

"Unapologetic" left some critics unsettled by the singer's harder sound and close-to-home lyrics. One track in particular that had everyone talking is "Nobody's Business," Rihanna's collaboration with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who was charged with assaulting her three years ago.

The album has been promoted extensively by Rihanna, who embarked on a seven day tour across seven cities around the world, accompanied by a plane full of fans and journalists.

The full Billboard charts will be released on Wednesday.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)

Adele's "21" sells 10 million, Rihanna leads Billboard

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British singer and Grammy darling Adele reached the 10 million sales mark in the United States on Wednesday with her heartbreak album "21" becoming the first by British woman to reach the milestone, Nielsen SoundScan said.

"21," released in February 2011, produced the hits "Someone Like You" and "Rolling In The Deep" and became the top-selling album of 2011. Earlier this year, Adele swept the Grammy Awards with six, including song, record and album of the year.

"21" became the third album to cross 10 million in 2012, along with Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" and Usher's "Confessions." But it is the only album to reach the milestone in less than two years in the last decade, Nielsen said.

"What an incredible honor," Adele said in a statement. "A huge, huge thank you to my American fans for embracing this record on such a massive level."

"21" will receive the diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, marking its 10 million milestone, joining the ranks of albums by artists such as Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Madonna.

"Adele's unique talent is a gift to music fans, and her success is certainly cause for a celebration of Diamond magnitude," Cary Sherman, RIAA's chairman & CEO, said in a statement.

Adele, 24, is enjoying the success of her latest single "Skyfall," the official theme song for the James Bond film of the same name. It has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The singer also gave birth to her first child earlier this year.

On the Billboard 200 chart this week, R&B star Rihanna scored her first No. 1 album with "Unapologetic," selling 238,000 copies.

She held off new entries from "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips, who landed at No. 4 with his debut album "The World From the Side of the Moon," and country-rock singer Kid Rock, who rounded out the top five with his latest album "Rebel Soul."

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy Editing by Jill Serjeant, Grant McCool and Andre Grenon)

Bruno Mars song about Berry

Bruno Mars penned his song Locked Out of Heaven about Halle Berry.

The 27-year-old Grammy-winner made fans swoon when he catapulted to fame with his 2010 debut solo album Doo-Wops & Hooligans.

He's hoping for similar success with his upcoming sophomore release, Unorthodox Jukebox.

Locked Out of Heaven was released as the album's lead single in October.

And fans have been wondering since who his raunchy lyrics are about.

'Your sex takes me to paradise,' Bruno croons.

Quizzed by UK music station Capital FM about his mystery muse, Bruno finally relented.

'I might as well just say it ' Halle Berry,' he told the outlet.

Halle is engaged to French actor Olivier Martinez.

Bruno recently spoke about how personal his lyrics are to him.

The singer took to his Twitter account this week to speak about the lyrics to another single, When I Was Your Man.

"Soon you guys will hear a song I wrote called When I Was Your Man. I've never been this nervous. Can't explain it," he tweeted.

Unorthodox Jukebox was made available for download on iTunes on Tuesday.

The ten-track offering will go on sale for pre-order on December 10 with the full official release of the title slated for December 11.

Bruno is meanwhile booked to sing at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball at London's O2 arena on Saturday.

One Direction, Cheryl Cole and Little Mix are also scheduled to perform.