Love And Theft Steal the Top Spot as the Biggest Selling Newly Released Artist Album This Week

NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Lyric Street Records) - Carolwood Records trio Love And Theft is soaring high on the news that their debut album, World Wide Open, bowed at No 10 on Nielsen Soundscan's Country Top 75 chart. With more than 12,500 units sold first week this gives Love And Theft the top-selling newly released artist album this week. The band also has the honor of having the 3rd highest charting and first week sales numbers for a new country artist this year.

Love And Theft can also claim the top-selling newly released country digital album and the 4th highest selling digital country album overall for the week. Digital album sales account for 21% of the more than 12,500 units sold first week.

With 19,000 paid downloads this week, the band's hit single 'Runaway' takes the top spot with the highest first week digital single sales for debut country artist this year. Currently inside the Top 20 on the Billboard and Mediabase airplay charts, 'Runaway' is also the top selling track from a newly released country album this week and the 10th highest selling country digital track overall for the week.

World Wide Open is co-produced by Robert Ellis Orrall and Jeff Coplan. Love And Theft's Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles co-wrote all eleven tracks on the debut project.

Next up for Love And Theft is an opening slot on Jason Aldean's headlining tour with shows booked from late September through November.

After opening shows for Taylor Swift in 2008, Love And Theft is currently on the road playing shows and promoting the release of their debut album, World Wide Open. Love And Theft has been featured on The Today Show and Access Hollywood and in the pages of Country Weekly and People magazine and has had its music included in promos for ABC's daytime programming. To learn more about Love And Theft, visit www.loveandtheft.com or follow the band on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lntweet.

Carolwood Records is a part of the Disney Music Group. The Disney Music Group is the recorded music and music publishing arm of the Walt Disney Studios.