Answers to readers' questions about Guns N'Roses, Cheetah Girls & Janet Jackson.


Hi Keith,

I was wondering why Guns N' Roses "Greatest Hits" is constantly hovering in the top half of The Billboard 200. I have been following the charts for the last 10 years or so and tend to pick up on patterns based on publicity, radio play and so forth. But this album has been on the charts for a long time and doesn't seem to go anywhere. Why is this?

Brett Knowles,
St. Louis

Hi Brett,

It's true, Guns N' Roses' "Greatest Hits" has yet to leave the top 100 of The Billboard 200 since its debut in April 2004. Why has it consistently sold so well? There isn't an easy answer like a radio hit or something similar.

If you ask Geffen, the band's label, why the album has performed so well, they would likely answer with something along the lines of, "Because it's full of huge singles which have been a staple of rock radio for years and it's an obvious gift purchase."

GNR's "Greatest Hits" has sold 2.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.



I just wanted to know why the Cheetah Girls were on the Top Heatseekers chart. I believe I remember them doing pretty well and floating around the top half of The Billboard 200 chart a few years back.


Robert Alfonzo
New York

Hi Robert,

You're right, the soundtrack to "The Cheetah Girls" was in the top half of The Billboard 200. But the Cheetah Girls' first proper album, "Cheetah-licious Christmas," was the first to carry the Girls' name as the artist. "The Cheetah Girls" soundtrack was comprised of eight songs -- four from the Cheetah Girls, and four from other artists.

Artists are eligible for Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart if they have never had a title reach the top 100 of The Billboard 200 chart. Since "The Cheetah Girls" soundtrack was credited as a soundtrack (and not to the Cheetah Girls), the new "Cheetah-licious Christmas" album was therefore eligible for Heatseekers.

Of course, none of this really matters now, since the "Christmas" album just graduated from Top Heatseekers by moving into the top 100 of The Billboard 200. The album rose 180-81 in the Dec. 10 issue of Billboard.



Are there any plans to remaster Janet Jackson's back catalog, particularly the "Control" album, next year? The 20th anniversary of "Control" is March 2006.


Alexandria, Va.

Hi Cliff,

As far as we know, there is nothing on the horizon with regards to a reissue of any of Janet Jackson's A&M albums. Of course, that doesn't mean something isn't in the works, just that nothing has been announced, leaked or rumored.

Questions? Comments? Let us know: @billboard