The second week chart round up of Katie Melua's new album sees it holding up well against some strong competition:

U.K.-based singer-songwriter Katie Melua's sophomore album "Piece By Piece" album leads off a new batch of European sales awards from Brussels-based pan-European independent labels body Impala.

"Piece by Piece," released September 2005 on U.K. indie Dramatico, has scored a "multi-platinum" award recognizing shipments across Europe in excess of 3.5 million units. It heads a list of more than 30 awards covering the last six months.

Impala inaugurated the awards late last year (Billboard.biz November 15, 2006) to recognise independent trade shipments, including download sales, across Europe. Labels nominate recordings to Impala, promising to supply the body with independently verifiable physical shipments data on request.

In a statement, Katie Melua stated: "I've always been happy that my music is released on an independent label, and to have Impala recognise our work is truly thrilling."

Alison Wenham, chairman and chief executive of the Association of Independent Music (AIM) added: "The Impala Awards are to recognise, and to thank, the artists and the record companies who produce such great music. They help spread the word across Europe, and promote the grass roots of the indie sector as well as the international stars independent companies regularly produce."

Announcing the World premiere of two award-winning artists together on stage for what promises to be a magical night of music - Katie Melua joins world-famous tenor Plácido Domingo at the M.E.N Arena on Wednesday 2 May 2007.

Katie, who wowed M.E.N Arena audiences in January 2006, joins the Spanish tenor on stage at his only UK show of 2007 for a very special guest appearance. Katie will perform three of her best-known songs and duet with the maestro in this unique collaboration of classical and modern music.

Marking his first solo appearance in this country for over a decade, Placido Domingo, who rose to prominence as one of The Three Tenors - alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras - has been hailed in the international press as “The King of Opera” and “The greatest operatic artist of modern times”.

Tickets, priced £45, £65 & £95, are available by calling 0870 190 8000 or online at men.arena.com

Dramatico Entertainment is currently planning the re-release of Mike's solo albums - 'The Mike Batt Archive Series' - with a selection of double disc releases and definitive deluxe editions, as well as a new retrospctive collection:

The Abbey Road Sessions
Previously unreleased recordings of Mike's best known songs including 'Bright Eyes', 'A Winter's Tale', 'The Closest Thing To Crazy' and 'I Feel Like Buddy Holly', recorded at London's legendary Abbey Road Studios.

The Hunting Of The Snark
CD + DVD of the previously unreleased full length Royal Albert Hall live performance, starring Billy Connolly, Roger Daltrey, John Hurt, Midge Ure and more.

Zero Zero
CD + DVD of the previously unreleased full length 1982 television broadcast, starring Mike Batt and Julianne White.

Caravans - Original Soundtrack
Deluxe expanded CD edition of the motion picture soundtrack, now featuring full length 'Caravan Song' and Mike Batt commentary.

Waves + Six Days In Berlin
CD + CD Double Edition

Schizophonia + Tarot Suite
CD + CD Double Edition

Songs Of Love And War + Arabesque
CD + CD Double Edition

Today it was officially announced that Katie will win the Pop International Award at this year's Golden Camera Awards in Germany!

It is also officially announced that Katie is again nominated for the Echo for Best International Female Rock/Pop Artist (other nominees are Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado and Shakira).

The performance of 'Piece By Piece' from 'Bayerischer Filmpreis' is available on YouTube. Unfortunately it's been encoded in 4:3 ratio which squashes the footage somewhat, but we thought you'd like to see it. If we find a better link we'll let you know! Watch it here!

IFPI confirm Katie Melua as Europe’s highest selling European female artist in 2006

Today the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) confirmed Katie Melua as the highest selling European female artist throughout Europe in 2006. Since its release in September 2005, sales of Katie’s second album ‘Piece by Piece’ have passed the three million mark across the continent achieving triple platinum status.

What makes this achievement even more notable is that the record is released on a small independent label, Dramatico Entertainment. In fact, ‘Piece By Piece’ is the only independent record to have applied for and been awarded IFPI platinum status in Europe in 2006.

Speaking from Paris prior to Katie’s last concert date of 2006 Mike Batt, Chairman of Dramatico Entertainment, said “We are extremely proud to have helped Katie to this high level of achievement particularly in light of the independent structure of our company and the hard work and expertise that has been brought to bear by our fantastic independent distributors throughout Europe. Katie will hear about this tremendous achievement just before her sell-out concert at the Olympia in Paris, an appropriate venue for such an exciting announcement and a wonderful way to round off another superb year.”

The soundtrack is an orchestral score composed by the award winning Nigel Westlake (Babe) with additional music by Rachel Portman (Oliver Twist, Benny & Joon, Chocolat). The lush, romantic and beautiful score takes the listener on a journey through Beatrix Potter’s life, the creation of her much-loved characters, her personal turmoil and the beauty of the Cumbrian countryside (where the film is predominantly set).

For more information and a pre-order link, click here.

The film opens in the UK nationwide on 5th January 2007.

www.misspottermovie.co.uk

Katie Melua has made an exclusive podcast for The Times newspaper, in which she discusses her impressions of London as a child, thinking in English, her father's work as a surgeon and Robbie Williams. The podcast also features an acoustic version of Piece By Piece which is unavailable elsewhere.

You can download the podcast from The Times' website here.

It has been confirmed that Katie Melua will be performing at Michael Schumacher's Farewell Gala to celebrate his retirement from Formula One after 16 record breaking seasons at the top.

The Gala is hosted by Günther Jauch and will be televised on December 6th on RTL in Germany.

Tonight Katie Melua joins Terry Wogan and a host of stars for BBC's Children In Need night in Belfast. As well as performing her new single 'Shy Boy', Katie is among the guest telephone operatives. So if you call to pledge money for Children In Need, you might just find Katie on the end of the line!

Given the nature of live television the timings are subject to change, but Katie is scheduled to perform some time after 10pm, working the phones from 9pm.

It's a busy weekend as well, as Katie flies to Germany on Saturday for the Stefan Rob television show, followed by a return to Northern Ireland for My Kind Of Music on Radio Ulster.