Panic Industry

In the Zone is the fourth studio album from American singer Britney Spears, released in late 2003. It debuted at number one in the United States and France and features three worldwide number-one hits in "Me Against the Music", "Toxic" and "Everytime". Spears supported the album with The Onyx Hotel Tour.

Spears' most sexual offering to date, In The Zone was also Britney's most musically diverse album, featuring producers such as R.Kelly, Bloodshy & Avant, and Moby and also, an increased artistic input by Spears herself compared to her other albums. After the release of the album the critics ignored "Toxic" and focused their attention on "Breathe on Me" and "Touch of My Hand". Both songs have lyrics that are sexually suggestive.

The album had a mild reception from critics. Stylus Magazine gave the album a D and even blamed her career choices saying, "Ultimately, In the Zone suffers greatly from Britney's uneasy transition from teen tart to sexually powerful woman.

Had Britney been in charge of her career direction instead of mercilessly prostituted by her management, she might have been able to produce something with some semblance of musical vision." The Guardian praised the albums melodies and her effort giving it 4 out of 5 stars and writing, "Unlike previous Britney albums, In the Zone has no filler and no shoddy cover versions, just 57 varieties of blue-chip hit-factory pop. There is southern hip-hop, deep house, Neptunes-style R&B, the ubiquitous Diwali beat and, most importantly, oodles of Madonna."

The album spawned the international number one and U.S. top ten hit single, "Toxic", which won Spears her first Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording.

Chart performance

In the Zone debuted at number-one in the United States selling over 609,000 copies in its first week- while impressive, it falls short of the 746,000 copies her previous release Britney sold when it bowed at number-one. "In the Zone" fell 1-3, its second week sales dipped 59% to 251,000 copies, giving the album a total of 860,000. In its third week on the tally it fell 3-7 . Although sales were down 40% to 150,000 copies, it was enough to bring Spears' total to just above the 1 million mark. After the release of "Toxic" the album sales increased once again. The album has sold 3 million copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan but it is listed at 2x platinum according to the RIAA. When it debuted at number-one, Spears broke her own record again by becoming the first female artist in SoundScan history to have her first four studio albums debut at number-one. (She previously set the record for her 2001 number-one album Britney). However, the album became her lowest-selling studio album to date in the United States. Despite the fact it was her least commercial successful album of original material, In the Zone had more success with singles in the US than its predecessor; "Toxic" (no. 9), "Everytime" (no. 15) and "Me Against the Music" (no. 35).

In Canada it debuted at number two and it is 3x platinum in that country. In Japan In the Zone debuted at number three selling 59,128 copies, earning platinum certification (250,000+ units) it has sold 405,000+ to date.

In April 2004, In the Zone was certified Platinum by the IFPI for shipments of one million copies inside Europe. The album debuted at number fourteen in the United Kingdom, but later re-entered the top 15 and peaked at number thirteen. And it has sold over 526,748 copies in the UK earning platinum certification. Also, It debuted at number-one in France and after spending sixty weeks inside the Top 200 the album was certified 2x gold selling over 290,000 copies. It is also Platinum in Australia despite only reaching a peak of number ten.

In Latin America, Spears proved to be successful with In the Zone, debuting at number-one in Mexico and Argentina, in Mexico it was certified Platinum by the AMPROFON for selling over 100,000 copies while in Argentina it was certified gold (sales over 20,000 copies).

Track listing

1. "Me Against the Music" (featuring Madonna) (Spears, Madonna, Stewart, Nikhereanye, Magnet, Nash, O'Brien) (Produced by Trixster, co-produced by Penelope Magnet) — 3:44
2. "(I Got That) Boom Boom" (featuring Ying Yang Twins) (Hamilton, Royal, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson) (Produced by Roy Hamilton) — 4:51
3. "Showdown" (Spears, Dennis, Karlsson, Winnberg, Jonback) (Produced by Bloodshy & Avant) — 3:17
4. "Breathe on Me" (Lee, Anderson, Greene) (Produced by Mark "Metro" Taylor) — 3:43
5. "Early Mornin'" (Spears, Moby, Stewart, Magnet) (Produced by Moby) — 3:45
6. "Toxic" (Dennis, Karlsson, Winnberg, Jonback) (Produced by Bloodshy & Avant) — 3:21
7. "Outrageous" (R. Kelly) (Produced by R. Kelly) — 3:21
8. "Touch of My Hand" (Spears, Harry, Muhammad, Soloman) (Produced by Jimmy Harry, co-produced by Shep Soloman) — 4:19
9. "The Hook Up" (Spears, Stewart, Nikhereanye, Magnet) (Produced by Trixster, co-produced by Penelope Magnet) — 3:54
10. "Shadow" (Spears, Christy, Spock, Edwards, Charlie Midnight) (Produced by The Matrix) — 3:45
11. "Brave New Girl" (Spears, Kierulf, Schwartz, Dioguardi) (Produced by Kierulf & Schwartz) — 3:30
12. "Everytime" (Spears, Stamatelatos) (Produced by Guy Sigsworth) — 3:53
13. "Me Against the Music (Rishi Rich's Desi Kulcha Remix)" (featuring Madonna) [Bonus Track] — 4:33

Bonus Tracks

14. "The Answer" [Bonus Track in the UK, Germany, Japan & Australia] (Sean Combs, Ryan Leslie) (Produced by P. Diddy) — 3:54
15. "Don't Hang Up" [Bonus Track in the UK, Japan & Australia] (Spears, Josh Schwartz, Brian Kierulf) (Produced by Kierulf & Schwartz) — 4:02

Charts and certification

Chart	Provider(s)	Peak position	Certification	Sales/ shipments
U.S. Billboard 200	Billboard	1	2x Platinum	3 million+
U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums		1
European Albums Chart	IFPI	1	Platinum	1 million+
Argentinian Albums Chart	CAPIF	1	2x platinum	80,000+
Australian Albums Chart	ARIA	10	Platinum	70,000
Austrian Albums Chart	Media Control Europe	10	Platinum	30,000+
Brazilian Albums Chart	ABPD	1	Gold	50,000+
Canadian Albums Chart	Nielsen SoundScan	2	3x Platinum	300,000+
French Albums Chart	SNEP/IFOP	1	2x gold	290,000+
German Albums Chart	Media Control	2	Gold	100,000+
Japanese Albums Chart	Oricon	3	Platinum	405,000+
Mexican Albums Chart	AMPROFON	1	Platinum	100,000+
New Zealand Albums Chart	RIANZ	25	Gold	7,500
Norwegian Albums Chart	VG Nett	11	Gold	20,000+
Swedish Albums Chart	GLF	8	Gold	20,000
Swiss Albums Chart	Media Control	6	Gold	20,000+
UK Albums Chart	BPI/The Official UK Charts Company	13	Platinum	526,748

Singles

• "Me Against the Music" became the first single from In the Zone, when Spears appeared with Madonna at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards and asked her to appear on the track. Co-written by Spears with production team, RedZone, "Me Against the Music" reached #1 in Australia and became Spears' biggest hit since "I'm a Slave 4 U" in the U.S., reaching No. 35 in the Billboard Hot 100, hit No. 2 in the UK Singles Charts, and went straight into the top 5 in many European countries. In the Philippines, it became the first single of 2004 to be number one.
• "Toxic" was produced by Swedish duo, Bloodshy & Avant, british songwriter, Cathy Dennis, co-wrote the electropop-infuenced second single. The track, complete with a futuristic music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, sold over 105,000 copies in the UK in its first week alone, as well as being huge in Europe. "Toxic" became Spears' biggest hit worldwide since "Oops!... I Did It Again," worldwide, hitting #1 yet again in Australia and going to No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and giving Britney her fourth UK No. 1 single. In the Philippines, the single hit number one for four weeks.
• "Everytime," the third single from In the Zone, showcased Spears at her most mature; a haunting piano-led ballad, with introspective, personal lyrics, written by Spears & produced by Guy Sigsworth, one half of Frou Frou. The song gave Spears her fifth No. 1 in Australia and the UK, released shortly after her sell-out The Onyx Hotel Tour, which hit Europe in May, and reached No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (it reached No. 7 on the U.S. download chart), selling steadily and propelling sales of "In the Zone" worldwide. It debuted at number three in the Philippines, before moving to top the chart the next week.
• "Outrageous" — written and produced by R. Kelly — it was contracted to be a single, so, Spears, having won the battles for the first and second singles, agreed that it would be the fourth single. Unfortunately, whilst shooting the video, she injured her knee on set, leaving the video incomplete (it can be found in her Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (DVD)). The track was still released in certain territories - it was a radio-only single in Australia, the U.S. and parts of Europe, charting at #1 in Australia, #79 in the U.S., and was also released in Japan, with a commercial single, backed with remixes from the likes of Junkie XL (famous for remixing an Elvis track and scoring a UK No. 1), Josh Harris and R. Kelly himself.

Awards

Awards ceremony	Award
2004
Billboard Awards	Best-Selling Dance Single of the Year (Me Against the Music)
Brasil Music Award	Best International Female Artist
Holland TMF Awards	Gridlock Award
MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Female Artist of the Year
Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards	Choice Song (Toxic)
Popstar Magazine	Popastic Video Right Now (Toxic)
Teen Choice Awards	Choice Single (Toxic)
TRL Awards	Gridlock Award
UK Ivor Novello Awards	Most Performed Work (Toxic)
2005
Golden Music Awards	Music Video of the Year (Toxic)
Grammy Awards	Best Dance Recording (Toxic)
Groovevolt Awards	Video of the Year (Toxic)
	Best Female Album
	Best Song Performance by a Female Artist (Everytime)
	Most Fashionable Artist

Personnel

• Vocals, Background vocals: Britney Spears
• Orchestra: Algozee, Tumbi
• Keyboards: Steve Anderson, DaCorna Boyz, Kendall D. Nesbitt
• Multi-instruments: Avant Arranger, Bloodshy, Moby
• Background vocals: B.U.D., Blackcell, Courtney Copeland, Kara Dioguardi, Roxanne Estrada, Emma Holmgren, Jennifer Karr, R. Kelly, Kyron Leslie, Penelope Magnet, Matrix, Emma Roads, Chyna Royal, Wizardz of Oz, Ying Yang Twins
• Banjo, Guitar: Roy Gartrell
• Background vocals, Multi-instruments: Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, Chris "Tricky" Stewart
• Guitar, Keyboards: Jimmy Harry, Brian Kierulf
• Guitar: Henrik Jonback, Donnie Lyle, Josh Schwartz
• Bass: Thomas Lindberg

Production

Producers: Britney Spears, Avant, Bloodshy, Jimmy Harry, R. Kelly, Brian Kierulf, Steve Lunt, Penelope Magnet, Matrix, Moby, Josh Schwartz, Guy Sigsworth, Shepard Soloman, Mark Taylor, Trixster Production Coordination: Vanessa Letocq Engineers: Avant, Bloodshy, Chris Fudurich, Andy Gallas, Abel Garibaldi, Brad Gilderman, Brian Kierulf, Sean Magee, Matrix, Sean McGhee, Ian Mereness, Moby, Pablo Munguia, Josh Schwartz, Mark "Spike" Stent, Rich Tapper, Mark Taylor, Brian "B Luv" Thomas Assistant Engineers: J.D. Andrew, Steve Bearsley, Tom Bender, Blackcell, Josh Copp, Cathy Dennis, Matt Furnidge, Rob Haggert, Vance Hornbuckle, Charles McCrorey, Jason Mlodzinski, Andrew Nast, Jonas Ostman, Jason Rankins, Tim Roberts, Rich Tapper, David Treahearn, Seth Waldmann, Nathan Wheeler, Jong Uk Yoon, Antony Zeller Digital Editing: Avant, Bloodshy, John Hanes, Brian "B Luv" Thomas, P-Dub Walton, Dan Yashiz Mixdown Producer: Serban Ghenea Mixing: Niklas Flyckt, Mick Guzauski, R. Kelly, Matrix, Sean McGhee, Mark "Spike" Stent, Mark Taylor Remixing: Rishi Rich Editing: Sean McGhee

Programming: Steve Anderson, Avant, Bloodshy, Abel Garibaldi, Jimmy Harry, Brian Kierulf, Ian Mereness, Moby, Chris "Tricky" Stewart Mastering: Tom Coyne Arrangers: Avant, Bloodshy, Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, Jimmy Harry, Steve Lunt, Penelope Magnet, Chris "Tricky" Stewart String Arrangements: Ed Alton, Janson & Janson Instrumentation: Guy Sigsworth Conductor: Janson & Janson Pro-Tools: Dug Hanes, John Hanes Vocal Producers: Penelope Magnet, Trixster Vocal Engineers: Brian Kierulf, Mark "Spike" Stent, Brian "B Luv" Thomas, Mike Tucker Vocal Editing: Brian Kierulf, Mike Tucker Vocal Arrangement: Penelope Magnet, Trixster Design: Jackie Murphy Photography: Patrick Demarchelier, Ranjit Stylists: Ray Brown, Lori Goldstein, Mary Alice Stephenson Hair Stylists: Laurentius, Stephanie Louise, Oribe Make-Up: Fran Cooper, Isabel, Stephanie Louise

References

1. Chart Data: Britney Spears. Mariah-Charts.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
2. Gavin Mueller (November 18, 2003). In The Zone Review. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
3. Dorian Lynskey (November 14, 2003). In The Zone Review. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.Sony Music Blog Staff (February 14, 2005). Britney Spears Wins Her First Grammy Award.... blog.sonymusic.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
4. Britney In Her 'Zone' Atop Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
5. Jay-Z Back Atop The Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
6. Keys Unlocks Second No. 1 Debut. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
7. Britney Coming Back 'Bigger And Better' In 2007. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
8. Recording Industry Association of America Recording Industry Association of America.
9. Britney Spears: Artist Chart History. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
10. Britney Spears: Charts & Awards. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
11. Canadian Certification (CRIA). Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
12. Japanese Sales Oricon.
13. Oricon Main Albums Chart. Oricon. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
14. European Certification (IFPI). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
15. UK Albums Chart (Search). Everyhit.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
16. MusicWeek. Subscription Required Retrieved on July 18, 2007
17. UK Certification (BPI). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
18. French Chart, Sales & Certification. FanOfMusic.Free.fr. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
19. Australian Certification (ARIA). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
20. Mexican Certification (AMPROFON). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas, A.C.. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
21. Argentinian Certification (CAPIF). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
22. European Albums Chart. Music.AllOfMp3.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
23. Austrian Certification (IFPI). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
24. Brazilian Certification (ABPD). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
25. German Certification (IFPI). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
26. New Zealand Albums Chart. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.

 

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