An exec at Universal Music has reportedly admitted that tabloid coverage of Amy Winehouse's troubled personal life helped her 2006 second album 'Back To Black' to be a worldwide hit in 2007 - it being the world's biggest selling album from a British artist last year. Given Winehouse's various personal problems she often wasn't available for much promotional work, but, her label says, massive media interest in those problems compensated for that fact, even in the tricky US market.
Universal Music International VP Hassan Choudhury is quoted thus: "There's no getting away from the fact all the coverage has kept Amy Winehouse's profile at the highest level. Everyone [at Universal] is extremely happy with the amount of records we've sold and a lot of it has been down to some amazing marketing opportunities in the market when the artist wasn't available".
As much previously reported, Winehouse is currently in rehab. It remains to be seen if she'll be well enough to perform at the Grammys later this month. She is due to play the US awards bash, where she is up for six awards.