SONY SHAKIRA SNUB SULK SETTLED

There's been a long-running dispute in America which has hit both Shakira's sales and image amongst the lucrative Latino market. During the launch of Fijacion Oral Volume One, somehow the promo schedule managed to neglect any visits to the Ritmo chain. Ritmo, as the main Latuno entertainment retailer, was stung by this apparent snub; Sony BMG muttered that it was a "scheduling conflict." Ritmo weren't buying that, and shortly after, it saw that its customers weren't buying Shakira - her albums were cleared off the shelves and the stores distributed fliers damning Shakira and Sony for not supporting the Latin community.

After a bunch of to-ing and fro-ing, a clamberdown has been organised:

"The scheduling conflict ... did not involve Shakira, whose label is responsible for scheduling decisions," read part of a joint statement from the two companies, issued June 13. "Sony BMG Norte and Ritmo Latino look forward to continuing their long-standing relationship."

The dispute hasn't done much to harm Shakira's sales overall, though - Fijacion Oral has more than doubled first week sales for a Spanish-language album.

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