November 5, 2002 — Avril Lavigne received a belated 18th birthday present with the news that "Complicated" (the debut single from her 3 million-selling debut album Let Go) has set a new BDS record for a female artist -- logging 16 weeks at #1 on the Adult Top 40 chart, surpassing Natalie Imbruglia's near four-year old record of 14 weeks (for "Torn"), it was announced today by Antonio "L.A." Reid, President and CEO, Arista Records.

At the same time, it was announced that Avril will headline the first major benefit date of her career on November 18th, the annual awards dinner for PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning), the New York City organization known for its flagship Principal For A Day program. Avril's set will kick off the gala for which Antonio "L.A." Reid and Erica Reid head this year's roster of co-chairs.

The awards dinner takes place two weeks after Avril's November 5th performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, at the star-studded celebrity event celebrating Teen People magazine's 4th annual "What's Next" issue. Avril, who will join Justin Timberlake, Mario, Dirty Vegas, Cam'ron and others that night, will appear on the issue's cover. Most recently, Avril has also put in cover girl duty on Rolling Stone's annual "Women In Rock" issue and the current edition of Entertainment Weekly (dated Nov. 1st); and was profiled in this week's "Friends" issue of TV Guide.

At last Thursday night's first annual MTV VMA Latin America live broadcast from Miami Beach, Avril received the Best New Artist International award in a competitive field that included Nelly Furtado, Gorillaz, Linkin Park, and System Of A Down.

As "Complicated" hangs tough at Adult Top 40 and the Billboard Hot 100 (where it spent 16 weeks in the top 10, including 12 weeks inside the top 5), the Let Go album's second single "Sk8er Boi" has just now entered the top 10 in its 8th week out. Radio has already picked up on the third single, "I'm With You," whose promo video will be shot in Los Angeles.