Monday, November 29, 2010
Coyle: 'Cheryl will dictate Aloud reunion'
Nadine Coyle has revealed that Cheryl Cole will decide when Girls Aloud reform.
The 'Insatiable' star admitted that Cole's success away from the band means a reunion will ultimately be dictated by her.
"Cheryl's success is a point for all the rest of us to consider from our own points of view," she told i-D Magazine.
"We've got to be realistic about what has happened to Cheryl over the last couple of years."
Coyle also revealed that the money required to reform the band could affect their return, admitting that their hair budget alone went "through the roof".
She added: "The money that would need to be invested in it is another factor.
"Between the five of us the hair budget alone was enough to feed a small country. It was through the roof!
"I think we bought our hairdresser an entire extension on the back of her house on one album campaign. If she wasn’t driving a Bentley then she should have been."
Coyle's bandmate Nicola Roberts recently insisted that there would be no Girls Aloud record "anytime soon".
Source
Director David Lynch turns music man, releases two singles to iTunes
The film auteur with perhaps one of the most singular visions in the history of movie-making (splendor in the grass!) has now turned his attentions from cinema, dharma, and daily weather reports to music. Specifically, “modern blues,” according to an L.A. Times report.
“We’re working on a lot of things, and we hope to have an album soon,” Lynch says. “All of this to me is an experiment. We were calling it kind of a modern blues — music based on the blues. It’s led to all sorts of different things, but I really want to do a modern blues album.”
“There’s nothing I can say in terms of what the rules are, but there is a feel,” Lynch added. “It has to be anchored in something strong and pure, and it’s modern in that it’s joining with all the things you can do these days in ProTools.”
“The advancement in digital things means there’s a whole slew of possibilities,” he continued. “I love organic phenomena. I love the real, rough sound of blues. I love a heavy guitar and great, strong drums. Then there’s so many things that can be done to it that will modernize it.”
Lynch, who also collaborated on the Dark Night of the Soul project with Dangermouse and the late Sparklehorse, has signed to England’s Sunday Best label; he plans to release a full album, recorded with his longtime film engineer Dean Hurley. As of today, the tracks “Good Day Today” and “I Know” are available on iTunes. Sample the woozy electro ditty “Good Day” after the jump:
In the meantime, Lynch will continue to work behind the camera; he’s currently working on a documentary on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation.
Source
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Black Eyed Peas to Perform at Super Bowl
There's going to be a bit of pop culture injected into the Super Bowl Halftime Show for the first time in years, as the Black Eyed Peas will be the main performers during the big game.
It was announced on Thursday during the Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints game that Fergie, Will.i.Am and the rest of the BEP crew will rock the house on February 6 in Dallas. There's no word on what songs the Peas will perform, but it's easy to assume that 'I Gotta Feeling' will be in the mix.
The addition of BEP to the Super Bowl bucks the recent trend of featuring safer and older performers following the fallout of Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during 2004's Super Bowl. Looking to go the safer route, the Super Bowl has mostly settled for tamer artists of late. The last three performances, in reverse chronological order, have been: The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.
Something tells us that given the atmosphere, 'My Humps' might not make the cut.
Source
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Taylor Swift Announces Tour Dates
Taylor Swift announced today that she will tour the world in 2011 in support of her blockbuster Speak Now album, which shattered sales records with over a million copies sold in its first week of release.
Taylor is currently slated to play 87 shows in 19 countries spanning four continents on the TAYLOR SWIFT SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR 2011, which kicks off February 9th in Singapore.
The 2011 dates will include six stadium shows – Foxboro, MA’s Gillette Stadium, Detroit’s Ford Field, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, and Dallas’s Cowboys Stadium. Taylor’s 15-month, 107-date FEARLESS 2009 / 2010 Tour sold out arenas and stadiums in 88 cities in five countries.
Taylor will play shows throughout Asia and Europe during the first quarter of 2011, before kicking off her North American tour on May 27th in Omaha, Neb. SPEAK NOW Tour dates are planned for later in the year in Australia and New Zealand. The North American leg of the tour is sponsored by COVERGIRL®, and ticket prices start at $25.
The SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR 2011 is one of the most-anticipated musical experiences of the year, as Taylor’s live show is renowned for her incredibly high-energy theatrical presentation of graphics, sets and visual elements, all conceptualized by Taylor herself. During the course of her show, Taylor plays a variety of instruments and has multiple wardrobe changes. Each show, Taylor performs hit after hit from her three Big Machine Records albums, including the chart-topping “Mine,” “Love Story,” “You Belong With Me,” “Our Song,” and “Fifteen.”
“Swift’s fans don’t just believe in her savvy songwriting and gracious, magnetic stage presence. They trust her as a peer,” raved the Los Angeles Times. “And if the unerring pleasures of her set – and the crowd’s Beatles-sized reactions – were any indication, they’ll be trusting her for a long time.” The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic wrote: “Swift shoots to superstardom. Her two-hour set at the sold-out arena showed a level of creativity – and more important, sincerity - which many other acts don’t reach for decades, if ever. There is a new master of the stage in pop music moving quickly up the ladder.”
“I’m so excited to go back out on tour again in 2011!” says Taylor. “The FEARLESS Tour was so much fun and even more unforgettable than I ever imagined, and I can’t wait to get back out and play my new music from Speak Now! The fans have been so amazing, and I’m thrilled to play in new cities around the world and meet even more of my fans in 2011!”
The TAYLOR SWIFT SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR 2011 will include the following:
DATE CITY
February 9 Singapore
February 11 Seoul, South Korea
February 13 Osaka, Japan
February 16 & 17 Tokyo, Japan
February 19 Manila, Philippines
February 21 Hong Kong
March 6 Brussels, Belgium
March 7 Rotterdam, Holland
March 9 Oslo, Norway
March 12 Oberhausen, Germany
March 15 Milan, Italy
March 17 Paris, France
March 19 Madrid, Spain
March 22 Birmingham, UK
March 25 Belfast, Northern Ireland
March 27 Dublin, Ireland
March 29 Manchester, UK
March 30 London, UK
May 27 & 28 Omaha, Nebraska
May 29 Des Moines, Iowa
June 2 & 3 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
June 4 Orlando, Florida
June 7 Columbus, Ohio
June 8 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 11 Detroit, Michigan
June 14 & 15 St. Paul, Minnesota
June 18 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 21 Buffalo, New York
June 22 Hartford, Connecticut
June 25 Foxboro, Massachusetts
June 30 Greensboro, North Carolina
July 1 Knoxville, Tennessee
July 2 Louisville, Kentucky
July 8 Charlotte, North Carolina
July 9 & 10 Atlanta, Georgia
July 14 Montreal, Quebec
July 15 & 16 Toronto, Ontario
July 19 & 20 New York, New York
July 28 Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 29 Indianapolis, Indiana
July 30 Cleveland, Ohio
August 2 & 3 Washington, DC
August 6 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 9 & 10 Chicago, Illinois
August 13 Lexington, Kentucky
August 14 St. Louis, Missouri
August 18 & 19 Edmonton, Alberta
August 23 & 24 Los Angeles, California
September 1 & 2 San Jose, California
September 3 Sacramento, California
September 6 Portland, Oregon
September 7 Seattle, Washington
September 10 & 11 Vancouver, British Columbia
September 16 & 17 Nashville, Tennessee
September 21 Tulsa, Oklahoma
September 24 Kansas City, Missouri
September 27 Denver, Colorado
September 28 Salt Lake City, Utah
October 4 Little Rock, Arkansas
October 5 New Orleans, Louisiana
October 8 Dallas, Texas
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Estimates for Kanye, Nicki Minaj, My Chemical Romance, Ke$ha, etc.
Next weeks sales projections are in, and Kanye West is on track to top the charts once again. According to the industry insiders at hitsdailydouble.com, Mr. West’s critically-acclaimed new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is estimated to sell around 525,000 to 575,000 copies in its first week on shelves, based off the one-day sales figures. If true, these numbers will surpass Yeezy’s last disc, 808s and Heartbreak—which sold about 450,100 .
Nicki Minaj and Lloyd Banks are also set to impact The Billboard Top 200 next Wednesday (December 1). The Young Money Princess’s debut Pink Friday is projected to sell in the area of 375,000 to 425,000 while the G-Unit soldier’s The Hunger for More 2 is believed to move about 40,000 to 50,000 units.
Jay-Z’s The Hits Collection, Vol. 1 will also make it’s way onto to the charts with an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 in sales.
Stay tuned to XXLMag.com on Wednesday morning for the official Nielsen SoundScan numbers. —Elan Mancini
Another big debut will come from My Chemical Romance, which is eyeing 125-150,000 for “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.” Down notably from predecessor “The Black Parade,” the performance is still impressive given the band’s notable decline in buzz since that 2006 release.
Ne-Yo’s “Libra Scale” will open to at least 115-140,000, topping Ke$ha’s fellow newcomer “Cannibal.” The separate “Cannibal” EP will do 60-70,000, and the deluxe package should mean sales of her debut “Animal” also jump this week.
Source
Rihanna debuts at No.3 with "Loud"; makes Billboard history with "Only Girl (In the World)"
That Rihanna reign just won’t let up. The pop siren has lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving after scoring her career best on the charts this week.
The red-haired singer swoops in at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 207,000 copies sold of her fifth album Loud, earning her a career best in first-week sales and her fifth top 10 bow.
Meanwhile, RiRi claims her ninth No. 1 single with “Only Girl (In the World),” a feat that puts her in prestigious territory. With the accomplishment, the Bajan crooner becomes the only artist since 2000 to have as many chart-topping singles, besting Usher who has scored eight No. 1s since the start of the decade. Not only that, but “Only Girl” becomes her fourth No. 1 single this year, making her the first female and first overall artist since Usher to nab as many No. 1 tracks in a year, according to Billboard.
She celebrated by sharing her excitement on Twitter. “Only Girl is no. 1!!! HOLY FUCK!!! And thx to u guys, I’ve had the biggest first week of all my albums so far! #whosloud ???? We are bitches,” she wrote. “Congrats to RihannaNavy! We breakin our OWN records!!! 9 no.1′s baby…We got the #CenturyOnLockWho’s badder than yall??”
After holding down the top spot two weeks ago, her second single “What’s My Name?” drops 7-8 on the Hot 100, while the Drake-assisted collaboration earns Airplay Gainer for the fourth consecutive week.
Keeping Rihanna company on the Billboard 200 is Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who bows at No. 1 with 335,000 copies sold of her holiday album The Gift, while Nelly’s 5.0 enters at No. 10 with 63,000 units.
Source
Two weeks after topping the Billboard Hot 100 with "What's My Name?" (featuring Drake), Rihanna will return to No. 1 on the chart released Thursday (Nov. 25) with "Only Girl (In the World)," the debut single from her new album, "Loud."
It's the first time in Hot 100 history that an album's debut single reaches No. 1 after the second single does. "What's My Name" dips 7-8 on the Hot 100, though it does take the Airplay Gainer for a fourth straight week. "Loud, meanwhile, debuts at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
"Only Girl" is Rihanna's fourth single to ascend to No. 1 in 2010, making her the first female, and first artist overall since Usher in 2004, to hit the top that many times in a single calendar year. Rihanna also moves to the forefront for most No. 1s in the millennium (since 2000), as "Only Girl" is her ninth track to lead the list. She had been tied with Usher for the past two weeks, with eight chart-toppers since 2000.
The latest "Glee" episode, titled "The Substitute," brings only a pair of titles by the cast onto the Hot 100, each one featuring guest vocals by Gwyneth Paltrow. Coming in at No. 11 as the Hot Shot Debut is the "Glee" Cast's version of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You," while "Singing in the Rain/Umbrella" debuts at No. 18.
After topping Digital Songs for the first time last week with its cover of "Teenage Dream," the ensemble goes for back-to back No. 1s, as "Forget You" debuts atop that chart with 192,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Rain/Umbrella" shifts 140,000, while Green's own "F**k You (Forget You)" is lifted into the top 10 of the Hot 100 for the first time, on the wings of the "Glee" Cast cover. The original recording, including its version with decidedly un-"Glee"-like language, is the top Digital Gainer, moving 191,000 (up 94%), a week after its previous best sale frame (98,000). The explicit version makes up 68% of the title's sales for this week.
Elsewhere in the Hot 100 top 10, P!nk celebrates the holiday week with a 4-2 lift for "Raise Your Glass," while Far*East Movement seems to have exhausted its No. 1 run, dropping to No. 3 after three non-consecutive weeks.
Ke$ha rebounds 6-4 with "We R Who We R," which debuted at No. 1 three weeks ago due to a huge opening week sales frame. Nelly's "Just a Dream" spends an eighth consecutive week in the top five, holding at No. 5.
Katy Perry streaks to No. 6 with "Firework," with the track showing a steady upward trajectory in its five weeks on the list (57-29-10-9-6). Bruno Mars dips 3-7 with "Just The Way You Are," while follow-up single "Grenade" explodes 30-17, improving more than 50% in both sales (up 58% to 100,000 downloads) and audience (up 51% to 37.1 million impressions). Rounding out the top 10 is Trey Songz, who holds onto the anchor spot for a second week.
Dr. Dre makes his first chart appearance as a lead act in more than 10 years, as "Kush," featuring Snoop Dogg & Akon debuts at No. 48. The song moved 45,000 during a partial week of sales. The last time the rap icon appeared on the list with his own track was when "The Next Episode" peaked at No. 23 in July 2000.
Akon also assists another chart legend this week, aiding Michael Jackson on the King of Pop's 48th Hot 100 hit, "Hold My Hand," which debuts at No. 84. Akon also appeared on Jackson's last charting effort, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008," which peaked at No. 81 in February of that year. Jackson's new track sold 19,000 in less than three days of availability as it reached digital retailers on Friday, Nov. 19.
Source
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Beatles on iTunes: 2 Million Songs Sold in a Week
A week after Apple's history-making announcement that the Beatles LP catalog would now be available digitally, iTunes announced Tuesday the first week numbers and they're, not surprisingly, impressive.
The Fab Four moved more than 450,000 full-length albums in that time and another two million songs, according to a rep for iTunes. The most popular download? "Here Comes the Sun," which was written by George Harrison for the Beatles' seminal 1969 album Abbey Road, which also landed at No. 6 on the iTunes album charts, wedged between Keith Urban's Get Closer at No. 5 and Taylor Swift's Speak Now at No. 7.
The specially-packaged Beatles Box Set, which includes the worldwide iTunes exclusive Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964, the band's first ever U.S, show, also just made the top 10.
“It’s fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around," Paul McCartney said in the original Beatles on iTunes announcement from Nov. 16. Indeed, fans are still showing their love of the Beatles with their wallets.
Source
Kanye West To Perform 'Lost In The World' At Thanksgiving Day Parade
Kanye West will perform a My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy track when he makes his appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.
Reps for the event tell MTV News that the rapper, whose album was released on Monday, is set to perform "Lost in the World," a rather gloomy track that also features indie rockers Bon Iver. (No word on whether the band will join him in front of New York City's Macy's Herald Square for the show.)
MTV News has also learned that Kanye will travel along the parade route on the New York Daily News Big Apple float. "The Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and of course Macy's Herald Square, share the landscape with New York's signature taxi cabs and subway stations on the New York Daily News Big Apple float. With a giant, 30-foot inflatable apple at its core, the float perfectly represents the frenzied and bustling city," the reps added.
West recently spoke to MTV News about "Lost in the World," explaining, "That was the last song on the album and emotionally it just fit the crescendo of everything that I was saying and what I wanted to say to this girl.
"And it's also my favorite eight bars that I've ever written in my life. I think it's one of the greatest pieces of writing, that verse: 'You're my devil, you're my angel/ You're my heaven, you're my hell/ You're my now, you're my forever/ You're my freedom, you're my jail/ You're my lies, you're my proof/ You're my war, you're my truce,' and the last line is, 'You're my stress, you're my masseuse.' "
Other parade performers include Arlo Guthrie, R&B legend Gladys Knight, boy band Big Time Rush and singer Victoria Justice, Jessica Simpson, India.Arie, Keri Hilson, Miranda Cosgrove and casts of the Broadway shows "American Idiot," ''Elf," ''Memphis" and "Million Dollar Quartet."
Source
Lady Gaga reveals new lyrics to "Born This Way"
Occurs at 6:21.
"Tonight I will return all the fame and riches earned, with you I'd watch them all be burned"
T.I., Christina Aguilera Collabo Is 'Amazing,' Alex Da Kid Says
Producer Alex Da Kid might be relatively new to the industry, but the British hitmaker has already proven that he can strike gold when bringing together artists of different musical genres. With production credits on summertime scorchers like "Airplanes" (B.o.B and Hayley Williams) and "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem and Rihanna), the 27-year-old music mind reveals he's now trying his hand with another duo: T.I. and Christina Aguilera.
While on the American Music Awards red carpet, Kid spoke to MTV News about "Castle Walls," the track he produced for the recently incarcerated rapper's forthcoming album, which features the pop star. Not only did the producer reveal that the song is set to be the next single off Tip's No Mercy, but he also gushed about how the song will grab a variety of listeners.
"It's going to be T.I.'s next single," he told MTV News about the collabo. "I love it. I think it's amazing. It's my sound, just kind of an evolution of that. I think it'll cater to a lot of different people."
A reported snippet of the track minus T.I. surfaced on the Internet a few weeks ago and finds Aguilera gently singing over a steady, mellow beat about the downfalls of loneliness: "Everyone thinks that I have it all/ But it's so empty living behind these castle walls (These castle walls)/ If I should tumble if I should fall/ Would anyone hear me screaming behind these castle walls?/ There's no one here at all, behind these castle walls."
"Castle Walls" isn't the only star-studded effort on the MC's new album. No Mercy will also feature appearances from Eminem, Kanye West, Chris Brown and The-Dream. The ATL rapper's collaboration with Em, "All She Wrote," leaked online last Tuesday.
Source
Monday, November 22, 2010
Nicki Minaj and Kanye West, Taylor Swift and Eminem go head to head
KANYE AND NICKI BATTLE: Kanye West’s critically acclaimed Roc-A-Fella/IDJ album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and touted newcomer Nicki Minaj’s long-awaited Cash Money/Universal Motown debut, Pink Friday, both hit the street today and should duke it out for #1 on the HITS chart a week from tomorrow, with totals that could have a “4” in front of it. Stay tuned as these two R&B giants go for the roses.
EMINEM VS. SWIFT: Will this year’s top–selling album be Eminem’s Recovery, which has led pretty much since its release earlier year, or Taylor Swift’s Speak Up, now in its fourth week, coming up strong like Zenyatta in the home stretch? Recovery is poised to go over 3 million this week, selling between 30-35k per week, while Swift’s total will approach 1.7 million with another 155k over the past seven days. With six chart weeks left, Swift will have to make up 1.3 million to catch the rapper, meaning she will have to outsell Eminem by an average of 225k per week through the rest of the year, which means it should be a real race to the wire.
Source
NKOTBSB Tour Dates Announced!
You've all been waiting for them... More NKOTBSB 2011 tour dates announced right here!
The Toronto show on JUNE 9 and the Chicago show on JUNE 17 are now SOLD OUT! Second shows for Toronto and Chicago have been added to meet overwhelming demand. Tickets to all other shows are selling out fast!
CURRENT LIST OF SHOW DATES (As of November 22, 2010)
THU 2-JUN
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 12pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
FRI 3-JUN
Washington, DC
Verizon Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 12pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3
SAT 4-JUN
Boston, MA
TD Garden
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 1pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3
SUN 5-JUN
Philadelphia, PA
Wells Fargo Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3
TUE 7-JUN
Montreal, QC
Bell Centre
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD
WED 8-JUN (Previously Announced)
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Center
ON SALE NOW
THU 9-JUN (Previously Announced)
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Center
SOLD OUT! Second show added to meet overwhelming demand!
SAT 11-JUN (Previously Announced)
Uniondale, NY
Nassau Coliseum
ON SALE NOW
SUN 12-JUN (Previously Announced)
East Rutherford, NJ
Izod Center
ON SALE NOW
WED 15-JUN
Pittsburgh, PA
Consol Energy Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 1pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
THU 16-JUN
Detroit, MI
The Palace of Auburn Hills
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
FRI 17-JUN (Previously Announced)
Chicago, IL
United Center
SOLD OUT! Second show added to meet overwhelming demand!
SAT 18-JUN
Chicago, IL
United Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD
TUE 21-JUN
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD
WED 22-JUN
Atlanta, GA
Philips Arena
ON-SALE 12pm EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3
FRI 24-JUN
Lafayette, LA
Cajundome
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 6pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
SAT 25-JUN
Houston, TX
Toyota Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
SUN 26-JUN
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
THU 30-JUN
Phoenix, AZ
US Airways Center
ON-SALE 10am MST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD
FRI 1-JUL (Previously Announced)
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center
ON SALE NOW
SAT 2-JUL
San Jose, CA
HP Pavilion
ON-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 18
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 11
SUN 3-JUL
Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Events Center
ON-SALE 12pm PST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm PST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
FRI 8-JUL
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma Dome
ON-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm PST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8
SAT 9-JUL
Vancouver, BC
Rogers Arena
ON-SALE 10am PST MONDAY, DEC 13
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD
Source
Chris Brown & Lady GaGa Snubbed At 2010 AMA?
It looks like the American Music Awards didn’t need an interruption from Kanye West to generate a scandal. It is being reported that both Chris Brown and Lady GaGa were snubbed at last evening’s event and not given their trophies because of their failure to attend the ceremony.
According to Neon Limelight, Brown’s award for ‘Best R&B/Soul Male’ was given to Usher instead, although his name was clearly written on the prompter as the winner. Furthermore, GaGa’s manager, reportedly Troy Carter, claimed that Justin Bieber was awarded her title of ‘Artist of the Year’.
Interestingly, during Usher’s peculiar acceptance speech after collecting trophy for ‘Best R&B/Soul Male’ he made sure to highlight that Brown was “home”. Check out all the details below:
Neon Limelight discusses Brown’s snug (read from bottom to top):
GaGa’s manager alleged direct message to her friend Israel Hernandez:
If this is indeed true then it simply another example of the industry politics that occur behind the scenes. All of these shows (including the Grammy Awards) are riddled with conflict and the rightful winners of these trophies are very rarely awarded. Kanye West wasn’t joking when he through his tantrum at last year’s MTV VMA.
Source
Rihanna Breaks Pop Songs No. 1 Record
Rihanna rewrites the mark for most No. 1s in the 18-year history of Billboard's Pop Songs radio airplay chart, as "Only Girl (In the World)" rises 2-1.
The song is Rihanna's seventh Pop Songs leader, pushing the singer - and 2010 American Music Award winner - past Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga, each with six.
"Only Girl (In the World)" introduces Rihanna's fifth studio album, "Loud," which is expected to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 to be refreshed, along with all charts, Thursday (Nov. 25) on Billboard.com. The song has reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up "What's My Name?," featuring Drake, topped the Hot 100 two weeks ago.
Here is a look at the seven songs that have propelled Rihanna into the lead for most Pop Songs No. 1s since the Nielsen BDS-based list launched the week of Oct. 3, 1992:
"SOS"
Date Reached No. 1: May 13, 2006
Weeks at No. 1: one
"Take a Bow"
Date Reached No. 1: July 5, 2008
Weeks at No. 1: three
"Disturbia"
Date Reached No. 1: Oct. 4, 2008
Weeks at No. 1: three
"Live Your Life" (T.I. featuring Rihanna)
Date Reached No. 1: Dec. 27, 2008
Weeks at No. 1: two
"Rude Boy"
Date Reached No. 1: May 8, 2010
Weeks at No. 1: two
"Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
Date Reached No. 1: Aug. 21, 2010
Weeks at No. 1: two
"Only Girl (In the World)"
Date Reached No. 1: Dec. 4, 2010
Weeks at No. 1: one (to-date)
Source
Aguilera's 'Bionic' to be reissued?
Christina Aguilera's latest album Bionic could be reissued, reports suggest.
The singer's label is said to be considering re-releasing the record, which has sold less than half-a-million copies worldwide, to coincide with promoting her debut movie role in Burlesque.
Discussing Aguilera's cancelled summer tour, RCA Vice President Scott Seviour told Billboard: "It's not like the music industry, where the talent comes out two weeks before the album. They started at the end of July.
"Burlesque ideally gives us the opportunity to remarket Bionic. "
Aguilera added: "I knew going into Burlesque that it would intertwine with Bionic, but I also knew that I'd get to a point where regardless of what was happening with my record I'd have to turn my attention to the movie."
"I've basically put everything in my life on hold for the movie."
The singer performed the film's title track at last night's American Music Awards.
Source
Muse Insist They're 'Happy' With 'Twilight' Fanbase
Muse's victory in the Favorite Alternative Rock Artist category at Sunday night's 2010 American Music Awards felt like the crown jewel in what has been a pretty incredible few years for the band.
Their latest album, 2009's The Resistance, has sold millions of copies around the world, scored them a handful of hit singles, allowed them to sell out concerts on four different continents and perform at a number of high-profile television events. A bulk of that success is because of Muse's participation on the soundtracks of "The Twilight Saga" movies (Muse are "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer's favorite band). Their "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)," for one, was the lead single from the soundtrack to last summer's "Twilight Saga: Eclipse."
But in an interview with BBC's Radio 1 back in July, Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme expressed some trepidation about the band's involvement.
"I'm not sure how cool it is to be on those kind of things, but sometimes you've just got to get your music out there in different ways," he said. "You have to take every opportunity you get, and sometimes you have to sell your soul."
When asked on Sunday about their "Twilight" stance, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy clarified the group's position. "Loads of young fans come to our gigs now who say, 'We heard that song from that film,' " he told MTV News' Tim Kash after the AMAs. "And that's great. We're happy with that."
Bellamy also said that he's fine with the vampire flicks. "The first one was pretty good," he told Kash. "The second one I only saw a bit of it. A guy kept taking his shirt off and showing his muscles, which was getting a little cheesy. The third one was pretty good."
Muse later told Kash that they'll remain on tour for the time being — they have dates in Australia coming up — and will then take the bulk of 2011 off for a little rest and recovery from the whirlwind that hasn't stopped since they dropped The Resistance. But they hope to be working on new music by the end of the year for release some time in 2012. Of 2010, Bellamy said, "It's been one of the best years for the band."
Source
Robyn Announces North American Tour
Robyn has been on the road non-stop since her Body Talk, Pt. 1 mini album came out in June and she'll stay touring this winter all across North America. The new dates are in support of her Body Talk non-mini album, which is out today in the U.S. via Cherrytree. Robyn shows often feature dancing and fun, so check her out if you're into that sort of thing.
The Swedish singer is set to appear on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" this Wednesday, November 24, too. Unfortunately, she has canceled her appearances at Australia's Stereosonic Festival in late November/early January.
Click on for all upcoming Robyn dates:
Robyn:
11-23 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
11-27 Sydney, Australia - Showgrounds (Stereosonic Festival)
11-28 Perth, Australia - Claremont Showgrounds (Stereosonic Festival)
12-04 Melbourne, Australia - Showgrounds (Stereosonic Festival)
12-04 Brisbane, Australia - RNA Showgrounds (Stereosonic Festival)
12-14 Stockholm, Sweden - Berns
12-17 Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgarn
12-18 Malmo, Sweden - Slaghuset
01-26 Toronto, Ontario - The Sound Academy
01-27 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
01-28 Quebec City, Quebec - Imperial Theatre
01-29 Portland, ME - State Theater
01-31 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
02-01 Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
02-03 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
02-04 Boston, MA - House of Blues
02-05 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
02-07 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
02-08 Columbus, OH - The LC Pavilion
02-09 Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
02-11 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
02-12 Milwaukee, WI - Rave Ballroom
02-13 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
02-17 Austin, TX - ACL Live
02-18 Dallas, TX - South Side Music Hall
02-19 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
03-03 London, England - The Roundhouse
03-07 Frankfurt, Germany - Mousonturm
03-09 Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
03-11 Munich, Germany - Muffat Halle
03-12 Berlin, Germany - Astra
Source
Sunday, November 21, 2010
AMAs 2010 Winners
Artist of the Year
* Justin Bieber
* Eminem
* Kesha
* Lady Gaga
* Katy Perry
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist
* Justin Bieber
* Lady Antebellum
* Mike Posner
* Travie McCoy
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
* Justin Bieber
* Eminem
* Usher
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
* Ke$ha
* Lady Gaga
* Katy Perry
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
* The Black Eyed Peas
* Lady Antebellum
* Train
Favorite Pop/Rock Album
* My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
* Recovery – Eminem
* Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Favorite Country Male Artist
* Jason Aldean
* Luke Bryan
* Brad Paisley
Favorite Country Female Artist
* Miranda Lambert
* Taylor Swift
* Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group
* Lady Antebellum
* Rascal Flatts
* Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
* Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
* Play On – Carrie Underwood
* Wide Open – Jason Aldean
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist
* B.o.B
* Drake
* Eminem
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
* B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
* Recovery – Eminem
* Thank Me Later – Drake
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist
* Chris Brown
* Trey Songz
* Usher
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
* Alicia Keys
* Rihanna
* Sade
Favorite Soul/R&B Album
* The Element of Freedom – Alicia Keys
* Raymond v. Raymond – Usher
* Soldier of Love – Sade
Favorite Soundtrack
* Iron Man 2 – AC/DC
* Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers – Glee Cast
* The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Various artists
Favorite Alternative Artist
* Muse
* Phoenix
* Vampire Weekend
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
* Lady Antebellum
* Michael Bublé
* Train
Favorite Latin Artist
* Daddy Yankee
* Enrique Iglesias
* Shakira
Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
* Casting Crowns
* MercyMe
* TobyMac
* Justin Bieber
* Eminem
* Kesha
* Lady Gaga
* Katy Perry
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist
* Justin Bieber
* Lady Antebellum
* Mike Posner
* Travie McCoy
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
* Justin Bieber
* Eminem
* Usher
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
* Ke$ha
* Lady Gaga
* Katy Perry
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
* The Black Eyed Peas
* Lady Antebellum
* Train
Favorite Pop/Rock Album
* My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
* Recovery – Eminem
* Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Favorite Country Male Artist
* Jason Aldean
* Luke Bryan
* Brad Paisley
Favorite Country Female Artist
* Miranda Lambert
* Taylor Swift
* Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group
* Lady Antebellum
* Rascal Flatts
* Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
* Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
* Play On – Carrie Underwood
* Wide Open – Jason Aldean
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist
* B.o.B
* Drake
* Eminem
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
* B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
* Recovery – Eminem
* Thank Me Later – Drake
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist
* Chris Brown
* Trey Songz
* Usher
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
* Alicia Keys
* Rihanna
* Sade
Favorite Soul/R&B Album
* The Element of Freedom – Alicia Keys
* Raymond v. Raymond – Usher
* Soldier of Love – Sade
Favorite Soundtrack
* Iron Man 2 – AC/DC
* Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers – Glee Cast
* The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Various artists
Favorite Alternative Artist
* Muse
* Phoenix
* Vampire Weekend
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
* Lady Antebellum
* Michael Bublé
* Train
Favorite Latin Artist
* Daddy Yankee
* Enrique Iglesias
* Shakira
Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
* Casting Crowns
* MercyMe
* TobyMac
Akon vows to never release any more Michael Jackson tracks
Whether you like it or not, Michael Jackson‘s first of many posthumous albums, Michael, is just weeks away from release. Earlier this week, “Hold My Hand,” produced by and featuring Akon, hit the Net as its official single. Even though he let this track out of his vault, don’t expect Akon to release any more M.J. collabs ever again. As he tells MTV in a recent interview, the only reason “Hold My Hand” is featured on Michael is that it’s actually a finished track.
“‘Hold My Hand’ was one of the records that was actually fully complete,” Akon says. “The rest of the ideas aren’t fully complete. They’re just ideas, concepts, and harmonies which the world will probably never see, because I would never put it out unfinished. So I might just burn it after this interview… We’ve done plenty of records outside of this. But they were just incomplete.” ‘Kon’s sentiment is similar is the Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am, who refuses to release any of the work he and Jackson did during the latter years of his life.
Michael is reportedly mostly comprised of several unfinished and scrapped songs from prior albums. Are you looking forward to the album?
Source
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Rihanna and Christina Aguilera talk about AMA performances
Rihanna is set to prove she's the only girl in the world when she takes the stage at the American Music Awards on Sunday. The Loud singer will be the show's opening act and says that despite some recent big awards-show performances, Ã la this month's MTV Europe Music Awards, this one will be even more epic.
"We're actually performing at the AMAs. We're actually opening up the show, which is a lot of pressure," she told MTV News about the performance. "But I love a challenge and I can't wait."
Rihanna hinted to us that she might be singing the Loud track "Cheers (Drink to That)," but didn't confirm the selection. She did, however, admit to being nervous about all of the airtime she's been given.
"They gave me nine minutes to do whatever I want and I can't wait," she shared. "That's a long time on an awards show, but it's going to be exciting. I can't wait. I can't wait to do it. I really can't."
The executives behind the AMAs are equally thrilled about Rih's upcoming performance. "We could not be more excited to officially announce one of pop music's biggest stars to open the celebration at the AMAs," AMA producer Larry Klein said in a statement. "Be sure to tune in so you don't miss this surely memorable moment."
In addition to being the show's opener, Rihanna is also nominated for Favorite Female Artist along with Alicia Keys and Sade. Other big performers include Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block and Christina Aguilera, who'll perform a number from her upcoming movie, "Burlesque."
The American Music Awards are known for their high-octane performances, and this year is no exception, with Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Kid Rock, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Pink, Usher, Ne-Yo, Diddy and more set to hit the stage.
Christina Aguilera will also be performing, doing a number from her upcoming movie "Burlesque." When MTV News caught up with the Grammy winner/ movie newbie recently, while doing press with her hunky "Burlesque" co-star Cam Gigandet, we asked her what fans can expect from her AMA performance.
"It's going to be fantastic," she said. "And it will give you a fitting little look inside the movie."
Aguilera said her saucy, burlesque-style dancing will set her performance apart from past appearances.
"It will be another very new challenge for me," Aguilera admitted. "My legs have been incredibly sore as I stepped into the role of Ali for this." In the film, Aguilera plays a small-town girl with big dreams — Ali — who stumbles on a burlesque club owned by the feisty Tess (Cher).
Aguilera added that, while re-learning the dance routines was grueling, the choreography is amazing. "You're going to get quite the show," she promised. "Quite the spectacle."
While Aguilera is new to the world of acting, Cher told MTV News that the pop star can dish it out with the best of them. "The scenes that she and I had together, I really enjoyed, and I really believe that she's got definite chops," she said. "We worked well together. I enjoyed all of it, and she was toe-to-toe with me the whole time."
Source 1/Source 2
Full List of Samples in Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
01 Mike Oldfield – “In High Places” (Dark Fantasy)
02 The Turtles – “You Showed Me” (Gorgeous)
03 Cold Grits – “It’s Your Thing” (Power)
04 King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man” (Power)
05 Continent No. 6 – “Afromerica” (Power)
06 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – “You” (So Appalled)
07 Smokey Robinson – ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (Devil In A New Dress)
08 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – “The Basment” (Runaway)
09 The Mojo Men – “She’s My Baby” (Hell Of A Life)
10 Black Sabbath – “Iron Man” (Hell Of A Life)
11 Aphex Twin – “Avril 14th” (Blame Game)
12 Bon Iver – “Woods” (Lost In The World)
13 Manu Dibango – “Soul Makossa” (Lost In The World)
14 Lyn Collins – “Think” (Lost In The World)
15 Gil-Scott Heron – “Comment #1″ (Lost In The World)
16 Backyard Heavies – “Expo ’83″ (Runaway)
17 Tony Joe White – “Stud-Spider” (Hell Of A Life)
Source
02 The Turtles – “You Showed Me” (Gorgeous)
03 Cold Grits – “It’s Your Thing” (Power)
04 King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man” (Power)
05 Continent No. 6 – “Afromerica” (Power)
06 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – “You” (So Appalled)
07 Smokey Robinson – ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (Devil In A New Dress)
08 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – “The Basment” (Runaway)
09 The Mojo Men – “She’s My Baby” (Hell Of A Life)
10 Black Sabbath – “Iron Man” (Hell Of A Life)
11 Aphex Twin – “Avril 14th” (Blame Game)
12 Bon Iver – “Woods” (Lost In The World)
13 Manu Dibango – “Soul Makossa” (Lost In The World)
14 Lyn Collins – “Think” (Lost In The World)
15 Gil-Scott Heron – “Comment #1″ (Lost In The World)
16 Backyard Heavies – “Expo ’83″ (Runaway)
17 Tony Joe White – “Stud-Spider” (Hell Of A Life)
Source
Friday, November 19, 2010
Janet Jackson Announces 2011 Plans, Asks Fans for Questions
In late 2009, Janet Jackson released her 34-track hits collection 'Number Ones,' but kept busy in 2010 by penning her first book, 'True You,' and appearing in two Tyler Perry films -- 'For Colored Girls' and 'Why Did I Get Married Too?' -- the latter which spawned her 35th hit 'Nothing.' All that time away from touring has led Janet to miss her fans much and make plans for her biggest escapade yet ... but there's a catch. The icon wants her fans to pick the 35 cities for her "largest ever world tour" in 2011 behind 'Number Ones.' Fans can vote and map out the schedule at JanetJackson.com.
On Tuesday, Nov. 30, we'll post an exclusive Q&A with Ms. Jackson featuring questions submitted by her loyal followers. Fans are encouraged to submit questions about her recent turn in movies, book and music to @theboomboxblog on Twitter and The BoomBox on Facebook, of which fifteen will be chosen. Janet reveals more details in the video below.
For all Janet news, check out her official website, Facebook and Twitter. 'Number Ones' is available now at all online retailers and and preorder her book 'True You' here.
Source
Randy Jackson: New MJ vocals are 'fake'
Randy Jackson has insisted that several tracks on Michael Jackson's new album do not feature his vocals.
The late singer's brother claims that a number of new songs on the album are not sung by Jackson, and admits he was immediately "suspicious" of the project when music bosses banned family members from visiting the studio while the tracks were completed.
In a series of posts on his Twitter page, he said: "Me and my nephew were the first to say that it wasn't his voice on some of the tracks. The family and the executors of the Estate, Branca and McClain, are not on the same page.
"I became suspicious about the album when I heard [that] armed guards were involved. Since my brother's passing, John McClain insisted that no family members were allowed at his studio where the project was being completed."
He continued: "My first thought was, 'What are they trying to hide?' Teddy Riley (producer) was brought in just to mix and insisted on switching studios, at which [point] he called me to come down and hear my brother's music.
"I heard the music and I immediately said it wasn't his voice. Some of the songs are him, and some aren't. I would bet my life on that."
Jackson also insisted that music bosses were being "harsh" and "more concerned about making money off his death".
He added: "They could care less about why and how he died, or maybe they already know."
Michael Jackson's posthumous album Michael is released on December 14.
Source
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The 15 Beatles Songs That Charted On iTunes Today
Could the Beatles be Ke$ha for a day after the iTunes announcement? Well, no. As of 5pm EST today the top charting Beatles song on the iTunes daily Top 200 comes in at #75, leaving Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and the Black Eyed Peas safely in the top three. The chart had a couple songs on there twice (for the same version, from the same release), so it might be a little off. But it gives you a small idea of how all of their songs would have have performed as singles — for instance, “Something” was the Harrison single from Abbey Road, not “Here Comes The Sun.” Here’s the list:
1 “Here Comes The Sun” (75)
2 “Let It Be” (77)
3 “Black Bird” (94)
4 “In My Life” (103)
5 “Come Together” (118)
6 “With A Little Help From My Friends” (122)
7 “Hey Jude” (142)
8 “Twist And Shout” (151)
9 “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (168)
10 “I Saw Her Standing There” (174)
11 “Eleanor Rigby” (176)
12 “Yesterday” (185)
13 “A Day In The Life” (191)
14 “Help!” (196)
15 “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (197)
Source
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Beatles climb iTunes charts after catalog debuts
The Beatles soared up the iTunes record charts on Tuesday, with five of their classic albums entering the Top 20 less than 24 hours after the band's catalog was released for the first time on the world's No.1 digital retailer.
"Abbey Road" was leading the pack on Tuesday evening, with "The White Album" and "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" also proving the most popular Beatles album downloads on Apple's iTunes store. The special digital "Beatles Box Set", priced at $149 was also climbing up Top 20 along with the "Blue Album" of greatest hits.
On the U.S. iTunes singles charts, "Here Comes the Sun", "Let it Be" and "Blackbird" were among six Beatles singles moving steadily up the top 100 downloads, according to real-time data on the iTunes website.
Detailed figures on the numbers of U.S. downloads will be available next week from chart tracker Nielsen Soundscan.
Apple's iTunes store on Tuesday released 13 of the albums made famous more than 40 years ago by the Fab Four, ending years of fruitless negotiations between Apple founder Steve Jobs, the Beatles management company Apple Corps, and record label EMI.
Paul McCartney said he it was "fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around."
Drummer Ringo Starr said he was "particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes" and John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono said it was an appropriate move in what would have been Lennon's 70th birthday year.
In London, the Official Charts Company said it was certain that "their music will make a big impact" on the official UK singles charts, starting on Sunday when weekly sales and download figures are released.
According to Apple Corps, the band had sold more than 600 million records, tapes and CDs of its 1960s songs before Tuesday's iTunes releases.
Source
Monday, November 15, 2010
Apple Finally Snares Beatles
Steve Jobs is nearing the end of his long and winding pursuit of the Beatles catalog.
Apple Inc. is preparing to disclose that its iTunes store will soon start carrying music by the Beatles, according to people familiar with the situation, a move that would fill a glaring gap in the collection of the world's largest music retailer.
The deal resulted from talks that were taking place as recently as last week among executives of Apple, representatives of the Beatles and their record label, EMI Group Ltd,, according to these people. These people cautioned that Apple could change plans at the last minute.
Spokesmen for Apple and EMI declined to comment.
Apple on Monday posted a notice on the home page of its iTunes store that it would make "an exciting announcement" Tuesday morning.
Terms of the deal that brought the Beatles music to iTunes couldn't be learned, and it was unclear whether other online music services would gain access to the catalog too. However, Apple maintains a roughly 90% market share in the digital-music business.
EMI has been under financial strain following an ill-timed leveraged buyout by Terra Firma Capital Partners LP in 2007. If the iTunes tie-up generates significant cash advances or sales, it could delay breaches in the company's loan covenants. Terra Firma borrowed £3 billion ($4.9 billion) from Citigroup Inc. to finance the deal, but has fallen into breach of those covenants, forcing it to add millions more to its equity position last year.
Even as recorded-music sales have plummeted, the Beatles have remained one of the most reliable franchises in the business. In 2009, 39 years after breaking up, they sold the third-highest number of albums of any act in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, with 3.3 million copies sold.
The Beatles aren't the only big iTunes holdout. AC/DC, Bob Seger and Kid Rock all have witheld their music from the online store. Other longtime digital wallflowers such as Metallica and Led Zeppelin have relented in recent years.
The Beatles' arrival on iTunes was delayed in part by ongoing trademark litigation, the most recent round of which was resolved in 2007.
The Fab Four's arrival in the digital age comes very late compared to most other major acts'. The group also was a latecomer to the CD era, waiting until 1987 to issue their main body of work on a medium that the industry had embraced in the early to mid part of the decade.
People who have done business with the group and its corporate entity, Apple Corps, describe a very slow-moving process in which the two surviving bandmembers, and the heirs of the other two, can take a long time to reach consensus.
The group started moving with a bit more alacrity following the 2007 death of Neil Aspinall, the long time Beatles confidant who ran the band's company, Apple Corps Ltd., for many years. Founded in 1968, Apple Corps controls certain rights related to the Beatles recordings, although the recordings themselves are owned by EMI. Mr. Aspinall was replaced as Apple Corps' CEO by Jeff Jones, a former executive of Sony Music's well-respected Legacy division, which handles back-catalog releases for Sony Corp.'s various record labels.
After the arrival of Mr. Jones, the Beatles started modernizing their affairs more quickly than they had previously. In 2009 the group issued remastered CD versions of their studio albums with improved sound quality, something for which fans had been clamoring for years. The band struck a deal to release a videogame, The Beatles: Rock Band, last September. That title has seen mixed sales.
Even the solo catalogs of the members of the Beatles have become available via iTunes and other online music services for varying lengths of time, prompting headscratching in the music and technology worlds about why the Beatles albums proper still weren't available.
The Beatles-iTunes agreement represents a watershed in a fraught, decades-long relationship between two of the biggest icons in their respective fields.
The two sides have traded lawsuits since 1978, when the Beatles alleged that the computer maker, incorporated as Apple Computer in 1977, infringed on the band's trademark in the name and logo of Apple Corps.
The lawsuit was settled in 1981 for an undisclosed sum, plus an agreement that the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker wouldn't compete in the music business.
Then in 1989 Apple Corps sued again, charging that Apple Computer had violated the terms of the earlier settlement by giving its computers increasingly powerful musical abilities, such as hardware that enabled its computers to control synthesizers.
The two sides announced a settlement in 1991, after 100 days in court, with Apple Computer paying roughly $29 million to the band.
Then in April 2003, Apple Computer again raised the band's hackles by launching the iTunes music store. Two months later, Apple Corps sued Apple Computer in High Court in London, alleging that the online music store violated the 1991 agreement.
In 2006, after a one-week trial, the court handed the computer maker a rare victory in the long-running legal saga, dismissing the claims of the musical entity. Judge Edward Mann ruled that the Apple logo on the iTunes Store doesn't appear "in connection with" any particular music being sold, and instead is simply an icon for the store itself.
The two sides announced a settlement in early 2007 under which the computer maker, then known by its current name, Apple Inc., took control of the trademarks at issue and licensed them back to Apple Corps Ltd. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
Source
My Chemical Romance Plot Spring Tour
My Chemical Romance will hit the road for a 24-date tour next April in support of their new album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (out next week). The trek — dubbed the World Contamination Tour — kicks off April 1 in Portland, OR and wraps on May 24 in Phoenix, AZ. Check out dates below.
When SPIN.com caught up with guitarist Ray Toro to preview the album, he offered an early peek at the production for the tour. Expect bold visuals and bright costumes — a stark contrast to their last Black Parade Tour.
"It's going to be a celebration of color," says Toro. "The costumes for Black Parade were a restrictive military look. But what's cool about the Killjoys [the main characters of the new album] is that there's a lot more freedom and life, even in the way we dress. It looks cobbled together from different styles and it's really open and free."
Starting November 17, My Chem will offer a ticket pre-sale through their fan club; general on-sales kick off November 20.
In the meantime, check out SPIN's history of the band in photos here.
4/1, Portland, OR (Roseland Theatre)
4/2, Vancouver, BC (Center for Performing Arts)
4/3, Seattle, WA (Showbox Sodo)
4/5, Edmonton, AB (Edmonton Event Centre)
4/6, Calgary, AB (MacEwan Hall)
4/8, Salt Lake City (In the Venue)
4/9, Denver, CO (Fillmore)
4/10, Des Moines, IA (Val Air Ballroom)
4/12, Minneapolis, MN (First Avenue)
4/13, Milwaukee, WI (Eagles Ballroom)
4/15, Chicago, IL (Aragon)
4/17, Cleveland, OH (House Of Blues)
4/20, Montreal, QC (Metropolis)
4/22, New York, (Terminal 5)
5/5, Boston, MA (House Of Blues)
5/6, Philadelphia, PA (Tower Theater)
5/7, Sayreville, NJ (Starland Ballroom)
5/10, Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
5/11, Atlanta, GA (The Tabernacle) 5/17, West Palm Beach, FL (Revolution) 5/18, Orlando, FL (House Of Blues)
5/20, Houston, TX (House Of Blues)
5/21, Dallas, TX (House Of Blues)
5/24, Phoenix, AZ (Marquee)
Source
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tracklisting: Ciara – ‘Basic Instinct’
Ciara follows her Basic Instinct on the tracklisting for her fourth album, hitting stores December 14. The 11-track set features the Ludacris-assisted single “Ride,” sensual “Speechless,” and dance floor-ready “Gimmie Dat,” plus a collaboration with her labelmate Usher (“Turn It Up”). Tricky Stewart and The-Dream serve as executive producers.
“Now it’s time to go back, it’s time to throw on my sneakers, it’s time to just really get bossy for a couple of seconds,” CiCi previously told Rap-Up.com of Instinct, which marks a return to her roots.
The tracklisting is below per Amazon.com.
1. “Basic Instinct (U Got Me)”
2. “Ride” feat. Ludacris
3. “Gimmie Dat”
4. “Heavy Rotation”
5. “Girls Get Your Money”
6. “Yeah I Know”
7. “Speechless”
8. “You Can Get It”
9. “Turn It Up” feat. Usher
10. “Wants for Dinner”
11. “I Run It”
Source
Friday, November 12, 2010
New Michael Jackson Tracklisting and Single Confirmation
The first official single from the forthcoming Michael Jackson album MICHAEL will be released globally on Monday, November 15th at 12:01am EST. The song entitled “Hold My Hand” will be unveiled on www.michaeljackson.com and for sale digitally thereafter.
“Hold My Hand”, a duet with Akon, is a song they recorded in 2007. A handwritten note from Michael belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that “Hold My Hand” be the first single on his next project. However, in its unfinished state, the song leaked out in 2008. Akon recently completed the new and final production of “Hold My Hand.”
Akon comments, “The world was not ready to hear ‘Hold My Hand’ when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it. But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I’m so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols.”
On December 14th, Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will release the much-anticipated new album MICHAEL. The album contains ten tracks, produced by an esteemed group of producers along with Michael Jackson. While primarily focused on songs that Michael worked on recently, there are also earlier compelling tracks.
MICHAEL is the first release in nine years of new material by one of music’s most beloved icons whose artistry continues to touch new generations of fans. The album marks another release under the new agreement between the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music announced in March that continues the label’s 35-year relationship with Michael and his music. During that time, Michael sold hundreds of millions of records, had 13 #1 singles and released the pop culture phenomenon “Thriller,” which remains music’s all-time bestselling album with more than 100 million copies sold worldwide.
MICHAEL ALBUM TRACKLISTING:
1. Hold My Hand (Duet with Akon)
2. Hollywood Tonight
3. Keep Your Head Up
4. (I Like) The Way You Love Me
5. Monster (Featuring 50 Cent)
6. Best Of Joy
7. Breaking News
8. (I Can’t Make It) Another Day (Featuring Lenny Kravitz)
9. Behind The Mask
10. Much Too Soon
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Thursday, November 11, 2010
Nicki Minaj, Will.I.Am, and Cheryl Cole - "Check It Out" Music Video
Higher quality link at CherylCole.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Rihanna's 'What's My Name?' Rockets to No. 1 on Hot 100
Rihanna rockets to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 to be released tomorrow (Nov. 11), as "What's My Name?," featuring Drake, vaults 60-1.
The song debuts at No. 1 on Digital Songs with sales of 235,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It claims Airplay Gainer honors on Radio Songs, charging 24-16 (48.6 million in audience, up 30%, according to Nielsen BDS).
"What's My Name?" supplants Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," which dips to No. 5 after launching atop the survey last week. The song falls 1-2 on Digital Songs (220,000, down 21%), though it advances 49-29 (35.3 million, up 45%) on Radio Songs.
Nos. 2 through 4 remain static on the Hot 100 from last week: Far*East Movement's "Like a G6," featuring Cataracs & Dev (No. 2), Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" (No. 3) and Rihanna's second track in the top five, "Only Girl (In the World)" (No.4)
"What's My Name?" marks Rihanna's eighth career Hot 100 No. 1 and third this year. She previously reigned in 2010 with "Rude Boy" (five weeks, beginning in March) and as a guest on Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" (seven weeks, starting in July).
Rihanna is the first artist to score a trio of Hot 100 leaders in a year since she achieved the feat in 2008, when she ruled with her own "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia" and added vocals to T.I.'s "Live Your Life."
"What's My Name?" is Drake's first Hot 100 No. 1 among 23 chart visits.
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Avril Lavigne confirms fourth album
Hey Everyone!
How’s it going?? So… I just wanted to fill you guys in…I’m done with my 4th record!!! Well, actually I have been done for a year… and now my record company have finally decided to release it. OMG..How nice! Thanks guys.
I have been dying to get back out on the road and do what I love the most… PLAY MUSIC. I know you guys have been waiting for a long time…..and so have I, but not by choice. I have been sitting with this record for a year now. It’s really special to me. I have produced a couple tracks alone for the first time, written solo, with friends, I have pushed myself and I feel proud.
In saying all that, this has been a really difficult record for me to create and to release. Not only is this the most meaningful and special record I have written, it is sincere, honest and close to my heart. But for the first time I experienced a bunch of bureaucratic BS. People do their best work when they are doing what they want, love and is natural for them, not when you are forcing them to be something that they are not.
From the beginning of my career my message has always been to be yourself and stand up for what you believe in. Follow your heart.
My first single off this record is called: “What The Hell”. This song is the least personal song to me off this album. It’s a fun and funny anthem. It has a broad message about personal freedom. It is the most pop track on the record.
I am shooting the video in 2 weeks and it will be out in January. I have been extremely busy designing Abbey Dawn and taking the line internationally for the first time, establishing “The Avril Lavigne Foundation” and focusing on my personal happiness and health. Balance!
Love you guys!
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Taylor Swift named BMI songwriter of the year
Taylor Swift was named country songwriter of the year at the BMI Awards on Tuesday night, becoming the youngest person to win the award at age 20.
The pop sensation also won country song of the year with co-writer Liz Rose for "You Belong To Me." She's the first songwriter to win that award three years in a row.
"It's been a really emotional week for me," Swift told the crowd.
Her new album, "Speak Now," had the biggest opening of any record since 2005. But she also attended the funeral of a close friend on Monday.
"He was 21, and I used to play my songs for him first," Swift said.
Bill Anderson previously was the youngest winner of songwriter of the year, taking the honor in 1960 at 23. Johnny Cash was next with a win in 1956 at 24. Earlier this year, Swift became the youngest winner of the performing rights organization's pop song of the year award.
Swift won the songwriter award based on her own recordings of "Fifteen," "White Horse," "You Belong To Me" and "Best Days Of Your Life," recorded by Kellie Pickler.
Country songwriter of the year is one of the few awards the pop star had yet to win. She's the Country Music Association's reigning entertainer of the year and could win female vocalist of the year for the second straight time during the awards show Wednesday night.
BMI honored dozens of songwriters, including Miranda Lambert, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Toby Keith and Keith Urban.
In one of the night's most poignant moments, Ronnie Dunn, George Strait, Martina McBride and Faith Hill serenaded Billy Sherill, who was named a BMI icon. Hill became emotional during her rendition of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man."
Sherill was named BMI's country songwriter of the 20th century in 1999 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year.
The producer and songwriter is widely credited as the founder of the so-called "countrypolitan" movement that opened the doors for pop-leaning singers like Swift, Carrie Underwood and many of the night's other award winners.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Sherill was typically dismissive about his pivotal role in country music history.
"I don't think I changed anything," Sherill said. "I think I jumped on the bandwagon."
The 74-year-old Sherill said even now after all the awards, he still has trouble with the attention. He said he would rather be at home watching "The Twilight Zone" than the center of attention Tuesday night.
"It's very humbling," Sherill said. "It's kind of scary. It's so wonderful, it's unreal. It's really hard to talk about. It's easy to do, it's hard to talk about."
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