Kelly Clarkson and Country Singer Jason Aldean Record a Duet

Kelly Clarkson will be featured in a duet called “Don’t You Wanna Stay” on the new album. My Kind of Party by country singer Jason Aldean.

It’s the 4th album from Aldean who recorded hits like “Crazy Big Town”, “Big Green Tractor”, “She’s Country” and “Hicktown”. The album comes out November 2

• UPDATE:  Listen to the demo of “Don’t You Wanna Stay” from co-writer Andy Gibson’s MySpace page HERE.

It’s the second country collaboration for Kelly. She previously recorded a version of her hit “Because of You” with Reba McEntire that was a hit on the country charts in 2005.

Kelly also happens to be managed by McEntire’s husband, Narvel Blackstock. The country duets are not exactly a coincidence!

Read more at USA Today

Kelly is currently working on her next studio album for RCA.

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Kelly Rowland To Release Two Versions of Album

It looks as thought Kelly Rowland is having to work twice as hard to keep up her game in America and 'overseas' in places such as Europe.

The former Destiny's Child member has revealed that she'll be releasing two versions of her upcoming album, as the one intended for the US won't be including the dance-tracks which have made her popular in countries such as the UK, where Rowland had great success with David Guetta club song 'Commander'.

In a recent interview with radio show Mad Hatta, Rowland revealed that her US album will sample bits of the dance music but that they're really intended for other countries where it's been so popular.

Rowland said: "It has pieces of it. Pitbull and I did a song together called 'Take Everything' that I love. Those dance records are actually exclusive for overseas only."

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Justin Bieber not nominated for Polaris Music Prize

Justin Bieber is soaring so quickly we can barely keep track of his successes. His first full-length album, My World 2.0, released in March of this year, not only debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, but made him the first artist since The Beatles to top the charts on a freshman release. He'll play before a sold-out crowd Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. And yet the Canadian heartthrob is not one of the artists we can expect to see at the Polaris Music Prize gala this September.

What kept him out of contention?

It goes a little something like this. The Polaris Music Prize is unique in being the only national music award whose winner is selected from all genres by a single panel of critics. The critics are culled from an impressive variety of media sources across the country and asked to submit their Top 5 album releases from that year. These votes get tallied up, and the Top 40 picks comprise the so-called "long list" of nominees. This list then gets whittled down by those same jurors to a short list of 10. In the end, one of those 10 is announced as the winner at a gala, where a second panel of critics -- "the Grand Jury" -- awards them a cheque for $20,000.

One striking feature of the Polaris is how forgiving its nomination criteria are. The only significant constraint is that the artist must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. (In the case of a group, at least 50 per cent of its members must qualify.)

Jurors have no direct instruction on how to assess which albums are deserving of their votes. As Steve Jordan, the founder of the prize, writes on the website FAQ:

"The 40-title Long List and the 10-title Short List are voted on by the jury based on their own tastes and determinations. They pick their ballot selections based on what their individual criteria for best album is (sic). We do not have a scorecard for lyrics, production, height, length, smell or anything of the sort."

Moreover, there are no constraints on the kinds of music eligible for evaluation. The rules state that jurors ought to nominate a disc "solely on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation."

One boon of the nomination system is that lower-budget independent releases get evaluated on the same grounds as artists with fat production accounts. This levels the playing field. It allows for The Wooden Sky -- four scruffy gentlemen who play Ontarian apartment rock -- to be featured on the long list with pop stars like Justin Bieber, who have way more resources to invest into their craft.

My mistake. Bieber missed the cut. But not only that. He might have failed to get a single vote.
While the official voting data are kept private, we know that he received fewer nominating votes than 40 other Canadian artists and groups. A sorry showing for the teen who sold out 42 shows of his debut tour in minutes.

The easiest explanation for his omission is that the jury did their job of keeping out the dross.

While Bieber met the qualifications, his record was inferior -- in their eyes -- to at least 40 others.

But this explanation stinks. If Polaris jurors were, in fact, arbiters for excellence across all genres, then we ought to be able to look at the long list and draw legitimate inferences about the hierarchy of music in Canada. The long list, however, is so lopsided that no one could really believe it revealed any substantive truths about music in the first place.

We know that the panel of around 200 music critics did not advance a single classical record. And were it not for the exceptionally talented Elizabeth Shepherd, no jazz record would have made it in either. Rock music -- with its crash cymbals and Ampeg bass stacks -- overwhelms the long list. On the assumption that Polaris results were telling of anything, it would be quite legitimate to conclude that rock music was the best kind of music in Canada last year.

This absurdity highlights the incoherence of the prize. Without a shared standard of evaluation, the practice of polling jurors will never illuminate more than polling a subset of the population at large -- say, the payroll at Soundscapes, or a huddle of Bieber fans camping overnight for concert tickets. In this regard, the Polaris Prize is about as illuminating as a homecoming king voted in by the willy-nilly standards of his admirers

The odd bit about the Polaris popularity contest? The most popular kid in town doesn't have a fighting chance. It would be one thing to argue that My World 2.0 is a work of art. Or to argue that Bieber is a talented songwriter. Or to reference the YouTube videos that kindled his fame. But we can leave that to the many legions afflicted by the "Bieber Fever." The better way to protest his absence is to argue that there is something unjust -- even dysfunctional -- about the sloppy practices of an album award that could effectively ignore him.

Justin Bieber is everywhere -- everywhere, that is, except the long list for the Polaris Music Prize. And he could not give a care. As he sings in Never Let You Go:

Bring the doubters on

They don't matter at all.

After all, Justin is booked to sing for a sold-out crowd that day.

While the jury is celebrating their winner in Toronto on Sept. 20, 2010, Bieber will be performing at the Saddledome for nearly 20,000 adoring listeners, a tiny faction of the "Beliebers" happy to extend their adoration to the only artist on their list.

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Shakira - A Hell's Angel (New Song)

Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" Album Leak

The full album can be listened to here, virus and download free.

So, what's your opinion on the album?

Shakira to release Spanish album on November 2

On Nov. 2 Sony Music will release Shakira’s all-Spanish set, “Sale El Sol,” which reportedly includes collaborations with Calle 13 and Pitbull, among others. On Sept. 15, the singer also kicks off the North American leg of her world tour in Canada. She will play 21 shows in the U.S. before continuing to Latin America, Europe and Asia.

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Lady GaGa’s Monster Ball predicted to gross $200 million

Just when you thought that Lady GaGa couldn’t get anymore successful, Billboard go and officially predict that by the end of it’s April 2011 run, her Monster Ball tour will have grossed around $200 million. She’s not selling out stadiums yet like her contemporary Pink, but it’s quite the accomplishment for an artist with only two studio albums to their name.
The Monster Ball first began back in November 2009, and by May, it had grown so popular that promoter Live Nation had to add an extra North American leg to the tour, extending it into 2011. It’s currently scheduled to wrap up in Atlanta on April 18, 2011, but additional dates are expected to be announced, which could either see GaGa fill her days off with extra shows, extend the tour past April, or do both.
A total gross of $200 million would probably make the Monster Ball one of the most successful female tours in history, by the time it wraps up. Of course, she’ll be dead by then from severe-exhaustion, but at least she’ll always be remembered as she is now — rich and thin.

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Lady Gaga's New Album Will Be 'Shocking,' Says RedOne

As anticipation grows around the new album (which Gaga has asserted is her "best work to date"), so do the rumors. On August 12, 2010, celebrity blog Oh No They Didn't posted a scan of a document which hinted that Gaga may have collaborated with David Bowie during a July recording session in Sydney, Australia in July. Bowie, however, quickly shot down the rumor, saying in a statement, "The suggestion that David Bowie is producing and participating in the production of Lady Gaga's next album is untrue and a hoax."

While he couldn't reveal any specific information about the album, producer RedOne -- the Moroccan-Swedish mastermind behind Gaga's monster hits "Just Dance," "Love Game," "Poker Face," "Bad Romance" and "Alejandro" -- assures Billboard that the new material is worth waiting for.

"It's going to be shocking, shocking, shocking!" RedOne says of Gaga's new music. "You never want to go too far from your brand -- people love you for a reason. But we still want to give them something with a kick, something that makes them say, 'Oh my God! We didn't expect this!'

"When you heard 'Bad Romance' after 'Poker Face,' it was like the best thing you've ever heard," he continues. "We want that type of reaction. I think that's part of my job and her job -- to keep her evolving. "

RedOne (aka Nadir Khayat) confirms that he has worked with Gaga on two tracks and describes both of them as "massive" hits-to-be. While RedOne and Gaga's studio synergy has proven its platinum power (the pair collaborated on nine tracks on her first two albums), the producer says he encouraged her to add some new names to the production credits this time around.

"After 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face,' 'Love Game' and 'Boys Boys Boys,' I got a sound out of her, and that made it easier for other producers," he says, though he remains mum on naming names. "Her sound is so defined that no matter what people can follow it. That sound belongs to her."

It's this ability to reinvent herself without losing her sense of self that originally drew RedOne to Lady Gaga a few years ago. "When I met her I just felt her energy -- and of course she was dressed in that special way [that] caught my eye," he half-jokes. "She had this energy and was so knowledgeable of music. She makes an impression on you right away. Immediately I thought, 'I can do something big with this girl.'"

That initial meeting took place very shortly after Lady Gaga was signed to Def Jam Records. RedOne saw so much in the up-and-coming singer -- even at first sight -- that even on the day she was dropped from the label just three months later, he joined her in the studio to hear the songs she'd already recorded. The music he heard confirmed his instinct about her talent. After listening, RedOne immediately realized her vast potential, especially since Gaga turned out to be a good singer and musician as well as a strong songwriter ("lyrically, it's always interesting with her," he says). The only thing that needed tweaking, he felt, was someone adjusting the arrangements and mix it to make it all sound more mainstream and radio-friendly.

"It was really good musically but it was a bit too left. I asked her if we could take it more to the middle, and she said, 'I'm open. Let's do it,'" he recalls. Once he was behind the board, he eagerly added "big drums, almost like a rock song with synths." And the polished Gaga sound the world came to love began to take shape.

Now, with that early period of matching Gaga with the right sonic feel vindicated by a raft of hits, RedOne explains that the goal with her next album, as with any, is pushing the music to not only change but to grow. "We try to take the sound and make it bigger and more interesting every time," he says. "And every time and era has its sound; you always want to be the first to jump on it."

Propelled by his success with Lady Gaga and sure to influence his work on Lady Gaga's new tracks, RedOne has been working hard with other artists. He recently completed Nicole Scherzinger's upcoming album, with a single expected to be released by end of year, and he also just launched his own label, 2101, through Universal Records.  2101's first artist is 23-year-old singer/songwriter, Mohombi. And just as in the case of Gaga, RedOne has stepped in to effectively launch the career of this already locally-praised artist.

Mohombi's album doesn't have a release date yet because they are still defining that sound -- but it's one of the lessons RedOne learned working with Gaga, and likely a factor in the patient timing of working on her highly-anticipated follow up. "That's one of the things I really believe in -- never give an album until people want it," RedOne says. "Even with Gaga, the [first] album was released kind of early, but it wasn't until 'LoveGame' that it took off and people realized she had talent. That's when they suddenly paid attention. I think that's important -- to give them an album when they're ready."

If the recent reaction to Gaga's every new bit of music -- from her hit remix album to the massive fan love for her new tune "You and I" -- is any indication, the world is more than ready.

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Britney Spears will not be at the VMAs, but is working on a new album

From Britney Spears' manager's Twitter.

Justin Bieber and B.o.B to Perform at the VMAs

One is a teen pop phenomenon known for inducing Beatles-level hysteria in his fans, the other, a free-spirit Atlanta MC whose debut album suddenly shot to pop success. Now, Justin Bieber and B.o.B are set to hit the stage as performers at this year's 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Bieber and B.o.B join already announced performers Kanye West, Drake and Florence and the Machine.

Four-time nominee Ke$ha and "Twilight" star Ashley Greene will also be among the night's presenters when the show goes live on September 12 from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The night will mark the first VMA performances for both Bieber (who presented at last year's ceremony) and B.o.B.

"I'm excited to be performing at the VMAs. It is all still unbelievable, because last year I went for the first time and no one knew who I was," said Bieber, who's nominated for Best New Artist. "Just really shows that dreams can come true and what incredible, dedicated fans I have. I'm a lucky guy and grateful. Now I just want to get on that stage, have some fun in front of my heroes, because at the end of the day I'm still a kid and still a fan."

B.o.B is up for five Moonmen, including Video of the Year and Best Male Video.

"It's very special to me. I think it's a lot more special than the success of the singles, because this reflects the work I've put in over the years and the word of mouth I've helped create," B.o.B recently told MTV News about his nominations. "It's definitely amazing. I'm trying to find the words to explain it, but I can't. It's inexplicable. I'm a real simple man, so, you know, I accept every gift with generosity and gratitude."

Other previously announced presenters include Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Selena Gomez and Ne-Yo. Additional performers and presenters, as well as the VMA host, will be announced in the weeks to come.

Bieber recently shot a new VMA promo in which he made like the Beatles, with a group of rabid female fans chasing after him — something he had no issues with. "I'm kind of like the Beatles running, and there's girls chasing after me," he said about the retro-flavored promo. "I like girls chasing me, so it's good."

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from now through September 12.

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Proof that the Apocalypse is Coming

Fans can thank Twitter for bringing together the unlikely pairing of Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Raekwon.

It all started earlier this week when Ye and the Canadian pop singer went back and forth over the social networking site about how much they love each other’s music. Seemingly, out of nowhere, the Louis Vuitton Don asked Bieber if he would be interested in doing a song with him and the Wu-Tang spitter. “I’m honored that you like my Music @JustinBieber!!!” he wrote. “You gotta hear the album. Maybe we can do something together. Me, You and Raekwon.”

“Me, u, and the chef 2gether on a song = EPIC,” Bieber responded. “Might sound crazy 2 u but even having this convo is living the dream. Thanks.”

Well, XXLMag.com just got off the phone with Rae, and he says the song is already in the works. “It’s definitely gonna happen,” he said over the phone. “When you got these kinda talents merging together to do something exciting, I think it’s something that’s gonna make the fans check it out. I’m big fans of both of these guys. I think, at the end of the day, shorty is a sensation. And [for him] to acknowledge me it makes me feel good that the young generation is checkin’ me out like that. And at the same time it gives me a position to play a big brother in the game. He wants my assistance or whatever he can get it. I respect him, I like his style.”

“Yeezy called me and we gon’ make it pop,” he continued.. “At the end of the day we’re all doing our thing in the game and for them to even just have a conversation and just put my name in it it feels good…And we gon’ make a hit. Justin got his own fan base and Me and Yeezy got our own fan base and we gon’ make it happen. We gon’ make a good record.”

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Katy Perry's "Not Like the Movies" (Official Lyrics Video)