Cher Lloyd has signed a deal to join Jay-Z's record label, it has been reported.
The X Factor singer, who came fourth overall in the ITV reality show, has joined Jay-Z's Roc Nation, which currently houses artists such as Willow Smith and Lil' Kim.
"Even though Cher didn't do terrifically well in the X Factor finals, there's been a hell of a lot of interest in her," a source told The Sun. "All the labels are on the lookout for sassy, young female artists with bags of attitude, and Cher fits that bill perfectly."
Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am previously revealed that he wanted to take Lloyd "under his wing", but it now appears that he has lost out on her signature.
"Will.i.am's backing only intensified the battle to get her signature," the source added. "After weighing up the pros and cons, it was thought that the team at Roc Nation would be best placed to turn her dreams of stardom into a reality."
Jay-Z was first linked with a move for the 17-year-old in November after admitting that he was a fan of her X Factor performances.
Source
Kanye West is keeping up with Kim Kardashian. The rapper was spotted outside a studio in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Dec. 28), reportedly where Kim was shooting a music video for her forthcoming single. According to TMZ, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star worked with Kanye on the closed set for the Hype Williams-directed clip.
“OMG u guys have no idea what I’m doing today! You are gonna DIE!!!!” tweeted Kim, later writing, “What should my alter ego name be?”
The socialite has been in and out of the studio recording her debut album with another hitmaker, The-Dream. No release date or record label has been announced for the project.
Meanwhile, Kanye was photographed with Kim’s mother Kris Jenner at the Lakers vs. Heat game on Christmas Day. He gave her a first listen to his joint album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. “Listening to NEW JayZ and Kanye West album with @kanyewest!!” she tweeted. “Doesn’t get any sweeeeeeeter!! He is AMAZING wait till you guys here! Out soon!”
Source
This week, Lady Gaga’s single “Alejandro” tops the two million mark in paid downloads in the U.S., becoming the singer’s seventh consecutive song to reach the milestone. Gaga is the only artist in digital history to amass seven 2-million sellers as a lead act.
Take a look at the sales of Lady Gaga’s songs, as well as their peak positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, after the jump…
Singles:
“Just Dance” feat. Colby O’Donis – 5,844,000 copies (No. 1)
“Poker Face” – 5,722,000 copies (No. 1)
“LoveGame” – 2,258,000 copies (No. 5)
“Paparazzi” – 2,776,000 copies (No. 6)
“Bad Romance” – 4,414,000 copies (No. 2)
“Telephone” feat. Beyoncé – 2,643,000 copies (No. 3)
“Alejandro” – 2,000,000 copies (No. 5)
Non-Singles:
“Starstruck” – 625,000 copies
“Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” – 275,000 copies
“Boys Boys Boys” – 233,000 copies
“Monster” – 207,000 copies
“Speechless” – 197,000 copies
“Dance In The Dark” – 120,000 copies
“So Happy I Could Die” – 114,000 copies
Source
Avril Lavigne is poising herself for a comeback. Not only will the pop-punk princess debut her brand-new single, "What the Hell," on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2011," but she's also treating fans to a free download of the tune on New Year's Day.
In order to get the freebie, fans will need to head to the Avril's official Facebook page and "like" the starlet on January 1. As of now, the singer/songwriter has uploaded a 21-second video titled "Knock! Knock!" to the social media site to tease the premiere. The clip begins with the song's flashing title before a cameraman walks up to Lavigne's trailer and knocks on the door. The clip ends with the 26-year-old starlet opening the door and proclaiming, "What the hell?"
Earlier this month, the Canadian songstress described the lead single off Goodbye Lullaby, which hits stores March 8, as "an unabashed embrace of fun and freedom." However, Lavigne has stressed in numerous interviews that the rest of the LP will have a raw essence to it. Among other tunes featured on the new album are "Smile," which she described on her website as a rocker in which she "expresses her gratitude for special people in her life," the ballad "Wish You Were Here" and the song she told Entertainment Weekly was the album's most personal track, "Goodbye."
During the making of "Goodbye Lullaby", the singer worked with producer/songwriter Butch Walker, pop innovator Max Martin, her former guitarist Evan Taubenfeld and even ex-husband, Sum 41's Deryck Whibley.
Source
The year may be ending in only a matter of days, but Lady Gaga — MTV News 2010 Woman of the Year — is going to cram in one last splash before the dawn of 2011. The Mother Monster announced via Twitter that she would be making a major announcement regarding her upcoming album Born This Way on December 31. "Merry Christmas little monsters!" she tweeted over the weekend. "I love you with all my heart. My gift to you is a BORN THIS WAY announcement Midnight on NEW YEARS EVE."
There have been scant few details regarding Born This Way so far, though Gaga did debut a few new songs over the course of her Monster Ball tour (including the new staple "You And I"), sing a bit of the title track at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and she claims the album has been finished (or almost finished) for some time. We also already know that the album's first single will be hitting in February, with the album coming shortly thereafter (most have speculated March). With those facts and clues in mind, what will the big announcement be? Here are some possibilities, along with their chances of success.
The Title of the First Single (3:2)
We already know what the album title will be and we know a pair of song titles, but what will the single be called? That seems like as good a way as any to start off the new year, especially considering said track already has a tentative release date.
The Official Album Release Date (2:1)
Though the speculation has been upgraded from "some time in 2011" to "some time in early 2011" in the past few months, there is still no concrete release date for Born This Way. Gaga could easily announce the date and begin the countdown to the big day.
A New Video (5:1)
As her dominance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards illustrated, Lady Gaga is the current queen of the music video scene. So any time she has another clip on the way, it's always going to be a big story, and her fans gobble up new material with a wolf-like hunger. Could New Year's Eve be the continuation of the greatness first established with "Paparazzi," "Bad Romance" and "Telephone"?
A New Collaborator (12:1)
You would think that an artist as singular as Lady Gaga wouldn't make for a great tag-team partner (much in the same way that Hulk Hogan never did), but her hook-ups with the likes of Beyoncé, Elton John and New Kids on the Block have proven differently. Born This Way could be a collabo-heavy release, but who could be on it? Maybe New Year's Eve will be the forum for the revelation of a big-time duet.
A New Tour (20:1)
Though the money probably hasn't been fully counted on her massive Monster Ball tour yet, Gaga seems to be at home on the road and especially comfortable on stage. Could she be getting herself ready for another trek to coincide with the release of Born This Way? Tickets would have to go on sale by January for a tour that began in March or April, so the timing would be about right.
The Fact That Born This Way Is a Double Album (20:1)
Gaga has noted in interviews that Born This Way came "very easily," which could mean that she has a large stockpile of songs that she wants to put out. Could Born This Way be a double-disc extravaganza? It would make sense that one of the biggest personalities in music would put out the album to match, but it also seems a little premature in her career to be going the two-disc route. Still, nothing about Gaga is typical, so it wouldn't necessarily shock anybody.
That 2011 Will Officially Be Known as 20GAGA (150:1)
She certainly has some sway, though we're not sure she can actually influence the calendar. Still, if anybody could do it, it's her.
The Fact That Born This Way Is Her Retirement Album (1,000:1)
Because that's even less likely than the calendar thing. Gaga is too good and loves her fans too much to bow out now.
Source
