LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The green slime flowed so much that even U.S='lw_1332249666_0'British singer George M. first lady Michelle Obama could not escape it at the Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday where singers Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift came away big winners.
The program is an annual stop for Hollywood stars who are popular among teenage and young viewers watching the Nickelodeon cable TV network, and this 25th anniversary was no exception.
Hosted by "Men in Black" movie star Will Smith, the awards featured performances by Katy Perry and British boy band One Direction, who performed their hit "What Makes You Beautiful" from the album "Up All Night."
But as always, the green slime was the biggest star at the show where Bieber won favorite male singer in fan voting.
On stage, Bieber took the orange blimp trophy from Smith, then the show's host had a surprise for the 18-year-old pop starform the postponed concert at London. Bieber was also voted by fans as the celebrity they most wanted to see get slimed, and the green goo flowed from the rafters and water cannons aimed at the stage.
There was so much goo splashing around in the finale that it splattered on the face of a surprised first lady.
Obama was on hand at the popular show to give the "big help" blimp trophy to country star Swift.
The honor, bestowed on Obama two years earlier for her work with kids fitness and health, goes to a celebrity who has devoted time and energy to charitable causess of a tour he was forced to canc. Swift was singled out for her work to stop bullying and for providing aid to tornado victims in the southern United States.
Swift "rocketed to the top of the music industry, but still keeps her feet on the ground," Obama said about the 22-year-old country singer, calling her "someone who is going to keep making sparks fly for all of us in the years ahead."
Other winners included made-for-TV band Big Time Rush, named favorite music group.
Selena Gomez, 19, was named favorite female singer for her work with pop band The Scene, as well as favorite TV actress in the "Wizards of Waverly Place," which ended its run on the Disney Channel earlier this year.
"Twilight" stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner both grabbed orange blimpsspan class='yshortcuts'. Stewart, 21, was named favorite movie actressw_1332249666_1'Palai. Lautner, 20, earned the title best "butt kicker" for his role as werewolf Jacob Black in the vampire romance flicks.
Favorite movie actor was Adam Sandler, 45, known for goofy comedies such as his recent "Jack and Jill."
Nickelodeon's "Victorious" was named top TV show.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Will Dunham)
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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Florence + The Machine get 'Unplugged' for MTV
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Florence + the Machine kick off MTV's new season of "Unplugged" on April 8 with a show that singer Florence Welch called "amazing" as her powerful voice belted out hit songs like "Dog Days Are Over" in a candlelit room.
The soulful British singer and her backing band taped their "Unplugged" concert in New York's oldest synagogue building back in December to become the first of eight episodes airing across MTV and sister networks Vh1 and CMT_1'Palais Garnier Opera House/spa. The Civil Wars and Dierks Bentley also are slated to perform during the new season.
MTV debuted its Emmy-winning "Unplugged" series in 1989, and it became an instant hit by taking singers and bands typically associated with big sounding pop music and stripping them down to basic, acoustic instruments and vocalsy life and took such great care of me and t. Over the years, the show has featured performances from popular artists including Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Jay-Z on intimate, often unconventional stages.
Backed by a 10-person choir, The Voices of Rivers, Welch performed fan favorites such as "Drumming Song" from her group's 2009 debut "Lungs," as well as the single "Never Let Me Go" from her most recent record, "Ceremonials."
Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme joined Welch for a cover of "Jackson," most famously sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter Michael, who went on to pursue a successful so. Welch also covered "Try A Little Tenderness." Kanye West, who attended the taping with fellow rapper Q-Tip, sampled Otis Redding's version of the song on "Watch the Throne," his 2011 album with Jay-Z.
Welch said she was in awe of the former synagogue in which she and the Machine played and where the stage was decorated with dozens of candles.
"I had to stop myself after every song," Welch told Reutersuch great care of me and. "I would be like, 'Wow.'
"It was so amazing performing the songs stripped back and just really being able to concentrate on the songs and the emotions," said Welch.
During the show, the soft-spoken singer told the live audience: "This is a real moment for me and to be doing an 'Unplugged' session is amazing."
NOT EASY BEING UNPLUGGED
Van Toffler, president of Viacom's Music and Logo Group, said MTV and its networks carefully select the artists they invite to perform, and self-promotion, even by big-name acts, is no guarantee of a spot on the show.
"We get lobbied by a bunch of artists," said Toffler'yshortcuts' id='lw_1332255491_4'Vienna/span, wher. "We're quite selective about who ultimately gets to do an 'Unplugged.'"
"Unplugged's" striped-down approach suits the hard-to-classify, Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars, who will appear on Vh1's "Unplugged" in May.
"We're kind of tailor-made for that," said the duo's John Paul White.
"We're already unplugged!" laughed his partner Joy Williams, who will be seven months pregnant when she tapes their episode of "Unplugged" slated for May.
"Growing up with the show, it's a strange full circle thing," said Whitehits including 'Careless Whisp. "We were talking about how big those 'Unplugged' shows were for us, to see our favorite artists in a different, more humanizing light."
Last year "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artists good health and fighting. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.
"I love breaking my songs back down to their original acoustic foundation," said Bentleyhe law, notably in 2010 when he spent four wee. "When I write these songs by myself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars ..statement released on his behalf on Tu. so, it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and idea you had to begin with."
Toffler believes simplicity and rawness are the keys to "Unplugged's" lasting appealymphonica' tour on Septe. "Either you've got the chops in talent or you don't, and 'Unplugged' is not going to hide any blemishes in your capabilities," said Toffler.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
(This story corrects date to April 8 in paragraph 1)
The soulful British singer and her backing band taped their "Unplugged" concert in New York's oldest synagogue building back in December to become the first of eight episodes airing across MTV and sister networks Vh1 and CMT_1'Palais Garnier Opera House/spa. The Civil Wars and Dierks Bentley also are slated to perform during the new season.
MTV debuted its Emmy-winning "Unplugged" series in 1989, and it became an instant hit by taking singers and bands typically associated with big sounding pop music and stripping them down to basic, acoustic instruments and vocalsy life and took such great care of me and t. Over the years, the show has featured performances from popular artists including Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Jay-Z on intimate, often unconventional stages.
Backed by a 10-person choir, The Voices of Rivers, Welch performed fan favorites such as "Drumming Song" from her group's 2009 debut "Lungs," as well as the single "Never Let Me Go" from her most recent record, "Ceremonials."
Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme joined Welch for a cover of "Jackson," most famously sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter Michael, who went on to pursue a successful so. Welch also covered "Try A Little Tenderness." Kanye West, who attended the taping with fellow rapper Q-Tip, sampled Otis Redding's version of the song on "Watch the Throne," his 2011 album with Jay-Z.
Welch said she was in awe of the former synagogue in which she and the Machine played and where the stage was decorated with dozens of candles.
"I had to stop myself after every song," Welch told Reutersuch great care of me and. "I would be like, 'Wow.'
"It was so amazing performing the songs stripped back and just really being able to concentrate on the songs and the emotions," said Welch.
During the show, the soft-spoken singer told the live audience: "This is a real moment for me and to be doing an 'Unplugged' session is amazing."
NOT EASY BEING UNPLUGGED
Van Toffler, president of Viacom's Music and Logo Group, said MTV and its networks carefully select the artists they invite to perform, and self-promotion, even by big-name acts, is no guarantee of a spot on the show.
"We get lobbied by a bunch of artists," said Toffler'yshortcuts' id='lw_1332255491_4'Vienna/span, wher. "We're quite selective about who ultimately gets to do an 'Unplugged.'"
"Unplugged's" striped-down approach suits the hard-to-classify, Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars, who will appear on Vh1's "Unplugged" in May.
"We're kind of tailor-made for that," said the duo's John Paul White.
"We're already unplugged!" laughed his partner Joy Williams, who will be seven months pregnant when she tapes their episode of "Unplugged" slated for May.
"Growing up with the show, it's a strange full circle thing," said Whitehits including 'Careless Whisp. "We were talking about how big those 'Unplugged' shows were for us, to see our favorite artists in a different, more humanizing light."
Last year "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artists good health and fighting. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.
"I love breaking my songs back down to their original acoustic foundation," said Bentleyhe law, notably in 2010 when he spent four wee. "When I write these songs by myself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars ..statement released on his behalf on Tu. so, it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and idea you had to begin with."
Toffler believes simplicity and rawness are the keys to "Unplugged's" lasting appealymphonica' tour on Septe. "Either you've got the chops in talent or you don't, and 'Unplugged' is not going to hide any blemishes in your capabilities," said Toffler.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
(This story corrects date to April 8 in paragraph 1)
Florence + The Machine get "Unplugged" for MTV
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Florence + the Machine kick off MTV's new season of "Unplugged" on April 9 with a show that singer Florence Welch called "amazing" as her powerful voice belted out hit songs like "Dog Days Are Over" in a candlelit room.
The soulful British singer and her backing band taped their "Unplugged" concert in New York's oldest synagogue building back in December to become the first of eight episodes airing across MTV and sister networks Vh1 and CMTof many fans, as the music v. The Civil Wars and Dierks Bentley also are slated to perform during the new season.
MTV debuted its Emmy-winning "Unplugged" series in 1989, and it became an instant hit by taking singers and bands typically associated with big sounding pop music and stripping them down to basic, acoustic instruments and vocals editions, standard and deluxe, wit. Over the years, the show has featured performances from popular artists including Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Jay-Z on intimate, often unconventional stages.
Backed by a 10-person choir, The Voices of Rivers, Welch performed fan favorites such as "Drumming Song" from her group's 2009 debut "Lungs," as well as the single "Never Let Me Go" from her most recent record, "Ceremonials."
Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme joined Welch for a cover of "Jackson," most famously sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter songstress added her vocals on a re. Welch also covered "Try A Little Tenderness." Kanye West, who attended the taping with fellow rapper Q-Tip, sampled Otis Redding's version of the song on "Watch the Throne," his 2011 album with Jay-Z.
Welch said she was in awe of the former synagogue in which she and the Machine played and where the stage was decorated with dozens of candles.
"I had to stop myself after every song," Welch told Reutersecent Grammy comeback perf. "I would be like, 'Wow.'
"It was so amazing performing the songs stripped back and just really being able to concentrate on the songs and the emotions," said Welch.
During the show, the soft-spoken singer told the live audience: "This is a real moment for me and to be doing an 'Unplugged' session is amazing."
NOT EASY BEING UNPLUGGED
Van Toffler, president of Viacom's Music and Logo Group, said MTV and its networks carefully select the artists they invite to perform, and self-promotion, even by big-name acts, is no guarantee of a spot on the show.
"We get lobbied by a bunch of artists," said Tofflertled 'Fortune' in May, record label RCA said on Th. "We're quite selective about who ultimately gets to do an 'Unplugged.'"
"Unplugged's" striped-down approach suits the hard-to-classify, Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars, who will appear on Vh1's "Unplugged" in May.
"We're kind of tailor-made for that," said the duo's John Paul White.
"We're already unplugged!" laughed his partner Joy Williams, who will be seven months pregnant when she tapes their episode of "Unplugged" slated for May.
"Growing up with the show, it's a strange full circle thing," said Whitee latter featuring additional son. "We were talking about how big those 'Unplugged' shows were for us, to see our favorite artists in a different, more humanizing light."
Last year "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artistsng himself, but his Grammy win had. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.
"I love breaking my songs back down to their original acoustic foundation," said Bentleythe latter featuring additional s. "When I write these songs by myself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars .. assault three years ago, . so, it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and idea you had to begin with."
Toffler believes simplicity and rawness are the keys to "Unplugged's" lasting appeal' will follow on from Brown's fourth. "Either you've got the chops in talent or you don't, and 'Unplugged' is not going to hide any blemishes in your capabilities," said Toffler.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
The soulful British singer and her backing band taped their "Unplugged" concert in New York's oldest synagogue building back in December to become the first of eight episodes airing across MTV and sister networks Vh1 and CMTof many fans, as the music v. The Civil Wars and Dierks Bentley also are slated to perform during the new season.
MTV debuted its Emmy-winning "Unplugged" series in 1989, and it became an instant hit by taking singers and bands typically associated with big sounding pop music and stripping them down to basic, acoustic instruments and vocals editions, standard and deluxe, wit. Over the years, the show has featured performances from popular artists including Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Jay-Z on intimate, often unconventional stages.
Backed by a 10-person choir, The Voices of Rivers, Welch performed fan favorites such as "Drumming Song" from her group's 2009 debut "Lungs," as well as the single "Never Let Me Go" from her most recent record, "Ceremonials."
Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme joined Welch for a cover of "Jackson," most famously sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter songstress added her vocals on a re. Welch also covered "Try A Little Tenderness." Kanye West, who attended the taping with fellow rapper Q-Tip, sampled Otis Redding's version of the song on "Watch the Throne," his 2011 album with Jay-Z.
Welch said she was in awe of the former synagogue in which she and the Machine played and where the stage was decorated with dozens of candles.
"I had to stop myself after every song," Welch told Reutersecent Grammy comeback perf. "I would be like, 'Wow.'
"It was so amazing performing the songs stripped back and just really being able to concentrate on the songs and the emotions," said Welch.
During the show, the soft-spoken singer told the live audience: "This is a real moment for me and to be doing an 'Unplugged' session is amazing."
NOT EASY BEING UNPLUGGED
Van Toffler, president of Viacom's Music and Logo Group, said MTV and its networks carefully select the artists they invite to perform, and self-promotion, even by big-name acts, is no guarantee of a spot on the show.
"We get lobbied by a bunch of artists," said Tofflertled 'Fortune' in May, record label RCA said on Th. "We're quite selective about who ultimately gets to do an 'Unplugged.'"
"Unplugged's" striped-down approach suits the hard-to-classify, Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars, who will appear on Vh1's "Unplugged" in May.
"We're kind of tailor-made for that," said the duo's John Paul White.
"We're already unplugged!" laughed his partner Joy Williams, who will be seven months pregnant when she tapes their episode of "Unplugged" slated for May.
"Growing up with the show, it's a strange full circle thing," said Whitee latter featuring additional son. "We were talking about how big those 'Unplugged' shows were for us, to see our favorite artists in a different, more humanizing light."
Last year "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artistsng himself, but his Grammy win had. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.
"I love breaking my songs back down to their original acoustic foundation," said Bentleythe latter featuring additional s. "When I write these songs by myself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars .. assault three years ago, . so, it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and idea you had to begin with."
Toffler believes simplicity and rawness are the keys to "Unplugged's" lasting appeal' will follow on from Brown's fourth. "Either you've got the chops in talent or you don't, and 'Unplugged' is not going to hide any blemishes in your capabilities," said Toffler.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Aerosmith says new album brings "a little of 1975 back"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran rock band Aerosmith said on Wednesday they were bringing "a little of 1975 back" on a long-delayed album of new material to be released this summer to coincide with a U.Sspan in Britain, is par. tour.
The band said they were working on finishing up the album - the first of new material since 2001's "Just Push Play" - ahead of the tour, but kept the title under wraps.
"The camaraderie's there, there's some songs that are new rock, and old rock and middle-of-the-road rock, and blues, pianot fans are calling for most is anoth. Joe Perry singing a couple of songs, I'm playing the drums, Joey sings, just all kinds of stuff," frontman Steven Tyler told Reuters.
Aerosmith, whose previous attempts to make a new album were dogged by a litany of health problems and internal strife, said they had been working with their long-time producer Jack Douglas to bring "a little bit of 1975 back."
The band will kick off their North American "Global Warming Tour" on June 16 in Minneapolis, playing 18 cities from Toronto to Oakland, California and Atlanta, Georgia While some memb. Tickets go on sale from Friday.
"You're going to get some new songs from the new album and some old songs from the old albums and you're going to get new us and old us, and we're just going to go out and rock your world," Tyler, 64, told Reuters.
The volatile singer and "American Idol" judge was greeted by dozens of fans as the band swept into a Los Angeles news conference in flamboyant fashion - Tyler on a motorbike, drummer Joey Kramer in a white Lamborghini, guitarist Joe Perry in a taxi and bassist Tom Hamilton in a rickshaws='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330687089_4'Thames & . Guitarist Brad Whitford is currently on tour with another band.
"We've been known to set the world on fire with our type of music...so we decided to call this The Global Warming Tour," Tyler told journalists.
COMING BACK HOME
Formed in Boston in the 1970s, Aerosmith has sold over 150 million records worldwide and had hits like "Walk This Way" and "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing".
But they said playing at home was the biggest thrill.
"Coming back to American fans, that's my favorite part, because being on stage and getting the response that we're going to get hopefully from these new songs from American fans is something I really look forward to and something that has always held us together," said Kramer.
Aerosmith's last North American tour, in 2009, had to be scrapped midway through after Tyler, who had a history of drug addiction, fell off the stage and broke his shoulderose years ago, '. He later entered rehab for addiction to prescription painkillers.
Last year, he fell in the shower during Aerosmith's South American tour after passing out with stomach flu, but was back performing two days later.
"I'm going to be in a sling all night to hold me up!" Tyler joked on Wednesday of the upcoming gigs.
"It's all ludicrous, we've played...almost 5000 times nowe and questions remain abo. I've fallen of the stage four times, so it's alright, it gets a lot of press...I'm just an overactive kid that gets into a lot of troubleebrations for one of rock and roll's biggest . Let's wait to see what happens next," he said.
Tyler's decision in 2010 to join "American Idol" as a judge ruffled some feathers among his bandmates 'We started out as a . But Tyler said his role on the TV singing contest had brought Aerosmith a whole new audience.
"The music that we write, fortunately it's been seductive to all genres of peopleout as a blues band playing the clubs and more. There's going to be kids who are going to get introduced to Aerosmith all over again, and there's a bunch of new music that we're taking a risk and putting oute largest newspaper collection of Rolling Stone. It's kind of futuristic rock, all the way across the board, we're just good for that," said the rocker.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Jill Serjeant)
This article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIP ADVICE.
The band said they were working on finishing up the album - the first of new material since 2001's "Just Push Play" - ahead of the tour, but kept the title under wraps.
"The camaraderie's there, there's some songs that are new rock, and old rock and middle-of-the-road rock, and blues, pianot fans are calling for most is anoth. Joe Perry singing a couple of songs, I'm playing the drums, Joey sings, just all kinds of stuff," frontman Steven Tyler told Reuters.
Aerosmith, whose previous attempts to make a new album were dogged by a litany of health problems and internal strife, said they had been working with their long-time producer Jack Douglas to bring "a little bit of 1975 back."
The band will kick off their North American "Global Warming Tour" on June 16 in Minneapolis, playing 18 cities from Toronto to Oakland, California and Atlanta, Georgia While some memb. Tickets go on sale from Friday.
"You're going to get some new songs from the new album and some old songs from the old albums and you're going to get new us and old us, and we're just going to go out and rock your world," Tyler, 64, told Reuters.
The volatile singer and "American Idol" judge was greeted by dozens of fans as the band swept into a Los Angeles news conference in flamboyant fashion - Tyler on a motorbike, drummer Joey Kramer in a white Lamborghini, guitarist Joe Perry in a taxi and bassist Tom Hamilton in a rickshaws='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330687089_4'Thames & . Guitarist Brad Whitford is currently on tour with another band.
"We've been known to set the world on fire with our type of music...so we decided to call this The Global Warming Tour," Tyler told journalists.
COMING BACK HOME
Formed in Boston in the 1970s, Aerosmith has sold over 150 million records worldwide and had hits like "Walk This Way" and "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing".
But they said playing at home was the biggest thrill.
"Coming back to American fans, that's my favorite part, because being on stage and getting the response that we're going to get hopefully from these new songs from American fans is something I really look forward to and something that has always held us together," said Kramer.
Aerosmith's last North American tour, in 2009, had to be scrapped midway through after Tyler, who had a history of drug addiction, fell off the stage and broke his shoulderose years ago, '. He later entered rehab for addiction to prescription painkillers.
Last year, he fell in the shower during Aerosmith's South American tour after passing out with stomach flu, but was back performing two days later.
"I'm going to be in a sling all night to hold me up!" Tyler joked on Wednesday of the upcoming gigs.
"It's all ludicrous, we've played...almost 5000 times nowe and questions remain abo. I've fallen of the stage four times, so it's alright, it gets a lot of press...I'm just an overactive kid that gets into a lot of troubleebrations for one of rock and roll's biggest . Let's wait to see what happens next," he said.
Tyler's decision in 2010 to join "American Idol" as a judge ruffled some feathers among his bandmates 'We started out as a . But Tyler said his role on the TV singing contest had brought Aerosmith a whole new audience.
"The music that we write, fortunately it's been seductive to all genres of peopleout as a blues band playing the clubs and more. There's going to be kids who are going to get introduced to Aerosmith all over again, and there's a bunch of new music that we're taking a risk and putting oute largest newspaper collection of Rolling Stone. It's kind of futuristic rock, all the way across the board, we're just good for that," said the rocker.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Jill Serjeant)
This article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIP ADVICE.
"The Hunger Games" soundtrack tops Billboard chart
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Hunger Games" official soundtrack shot to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart on Wednesday, following the film's record-setting opening weekend.
"The Hunger Games" soundtrack sold 175,000 copies last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan and is the first film soundtrack to debut at No' id='lw_1330540219_4'Micky Dolenz/span, s. 1 since Michael Jackson's concert film "This Is It" topped the chart following his sudden death in 2009.
Produced by country musician T-Bone Burnett, "The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond" album features songs by Taylor Swift, Arcade Fire, Miranda Lambert, Maroon 5 and The Civil Wars.
The soundtrack's lead single "Safe and Sound," by Swift and The Civil Wars, was released in December as the film started gaining buzz, and clocked in at Nocame the principal teen idol of the rock quartet f. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Swift's second single from the soundtrack, "Eyes Open," notched the NoHard Day's Night' and ran fr. 4 position on the Digital Songs chart this week, selling 176,000 copies.
The post-apocalyptic action film "The Hunger Games," based on the first of a best-selling series of young adult novels by author Suzanne Collins, was released on March 23 and scored the third-highest domestic film opening in history with $155 million at U.Syshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_2'The Monke. and Canadian box offices.
Elsewhere British singer Adele held onto the No'I'm a Believer,' (Reporting by. 2 spot with her Grammy-winning album "21," followed by indie rock band The Shins, who debuted their fourth studio album, "Port of Morrow," at Noyshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_. 3.
Last week's record-breaking chart-toppers, British boy band One Direction, slipped to No/span's office, Jones, 66, born. 4 with their debut album "Up All Night," while alternative hip hop group Odd Future debuted at Noger of the 1960s made-f. 5 with their collaborative set, "The Odd Future Tape Vol0540219_5'medical examiner/span&#. 2."
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Jill Serjeant)
"The Hunger Games" soundtrack sold 175,000 copies last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan and is the first film soundtrack to debut at No' id='lw_1330540219_4'Micky Dolenz/span, s. 1 since Michael Jackson's concert film "This Is It" topped the chart following his sudden death in 2009.
Produced by country musician T-Bone Burnett, "The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond" album features songs by Taylor Swift, Arcade Fire, Miranda Lambert, Maroon 5 and The Civil Wars.
The soundtrack's lead single "Safe and Sound," by Swift and The Civil Wars, was released in December as the film started gaining buzz, and clocked in at Nocame the principal teen idol of the rock quartet f. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Swift's second single from the soundtrack, "Eyes Open," notched the NoHard Day's Night' and ran fr. 4 position on the Digital Songs chart this week, selling 176,000 copies.
The post-apocalyptic action film "The Hunger Games," based on the first of a best-selling series of young adult novels by author Suzanne Collins, was released on March 23 and scored the third-highest domestic film opening in history with $155 million at U.Syshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_2'The Monke. and Canadian box offices.
Elsewhere British singer Adele held onto the No'I'm a Believer,' (Reporting by. 2 spot with her Grammy-winning album "21," followed by indie rock band The Shins, who debuted their fourth studio album, "Port of Morrow," at Noyshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_. 3.
Last week's record-breaking chart-toppers, British boy band One Direction, slipped to No/span's office, Jones, 66, born. 4 with their debut album "Up All Night," while alternative hip hop group Odd Future debuted at Noger of the 1960s made-f. 5 with their collaborative set, "The Odd Future Tape Vol0540219_5'medical examiner/span&#. 2."
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Jill Serjeant)
Susan Boyle musical a hit with fans and critics
NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) - Fans came from as far as Australia to see the premiere of a new musical based on the life of reality TV star Susan Boyle, and early reviews suggested the trip was not wasted.
"I Dreamed a Dream", named after the song that made Boyle a global celebrity via YouTube in 2009, premiered at Newcastle's Theatre Royal in northern England late on Tuesday and the reviews have been mainly glowing.
"In matching the gutsy good humor of its heroine without stooping to hagiography, this is a delight that deserves to go far, and fast, as she has done," said Dominic Cavendish in a five-star review in the Daily Telegraph.
Patrick Marmion awarded the show three stars out of five in the Daily Mail, writing: "It's also a jolly good knees-upas time to move on, . Between moments of throat-clearing reverentiality and tear-stained crooning, there is much fun to be had."
Boyle, who shot to fame after singing on the "Britain's Got Talent" TV show, is portrayed in the musical by Scottish actress Elaine Smith, although the 50-year-old makes a brief appearance in a rousing finale.
Smith, best known in Britain for her role in television sitcom "Rab Cst/span's performances declined. Nesbitt", said the musical should help audiences understand Boyle's sometimes difficult life -- both before she found fame and fortune and after.
"If we were going to do a stage show it was going to be theatrical and magical and tell the fairy story but tell the darkness of it as well," Smith told Reuters.
"You had to be tall, thin, blonde, gorgeous, and talent didn't matter any more, and I think for all of us, myself included, when you see Susan it was about judging a book by its cover.
"And it made us all sit back and say 'Oh wait a minute, talent matters'."
Producer Michael Harrison praised Boyle for handling the pressure of the media and public spotlight.
Boyle's rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from "Les Miserables" has been watched hundreds of millions of times on the internet and she has gone on to sell tens of millions of records under the watchful eye of music impresario Simon Cowell.
The meteoric rise to fame of the former Scottish church worker, whose age and appearance turned her into what some commentators described as a media "freak show", took its toll early on when she was admitted to a clinic after a breakdown.
"I think the way she's dealt with it all is remarkable," Harrison said.
"Because you suddenly go from being on your own in a working class village in Scotland to global superstardom and I think that affects anybody and I think she continues to handle it brilliantly."
Fans came from far and wide to attend the premiere.
"I decided back in June to attend the Susan Boyle musical .. of the world's biggest music . even though at that stage Susan hadn't been announced as appearing in the show," said Cathy Garroway who travelled from Sydney, Australia.
Jeannie Odom, from California, said Boyle had proved her doubters wrong.
"Susan is everybody, she's your sister, she's your neighbor, she's the person you sit next to in church and sing with," she said.
"For her to have the courage to get up on 'Britain's Got Talent' and walk out and take a chance of being accepted and heard, everyone was snickering at her39; 50th anniversary this year a. And once she opened her mouth and began to sing, no one was snickering."
Boyle, who pulled out of planned media interviews before the premiere, is expected to appear and perform at most of the shows In comments reported by span . It plays in Newcastle until March 31 before going on a tour of Britain and Ireland.
(Writing by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
"I Dreamed a Dream", named after the song that made Boyle a global celebrity via YouTube in 2009, premiered at Newcastle's Theatre Royal in northern England late on Tuesday and the reviews have been mainly glowing.
"In matching the gutsy good humor of its heroine without stooping to hagiography, this is a delight that deserves to go far, and fast, as she has done," said Dominic Cavendish in a five-star review in the Daily Telegraph.
Patrick Marmion awarded the show three stars out of five in the Daily Mail, writing: "It's also a jolly good knees-upas time to move on, . Between moments of throat-clearing reverentiality and tear-stained crooning, there is much fun to be had."
Boyle, who shot to fame after singing on the "Britain's Got Talent" TV show, is portrayed in the musical by Scottish actress Elaine Smith, although the 50-year-old makes a brief appearance in a rousing finale.
Smith, best known in Britain for her role in television sitcom "Rab Cst/span's performances declined. Nesbitt", said the musical should help audiences understand Boyle's sometimes difficult life -- both before she found fame and fortune and after.
"If we were going to do a stage show it was going to be theatrical and magical and tell the fairy story but tell the darkness of it as well," Smith told Reuters.
"You had to be tall, thin, blonde, gorgeous, and talent didn't matter any more, and I think for all of us, myself included, when you see Susan it was about judging a book by its cover.
"And it made us all sit back and say 'Oh wait a minute, talent matters'."
Producer Michael Harrison praised Boyle for handling the pressure of the media and public spotlight.
Boyle's rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from "Les Miserables" has been watched hundreds of millions of times on the internet and she has gone on to sell tens of millions of records under the watchful eye of music impresario Simon Cowell.
The meteoric rise to fame of the former Scottish church worker, whose age and appearance turned her into what some commentators described as a media "freak show", took its toll early on when she was admitted to a clinic after a breakdown.
"I think the way she's dealt with it all is remarkable," Harrison said.
"Because you suddenly go from being on your own in a working class village in Scotland to global superstardom and I think that affects anybody and I think she continues to handle it brilliantly."
Fans came from far and wide to attend the premiere.
"I decided back in June to attend the Susan Boyle musical .. of the world's biggest music . even though at that stage Susan hadn't been announced as appearing in the show," said Cathy Garroway who travelled from Sydney, Australia.
Jeannie Odom, from California, said Boyle had proved her doubters wrong.
"Susan is everybody, she's your sister, she's your neighbor, she's the person you sit next to in church and sing with," she said.
"For her to have the courage to get up on 'Britain's Got Talent' and walk out and take a chance of being accepted and heard, everyone was snickering at her39; 50th anniversary this year a. And once she opened her mouth and began to sing, no one was snickering."
Boyle, who pulled out of planned media interviews before the premiere, is expected to appear and perform at most of the shows In comments reported by span . It plays in Newcastle until March 31 before going on a tour of Britain and Ireland.
(Writing by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Lionel Richie goes country on new album 'Tuskegee'
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - If he hadn't known better, Lionel Richie jokes that he might have felt insulted when initially sitting down with some of today's top country stars to record his new album of duets, "Tuskegee."
"I pulled out the lyrics to the songs, and they were like, 'what's that?'
"I said, 'here are the lyrics.'" Richie says with a mock look of astonishment, then smilesan, former lead singer of the 1960s made-fo. "They said, 'Oh no, man'Christine Kearney/span; Writi. I know thisr, England/span, became the p. I've been singing it since 1983 or 1987,'Wednesday at a hospital in Florida,. Someone even said, 'I've been singing these songs since I was in elementary school.'
"I was like, 'Thank you very much, I didn't need to hear that,'" the 62-year-old told Reuters about re-recording some of his memorable songs with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Willie Nelson and Little Big Town.
"Tuskegee," which hit record stores on Monday, features Richie and 13 country stars singing some top hits of his heyday in the 1980s, including "Hello," "Stuck On You" and "All Night Long."
Going country may seem out of place for the pop and R&B singer who gained stardom in the 1970s with the funk and soul group The Commodores, perfecting his brand of romantic ballads then embarking on a major solo career.
But the Alabama native is no stranger to country music, and several of his mega hits have been covered with a twang had several hits that sold mi. The late Conway Twitty recorded Richie's "Three Times a Lady" and Kenny Rogers scored a hit with the Richie-penned "Lady."
"I've always felt right at home in country because I was raised just down the road from Nashville in Tuskegee, Alabama, where I was immersed in country, R&B, gospel and classical music," Richie said.
He said recording his old favorites with country stars proved to be a surreal experience as he came to realize how many artists knew, and liked, his musicday at a hospital in Florida, acco. Some of those singers offered reinterpretations of his songs and many pushed him hard to perform at his peak level in the studio, Richie said.
"Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland) came in and it took me a minute to wrap my head around what she wanted to do with 'Hello.' I was like, 'Oh, I hold that note that long?' And Billy Currington can go high with his voice, and you'd never know thatgland/span, became the principal teen idol o. He did 'Just for You' and he just nailed it."
Richie also chuckled at the memory of Darius Rucker announcing in the studio that he would sing Richie's part on "Stuck on You."
"He told me, 'I'm doing your part and anything that goes up high you have it.'" Richie saidNesmith/span and span cla. "Those were my orders."
SURPRISES AND CHALLENGES
A few people surprised him with their song choiceslevision pop band span clas. Instead of choosing "All Night Long," as Richie anticipated, Kenny Chesney picked "My Love" which he said was his favorite.
Tim McGraw wanted to perform "Sail On," another choice that surprised Richie, though not after he sang it' id='lw_1330540219_4'Micky Dolenz/span,. "That caught me off guard," Richie saiduters) - span class='yshortcuts' id. "But he was dead on the money with it."
Perhaps his biggest challenge was a duet with Shania Twain on "Endless Love." It was the first time Twain had been in the recording studio since her long hiatus to deal with a crumbling marriage and voice condition/span, died on Wednesday at a hospital . Richie became aware that she had lost her confidence as well.
Twain did not want to record in Nashville and rejected several locations Richie suggested='yshortcuts' id='lw_13305402. They finally settled on the studio at his beach house in the Bahamas August of 1968, . He was surprised to learn that a television crew from Oprah Winfrey's cable channel, OWN, would film the session for a reality TV series, "Why Not?"
When Twain arrived, Richie asked her out of sight of the cameras when was the last time she had been on stagespan - had several hits that s. She told him it had been seven years.
"I told her we both had something in common: We were both scared," Richie recalledborn in span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. "I told her we're artists and all artists are egotistical maniacs with an inferiority complexbecame the principal teen idol of the. When we walk off stage, we're always in doubt if we can walk back in front of a mic and sing again.
"Then I told her, 'When you walk back in front of that microphone, you'll turn back into Shania Twain.'
Along with the album's release, Richie will appear on the April 1 Academy of Country Music Awards TV show, and he further explores his country side in a CBS special, "ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert," set to air on April 13.
The special, which was pre-taped, features appearances by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum and othersn class='yshortcuts' id='lw_13305402. Richie called it "a night that I will remember for the rest of my life."
"The ultimate compliment here is that you have these people telling you that something you wrote is their favorite songLast Train to Clarksville' and 'I'. And then they want to sing it with me? Come on, I mean, at a certain point you have to stop and realize your blessings," he said.
(Reporting by Vernell Hackett; Editing By Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by PERSONALS.
"I pulled out the lyrics to the songs, and they were like, 'what's that?'
"I said, 'here are the lyrics.'" Richie says with a mock look of astonishment, then smilesan, former lead singer of the 1960s made-fo. "They said, 'Oh no, man'Christine Kearney/span; Writi. I know thisr, England/span, became the p. I've been singing it since 1983 or 1987,'Wednesday at a hospital in Florida,. Someone even said, 'I've been singing these songs since I was in elementary school.'
"I was like, 'Thank you very much, I didn't need to hear that,'" the 62-year-old told Reuters about re-recording some of his memorable songs with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Willie Nelson and Little Big Town.
"Tuskegee," which hit record stores on Monday, features Richie and 13 country stars singing some top hits of his heyday in the 1980s, including "Hello," "Stuck On You" and "All Night Long."
Going country may seem out of place for the pop and R&B singer who gained stardom in the 1970s with the funk and soul group The Commodores, perfecting his brand of romantic ballads then embarking on a major solo career.
But the Alabama native is no stranger to country music, and several of his mega hits have been covered with a twang had several hits that sold mi. The late Conway Twitty recorded Richie's "Three Times a Lady" and Kenny Rogers scored a hit with the Richie-penned "Lady."
"I've always felt right at home in country because I was raised just down the road from Nashville in Tuskegee, Alabama, where I was immersed in country, R&B, gospel and classical music," Richie said.
He said recording his old favorites with country stars proved to be a surreal experience as he came to realize how many artists knew, and liked, his musicday at a hospital in Florida, acco. Some of those singers offered reinterpretations of his songs and many pushed him hard to perform at his peak level in the studio, Richie said.
"Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland) came in and it took me a minute to wrap my head around what she wanted to do with 'Hello.' I was like, 'Oh, I hold that note that long?' And Billy Currington can go high with his voice, and you'd never know thatgland/span, became the principal teen idol o. He did 'Just for You' and he just nailed it."
Richie also chuckled at the memory of Darius Rucker announcing in the studio that he would sing Richie's part on "Stuck on You."
"He told me, 'I'm doing your part and anything that goes up high you have it.'" Richie saidNesmith/span and span cla. "Those were my orders."
SURPRISES AND CHALLENGES
A few people surprised him with their song choiceslevision pop band span clas. Instead of choosing "All Night Long," as Richie anticipated, Kenny Chesney picked "My Love" which he said was his favorite.
Tim McGraw wanted to perform "Sail On," another choice that surprised Richie, though not after he sang it' id='lw_1330540219_4'Micky Dolenz/span,. "That caught me off guard," Richie saiduters) - span class='yshortcuts' id. "But he was dead on the money with it."
Perhaps his biggest challenge was a duet with Shania Twain on "Endless Love." It was the first time Twain had been in the recording studio since her long hiatus to deal with a crumbling marriage and voice condition/span, died on Wednesday at a hospital . Richie became aware that she had lost her confidence as well.
Twain did not want to record in Nashville and rejected several locations Richie suggested='yshortcuts' id='lw_13305402. They finally settled on the studio at his beach house in the Bahamas August of 1968, . He was surprised to learn that a television crew from Oprah Winfrey's cable channel, OWN, would film the session for a reality TV series, "Why Not?"
When Twain arrived, Richie asked her out of sight of the cameras when was the last time she had been on stagespan - had several hits that s. She told him it had been seven years.
"I told her we both had something in common: We were both scared," Richie recalledborn in span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. "I told her we're artists and all artists are egotistical maniacs with an inferiority complexbecame the principal teen idol of the. When we walk off stage, we're always in doubt if we can walk back in front of a mic and sing again.
"Then I told her, 'When you walk back in front of that microphone, you'll turn back into Shania Twain.'
Along with the album's release, Richie will appear on the April 1 Academy of Country Music Awards TV show, and he further explores his country side in a CBS special, "ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert," set to air on April 13.
The special, which was pre-taped, features appearances by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum and othersn class='yshortcuts' id='lw_13305402. Richie called it "a night that I will remember for the rest of my life."
"The ultimate compliment here is that you have these people telling you that something you wrote is their favorite songLast Train to Clarksville' and 'I'. And then they want to sing it with me? Come on, I mean, at a certain point you have to stop and realize your blessings," he said.
(Reporting by Vernell Hackett; Editing By Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by PERSONALS.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Bobby Womack diagnosed with colon cancer
(Reuters) - U.Sember, (Reporting by Mike Collett-. singer-songwriter Bobby Womack has been diagnosed with colon cancer, according to a message posted by his longtime friend Bootsy Collins on Facebook.
Funk bassist Collins said he had spoken to the soul musician over the weekend.
"He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers," Collins wroteg, 'In the 1980s for instan. "Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up."
Representatives for Womack could not immediately be reached for comment.
Womack, 68, was rushed to hospital in Houston, Texas earlier this month due to severe shortness of breath, and was scheduled to undergo "a minor heart procedure".
His best-known songs as a vocalist include "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "If You Think You're Lonely Now", and he also wrote hits for many other acts.
Womack's "It's All Over Now", which the Rolling Stones covered in 1964, gave the rock band its first British number one.
In 2010, Womack collaborated with British band Gorillaz on their album "Plastic Beach" and is due to release a new studio album "The Bravest Man in the Universe" in June.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
Funk bassist Collins said he had spoken to the soul musician over the weekend.
"He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers," Collins wroteg, 'In the 1980s for instan. "Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up."
Representatives for Womack could not immediately be reached for comment.
Womack, 68, was rushed to hospital in Houston, Texas earlier this month due to severe shortness of breath, and was scheduled to undergo "a minor heart procedure".
His best-known songs as a vocalist include "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "If You Think You're Lonely Now", and he also wrote hits for many other acts.
Womack's "It's All Over Now", which the Rolling Stones covered in 1964, gave the rock band its first British number one.
In 2010, Womack collaborated with British band Gorillaz on their album "Plastic Beach" and is due to release a new studio album "The Bravest Man in the Universe" in June.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
UK boy band One Direction breaks Billboard record with debut album
LONDON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British boy band One Direction has become the first UK group to debut at No class='yshortcuts' id='lw_1331673019_6. 1 in the U.Shern California band The Doob. Billboard 200 album chart, adding another victory in their whirlwind success story.
The band sold more than 176,000 copies of their debut album "Up All Night", making chart history in the United States, with the record soaring straight to the top of the digital charts within minutes of its official release on March 13th, a statement from the band's label Syco said on Wednesday.
One Direction's debut album knocked last week's chart topper, Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball," from Nosaid on Tuesday, Doobie Broth. 1 and came in ahead of Adele's Grammy-winning album "21," which remained at Noll health, and I will alw. 2 with 148,000 copies sold last week.
The boy band came together on Britain's "The X Factor" television talent contest after judge Simon Cowell suggested they sing together as a band rather than on their own.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, all aged between 18 and 21, joined forces and became hot competition during the 2010 edition of "The X Factor," finishing in third place.
"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the U.Ses', 'Brotherhood' and 2010's 'World Gone C. album charts is unbelievable," Horan said in a statement.
Over 10,000 fans turned up for the band's first live TV performance on the NBC's Today Show in New York.
The band have also racked up more than 204 million views on video website YouTube, have 12 million followers on Twitter and 3.6 million fans on Facebook.
"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement," Cowell said.
One Direction's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" won a BRIT Award in February and sold more than 131,000 copies in its first week 'The last few years, he was. Their entry at Noond drummer and was h. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart also marked the highest singles debut from a British band since the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" in 1997.
"It's beyond a dream come true for us," fellow band member Styles said.
One Direction were signed to Cowell's Syco label in 2011 in partnership with Columbia Records in the United States.
Syco Entertainment is a music television, film and digital joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment whose assets include The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.
One Direction's 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be addedne Crazy,' Founding member and guit. An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first dayorthern California band The Doobie B. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Paul Casciato)
The band sold more than 176,000 copies of their debut album "Up All Night", making chart history in the United States, with the record soaring straight to the top of the digital charts within minutes of its official release on March 13th, a statement from the band's label Syco said on Wednesday.
One Direction's debut album knocked last week's chart topper, Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball," from Nosaid on Tuesday, Doobie Broth. 1 and came in ahead of Adele's Grammy-winning album "21," which remained at Noll health, and I will alw. 2 with 148,000 copies sold last week.
The boy band came together on Britain's "The X Factor" television talent contest after judge Simon Cowell suggested they sing together as a band rather than on their own.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, all aged between 18 and 21, joined forces and became hot competition during the 2010 edition of "The X Factor," finishing in third place.
"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the U.Ses', 'Brotherhood' and 2010's 'World Gone C. album charts is unbelievable," Horan said in a statement.
Over 10,000 fans turned up for the band's first live TV performance on the NBC's Today Show in New York.
The band have also racked up more than 204 million views on video website YouTube, have 12 million followers on Twitter and 3.6 million fans on Facebook.
"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement," Cowell said.
One Direction's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" won a BRIT Award in February and sold more than 131,000 copies in its first week 'The last few years, he was. Their entry at Noond drummer and was h. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart also marked the highest singles debut from a British band since the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" in 1997.
"It's beyond a dream come true for us," fellow band member Styles said.
One Direction were signed to Cowell's Syco label in 2011 in partnership with Columbia Records in the United States.
Syco Entertainment is a music television, film and digital joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment whose assets include The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.
One Direction's 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be addedne Crazy,' Founding member and guit. An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first dayorthern California band The Doobie B. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Paul Casciato)
UK boy band breaks U.S. charts record with debut album
LONDON (Reuters) - British teen band One Direction became the first UK group to enter the U.Sistory of run-ins with the law, notably in. Billboard 200 chart at number one.
The band sold more than 176,000 copies of their debut album "Up All Night", making chart history in the United States, with the record soaring straight to the top of the digital charts within minutes of its official release on March 13th, a statement from the band's label Syco said on Wednesday.
The boy band came together on Britain's The X Factor TV talent contest after judge Simon Cowell suggested they sing together as a band rather than on their own.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson joined forces and became hot competition during the 2010 edition of The X Factor, finishing in third place.
"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the U.S re-start his 'Symphonic. album charts is unbelievable," Horan said in a statement.
Over 10,000 fans turned up for the band's first live TV performance on the NBC's Today Show in New York.
The band have also racked up more than 204 million views on video website YouTube, have 12 million followers on Twitter and 3.6 million fans on Facebook.
"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement," Cowell said.
One Direction's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" won a BRIT Award in February and sold more than 131,000 copies in its first weekrganizers said original . Their entry on the Billboard Hot 100 also marked the highest debut from a British band since the Spice Girls in 1998.
"It's beyond a dream come true for us," fellow bandmember Styles said.
One Direction were signed to Cowell's Syco label in 2011 in partnership with Columbia Records in the United States.
Syco Entertainment is a music television, film and digital joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment whose assets include The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.
One Direction's 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be added of me and to all my fans, family and . An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first day, 'I'm looking forward t. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.
(Reporting by Li-mei Hoang; Editing by Paul Casciato)
The band sold more than 176,000 copies of their debut album "Up All Night", making chart history in the United States, with the record soaring straight to the top of the digital charts within minutes of its official release on March 13th, a statement from the band's label Syco said on Wednesday.
The boy band came together on Britain's The X Factor TV talent contest after judge Simon Cowell suggested they sing together as a band rather than on their own.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson joined forces and became hot competition during the 2010 edition of The X Factor, finishing in third place.
"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the U.S re-start his 'Symphonic. album charts is unbelievable," Horan said in a statement.
Over 10,000 fans turned up for the band's first live TV performance on the NBC's Today Show in New York.
The band have also racked up more than 204 million views on video website YouTube, have 12 million followers on Twitter and 3.6 million fans on Facebook.
"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement," Cowell said.
One Direction's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" won a BRIT Award in February and sold more than 131,000 copies in its first weekrganizers said original . Their entry on the Billboard Hot 100 also marked the highest debut from a British band since the Spice Girls in 1998.
"It's beyond a dream come true for us," fellow bandmember Styles said.
One Direction were signed to Cowell's Syco label in 2011 in partnership with Columbia Records in the United States.
Syco Entertainment is a music television, film and digital joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment whose assets include The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.
One Direction's 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be added of me and to all my fans, family and . An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first day, 'I'm looking forward t. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.
(Reporting by Li-mei Hoang; Editing by Paul Casciato)
Kiss, Motley Crue unite for U.S. tour
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two powerhouse bands that have rocked music fans over four decades, Kiss and Motley Crue, on Tuesday unveiled plans for a 40-plus city tour across the United States this summer.
Kiss, with their painted faces and outrageous costumes, rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Hotter Than Hell." Motley Crue reached stardom in the 1980s and scored hits like "Drkely, no announcement has b. Feelgood" and "Girls, Girls, Girls."
Both bands earned millions of fans and combined sold nearly 200 million albums worldwide.
The tour will kick off on July 20 in Bristow, Virginia and hit cities such as Dallas, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Cleveland before winding up on September 23 in Hartford, Connecticut.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Jill Serjeant)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
Kiss, with their painted faces and outrageous costumes, rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Hotter Than Hell." Motley Crue reached stardom in the 1980s and scored hits like "Drkely, no announcement has b. Feelgood" and "Girls, Girls, Girls."
Both bands earned millions of fans and combined sold nearly 200 million albums worldwide.
The tour will kick off on July 20 in Bristow, Virginia and hit cities such as Dallas, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Cleveland before winding up on September 23 in Hartford, Connecticut.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Jill Serjeant)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
George Michael "fighting fit," to re-start tour
LONDON (Reuters) - British singer George Michael has rescheduled dates of a tour he was forced to cancel when he fell ill with severe pneumonia last year and spent several weeks in a Vienna hospital.
'George Michael is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia,' said a statement released on his behalf on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman will re-start his 'Symphonica' tour on September 4 with a new concert in Vienna, where he will donate 1,000 tickets as a thank you to the medical staff who treated him.
'I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you first to the doctors and nurses who saved my life and took such great care of me and to all my fans, family and friends for their love and support,' he said.
'I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.'
Michael, who went on to pursue a successful solo career recording hits including 'Careless Whisper', 'Faith' and 'I Want Your Sex', will also perform at the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris on September 9.
He will perform the postponed concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 29, and organizers said original tickets to cancelled dates will still be valid.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career and has a personal fortune valued at around 90 million pounds ($120 million).
But the Grammy Award-winning artist has a history of run-ins with the law, notably in 2010 when he spent four weeks in a British prison for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
'George Michael is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia,' said a statement released on his behalf on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman will re-start his 'Symphonica' tour on September 4 with a new concert in Vienna, where he will donate 1,000 tickets as a thank you to the medical staff who treated him.
'I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you first to the doctors and nurses who saved my life and took such great care of me and to all my fans, family and friends for their love and support,' he said.
'I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.'
Michael, who went on to pursue a successful solo career recording hits including 'Careless Whisper', 'Faith' and 'I Want Your Sex', will also perform at the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris on September 9.
He will perform the postponed concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 29, and organizers said original tickets to cancelled dates will still be valid.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career and has a personal fortune valued at around 90 million pounds ($120 million).
But the Grammy Award-winning artist has a history of run-ins with the law, notably in 2010 when he spent four weeks in a British prison for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
George Michael "fighting fit", to re-start tour
LONDON (Reuters) - British singer George Michael has rescheduled dates of a tour he was forced to cancel when he fell ill with severe pneumonia last year and spent several weeks in a Vienna hospital.
'George Michael is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia,' said a statement released on his behalf on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman will re-start his 'Symphonica' tour on September 4 with a new concert in Vienna, where he will donate 1,000 tickets as a thank you to the medical staff who treated him.
'I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you first to the doctors and nurses who saved my life and took such great care of me and to all my fans, family and friends for their love and support,' he said.
'I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.'
Michael, who went on to pursue a successful solo career recording hits including 'Careless Whisper', 'Faith' and 'I Want Your Sex', will also perform at the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris on September 9.
He will perform the postponed concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 29, and organizers said original tickets to cancelled dates will still be valid.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career and has a personal fortune valued at around 90 million pounds ($120 million).
But the Grammy Award-winning artist has a history of run-ins with the law, notably in 2010 when he spent four weeks in a British prison for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
'George Michael is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia,' said a statement released on his behalf on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman will re-start his 'Symphonica' tour on September 4 with a new concert in Vienna, where he will donate 1,000 tickets as a thank you to the medical staff who treated him.
'I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you first to the doctors and nurses who saved my life and took such great care of me and to all my fans, family and friends for their love and support,' he said.
'I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.'
Michael, who went on to pursue a successful solo career recording hits including 'Careless Whisper', 'Faith' and 'I Want Your Sex', will also perform at the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris on September 9.
He will perform the postponed concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 29, and organizers said original tickets to cancelled dates will still be valid.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career and has a personal fortune valued at around 90 million pounds ($120 million).
But the Grammy Award-winning artist has a history of run-ins with the law, notably in 2010 when he spent four weeks in a British prison for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Richards apologizes to fellow Rolling Stone Jagger
LONDON (Reuters) - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has apologized to Mick Jagger for derogatory comments he made about the lead singer in his 2010 memoir 'Life', which caused a rift within the band.
In comments reported by Rolling Stone magazine, the two rock'n'roll veterans agreed it was time to move on.
Fans will be relieved to see them burying the hatchet, as the row had threatened to undermine plans to celebrate the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary this year and to go on another world tour.
'Looking back at any career you are bound to recall both the highs and the lows,' Jagger was quoted as sayingraphs and ephemera fro. 'In the 1980s for instance Keith and I were not communicating very well.
'I got very involved with the business side of the Stones, mainly because I felt no one else was interested, but it's plain now from the book that Keith felt excluded, which is a pityon's Oxford Street, The . Time I reckon to move on.'
Richards added: 'Mick's rightic autobiography, which will . He and I have had conversations over the last year of a kind we have not had for an extremely long time and that has been incredibly important to me.
'As far as the book goes, it was my story and it was very raw, as I meant it to be, but I know that some parts of it and some of the publicity really offended Mick and I regret that.'
An eagerly anticipated world tour by one of the world's biggest music acts is now not expected to happen until 2013 at the earliest, according to the same magazine.
Some industry sources had put the delay down to the argument between Richards and Jagger, but Rolling Stone said it may be more closely linked to concerns over Richards' health.
'The quality of the guitarist's performances declined after he suffered a head injury on vacation in Fiji in April 2006, midway through the Bigger Bang tour,' the magazine said.
As well as the tour, the Rolling Stones have announced the July 12 release of a picture book tracing their rise to global fame Charlie Watts said in a joint statement, . The band debuted at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street on the same date in 1962.
There will also be a 'groundbreaking' documentary film released in September.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)
In comments reported by Rolling Stone magazine, the two rock'n'roll veterans agreed it was time to move on.
Fans will be relieved to see them burying the hatchet, as the row had threatened to undermine plans to celebrate the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary this year and to go on another world tour.
'Looking back at any career you are bound to recall both the highs and the lows,' Jagger was quoted as sayingraphs and ephemera fro. 'In the 1980s for instance Keith and I were not communicating very well.
'I got very involved with the business side of the Stones, mainly because I felt no one else was interested, but it's plain now from the book that Keith felt excluded, which is a pityon's Oxford Street, The . Time I reckon to move on.'
Richards added: 'Mick's rightic autobiography, which will . He and I have had conversations over the last year of a kind we have not had for an extremely long time and that has been incredibly important to me.
'As far as the book goes, it was my story and it was very raw, as I meant it to be, but I know that some parts of it and some of the publicity really offended Mick and I regret that.'
An eagerly anticipated world tour by one of the world's biggest music acts is now not expected to happen until 2013 at the earliest, according to the same magazine.
Some industry sources had put the delay down to the argument between Richards and Jagger, but Rolling Stone said it may be more closely linked to concerns over Richards' health.
'The quality of the guitarist's performances declined after he suffered a head injury on vacation in Fiji in April 2006, midway through the Bigger Bang tour,' the magazine said.
As well as the tour, the Rolling Stones have announced the July 12 release of a picture book tracing their rise to global fame Charlie Watts said in a joint statement, . The band debuted at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street on the same date in 1962.
There will also be a 'groundbreaking' documentary film released in September.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Doobie Brothers' drummer dies of cancer at age 65
(Reuters) - Mike Hossack, a longtime member of rock band The Doobie Brothers, has died of cancer at the age of 65, the band's manager said on Tuesday.
Hossack, who helped give the band its distinctive sound with two drummers in the early 1970s, died peacefully on Monday at his home in Dubois, Wyoming, manager Bruce Cohn said.
'Mike was a one-of-a kind guy and a longtime member of the Doobie Brothers,' Cohn said in a statementty='og:site_name' content='Yahoo! News'/ meta prop. 'He was a fighter and fought the big battle with cancer and I speak for Mike's family and the entire band when I say he will be greatly missed.'
New Jersey-born Hossack began playing drums at the age of 12title' content='Whitney Houst. After serving in the Navy in Vietnam in the late 1960s he was planning a career in law enforcement before getting his first gig with a California band called Mourning Reign.
That led to an invitation to join the northern California band The Doobie Brothers in 1971, where he became the second drummer and was heard on early hit songs like 'Blackwater', 'Listen to the Music' and 'China Grove.'
Hossack left the Doobie Brothers in 1973 and formed Bonaroo, worked with other bands, and became a partner in a Hollywood recording studio.
He rejoined the Doobie Brothers in 1987 for a series of benefit concerts for Vietnam war veterans, and remained with them when the band reformed to make albums like 'Cycles', 'Brotherhood' and 2010's 'World Gone Crazy.'
Founding member and guitarist Tom Johnston said Hossack was 'an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer.'
'The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that,' Johnston said on Tuesday.
Doobie Brothers' singer and songwriter Pat Simmons said he and Hossack were friends for 43 years.
'We shared some wonderful adventures together, times I will never forget/list/blist-mixed-desktop-min-228854,css. Thanks for all those wonderful memories Mike, and all the great musica property='fb:app_id' content. We love you,' Simmons said.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by DATING SERVICE.
Hossack, who helped give the band its distinctive sound with two drummers in the early 1970s, died peacefully on Monday at his home in Dubois, Wyoming, manager Bruce Cohn said.
'Mike was a one-of-a kind guy and a longtime member of the Doobie Brothers,' Cohn said in a statementty='og:site_name' content='Yahoo! News'/ meta prop. 'He was a fighter and fought the big battle with cancer and I speak for Mike's family and the entire band when I say he will be greatly missed.'
New Jersey-born Hossack began playing drums at the age of 12title' content='Whitney Houst. After serving in the Navy in Vietnam in the late 1960s he was planning a career in law enforcement before getting his first gig with a California band called Mourning Reign.
That led to an invitation to join the northern California band The Doobie Brothers in 1971, where he became the second drummer and was heard on early hit songs like 'Blackwater', 'Listen to the Music' and 'China Grove.'
Hossack left the Doobie Brothers in 1973 and formed Bonaroo, worked with other bands, and became a partner in a Hollywood recording studio.
He rejoined the Doobie Brothers in 1987 for a series of benefit concerts for Vietnam war veterans, and remained with them when the band reformed to make albums like 'Cycles', 'Brotherhood' and 2010's 'World Gone Crazy.'
Founding member and guitarist Tom Johnston said Hossack was 'an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer.'
'The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that,' Johnston said on Tuesday.
Doobie Brothers' singer and songwriter Pat Simmons said he and Hossack were friends for 43 years.
'We shared some wonderful adventures together, times I will never forget/list/blist-mixed-desktop-min-228854,css. Thanks for all those wonderful memories Mike, and all the great musica property='fb:app_id' content. We love you,' Simmons said.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by DATING SERVICE.
Monday, March 12, 2012
MTV Europe Music Awards return to Frankfurt in 2012
LONDON (Reuters) - The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) will be held on November 11 in Frankfurt, returning to the Germany city which also hosted the annual ceremony in 2001, the music channel announced on Monday.
The EMA show is billed as a celebration of music from around the globe, although it tends to focus on top U.Sy and span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. artists who are popular internationally and so score well with fans who vote for the winners.
MTV will be hoping to build on the popularity of its 2011 show in Belfast, which attracted 23 million viewers on all platforms as well as 158 million votes worldwide.
Last year's event starred Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Coldplay and LMFAO.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
The EMA show is billed as a celebration of music from around the globe, although it tends to focus on top U.Sy and span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. artists who are popular internationally and so score well with fans who vote for the winners.
MTV will be hoping to build on the popularity of its 2011 show in Belfast, which attracted 23 million viewers on all platforms as well as 158 million votes worldwide.
Last year's event starred Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Coldplay and LMFAO.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Whitney Houston's daughter hears mom talk to her
mlns:og='http://ogp.me/ns#' xmlns:fb='http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml'> Whitney Houston's daughter hears mom talk to her - Yahoo! News . I'm doing as good as I possibly can" since her mother was found lifeless in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel on February 11, the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awardsition to the announcement. ...'/>
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Russian grannies in geriatric Eurovision Song battle
MOSCOW (Reuters) - This year's Eurovision song contest is shaping up to be a battle of the geriatrics with the announcement that a folk group comprised of elderly ladies will represent Russia.
The news that Russia's Eurovision contestant will be rural folk group Buranovskiye Babushki comes on the heels of Britain's decision to choose septuagenarian crooner Engelbert Humperdinck as its entry for the song contest in May.
The group, from Russia's Republic of Udmirtia, some 1,300 km (800 miles) east of Moscow, have embarked on their hunt for musical glory after having failed to win approval to represent their country in two previous attempts.
Clad in the traditional red headscarfs and long dresses of their region, thumping feet shod in tree bark shoes and urging the audience come and dance, they outsang such rivals as 2008 Eurovision winner Dima Bilan and Julia Volkova, a former member of the band Tatu, which topped the UK charts in 2003.
The choice of a folk band will strengthen Russia's quest for the top spot at the competition, said young Muscovite Viktoria.
'These are traditions, culture should not be forgotten,' she said.
This year's annual Eurovision song contest -- a blockbuster television event watched by some 100 million people -- will be held in Baku, capital of former Soviet republic Azerbaijan.
Buranovskiye Babushki producer Kseniya Rubtsova told Reuters that the grannies will have their work cut out for them if they hope to defeat the 75-year-old Humperdinck, who is best known for 1960s hit 'Release Me'.
'He is a very serious contender, well-known both in our country and the world over,' Rubtsova said, adding that the group members, the eldest one of which is 76 years old, are pinning their hopes on God.
'The group is sending their wages to raise the funds for building a church in their Buranovo village,' she saidand span class='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_2'. 'We are hoping for the divine help.'
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; additional reporting by Dmitry Madorsky, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
The news that Russia's Eurovision contestant will be rural folk group Buranovskiye Babushki comes on the heels of Britain's decision to choose septuagenarian crooner Engelbert Humperdinck as its entry for the song contest in May.
The group, from Russia's Republic of Udmirtia, some 1,300 km (800 miles) east of Moscow, have embarked on their hunt for musical glory after having failed to win approval to represent their country in two previous attempts.
Clad in the traditional red headscarfs and long dresses of their region, thumping feet shod in tree bark shoes and urging the audience come and dance, they outsang such rivals as 2008 Eurovision winner Dima Bilan and Julia Volkova, a former member of the band Tatu, which topped the UK charts in 2003.
The choice of a folk band will strengthen Russia's quest for the top spot at the competition, said young Muscovite Viktoria.
'These are traditions, culture should not be forgotten,' she said.
This year's annual Eurovision song contest -- a blockbuster television event watched by some 100 million people -- will be held in Baku, capital of former Soviet republic Azerbaijan.
Buranovskiye Babushki producer Kseniya Rubtsova told Reuters that the grannies will have their work cut out for them if they hope to defeat the 75-year-old Humperdinck, who is best known for 1960s hit 'Release Me'.
'He is a very serious contender, well-known both in our country and the world over,' Rubtsova said, adding that the group members, the eldest one of which is 76 years old, are pinning their hopes on God.
'The group is sending their wages to raise the funds for building a church in their Buranovo village,' she saidand span class='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_2'. 'We are hoping for the divine help.'
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; additional reporting by Dmitry Madorsky, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATING.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Garth Brooks headed to Country Music Hall of Fame
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - The Country Music Association on Tuesday named three stars for induction into its Hall of Fame including superstar Garth Brooks and veterans Connie Smith and Hargus 'Pig' Robbins.
Brooks, who has sold more than 128 million albums worldwide in his career, became a superstar of the 1990s with albums such as 'Ropin' the Wind' and 'No Fences' and was heralded for his live stage acts The company later revea. He took a break from heavy touring in the early 2000s, but in recent years has been performing more often.
The 50-year-old Brooks was picked for the Country Music Hall of Fame in its 'Modern Era Artist' category.
At Tuesday's announcement in the Nashville-based Hall of Fame, Brooks said it was an honor to be named but added it seemed premature with others such as Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs still not inducted.
'It's kind of odd to be in this room,' he saidgned a $250 million deal with Jackson's. 'You want to be mentioned in the same breath with George Strait and Reba McEntire -- those are the two heroes I grew up with,' he said, adding others like Merle Haggard and George Jones.
'Now you're gonna get to be in the same hall with them? Make no mistake, I don't think I'm on that levelations, and the IFPI. But it's pretty cool to have your name listed with them,' he said.
Piano player Hargus 'Pig' Robbins was announced in a category for recording and touring musiciansd='lw_1330955763_5'James McCormick/sp. He was among the most sought-after music artists in Nashville for what became known as the 'Nashville sound' of the late 1950s and 1960s.
Robbins, 74, also was part of an elite group of studio session musicians known as the Superpickersid on Monday, Sony Music, a uni. He played with hundreds of artists including Haggard, Jones and Reba McEntire.
He lost one eye at age two and became completely blind at age fourme less than a year after Sony faced widesp. He earned his nickname as a young student after sneaking out of class and returning 'dirty as a pig,' a teacher saidMusic did not have an immediate c. The nickname stuckbby group declined to comment on an ongoing inv. Like Brooks, Robbins said he was 'honored' to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Connie Smith, 70, was selected in the Veterans Era artist categorydustry lobby group declined to com. She rose to fame in the 1960s and saw her debut single, 1964's 'Once a Day,' claim the No Sony Music, a unit of span. 1 spot on Billboard magazine's record chartof offences connected with the alleged se. It was the first time a female country singer reached Noem, its Sony Online Enterta. 1 -- a feat that went unmatched for 20 years.
She stepped out of the limelight during her career to focus on familyd='lw_1330955763_2'Sony Corps/. In the late 1990s, she married singer Marty Stuart and by the 2000s had returned to singing and recording again.
'I'm still enjoying music,' she said at Tuesday's announcement.
In fact, Smith said she was riding high this week because in addition to the announcement this morning she became a grandmother for the eighth time.
The induction of Brooks, Robbins and Smith will take place later this year at the Hall of Fame's Ford Theater in Nashvillecould not confirm British med. The Country Music Association created the Hall of Fame in 1961 and induction is considered the industry's top honor.
(Reporting by Vernell Hackett; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Christine Kearney)
Brooks, who has sold more than 128 million albums worldwide in his career, became a superstar of the 1990s with albums such as 'Ropin' the Wind' and 'No Fences' and was heralded for his live stage acts The company later revea. He took a break from heavy touring in the early 2000s, but in recent years has been performing more often.
The 50-year-old Brooks was picked for the Country Music Hall of Fame in its 'Modern Era Artist' category.
At Tuesday's announcement in the Nashville-based Hall of Fame, Brooks said it was an honor to be named but added it seemed premature with others such as Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs still not inducted.
'It's kind of odd to be in this room,' he saidgned a $250 million deal with Jackson's. 'You want to be mentioned in the same breath with George Strait and Reba McEntire -- those are the two heroes I grew up with,' he said, adding others like Merle Haggard and George Jones.
'Now you're gonna get to be in the same hall with them? Make no mistake, I don't think I'm on that levelations, and the IFPI. But it's pretty cool to have your name listed with them,' he said.
Piano player Hargus 'Pig' Robbins was announced in a category for recording and touring musiciansd='lw_1330955763_5'James McCormick/sp. He was among the most sought-after music artists in Nashville for what became known as the 'Nashville sound' of the late 1950s and 1960s.
Robbins, 74, also was part of an elite group of studio session musicians known as the Superpickersid on Monday, Sony Music, a uni. He played with hundreds of artists including Haggard, Jones and Reba McEntire.
He lost one eye at age two and became completely blind at age fourme less than a year after Sony faced widesp. He earned his nickname as a young student after sneaking out of class and returning 'dirty as a pig,' a teacher saidMusic did not have an immediate c. The nickname stuckbby group declined to comment on an ongoing inv. Like Brooks, Robbins said he was 'honored' to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Connie Smith, 70, was selected in the Veterans Era artist categorydustry lobby group declined to com. She rose to fame in the 1960s and saw her debut single, 1964's 'Once a Day,' claim the No Sony Music, a unit of span. 1 spot on Billboard magazine's record chartof offences connected with the alleged se. It was the first time a female country singer reached Noem, its Sony Online Enterta. 1 -- a feat that went unmatched for 20 years.
She stepped out of the limelight during her career to focus on familyd='lw_1330955763_2'Sony Corps/. In the late 1990s, she married singer Marty Stuart and by the 2000s had returned to singing and recording again.
'I'm still enjoying music,' she said at Tuesday's announcement.
In fact, Smith said she was riding high this week because in addition to the announcement this morning she became a grandmother for the eighth time.
The induction of Brooks, Robbins and Smith will take place later this year at the Hall of Fame's Ford Theater in Nashvillecould not confirm British med. The Country Music Association created the Hall of Fame in 1961 and induction is considered the industry's top honor.
(Reporting by Vernell Hackett; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Christine Kearney)
Monday, March 5, 2012
Michael Jackson files allegedly stolen by hackers
LONDON (Reuters) - A large number of music files of the late 'king of pop' Michael Jackson were allegedly stolen from record company Sony Music by computer hackers, sources familiar with the case said on Monday.
Sony Music, a unit of Sony Corps, signed a $250 million deal with Jackson's estate in 2010, the year after the 'Thriller' singer's death, to release 10 albums covering previously unreleased material and his back catalogue.
On Friday, two men appeared in a British court accused of offences connected with the alleged security breachxperts, including Health and s. They were arrested last May and charged in September.
James Marks and James McCormick denied the charges under the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act at Leicester Crown Court.
According to the Serious Organized Crime Agency, they were remanded on bail and were due to stand trial in January next year.
Sony Music did not have an immediate comment to make on the allegations, and the IFPI record industry lobby group declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Sources could not confirm British media reports that tens of thousands of files, most of them by Jackson, were allegedly downloaded illegally, although files can vary from entire tracks to small snippets of music.
The allegations come less than a year after Sony faced widespread criticism over its systems security when hackers accessed personal information on 77 million PlayStation Network and Qriocity accounts.
The company later revealed hackers had stolen data from 25 million accounts of a separate system, its Sony Online Entertainment PC games network.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
Sony Music, a unit of Sony Corps, signed a $250 million deal with Jackson's estate in 2010, the year after the 'Thriller' singer's death, to release 10 albums covering previously unreleased material and his back catalogue.
On Friday, two men appeared in a British court accused of offences connected with the alleged security breachxperts, including Health and s. They were arrested last May and charged in September.
James Marks and James McCormick denied the charges under the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act at Leicester Crown Court.
According to the Serious Organized Crime Agency, they were remanded on bail and were due to stand trial in January next year.
Sony Music did not have an immediate comment to make on the allegations, and the IFPI record industry lobby group declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Sources could not confirm British media reports that tens of thousands of files, most of them by Jackson, were allegedly downloaded illegally, although files can vary from entire tracks to small snippets of music.
The allegations come less than a year after Sony faced widespread criticism over its systems security when hackers accessed personal information on 77 million PlayStation Network and Qriocity accounts.
The company later revealed hackers had stolen data from 25 million accounts of a separate system, its Sony Online Entertainment PC games network.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Rolling Stones to issue 50th anniversary photo book
LONDON (Reuters) - Fifty years to the day after the Rolling Stones first took to the stage, the veteran rockers will publish a photographic record of their rise to fame and lasting success.
'The Rolling Stones: 50' will hit the shelves on July 12, the date in 1962 when the band debuted at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street.
The book, published by Thames & Hudson in Britain, is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for one of rock and roll's biggest acts, but what fans are calling for most is another world tour.
While some members of the group have said a tour was likely, no announcement has been made and questions remain about the relationship between lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards.
Ties were strained, according to accounts in the music press, after Richards portrayed Jagger in an unflattering light in his 2010 memoir 'Life'.
The new book will feature 700 illustrations, 300 of them in color and many taken from the archive of the Daily Mirror tabloid, which contains the largest newspaper collection of Rolling Stones photography.
'This is our story of 50 fantastic years,' Jagger, Richards, bass player Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts said in a joint statement.
'We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we've filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.
'Curated by us, it features the very best photographs and ephemera from and beyond our archives.'
The photographic autobiography, which will also feature words from the band, includes images taken by Philip Townsend, the photographer for the band's first ever shoot.
The 352-page hardback edition will retail at 29.95 pounds ($48) in Britain.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White)
'The Rolling Stones: 50' will hit the shelves on July 12, the date in 1962 when the band debuted at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street.
The book, published by Thames & Hudson in Britain, is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for one of rock and roll's biggest acts, but what fans are calling for most is another world tour.
While some members of the group have said a tour was likely, no announcement has been made and questions remain about the relationship between lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards.
Ties were strained, according to accounts in the music press, after Richards portrayed Jagger in an unflattering light in his 2010 memoir 'Life'.
The new book will feature 700 illustrations, 300 of them in color and many taken from the archive of the Daily Mirror tabloid, which contains the largest newspaper collection of Rolling Stones photography.
'This is our story of 50 fantastic years,' Jagger, Richards, bass player Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts said in a joint statement.
'We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we've filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.
'Curated by us, it features the very best photographs and ephemera from and beyond our archives.'
The photographic autobiography, which will also feature words from the band, includes images taken by Philip Townsend, the photographer for the band's first ever shoot.
The 352-page hardback edition will retail at 29.95 pounds ($48) in Britain.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White)
Chris Brown brings "Fortune" to fans in May
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Chris Brown will release his fifth studio album titled 'Fortune' in May, record label RCA said on Thursday, following on from Brown's recent Grammy comeback performance and award win.
'I hope this album shows growth and positivity to all my fans and will inspire them to live life to the fullest!!!' Brown posted on his Twitter this week about the upcoming May 8 album release.
'Fortune' will follow on from Brown's fourth album 'F.A.M.E,' which was released in March 2011, debuted at Nocult it is for span class='yshortcuts'. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned hits such as 'Look At Me Now' and 'Yeah 3x.' Brown also picked up the Grammy award for best R&B album last month.
The singer, 22, has been attempting to rework his tarnished image after he was arrested and pleaded guilty to beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009BC wasn't even progr. Brown was sentenced to five-year probation, which he is currently mid-way through serving.
After publicly apologizing and being invited back to the Grammys this year to perform, Brown was on his way to redeeming himself, but his Grammy win had fans and critics split, which led to Brown retaliating on Twitter.
Adding further speculation, the singer musically reconciled with Rihanna last month, as the songstress added her vocals on a remix of Brown's new uptempo dance song 'Turn Up The Music' while Brown lent his voice to Rihanna's sexually-charged song 'Birthday Cake.'
The collaboration sparked criticism, with many online fans fearing Brown was being forgiven too easily for his assault three years ago.
But the singer still has the support of many fans, as the music video for 'Turn Up The Music,' the lead single from 'Fortune,' amassed more than 8 million views since its release on February 17.
The new album 'Fortune' will be released in two editions, standard and deluxe, with the latter featuring additional songs and a collectable cover.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
'I hope this album shows growth and positivity to all my fans and will inspire them to live life to the fullest!!!' Brown posted on his Twitter this week about the upcoming May 8 album release.
'Fortune' will follow on from Brown's fourth album 'F.A.M.E,' which was released in March 2011, debuted at Nocult it is for span class='yshortcuts'. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned hits such as 'Look At Me Now' and 'Yeah 3x.' Brown also picked up the Grammy award for best R&B album last month.
The singer, 22, has been attempting to rework his tarnished image after he was arrested and pleaded guilty to beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009BC wasn't even progr. Brown was sentenced to five-year probation, which he is currently mid-way through serving.
After publicly apologizing and being invited back to the Grammys this year to perform, Brown was on his way to redeeming himself, but his Grammy win had fans and critics split, which led to Brown retaliating on Twitter.
Adding further speculation, the singer musically reconciled with Rihanna last month, as the songstress added her vocals on a remix of Brown's new uptempo dance song 'Turn Up The Music' while Brown lent his voice to Rihanna's sexually-charged song 'Birthday Cake.'
The collaboration sparked criticism, with many online fans fearing Brown was being forgiven too easily for his assault three years ago.
But the singer still has the support of many fans, as the music video for 'Turn Up The Music,' the lead single from 'Fortune,' amassed more than 8 million views since its release on February 17.
The new album 'Fortune' will be released in two editions, standard and deluxe, with the latter featuring additional songs and a collectable cover.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Christine Kearney)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Country's Craig Morgan finds balance in new album
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - When Craig Morgan found out that actress Angie Harmon of 'Rizzoli & Isles' was a fan of his music, he asked if she would like to be a co-star in his video for 'This Ole Boy.' To his delight, she agreed.
'I remember her being hot when she was on 'Law & Order,'' the singer says, laughing as he talked to Reuters about the new album and video.
He went on to explain how the two connected.
'We had this mutual friend and they were talking about country music and she said she loved my musicrcent increase over the p. She told him to tell me if I ever needed somebody in a video she'd love to do itcurrent episodes, Aside from adv. So when we were getting ready to shoot the video for 'This Ole Boy,' I called her.
'We've become friendsn the business,' (Reporting by . She and (husband) Jason (Sehorn) are wonderful people Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levin. We share a lot of the same interests, morals and values.'
The two have already talked about having Morgan do a guest stint on her detective show on TNT, 'Rizzoli & Isles.'
Going in front of a camera for a role other than singing would not be foreign for Morgan, 47, who portrayed himself on an episode earlier this year of Lifetime's 'Army Wives.'
He also hosts Outdoor Channel's 'Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors,' which is in its second seasontcuts' id='lw_1330564435_6'Greenblat. The show is a behind-the-scenes look at his life of music, riding, dirt bike racing and hunting as he celebrates his love for the great outdoors across the United States.
The single 'Good Ole Boy' is the title cut from Morgan's new CD, the sixth of his 10-year career, which hit stores this weekrogramming reality shows, which. The album is a balance of the singer's sense of humor and a more serious side that surfaces occasionally.
The title song is a story of a guy who realizes he has got the girl of his dreams and he better do something about it and her effort to w. Morgan said when he heard it for the first time, he had to call frequent co-writer Phil O'Donnell to see if they had written it.
'The song just felt goodhose of 'Smash' are content to rec. It was a no-brainer because I thought if it feels that comfortable, then we should cut itpe is that 'Smash' siphons dow. I felt like it was a song that would make people want to buy the album to see what's on the rest of the recordwhether it will be renewed for a second season,. I've told people this ain't gonna cure no diseases, but it's a fun song that makes you feel good when you hear it.'
Morgan, who is known for hits including 'Red Neck Yacht Club' and 'International Harvester,' also has written songs that display a serious side.
TRUE WORDS
He won a songwriting award for his poignant 'Almost Home,' and paints a portrait of middle America with his slice-of-life tune 'That's What I Love About Sunday.'
In an era when critics complain that too many songs purport to depict a country lifestyle, Morgan is believable on his tune 'Country Boys Like Me.'
He brings a bit of romance with 'Love Loves A Long Night' and 'Summer Moon.' He used funky production values to proclaim that he will have 'Better Stories' than anyone else in a storytelling contest.
'Show Me Your Tattoo' is a song that gets close to Morgan's sense of humor, but it is the provocative 'Corn Star' that is garnering a lot of attention.
'That's going to be the biggest hit of my career,' Morgan said with a laughlw_1330564435_6'Greenblatt/span said by te. 'When Jeffrey Steel and Shane Minor were writing it they called me and said I needed to be a part of it because it was right up my alley.
'People are loving itn the ratings, while viewership for 'span cl. I don't tell them the title, I just start singing it and they go 'Holy Cow!' It's hugelike where things are going,' an N. I really believe it will be one of the most memorable hits of my career -- it's that big.
Morgan sings: 'They cut a four-lane highway right through her pasture
Blamed it on progress and movin' traffic faster.
Everybody knows the only reason for the road
Was to see her chug-a-luggin' on top of that tractor.
She's a corn star.'
'I don't care who you are, you could live in New York City and you could envision every line of the songr' in the 1990s, That was lat. I streamed it over the Internet when we were recording it, and now at my shows people come up to me and say 'Hey, I want to hear 'Corn Star.'' Or they'll ask me where they can buy it.'
Morgan already has an idea who he wants to play the lead roleith long-reining 'American Idol. 'I want Lady Gagas another reason why 'The Voice' i. I can see her in a corn stalk outfit.'
The Tennessee native, a U.Smmediate monetization opportunities, but th. Army veteran, said this album defines him better than anything he has done.
'This whole album is a portrait of where I'm at in my life This year marks Greenblat. From 'Show Me Your Tattoo' to 'Love Loves a Long Night,' or 'Stories,' that's just where I am.
'I'm just in a wonderful place and all of these songs together define me'The X-Files,' 'King. And as much as they define where I'm at in my life, I think they can define an individual who is 15 years old or someone who is 50 or 70f the Hill,' and 'Melrose Place,' among oth. I've never felt like I've had a better compilation of music that defines not only who I am, but who we are as a people who listen to country music.'
(Editing by Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
'I remember her being hot when she was on 'Law & Order,'' the singer says, laughing as he talked to Reuters about the new album and video.
He went on to explain how the two connected.
'We had this mutual friend and they were talking about country music and she said she loved my musicrcent increase over the p. She told him to tell me if I ever needed somebody in a video she'd love to do itcurrent episodes, Aside from adv. So when we were getting ready to shoot the video for 'This Ole Boy,' I called her.
'We've become friendsn the business,' (Reporting by . She and (husband) Jason (Sehorn) are wonderful people Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levin. We share a lot of the same interests, morals and values.'
The two have already talked about having Morgan do a guest stint on her detective show on TNT, 'Rizzoli & Isles.'
Going in front of a camera for a role other than singing would not be foreign for Morgan, 47, who portrayed himself on an episode earlier this year of Lifetime's 'Army Wives.'
He also hosts Outdoor Channel's 'Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors,' which is in its second seasontcuts' id='lw_1330564435_6'Greenblat. The show is a behind-the-scenes look at his life of music, riding, dirt bike racing and hunting as he celebrates his love for the great outdoors across the United States.
The single 'Good Ole Boy' is the title cut from Morgan's new CD, the sixth of his 10-year career, which hit stores this weekrogramming reality shows, which. The album is a balance of the singer's sense of humor and a more serious side that surfaces occasionally.
The title song is a story of a guy who realizes he has got the girl of his dreams and he better do something about it and her effort to w. Morgan said when he heard it for the first time, he had to call frequent co-writer Phil O'Donnell to see if they had written it.
'The song just felt goodhose of 'Smash' are content to rec. It was a no-brainer because I thought if it feels that comfortable, then we should cut itpe is that 'Smash' siphons dow. I felt like it was a song that would make people want to buy the album to see what's on the rest of the recordwhether it will be renewed for a second season,. I've told people this ain't gonna cure no diseases, but it's a fun song that makes you feel good when you hear it.'
Morgan, who is known for hits including 'Red Neck Yacht Club' and 'International Harvester,' also has written songs that display a serious side.
TRUE WORDS
He won a songwriting award for his poignant 'Almost Home,' and paints a portrait of middle America with his slice-of-life tune 'That's What I Love About Sunday.'
In an era when critics complain that too many songs purport to depict a country lifestyle, Morgan is believable on his tune 'Country Boys Like Me.'
He brings a bit of romance with 'Love Loves A Long Night' and 'Summer Moon.' He used funky production values to proclaim that he will have 'Better Stories' than anyone else in a storytelling contest.
'Show Me Your Tattoo' is a song that gets close to Morgan's sense of humor, but it is the provocative 'Corn Star' that is garnering a lot of attention.
'That's going to be the biggest hit of my career,' Morgan said with a laughlw_1330564435_6'Greenblatt/span said by te. 'When Jeffrey Steel and Shane Minor were writing it they called me and said I needed to be a part of it because it was right up my alley.
'People are loving itn the ratings, while viewership for 'span cl. I don't tell them the title, I just start singing it and they go 'Holy Cow!' It's hugelike where things are going,' an N. I really believe it will be one of the most memorable hits of my career -- it's that big.
Morgan sings: 'They cut a four-lane highway right through her pasture
Blamed it on progress and movin' traffic faster.
Everybody knows the only reason for the road
Was to see her chug-a-luggin' on top of that tractor.
She's a corn star.'
'I don't care who you are, you could live in New York City and you could envision every line of the songr' in the 1990s, That was lat. I streamed it over the Internet when we were recording it, and now at my shows people come up to me and say 'Hey, I want to hear 'Corn Star.'' Or they'll ask me where they can buy it.'
Morgan already has an idea who he wants to play the lead roleith long-reining 'American Idol. 'I want Lady Gagas another reason why 'The Voice' i. I can see her in a corn stalk outfit.'
The Tennessee native, a U.Smmediate monetization opportunities, but th. Army veteran, said this album defines him better than anything he has done.
'This whole album is a portrait of where I'm at in my life This year marks Greenblat. From 'Show Me Your Tattoo' to 'Love Loves a Long Night,' or 'Stories,' that's just where I am.
'I'm just in a wonderful place and all of these songs together define me'The X-Files,' 'King. And as much as they define where I'm at in my life, I think they can define an individual who is 15 years old or someone who is 50 or 70f the Hill,' and 'Melrose Place,' among oth. I've never felt like I've had a better compilation of music that defines not only who I am, but who we are as a people who listen to country music.'
(Editing by Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)
This article is brought to you by SINGLES.
Analysis: NBC caught between rising "Voice", crashing "Smash"
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Since their debut four weeks ago, NBC's two most-talked about TV shows have been on opposite trajectories: 'The Voice' has soared in the ratings, while viewership for 'Smash' has crashed.
Monday's episode of 'The Voice,' which pits teams of singers selected by music stars Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine from the band Maroon 5 against each other, garnered 14.9 million viewers, up 49 percent from the same episode in the previous seasonfrom the fall of 1966 to August of 1968, . That put 'The Voice' in a dead heat with long-reining 'American Idol' for the title of television's most-watched singing competition.
By contrast, 'Smash,' a lavishly produced and heavily promoted musical drama about a Broadway show, scored just 6.6 million viewers330540219_5'medical e. While that is a 3 percent increase over the prior week, 'Smash' is still down 4.9 million viewers since it debuted on February 6.
The ratings juxtaposition of the two shows illustrates just how difficult it is for Comcast Corp, which bought majority control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co a year ago, to turn around NBC after years of cutbacks0219_3'Manchester, England/span, became the pr. The business environment is also tough, with viewers migrating to cable or increasingly watching shows on demand and via online video services such as Netflix, Hulu.com and Google Inc's YouTube.
In his first interview since the debut of 'Smash,' NBC's president of programming, Bob Greenblatt, said he was 'not at all disappointed in its performance.'
'The expectations were never that 'Smash' would be the biggest hit on television,' Greenblatt said by telephone his three cohorts - span cla. 'But two years ago NBC wasn't even programming dramas at 10 p.m the Beatles film 'A Hard Day's Night' and. To go from that to a 2.3 rating is a complete success.' (A 2.3 rating equates to 6.6 million viewers)
Not everyone agrees with that rosy view, howeverpan class='yshortcuts' id. Critics note that NBC has already canceled scripted dramas 'The Playboy Club,' 'Free Agents,' 'The Firm,' and 'Prime Suspect' this season after weak ratingsting by Steve Gorman; Editing by. Only three new shows developed by the network have survived this season so far: sitcoms 'Whitney' and 'Up All Night,' and drama 'Grimm.'
'They liked where things started, but they don't like where things are going,' an NBC Universal executive, who requested anonymity, said of Comcast's current view of the network.
Comcast plucked Greenblatt, 51, from Showtime in late 2010, after he helped build the pay-TV network owned by CBS Corp into a legitimate contender to HBO by developing shows such as 'The L Word,' 'Weeds,' and 'Dexter.'
But Greenblatt has thus far been unable to replicate that success at NBC a hospital in Florida, according to an off. Excluding American football, whose fan base heavily skews the ratings, NBC ranks five-tenths of a ratings point behind Walt Disney Co's ABC on the season in terms of total viewers, far behind the leader CBS and a smaller distance behind runner-up Fox, which is owned by News Corp.
CLIMBING OUT OF THE BASEMENT
Both Comcast and Greenblatt have said that turning around NBC Universal's broadcast fortunes would take years of the rock quartet featured on the NBC . The network in 2011 reported a 7 percent decline in revenue to $6.3 billion as a result of lower ratings and advertising revenue Kearney/span; Writing by Steve Gorman;. Its cable networks -- which are valued by analysts at around $30 billion and include USA, CNBC and Bravo -- generated $8.5 billion in revenue last year, an increase of 10.6 percent.
Greenblatt disputes the idea that Comcast is unhappy with the broadcast network's direction and said the company is less concerned about ratings and more interested in re-establishing NBC as a home for quality content.
Once the most-watched television network, NBC suffered from the departure of hit shows like 'Seinfeld' and 'Frasier' in the 1990snes, 66, born in span class='yshortcuts' id=. That was later compounded by the strict bottom-line focus of previous owner GEart by the Beatles film 'A Hard Day's Night' . Former NBC boss Jeff Zucker took measures such as programming reality shows, which are cheaper to produce, at the 8 p.med on Wednesday at a hos. slot, and abandoning dramas at 10 p.mrtcuts' id='lw_1330540219_6. He moved the late-night 'Jay Leno Show' to the 10 p.m, became the principal teen i. slot, only to move it back to 11:30 p.mfficial from the local span cl. because it fared poorly.
Greenblatt said that 'Smash' demonstrates that NBC is committed to programming high quality dramas againohorts - span class='. The show costs roughly $3.5 million per episode.
'They have a real quiet confidence that Bob is going to turn NBC around,' said a second NBC Universal executive of Comcast- span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. 'Their attitude is 'Smash' doesn't seem to be working, let's move on to the next one and sooner or later, a few will hit.'
The slide in viewership for 'Smash' has raised questions about whether it will be renewed for a second season of 1966 to August of 1968, . Greenblatt said the answer is most likely yes, but he did not rule out moving the show to a new day or time next season.
The musical drama is about an aspiring Broadway star, played by Katharine McPhee, and her effort to win the starring role in a new musical about Marilyn Monroe
As a young boy growing up in a middle class Midwestern family, Greenblatt was addicted to music theaterrock quartet featured on the NB. His passion for Broadway is part of what drove the development of 'Smash.'
Critics have used these two facts as evidence that the executive is 'not the right jockey' to turn around NBCn's office, Jones, 66. They cite 'Smash' as having limited appeal to a broad audiencelw_1330540219_7'Peter Tork/span - had. Nearly 70 percent of 'Smash's' viewers are females living in urban areas'm a Believer,' . By comparison, viewers for 'The Voice' are 59 percent female.
Supporters dismiss the notion that Greenblatt's tastes are too narrow for broadcast television, noting that when he was at Fox he helped develop such hits as 'The X-Files,' 'King of the Hill,' and 'Melrose Place,' among others.
Greenblatt concedes that the narrower appeal of 'Smash' is a concern, but he says looking at its ratings dip compared with 'The Voice's' lead-in paints an inaccurate picture.
'The Voice' is such a big show that whatever follows it is naturally going to have a big falloff by comparison,' he saids='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_0'Davy . 'The hope is that 'Smash' siphons down to a strong core audience of viewers.'
TOO RISKY OR NOT RISKY ENOUGH?
This year marks Greenblatt's first full year in control of NBC's development slate in part by the Beatles fi. During the fall pilot season -- the time of year when Hollywood's creative community pitches its shows to the networks -- Greenblatt put his stamp on the network by ordering 23 new programs for development, trailing only ABC.
Critics have tried to paint the cost of 'Smash' as wasteful spending, but Greenblatt counters that the price is in line with the average cost of one-hour scripted dramas.
'They have had a lot of misses, but it isn't for lack of trying,' said Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research for Horizon Media on Wednesday at a hospital in Florida, acc. 'They are putting up money for quality shows and trying to take the network in a different direction than Zucker did/span - had several hits that sold mi. But they are just in a very deep hole.'
Zucker, now helping to produce an upcoming talk show featuring former CBS News anchor Katie Couric, did not respond to email messages for comment.
According to Michael Hirschorn, a former head of programming for VH1 now running his own independent production firm, ISH Entertainment, the problem with 'Smash' is not its subject matter but its execution3'Manchester, England/span, became the princ. Conventional wisdom is that 'Smash' is a risky bet because it is a musical drama, but Hirschorn argues it is not risky enough.
Pointing to shows like AMC's zombie series 'Walking Dead' and Showtime's post-9/11 conspiracy drama 'Homeland,' Hirschorn said that 'Smash' seems 'a little bit square and less compelling.'
'I would love to see Bob develop for NBC the kind of shows he did on Showtime,' Hirschorn added.
Of course, those shows are on cable television, which is free of the restrictions on language, nudity, violence, and drug use that govern broadcast networks like NBC a hospital in Florida, accordin. But Hirschorn argues that broadcast television does not have to break rules to be edgier -- it just has to be original.
Adgate agrees, noting that the risks broadcast television used to take with shows such as 'NYPD Blue' and 'Roseanne' are now almost exclusively the province of cable televisionss='yshortcuts' id='lw_1. And the originality of cable television shows like 1960s advertising drama 'Mad Men' are being transferred less successfully to broadcast television byn the NBC comedy series 'The Monkees,' which was i. One example is NBC's canceled 'Playboy Club.'
There is another reason why 'The Voice' is working so well for NBC and 'Smash' is not, and that has to do with the shift in viewer habits brought on by DVRs and online video.
Viewers of 'The Voice' want to tune in each week to see which contestants advance or get eliminated, while those of 'Smash' are content to record new episodes and watch them at a different time, date, or all at once after the season ends.
From a financial perspective, each show brings different returnsree cohorts - span class='yshortcuts'. Reality shows like 'The Voice' can be immediately monetized through product placement deals and record label tie-ins, but do not have a shelf life beyond current episodes.
Aside from advertising, dramas such as 'Smash' do not offer immediate monetization opportunities, but they can be exploited through syndication, DVD, and on-demand deals over time.
'We're in the midst of a fundamental rebuild of the network, from the staff to what's on the air,' Greenblatt saidtcuts' id='lw_1330540219_3'Manchester, England. 'It is incumbent upon us to take big swings and invest in the business.'
(Reporting by Peter Lauria; Editing by Tiffany Wu and Steve Orlofsky)
Monday's episode of 'The Voice,' which pits teams of singers selected by music stars Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine from the band Maroon 5 against each other, garnered 14.9 million viewers, up 49 percent from the same episode in the previous seasonfrom the fall of 1966 to August of 1968, . That put 'The Voice' in a dead heat with long-reining 'American Idol' for the title of television's most-watched singing competition.
By contrast, 'Smash,' a lavishly produced and heavily promoted musical drama about a Broadway show, scored just 6.6 million viewers330540219_5'medical e. While that is a 3 percent increase over the prior week, 'Smash' is still down 4.9 million viewers since it debuted on February 6.
The ratings juxtaposition of the two shows illustrates just how difficult it is for Comcast Corp, which bought majority control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co a year ago, to turn around NBC after years of cutbacks0219_3'Manchester, England/span, became the pr. The business environment is also tough, with viewers migrating to cable or increasingly watching shows on demand and via online video services such as Netflix, Hulu.com and Google Inc's YouTube.
In his first interview since the debut of 'Smash,' NBC's president of programming, Bob Greenblatt, said he was 'not at all disappointed in its performance.'
'The expectations were never that 'Smash' would be the biggest hit on television,' Greenblatt said by telephone his three cohorts - span cla. 'But two years ago NBC wasn't even programming dramas at 10 p.m the Beatles film 'A Hard Day's Night' and. To go from that to a 2.3 rating is a complete success.' (A 2.3 rating equates to 6.6 million viewers)
Not everyone agrees with that rosy view, howeverpan class='yshortcuts' id. Critics note that NBC has already canceled scripted dramas 'The Playboy Club,' 'Free Agents,' 'The Firm,' and 'Prime Suspect' this season after weak ratingsting by Steve Gorman; Editing by. Only three new shows developed by the network have survived this season so far: sitcoms 'Whitney' and 'Up All Night,' and drama 'Grimm.'
'They liked where things started, but they don't like where things are going,' an NBC Universal executive, who requested anonymity, said of Comcast's current view of the network.
Comcast plucked Greenblatt, 51, from Showtime in late 2010, after he helped build the pay-TV network owned by CBS Corp into a legitimate contender to HBO by developing shows such as 'The L Word,' 'Weeds,' and 'Dexter.'
But Greenblatt has thus far been unable to replicate that success at NBC a hospital in Florida, according to an off. Excluding American football, whose fan base heavily skews the ratings, NBC ranks five-tenths of a ratings point behind Walt Disney Co's ABC on the season in terms of total viewers, far behind the leader CBS and a smaller distance behind runner-up Fox, which is owned by News Corp.
CLIMBING OUT OF THE BASEMENT
Both Comcast and Greenblatt have said that turning around NBC Universal's broadcast fortunes would take years of the rock quartet featured on the NBC . The network in 2011 reported a 7 percent decline in revenue to $6.3 billion as a result of lower ratings and advertising revenue Kearney/span; Writing by Steve Gorman;. Its cable networks -- which are valued by analysts at around $30 billion and include USA, CNBC and Bravo -- generated $8.5 billion in revenue last year, an increase of 10.6 percent.
Greenblatt disputes the idea that Comcast is unhappy with the broadcast network's direction and said the company is less concerned about ratings and more interested in re-establishing NBC as a home for quality content.
Once the most-watched television network, NBC suffered from the departure of hit shows like 'Seinfeld' and 'Frasier' in the 1990snes, 66, born in span class='yshortcuts' id=. That was later compounded by the strict bottom-line focus of previous owner GEart by the Beatles film 'A Hard Day's Night' . Former NBC boss Jeff Zucker took measures such as programming reality shows, which are cheaper to produce, at the 8 p.med on Wednesday at a hos. slot, and abandoning dramas at 10 p.mrtcuts' id='lw_1330540219_6. He moved the late-night 'Jay Leno Show' to the 10 p.m, became the principal teen i. slot, only to move it back to 11:30 p.mfficial from the local span cl. because it fared poorly.
Greenblatt said that 'Smash' demonstrates that NBC is committed to programming high quality dramas againohorts - span class='. The show costs roughly $3.5 million per episode.
'They have a real quiet confidence that Bob is going to turn NBC around,' said a second NBC Universal executive of Comcast- span class='yshortcuts' id='lw. 'Their attitude is 'Smash' doesn't seem to be working, let's move on to the next one and sooner or later, a few will hit.'
The slide in viewership for 'Smash' has raised questions about whether it will be renewed for a second season of 1966 to August of 1968, . Greenblatt said the answer is most likely yes, but he did not rule out moving the show to a new day or time next season.
The musical drama is about an aspiring Broadway star, played by Katharine McPhee, and her effort to win the starring role in a new musical about Marilyn Monroe
As a young boy growing up in a middle class Midwestern family, Greenblatt was addicted to music theaterrock quartet featured on the NB. His passion for Broadway is part of what drove the development of 'Smash.'
Critics have used these two facts as evidence that the executive is 'not the right jockey' to turn around NBCn's office, Jones, 66. They cite 'Smash' as having limited appeal to a broad audiencelw_1330540219_7'Peter Tork/span - had. Nearly 70 percent of 'Smash's' viewers are females living in urban areas'm a Believer,' . By comparison, viewers for 'The Voice' are 59 percent female.
Supporters dismiss the notion that Greenblatt's tastes are too narrow for broadcast television, noting that when he was at Fox he helped develop such hits as 'The X-Files,' 'King of the Hill,' and 'Melrose Place,' among others.
Greenblatt concedes that the narrower appeal of 'Smash' is a concern, but he says looking at its ratings dip compared with 'The Voice's' lead-in paints an inaccurate picture.
'The Voice' is such a big show that whatever follows it is naturally going to have a big falloff by comparison,' he saids='yshortcuts' id='lw_1330540219_0'Davy . 'The hope is that 'Smash' siphons down to a strong core audience of viewers.'
TOO RISKY OR NOT RISKY ENOUGH?
This year marks Greenblatt's first full year in control of NBC's development slate in part by the Beatles fi. During the fall pilot season -- the time of year when Hollywood's creative community pitches its shows to the networks -- Greenblatt put his stamp on the network by ordering 23 new programs for development, trailing only ABC.
Critics have tried to paint the cost of 'Smash' as wasteful spending, but Greenblatt counters that the price is in line with the average cost of one-hour scripted dramas.
'They have had a lot of misses, but it isn't for lack of trying,' said Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research for Horizon Media on Wednesday at a hospital in Florida, acc. 'They are putting up money for quality shows and trying to take the network in a different direction than Zucker did/span - had several hits that sold mi. But they are just in a very deep hole.'
Zucker, now helping to produce an upcoming talk show featuring former CBS News anchor Katie Couric, did not respond to email messages for comment.
According to Michael Hirschorn, a former head of programming for VH1 now running his own independent production firm, ISH Entertainment, the problem with 'Smash' is not its subject matter but its execution3'Manchester, England/span, became the princ. Conventional wisdom is that 'Smash' is a risky bet because it is a musical drama, but Hirschorn argues it is not risky enough.
Pointing to shows like AMC's zombie series 'Walking Dead' and Showtime's post-9/11 conspiracy drama 'Homeland,' Hirschorn said that 'Smash' seems 'a little bit square and less compelling.'
'I would love to see Bob develop for NBC the kind of shows he did on Showtime,' Hirschorn added.
Of course, those shows are on cable television, which is free of the restrictions on language, nudity, violence, and drug use that govern broadcast networks like NBC a hospital in Florida, accordin. But Hirschorn argues that broadcast television does not have to break rules to be edgier -- it just has to be original.
Adgate agrees, noting that the risks broadcast television used to take with shows such as 'NYPD Blue' and 'Roseanne' are now almost exclusively the province of cable televisionss='yshortcuts' id='lw_1. And the originality of cable television shows like 1960s advertising drama 'Mad Men' are being transferred less successfully to broadcast television byn the NBC comedy series 'The Monkees,' which was i. One example is NBC's canceled 'Playboy Club.'
There is another reason why 'The Voice' is working so well for NBC and 'Smash' is not, and that has to do with the shift in viewer habits brought on by DVRs and online video.
Viewers of 'The Voice' want to tune in each week to see which contestants advance or get eliminated, while those of 'Smash' are content to record new episodes and watch them at a different time, date, or all at once after the season ends.
From a financial perspective, each show brings different returnsree cohorts - span class='yshortcuts'. Reality shows like 'The Voice' can be immediately monetized through product placement deals and record label tie-ins, but do not have a shelf life beyond current episodes.
Aside from advertising, dramas such as 'Smash' do not offer immediate monetization opportunities, but they can be exploited through syndication, DVD, and on-demand deals over time.
'We're in the midst of a fundamental rebuild of the network, from the staff to what's on the air,' Greenblatt saidtcuts' id='lw_1330540219_3'Manchester, England. 'It is incumbent upon us to take big swings and invest in the business.'
(Reporting by Peter Lauria; Editing by Tiffany Wu and Steve Orlofsky)
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