LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Little Wayne toppled Elvis Presley to become the new King of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on Thursday, with a total of 109 songs, Billboard said.
Wayne, who also celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday, surpassed Presley's count of 108 entries in the Hot 100 singles chart between 1958 and 2003, as an artist on rapper Game's latest track 'Celebration.' That track also features Chris Brown, Tyga and Wiz Khalifa, entering the chart at No. 82 this week.
The rapper, nicknamed Weezy, released his debut studio album 'Tha Block Is Hot' in 1999. He has steadily grown to become one of the top names in U.S. hip hop, with hit singles including 'Right Above It' and '6 Foot 7 Foot.'
Wayne ranked fifth on Billboard's list of top-earning musicians in 2011, with an estimated $23.1 million.
Presley, the 'King' of rock'n'roll, held his title as the artist with the most Hot 100 singles for 45 years, with his single 'Rubberneckin'' last appearing on the chart at No. 100 in 2003.
His career predated the inception of the Billboard 100 chart, which started in 1958, so some of his most famous hits such as 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Hound Dog' never made it onto the chart.
Both Wayne and Presley were overtaken by the cast of Fox's hit musical television show 'Glee,' who have had a total of 204 entries in the Hot 100 to date.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jan Paschal)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Colorado "Frozen Dead Guy" festival to go on with or without corpse
DENVER (Reuters) - The frozen corpse that has inspired a Colorado town's whimsical 'Frozen Dead Guy Days' celebration may soon be put on ice somewhere else, but festival organizers said the body's removal will not have a chilling effect on the annual event.
'We will continue on whether or not Bredo Morstoel is here,' festival owner Amanda MacDonald said Wednesday of the man whose body has been packed in dry ice outside Nederland, Colorado, since 1993.
A financial dispute between Morstoel's grandson, Tryve Bauge, and the man hired to replenish the dry ice on a monthly basis, Bo Shaffer, has led to Bauge threatening to move his grandfather's body out of Colorado.
Each month for 18 years, Shaffer has hauled 1,700 pounds (770 kg) of dry ice - carbon dioxide in solid form - to a remote shed above Nederland to keep the corpse of Morstoel at minus-24 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-31 degrees Celsius) and in a state of cryonic suspension.
But Shaffer said he quit after Bauge refused to pay for the rising costs of fuel and ice, which has made the endeavor unprofitable.
'It takes two of us to make the four-hour roundtrip,' Shaffer told Reuters. 'My quitting is the only way to get his (Bauge's) attention.'
Bauge, who lives in Norway, did not immediately return an email message seeking comment about the dispute. But he told the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper that he is exploring the possibility of moving his grandfather to the Cryonics Institute in Michigan.
Cryonics is the process of freezing and storing a corpse to prevent decomposition in anticipation of medical technology that could bring the dead back to life. Liquid nitrogen, which is far colder than dry ice, is typically used for cryonic preservation.
Morstoel died of heart failure in his native Norway in 1989, and Bauge had his grandfather's body frozen and transported to a cryonics facility in California. Ultimately he had the corpse moved to Nederland, where Bauge lived at the time.
When Bauge was deported because of an expired visa, he hired Shaffer to act as an unofficial caretaker.
COFFIN RACES, HEARSE PARADE
At first, townspeople in the mountain village 17 miles southwest of Boulder, Colorado, were aghast at the thought of a frozen body being stored in their midst.
But they ultimately embraced the idea of an annual festival surrounding its most famous, albeit deceased, resident.
The late-winter celebration features activities such as coffin races, a hearse parade, a frozen salmon toss and snow beach volleyball. There are even tours to the site of Morstoel's sarcophagus, although his remains are not open for viewing.
MacDonald said the festival attracts about 10,000 people over its three-day run, which is held in early March, and has taken on a life of its own, with or without its namesake dead guy.
The nonprofit Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan, was founded by the late physicist Robert Ettinger, who was known as a pioneer in cryonics.
His son, David Ettinger, said by telephone that privacy concerns prevent him from discussing any potential patients. However, he did say ideal candidates for suspension are people who have recently died.
Such was the case with his father, he said, who was prepared for the procedure in the days before his death in 2011 at the age of 92.
'We've never had a patient presented to us under those circumstances,' he said of a corpse that has been packed in dry ice for nearly two decades.
The institute has about 100 suspended corpses, and charges a one-time $35,000 fee and $120 annually for 'human cryopreservation.'
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Xavier Briand)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'We will continue on whether or not Bredo Morstoel is here,' festival owner Amanda MacDonald said Wednesday of the man whose body has been packed in dry ice outside Nederland, Colorado, since 1993.
A financial dispute between Morstoel's grandson, Tryve Bauge, and the man hired to replenish the dry ice on a monthly basis, Bo Shaffer, has led to Bauge threatening to move his grandfather's body out of Colorado.
Each month for 18 years, Shaffer has hauled 1,700 pounds (770 kg) of dry ice - carbon dioxide in solid form - to a remote shed above Nederland to keep the corpse of Morstoel at minus-24 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-31 degrees Celsius) and in a state of cryonic suspension.
But Shaffer said he quit after Bauge refused to pay for the rising costs of fuel and ice, which has made the endeavor unprofitable.
'It takes two of us to make the four-hour roundtrip,' Shaffer told Reuters. 'My quitting is the only way to get his (Bauge's) attention.'
Bauge, who lives in Norway, did not immediately return an email message seeking comment about the dispute. But he told the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper that he is exploring the possibility of moving his grandfather to the Cryonics Institute in Michigan.
Cryonics is the process of freezing and storing a corpse to prevent decomposition in anticipation of medical technology that could bring the dead back to life. Liquid nitrogen, which is far colder than dry ice, is typically used for cryonic preservation.
Morstoel died of heart failure in his native Norway in 1989, and Bauge had his grandfather's body frozen and transported to a cryonics facility in California. Ultimately he had the corpse moved to Nederland, where Bauge lived at the time.
When Bauge was deported because of an expired visa, he hired Shaffer to act as an unofficial caretaker.
COFFIN RACES, HEARSE PARADE
At first, townspeople in the mountain village 17 miles southwest of Boulder, Colorado, were aghast at the thought of a frozen body being stored in their midst.
But they ultimately embraced the idea of an annual festival surrounding its most famous, albeit deceased, resident.
The late-winter celebration features activities such as coffin races, a hearse parade, a frozen salmon toss and snow beach volleyball. There are even tours to the site of Morstoel's sarcophagus, although his remains are not open for viewing.
MacDonald said the festival attracts about 10,000 people over its three-day run, which is held in early March, and has taken on a life of its own, with or without its namesake dead guy.
The nonprofit Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan, was founded by the late physicist Robert Ettinger, who was known as a pioneer in cryonics.
His son, David Ettinger, said by telephone that privacy concerns prevent him from discussing any potential patients. However, he did say ideal candidates for suspension are people who have recently died.
Such was the case with his father, he said, who was prepared for the procedure in the days before his death in 2011 at the age of 92.
'We've never had a patient presented to us under those circumstances,' he said of a corpse that has been packed in dry ice for nearly two decades.
The institute has about 100 suspended corpses, and charges a one-time $35,000 fee and $120 annually for 'human cryopreservation.'
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Xavier Briand)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Pink tops Billboard album chart, "Gangnam" No. 1 digital song
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop rocker Pink scored her first Billboard No. 1 album on Wednesday, while South Korean singer Psy, who has taken the Internet by storm with his horsey dance moves, landed at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart with his hit 'Gangnam Style.'
Psy recently appeared on the 'Today' show and 'Saturday Night Live' to perform 'Gangnam Style' while doing his choppy dance steps that vaguely recall a child riding a stick horse.
Pink's 'The Truth About Love' sold 280,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it the third-highest debut of 2012, behind Justin Bieber's 'Believe' and Madonna's 'MDNA.' It is the singer's best-selling debut to date.
Pink beat debuts from Kanye West's GOOD music rappers, The Killers and Carly Rae Jepsen. Sales of Pink's album were aided by a major Target promotional campaign as well as Amazon MP3 offering the record for a discount price of $5. The lead single - 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' - also topped Billboard's pop songs airplay chart this week.
K-pop viral phenomenon Psy, who has racked up some 270 million YouTube views, sold 301,000 digital copies in the U.S. last week of his 'Gangnam Style' hit, knocking Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' from its month-long run in the top spot.
The 34-year-old rapper, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, told a news conference in Seoul this week he would perform the song topless if it hit No.1 on the Billboard chart.
Elsewhere, 'Cruel Summer,' the latest compilation release from Kanye West's GOOD Music label featuring West collaborating with artists including Big Sean, Pusha T and 2Chainz, sold 205,000 copies in its first week to secure the No. 2 position on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Vegas rockers The Killers came in at No. 3 with their fourth studio album 'Battle Born,' selling 113,000 copies in its first week. Although the band went straight to No. 1 in the UK last week, a chart-topping album in the Billboard 200 has eluded them.
Newcomer Carly Rae Jepsen, who shot to fame with the catchy summer hit 'Call Me Maybe,' released her debut set 'Kiss' last week, and sold 46,000 copies, notching No. 6 on the chart.
Jepsen was just below last week's chart-topper Dave Matthews Band's 'Away From The World' at No. 4 and Little Big Town's 'Tornado' at No. 5.
'Call Me Maybe' has sold 5.7 million copies in the U.S. to date, making it 2012's biggest selling single behind only Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used To Know.'
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant, Sofina Mirza-Reid and Jan Paschal)
Psy recently appeared on the 'Today' show and 'Saturday Night Live' to perform 'Gangnam Style' while doing his choppy dance steps that vaguely recall a child riding a stick horse.
Pink's 'The Truth About Love' sold 280,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it the third-highest debut of 2012, behind Justin Bieber's 'Believe' and Madonna's 'MDNA.' It is the singer's best-selling debut to date.
Pink beat debuts from Kanye West's GOOD music rappers, The Killers and Carly Rae Jepsen. Sales of Pink's album were aided by a major Target promotional campaign as well as Amazon MP3 offering the record for a discount price of $5. The lead single - 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' - also topped Billboard's pop songs airplay chart this week.
K-pop viral phenomenon Psy, who has racked up some 270 million YouTube views, sold 301,000 digital copies in the U.S. last week of his 'Gangnam Style' hit, knocking Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' from its month-long run in the top spot.
The 34-year-old rapper, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, told a news conference in Seoul this week he would perform the song topless if it hit No.1 on the Billboard chart.
Elsewhere, 'Cruel Summer,' the latest compilation release from Kanye West's GOOD Music label featuring West collaborating with artists including Big Sean, Pusha T and 2Chainz, sold 205,000 copies in its first week to secure the No. 2 position on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Vegas rockers The Killers came in at No. 3 with their fourth studio album 'Battle Born,' selling 113,000 copies in its first week. Although the band went straight to No. 1 in the UK last week, a chart-topping album in the Billboard 200 has eluded them.
Newcomer Carly Rae Jepsen, who shot to fame with the catchy summer hit 'Call Me Maybe,' released her debut set 'Kiss' last week, and sold 46,000 copies, notching No. 6 on the chart.
Jepsen was just below last week's chart-topper Dave Matthews Band's 'Away From The World' at No. 4 and Little Big Town's 'Tornado' at No. 5.
'Call Me Maybe' has sold 5.7 million copies in the U.S. to date, making it 2012's biggest selling single behind only Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used To Know.'
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant, Sofina Mirza-Reid and Jan Paschal)
Singer Andy Williams dies at age 84
(Reuters) - Andy Williams, who charmed audiences with his mellow delivery of songs like 'Moon River' and 'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' in the 1950s and 60s, has died at his home in Branson, Missouri, his family said Wednesday. He was 84.
The blue-eyed Williams, who continued touring and drawing crowds to his Moon River Theater in the music hub of Branson into his 80s, died on Tuesday evening after a yearlong battle with bladder cancer, his family said in a statement.
Williams had 18 gold record and three platinum hits and in his peak years was a regular on television with his own variety series.
President Ronald Reagan called his voice 'a national treasure.'
Williams was born on December 3, 1927, in tiny Wall Lake, Iowa, and was singing professionally with three older brothers at age 8. The Williams Brothers had steady work on radio and even sang back-up on Bing Crosby's 1944 hit 'Swinging on a Star.'
Williams went solo after the group broke up in 1951, drew attention with his appearances on 'The Tonight Show' and began recording. His first No. 1 hit, 'Butterfly,' came in 1957.
Later hits included 'Born Free,' 'Days of Wine and Roses,' 'The Shadow of Your Smile,' 'Can't Get Used to Losing You,' 'Solitaire,' 'Music to Watch Girls By,' 'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' and the theme from the 1970 movie hit 'Love Story.'
He came upon his signature song when asked to sing "'Moon River' at the 1962 Academy Awards ceremony. Audrey Hepburn had performed the song in the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.'
'I still love it, as many times as I've done it,' Williams told a British newspaper in 2007. 'It has a great melody and wonderful lyrics. It's not a bad song to have. It could have been 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.' We forgot to do it one night and 27 people wanted their money back.'
Williams' first wife was Claudine Longet, a Folies Bergere dancer he married in 1961, and they had three children before divorcing. After their split, Williams supported Longet when she was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Spider Sabich, in 1976 in Colorado. She was convicted of negligent homicide after claiming the gun went off accidentally.
FIXTURE ON CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
In 1992, Williams built his own 2,000-seat dinner theater in Branson, a city of 10,000 people that had become a regional entertainment center featuring more than 30 theaters, most of which cater to country music acts. He performed there about 20 weeks a year while also putting on a Christmas tour in the United States and occasional tour of Britain.
Williams was a Christmas fixture on U.S. television, dressed casually in a trademark sweater, and he recorded several Christmas albums. In 2006 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ranked his 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow' as the sixth most frequently performed Christmas song and 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' as No. 11.
Williams had a strong following in Britain, where his career was revived in the late 1990s when "'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' and 'Music to Watch Girls By' were used in television commercials.
In 1991, Williams married Debbie Haas and they lived in Branson and La Quinta, California.
Williams was a close friend of the powerful Kennedy political family and sang 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' at Robert F. Kennedy's funeral after the U.S. senator from New York was assassinated during the 1968 presidential campaign.
Williams' love of golf was so intense that for several years he hosted a professional tournament that bore his name.
(Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst and Bill Trott; Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Vicki Allen)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
The blue-eyed Williams, who continued touring and drawing crowds to his Moon River Theater in the music hub of Branson into his 80s, died on Tuesday evening after a yearlong battle with bladder cancer, his family said in a statement.
Williams had 18 gold record and three platinum hits and in his peak years was a regular on television with his own variety series.
President Ronald Reagan called his voice 'a national treasure.'
Williams was born on December 3, 1927, in tiny Wall Lake, Iowa, and was singing professionally with three older brothers at age 8. The Williams Brothers had steady work on radio and even sang back-up on Bing Crosby's 1944 hit 'Swinging on a Star.'
Williams went solo after the group broke up in 1951, drew attention with his appearances on 'The Tonight Show' and began recording. His first No. 1 hit, 'Butterfly,' came in 1957.
Later hits included 'Born Free,' 'Days of Wine and Roses,' 'The Shadow of Your Smile,' 'Can't Get Used to Losing You,' 'Solitaire,' 'Music to Watch Girls By,' 'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' and the theme from the 1970 movie hit 'Love Story.'
He came upon his signature song when asked to sing "'Moon River' at the 1962 Academy Awards ceremony. Audrey Hepburn had performed the song in the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.'
'I still love it, as many times as I've done it,' Williams told a British newspaper in 2007. 'It has a great melody and wonderful lyrics. It's not a bad song to have. It could have been 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.' We forgot to do it one night and 27 people wanted their money back.'
Williams' first wife was Claudine Longet, a Folies Bergere dancer he married in 1961, and they had three children before divorcing. After their split, Williams supported Longet when she was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Spider Sabich, in 1976 in Colorado. She was convicted of negligent homicide after claiming the gun went off accidentally.
FIXTURE ON CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
In 1992, Williams built his own 2,000-seat dinner theater in Branson, a city of 10,000 people that had become a regional entertainment center featuring more than 30 theaters, most of which cater to country music acts. He performed there about 20 weeks a year while also putting on a Christmas tour in the United States and occasional tour of Britain.
Williams was a Christmas fixture on U.S. television, dressed casually in a trademark sweater, and he recorded several Christmas albums. In 2006 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ranked his 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow' as the sixth most frequently performed Christmas song and 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' as No. 11.
Williams had a strong following in Britain, where his career was revived in the late 1990s when "'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' and 'Music to Watch Girls By' were used in television commercials.
In 1991, Williams married Debbie Haas and they lived in Branson and La Quinta, California.
Williams was a close friend of the powerful Kennedy political family and sang 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' at Robert F. Kennedy's funeral after the U.S. senator from New York was assassinated during the 1968 presidential campaign.
Williams' love of golf was so intense that for several years he hosted a professional tournament that bore his name.
(Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst and Bill Trott; Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Vicki Allen)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Madonna says she was being "ironic" in calling Obama a Muslim
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna said on Tuesday she was being deliberately 'ironic on stage' when she erroneously referred to President Barack Obama during her concert in the nation's capital as a 'black Muslim.'
A video clip posted on YouTube by audience members at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington captured the 54-year-old singer delivering a rousing, profanity-laced political speech about freedom during her show on Monday.
'Now, it's so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African-American in the White House ... we have a black Muslim in the White House ... it means there is hope in this country, and Obama is fighting for gay rights, so support the man,' Madonna said.
Obama, campaigning to be re-elected on November 6, is widely known to be a practicing Christian.
Responding to a media furor unleashed by the YouTube video, Madonna issued a statement on Tuesday through her spokeswoman saying her reference to Obama's religion was facetious.
'I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim - though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?
'The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don't care what religion Obama is - nor should anyone else in America,' she said.
Since Obama's first presidential run in 2008, fringe groups and a smattering of opponents have espoused rumors that he is secretly a Muslim, similar to persistent but unfounded assertions by some political foes that he was born outside the United States.
Madonna has been outspoken in her support of the president, going so far as to rip off her shirt during recent concerts to reveal the word 'OBAMA' inked across her lower back.
On the North American leg of a concert tour in support of her latest studio album, 'MDNA,' the singer has been grabbing headlines with a recent series of onstage antics.
During one of her Paris concerts in July, Madonna landed in hot water with France's far right National Front party after screening footage of party leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika superimposed on her face. The National Front said it would sue the star.
In August, Madonna spoke out at concerts in Russia in support of gay rights and the jailed members of the Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Steve Gorman and Stacey Joyce)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF SEXY GIRLS.
A video clip posted on YouTube by audience members at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington captured the 54-year-old singer delivering a rousing, profanity-laced political speech about freedom during her show on Monday.
'Now, it's so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African-American in the White House ... we have a black Muslim in the White House ... it means there is hope in this country, and Obama is fighting for gay rights, so support the man,' Madonna said.
Obama, campaigning to be re-elected on November 6, is widely known to be a practicing Christian.
Responding to a media furor unleashed by the YouTube video, Madonna issued a statement on Tuesday through her spokeswoman saying her reference to Obama's religion was facetious.
'I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim - though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?
'The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don't care what religion Obama is - nor should anyone else in America,' she said.
Since Obama's first presidential run in 2008, fringe groups and a smattering of opponents have espoused rumors that he is secretly a Muslim, similar to persistent but unfounded assertions by some political foes that he was born outside the United States.
Madonna has been outspoken in her support of the president, going so far as to rip off her shirt during recent concerts to reveal the word 'OBAMA' inked across her lower back.
On the North American leg of a concert tour in support of her latest studio album, 'MDNA,' the singer has been grabbing headlines with a recent series of onstage antics.
During one of her Paris concerts in July, Madonna landed in hot water with France's far right National Front party after screening footage of party leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika superimposed on her face. The National Front said it would sue the star.
In August, Madonna spoke out at concerts in Russia in support of gay rights and the jailed members of the Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Steve Gorman and Stacey Joyce)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF SEXY GIRLS.
Katy Perry named Billboard's woman of the year
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Katy Perry was named Billboard's Woman of the Year on Tuesday, after a whirlwind 12 months in which she split up with her husband and turned their break-up into a hit single and film.
Perry, 27, channeled her split with British comedian Russell Brand in late 2011 into the chart-topping hit 'Part Of Me' and a 3D behind-the-scenes film 'Katy Perry: Part Of Me' that documented her personal and professional ups and downs.
The singer has won over a legion of fans, known as 'katycats,' on Twitter and Facebook with her quirky costumes and catchy bubble gum pop songs.
Forbes placed Perry at No. 3 on their highest-earning female musicians list in December 2011, estimating her pre-tax earnings at $44 million.
She has sold 48 million tracks in the United States alone, according to Billboard, including the hits 'Firework,' 'California Gurls,' 'E.T.' and 'Hot N Cold' from her major-label 2008 debut 'One Of The Boys' and 2010 album 'Teenage Dream.'
Perry has become a branding machine, lending her name to her own fragrance, nail polish and false eyelash lines. She is also the face of skin care line Proactiv and Popchips snacks.
Billboard's editorial director Bill Werde said in a statement that Perry was chosen for her achievements, calling her 'one of the most exciting and inspiring artists in the industry.'
'Katy Perry broke into the industry not even five years ago, and has already accomplished more than most artists can hope for in an entire career,' Werde said.
The Billboard Woman of the Year award selects a female artist with trailblazing achievements. Previous recipients include Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.
Perry will receive the award at the 2012 Billboard Women in Music event in New York on November 30.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Stacey Joyce)
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Perry, 27, channeled her split with British comedian Russell Brand in late 2011 into the chart-topping hit 'Part Of Me' and a 3D behind-the-scenes film 'Katy Perry: Part Of Me' that documented her personal and professional ups and downs.
The singer has won over a legion of fans, known as 'katycats,' on Twitter and Facebook with her quirky costumes and catchy bubble gum pop songs.
Forbes placed Perry at No. 3 on their highest-earning female musicians list in December 2011, estimating her pre-tax earnings at $44 million.
She has sold 48 million tracks in the United States alone, according to Billboard, including the hits 'Firework,' 'California Gurls,' 'E.T.' and 'Hot N Cold' from her major-label 2008 debut 'One Of The Boys' and 2010 album 'Teenage Dream.'
Perry has become a branding machine, lending her name to her own fragrance, nail polish and false eyelash lines. She is also the face of skin care line Proactiv and Popchips snacks.
Billboard's editorial director Bill Werde said in a statement that Perry was chosen for her achievements, calling her 'one of the most exciting and inspiring artists in the industry.'
'Katy Perry broke into the industry not even five years ago, and has already accomplished more than most artists can hope for in an entire career,' Werde said.
The Billboard Woman of the Year award selects a female artist with trailblazing achievements. Previous recipients include Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.
Perry will receive the award at the 2012 Billboard Women in Music event in New York on November 30.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Stacey Joyce)
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Juan Luis Guerra leads Latin Grammy nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dominican singer, songwriter and producer Juan Luis Guerra scored six Latin Grammy nominations on Tuesday, ahead of Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy, who earned five nods heading into Latin music's biggest night, the Latin Recording Academy said.
Veteran music star Guerra, 55, who won three Latin Grammys in 2010, including the coveted album of the year for his 11th studio set 'A Son de Guerra,' earned six nominations including record and song of the year for 'En El Cielo No Hay Hospital.' The awards will be held in Las Vegas on November 15.
Brother-sister pop duo Jesse & Joy, winners of the best new artist Latin Grammy in 2007, scored nominations in the big three categories -- album, record, and song of the year -- for their third studio set '¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?' and their song 'Corre!'
Veteran Latin musicians including Guatemalan singer Ricardo Arjona, Colombian rocker Juanes, Cuban musician Arturo Sandoval, Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivete Sangalo and Brazilian singer-composer Caetano Veloso joined music engineer Edgar Barrera and Mexican pop singer Carla Morrison with four nominations each.
Veloso, 70, is also this year's Latin Recording Academy's person of the year, being honored for his life's work.
Newcomers Gaby Amarantos, Deborah De Corral, Elain, Ulises Hadjis, Los Mesoneros, Juan Magan, Rosario Ortega, Piso 21, 3Ball MTY and Ana Victoria will battle it out for the prestigious best new artist award.
The winners will be announced at the awards to be broadcast live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on the Univision television network.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Christine Kearney and Gunna Dickson)
This news article is brought to you by GADGETS NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Veteran music star Guerra, 55, who won three Latin Grammys in 2010, including the coveted album of the year for his 11th studio set 'A Son de Guerra,' earned six nominations including record and song of the year for 'En El Cielo No Hay Hospital.' The awards will be held in Las Vegas on November 15.
Brother-sister pop duo Jesse & Joy, winners of the best new artist Latin Grammy in 2007, scored nominations in the big three categories -- album, record, and song of the year -- for their third studio set '¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?' and their song 'Corre!'
Veteran Latin musicians including Guatemalan singer Ricardo Arjona, Colombian rocker Juanes, Cuban musician Arturo Sandoval, Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivete Sangalo and Brazilian singer-composer Caetano Veloso joined music engineer Edgar Barrera and Mexican pop singer Carla Morrison with four nominations each.
Veloso, 70, is also this year's Latin Recording Academy's person of the year, being honored for his life's work.
Newcomers Gaby Amarantos, Deborah De Corral, Elain, Ulises Hadjis, Los Mesoneros, Juan Magan, Rosario Ortega, Piso 21, 3Ball MTY and Ana Victoria will battle it out for the prestigious best new artist award.
The winners will be announced at the awards to be broadcast live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on the Univision television network.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Christine Kearney and Gunna Dickson)
This news article is brought to you by GADGETS NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Psy vows topless show if "Gangnam-style" reaches No. 1
SEOUL (Reuters) - A chubby South Korean singer who has taken the pop world by storm, topping Apple's iTunes downloads and getting 270 million Youtube views, has vowed to perform his 'Gangnam Style' hit topless if it reaches number one.
The rapper who does the foot-stomping 'horse dance' and goes by the name Psy, returned on Tuesday to the upmarket Seoul suburb that he put on the world music map.
'If it ranks number one in the Billboard chart, then I will perform 'Gangnam Style' topless in a place where everyone can watch,' Psy told a news conference on his return from the United States.
Gangnam is the most upmarket neighborhood in the South Korean capital. Known as Seoul's 'Beverly Hills', its streets are lined with designer-brand shops and trendy bars and restaurants.
Psy, who sums up his style as 'dress classy, dance cheesy', has became a surprise hit in the United States where he was feted on chat shows and signed a deal with Island Records.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, has always stuck out as an oddity compared with the svelte, well-scrubbed members of Korean girl and boy bands that have swept to fame in Asia and beyond.
After gaining recognition with a 2001 debut album, he landed in hot water several times. He says he was caught smoking marijuana and later had to repeat his mandatory military service after not taking it seriously the first time.
The 34-year-old was raised in Gangnam and went to the Berklee College of Music in the United States. He dropped out of a U.S. business school which his traditional parents hoped would prepare him for taking over the family business.
Referring to his kitschy image, he said: 'Honestly, I like being 'second class'... I was born 'B' class.'
His hit, released in mid-July, was intended to be fun, he said. Doing a bit of his horse-riding dance, Psy declared in English that his aim was to have 'fun by music'.
While he hasn't taken over the family business, his new-found fame seems to have helped it considerably.
The value of his father's technology company, D I Corp's, which is listed on the Seoul Stock Exchange, has doubled since July. Its market capitalization has surged to 113.5 billion won ($101.29 million) since he shot to fame.
Psy plans to release a new record in the United States in November.
(Additional reporting Christine Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
This news article is brought to you by GADGETS NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The rapper who does the foot-stomping 'horse dance' and goes by the name Psy, returned on Tuesday to the upmarket Seoul suburb that he put on the world music map.
'If it ranks number one in the Billboard chart, then I will perform 'Gangnam Style' topless in a place where everyone can watch,' Psy told a news conference on his return from the United States.
Gangnam is the most upmarket neighborhood in the South Korean capital. Known as Seoul's 'Beverly Hills', its streets are lined with designer-brand shops and trendy bars and restaurants.
Psy, who sums up his style as 'dress classy, dance cheesy', has became a surprise hit in the United States where he was feted on chat shows and signed a deal with Island Records.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, has always stuck out as an oddity compared with the svelte, well-scrubbed members of Korean girl and boy bands that have swept to fame in Asia and beyond.
After gaining recognition with a 2001 debut album, he landed in hot water several times. He says he was caught smoking marijuana and later had to repeat his mandatory military service after not taking it seriously the first time.
The 34-year-old was raised in Gangnam and went to the Berklee College of Music in the United States. He dropped out of a U.S. business school which his traditional parents hoped would prepare him for taking over the family business.
Referring to his kitschy image, he said: 'Honestly, I like being 'second class'... I was born 'B' class.'
His hit, released in mid-July, was intended to be fun, he said. Doing a bit of his horse-riding dance, Psy declared in English that his aim was to have 'fun by music'.
While he hasn't taken over the family business, his new-found fame seems to have helped it considerably.
The value of his father's technology company, D I Corp's, which is listed on the Seoul Stock Exchange, has doubled since July. Its market capitalization has surged to 113.5 billion won ($101.29 million) since he shot to fame.
Psy plans to release a new record in the United States in November.
(Additional reporting Christine Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
This news article is brought to you by GADGETS NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Chris Brown tests positive for marijuana while on probation
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Chris Brown has tested positive for marijuana, leading a Los Angeles judge on Monday to set a November hearing to decide whether he violated his probation stemming from a 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
According to a probation report presented in court, Brown tested positive in June in Virginia, where he is fulfilling his community service, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg said. Brown, who is midway through a five-year probation sentence, produced a medical marijuana card after the positive test, Schnegg said.
Schnegg said mandatory drug testing was not a condition of Brown's probation. But she scheduled a November 1 hearing to decide whether he had violated his probation on that and other matters, including travel restrictions and fulfillment of his community service.
Schnegg gave Brown, 23, a warning in court, reminding him that he was a role model.
'You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do,' Schnegg told the 'Turn Up the Music' singer. 'More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.'
Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said his client had 'completed all of his community service.'
Brown, who won a Grammy award earlier this year, was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service after pleading guilty to criminal assault for beating Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy awards in 2009.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Beech)
This news article is brought to you by PARENTING KIDS - where latest news are our top priority.
According to a probation report presented in court, Brown tested positive in June in Virginia, where he is fulfilling his community service, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg said. Brown, who is midway through a five-year probation sentence, produced a medical marijuana card after the positive test, Schnegg said.
Schnegg said mandatory drug testing was not a condition of Brown's probation. But she scheduled a November 1 hearing to decide whether he had violated his probation on that and other matters, including travel restrictions and fulfillment of his community service.
Schnegg gave Brown, 23, a warning in court, reminding him that he was a role model.
'You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do,' Schnegg told the 'Turn Up the Music' singer. 'More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.'
Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said his client had 'completed all of his community service.'
Brown, who won a Grammy award earlier this year, was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service after pleading guilty to criminal assault for beating Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy awards in 2009.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Beech)
This news article is brought to you by PARENTING KIDS - where latest news are our top priority.
Green Day frontman seeks substance abuse treatment
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer and guitarist for the Grammy-winning rock band Green Day, is seeking substance abuse treatment, the group said on its website on Sunday, following his angry, guitar-smashing outburst on stage two days ago.
The statement, which apologized for the abrupt and acrimonious end to the band's appearance on Friday, came as Green Day is due to launch on Tuesday an ambitious trilogy of albums, their first collection of new music since 2009.
Performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Armstrong, 40, suddenly quit playing and launched into an expletive-laden tirade when signaled mid-song that the band had one minute left.
'Gimme a ... break. One minute left? ... You gotta be ... kidding me,' Armstrong shouted from stage in seeming disbelief. 'Let me show you what one ... minute means,' he finally said, before he and bass player Mike Dirnt smashed their instruments and walked off.
Footage of the incident, which drew cheers of support for the band, was posted on YouTube.
Three weeks ago, the Green Day frontman was briefly hospitalized in Italy for what was later described by Dirnt as a severe case of dehydration, forcing cancellation of a weekend concert. But Armstrong was well enough to perform with Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool several days later at the MTV Video Music Awards show on September 6.
No details were given about the nature of Armstrong's latest difficulties, and the band's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment to elaborate on the terse website statement.
'Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse,' it said, adding: 'We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by (event promoter) Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas.'
The statement concluded by saying the band 'regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances,' but gave no details.
The flap over Las Vegas show and the disclosure that Armstrong is entering rehab comes as the band was preparing to release its latest album, 'Uno!' on Tuesday, to be followed in November and January by two more LPs, 'Dos!' and 'Tre.'
Green Day also is scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on November 26 in Seattle.
The band's last album of new music, '21st Century Breakdown,' came out in 2009, and the following year its wildly successful and politically charged 2004 rock opera, 'American Idiot,' was transformed into a hit Broadway musical that starred Armstrong himself.
The California-based punk rock band, formed in the late 1980s, has sold more than 65 million records worldwide and won five Grammys, including best alternative album for its 1994 major-label debut, 'Dookie,' and best rock album for 'American Idiot' and '21st Century Breakdown.'
(Additional reporting by Andrea Burzynski; Editing by Eric Beech)
This article is sponsored by build website.
The statement, which apologized for the abrupt and acrimonious end to the band's appearance on Friday, came as Green Day is due to launch on Tuesday an ambitious trilogy of albums, their first collection of new music since 2009.
Performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Armstrong, 40, suddenly quit playing and launched into an expletive-laden tirade when signaled mid-song that the band had one minute left.
'Gimme a ... break. One minute left? ... You gotta be ... kidding me,' Armstrong shouted from stage in seeming disbelief. 'Let me show you what one ... minute means,' he finally said, before he and bass player Mike Dirnt smashed their instruments and walked off.
Footage of the incident, which drew cheers of support for the band, was posted on YouTube.
Three weeks ago, the Green Day frontman was briefly hospitalized in Italy for what was later described by Dirnt as a severe case of dehydration, forcing cancellation of a weekend concert. But Armstrong was well enough to perform with Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool several days later at the MTV Video Music Awards show on September 6.
No details were given about the nature of Armstrong's latest difficulties, and the band's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment to elaborate on the terse website statement.
'Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse,' it said, adding: 'We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by (event promoter) Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas.'
The statement concluded by saying the band 'regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances,' but gave no details.
The flap over Las Vegas show and the disclosure that Armstrong is entering rehab comes as the band was preparing to release its latest album, 'Uno!' on Tuesday, to be followed in November and January by two more LPs, 'Dos!' and 'Tre.'
Green Day also is scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on November 26 in Seattle.
The band's last album of new music, '21st Century Breakdown,' came out in 2009, and the following year its wildly successful and politically charged 2004 rock opera, 'American Idiot,' was transformed into a hit Broadway musical that starred Armstrong himself.
The California-based punk rock band, formed in the late 1980s, has sold more than 65 million records worldwide and won five Grammys, including best alternative album for its 1994 major-label debut, 'Dookie,' and best rock album for 'American Idiot' and '21st Century Breakdown.'
(Additional reporting by Andrea Burzynski; Editing by Eric Beech)
This article is sponsored by build website.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Yoko Ono joins calls for Pussy Riot's prison release
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Peace activist Yoko Ono on Friday joined the prominent call to free the three imprisoned Pussy Riot punk band members, saluting their stand for freedom of speech after being handed a two-year sentence for staging a 'punk prayer' in Moscow's main cathedral.
'I thank Pussy Riot in standing firmly in their belief for freedom of expression and making all women of the world proud to be women,' Ono told reporters in New York, flanked by the husband and four year old daughter of one band member.
She awarded the three imprisoned members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich - a peace grant established in the name of her late husband, former Beatle John Lennon.
Tolokonnikova's husband, Pyotr Verzilov, accepted Ono's grant on behalf of the three women. He said he and his daughter visited Tolokonnikova in prison for the first time in six months earlier this week, where she is kept with her two fellow band members segregated from other prisoners.
Their daughter had sent her mother scribblings of plans of escape. 'For her it has been very emotional,' he said, talking of his daughter's drawing, 'She breaks down the prison walls and helps Nadia's escape.'
Ono joined Madonna, Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi and rights groups that have also stood up against the band's imprisonment.
Speaking just days ahead of an October 1 appeal by the band, when Amnesty International and other groups hope thousands of people will rally in dozens of cities, Ono said she 'wanted to express my love and respect for them, I want to work for the immediate release from the prison they are in.'
The jail sentences - for the crime of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after the band stormed the altar of Moscow's main cathedral calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of President Vladimir Putin - has drawn sharp international criticism.
Opposition groups say the case was part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent. Putin has declined to comment on the ruling, but has suggested abuses committed against the Russian Orthodox Church during the Soviet era made Pussy Riot's protest particularly offensive.
In response to the peace grant from Ono, Verzilov said his wife hoped the world was returning to the activism of her time in the 1960s and 1970s.
'Nadia wants people to continue to actively keep fighting and supporting the cause and to learn it is important to stand up for values that are crucial to you, no matter the price, no matter the cost,' he said.
On Thursday Verzilov met with U.S. lawmakers and aides who have drafted legislation, known as the Magnitsky bill, to impose U.S. sanctions against any Russian officials involved in the prosecution of the band.
He did not expect the October 1 appeal to cause significant change to the two year sentences. Nor did he think Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's comments last week that the band should be freed would carry much weight. Hence he asked for international support.
Amnesty International have listed the three women on their Prisoners Of Conscience list that aims to free those wrongly imprisoned for their political, religious and other beliefs.
'At it's core this case is about three young women who are in jail for the crime of singing a song,' Amnesty International USA Executive Director Suzanne Nossel told reporters. 'Anybody can relate to this case and to these women and you cant help but feel your heart tugged.'
Verzilov said that even now, from prison, the three women still do not regret the act -- 'They are very strong women and nothing seems to break their spirit,' he said.
(Additional reporting by Sharon Reich; editing by Andrew Hay)
This news article is brought to you by SPACE AND ASTRONOMY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'I thank Pussy Riot in standing firmly in their belief for freedom of expression and making all women of the world proud to be women,' Ono told reporters in New York, flanked by the husband and four year old daughter of one band member.
She awarded the three imprisoned members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich - a peace grant established in the name of her late husband, former Beatle John Lennon.
Tolokonnikova's husband, Pyotr Verzilov, accepted Ono's grant on behalf of the three women. He said he and his daughter visited Tolokonnikova in prison for the first time in six months earlier this week, where she is kept with her two fellow band members segregated from other prisoners.
Their daughter had sent her mother scribblings of plans of escape. 'For her it has been very emotional,' he said, talking of his daughter's drawing, 'She breaks down the prison walls and helps Nadia's escape.'
Ono joined Madonna, Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi and rights groups that have also stood up against the band's imprisonment.
Speaking just days ahead of an October 1 appeal by the band, when Amnesty International and other groups hope thousands of people will rally in dozens of cities, Ono said she 'wanted to express my love and respect for them, I want to work for the immediate release from the prison they are in.'
The jail sentences - for the crime of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after the band stormed the altar of Moscow's main cathedral calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of President Vladimir Putin - has drawn sharp international criticism.
Opposition groups say the case was part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent. Putin has declined to comment on the ruling, but has suggested abuses committed against the Russian Orthodox Church during the Soviet era made Pussy Riot's protest particularly offensive.
In response to the peace grant from Ono, Verzilov said his wife hoped the world was returning to the activism of her time in the 1960s and 1970s.
'Nadia wants people to continue to actively keep fighting and supporting the cause and to learn it is important to stand up for values that are crucial to you, no matter the price, no matter the cost,' he said.
On Thursday Verzilov met with U.S. lawmakers and aides who have drafted legislation, known as the Magnitsky bill, to impose U.S. sanctions against any Russian officials involved in the prosecution of the band.
He did not expect the October 1 appeal to cause significant change to the two year sentences. Nor did he think Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's comments last week that the band should be freed would carry much weight. Hence he asked for international support.
Amnesty International have listed the three women on their Prisoners Of Conscience list that aims to free those wrongly imprisoned for their political, religious and other beliefs.
'At it's core this case is about three young women who are in jail for the crime of singing a song,' Amnesty International USA Executive Director Suzanne Nossel told reporters. 'Anybody can relate to this case and to these women and you cant help but feel your heart tugged.'
Verzilov said that even now, from prison, the three women still do not regret the act -- 'They are very strong women and nothing seems to break their spirit,' he said.
(Additional reporting by Sharon Reich; editing by Andrew Hay)
This news article is brought to you by SPACE AND ASTRONOMY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Singer Fiona Apple arrested on drug charge in Texas
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Fiona Apple spent the night in a Texas jail after being arrested late Wednesday on a felony drug possession charge at a border patrol checkpoint where her tour bus was searched, local officials said.
Apple, 35, was taken into custody in Sierra Blanca, the same small west Texas town where authorities previously nabbed singer Willie Nelson, rapper Snoop Dogg and 'The Social Network' actor Armie Hammer on drug charges.
The singer-songwriter had 4 grams of hashish, a form of cannabis, in her possession, said Rusty Fleming, spokesman for the sheriff in Hudspeth County, of which Sierra Blanca is the county seat.
Fleming said there were seven other people on the bus, but Apple admitted the drugs were hers and everybody else was allowed to drive on. She was respectful and calm, though became concerned when she learned she would have to stay in jail overnight, he said.
She was released after posting bail on Thursday, and her jail stay passed 'without incident,' Fleming said.
Asked why so many celebrities have been arrested in the town on Interstate 10, County Judge Becky Dean-Walker said, 'because they come through here with stuff they shouldn't have'.
The Interstate 10 highway runs coast-to-coast across the United States between California and Florida.
Apple, who won a Grammy for the single 'Criminal' off her 1996 debut album 'Tidal,' was due to perform in Austin on Thursday night but the venue's website said the show was postponed.
A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment.
(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis and Corrie MacLaggan; Writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Alden Bentley, Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Apple, 35, was taken into custody in Sierra Blanca, the same small west Texas town where authorities previously nabbed singer Willie Nelson, rapper Snoop Dogg and 'The Social Network' actor Armie Hammer on drug charges.
The singer-songwriter had 4 grams of hashish, a form of cannabis, in her possession, said Rusty Fleming, spokesman for the sheriff in Hudspeth County, of which Sierra Blanca is the county seat.
Fleming said there were seven other people on the bus, but Apple admitted the drugs were hers and everybody else was allowed to drive on. She was respectful and calm, though became concerned when she learned she would have to stay in jail overnight, he said.
She was released after posting bail on Thursday, and her jail stay passed 'without incident,' Fleming said.
Asked why so many celebrities have been arrested in the town on Interstate 10, County Judge Becky Dean-Walker said, 'because they come through here with stuff they shouldn't have'.
The Interstate 10 highway runs coast-to-coast across the United States between California and Florida.
Apple, who won a Grammy for the single 'Criminal' off her 1996 debut album 'Tidal,' was due to perform in Austin on Thursday night but the venue's website said the show was postponed.
A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment.
(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis and Corrie MacLaggan; Writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Alden Bentley, Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Exclusive: Sony/ATV starts auction for Virgin Music song catalog
(Reuters) - Sony/ATV, the music publishing division of Sony Music, has kicked off an auction to sell the rights to more than 30,000 songs from artists ranging from Culture Club to Iggy Pop contained in the Virgin Music and Famous U.K. song catalogs, according to sources with direct knowledge of the process.
These sources said non-disclosure agreements were sent out last week to more than 20 potential buyers, including Warner Music Group, Primary Wave Music, Round Hill Music, Imagem Music, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co LP, Platinum Equity Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and others.
The signing of non-disclosure agreements is typically required at the start of an auction process as a condition of receiving books with detailed financial data about the company being auctioned.
While a first-round bid deadline has not yet been set, the sources said they expect a deal to be valued at around $150 million.
The sale of the Virgin Music and Famous U.K. catalogs were among the concessions required by regulators in order for Sony/ATV to receive approval for its $2.2 billion acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. John Branca, a partner at law firm Ziffren Brittenham who has represented Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and others, is running the auction on behalf of Sony/ATV.
All parties mentioned above either declined comment or could not be reached for comment.
Combined, the two catalogs control the rights to more than 30,000 songs, the bulk of which are from artists who rose to prominence during the 1980s and 1990s. Included in the catalogs are rights to songs from the Culture Club, Lenny Kravitz, Goo-Goo Dolls, Iggy Pop, Tears for Fears, Fine Young Cannibals, and many others.
Music publishing catalogs can range in size from a few dozen songs to a few million. For instance, Round Hill on Tuesday acquired Arthouse Entertainment, which controlled the rights to just 150 songs from artists including Katy Perry and Cee Lo Green. By contrast, Sony/ATV, which is a joint venture of Sony Music and the estate of Michael Jackson, ranks as the record industry's largest music publishing house with the rights to more than 2 million songs.
While record labels have struggled with declining CDs sales as a result of piracy and a shift to digital distribution, music publishing companies have gained in value because they collect revenue every time a song is played in any format since they control the underlying rights to the composition.
All of the major record labels - Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music - have publishing divisions, and a slew of independent companies such as Spirit Music Group and Primary Wave Music have cropped up in recent years to acquire the rights to song catalogs.
(Reporting By Peter Lauria and Nadia Damouni)
This news article is brought to you by ECONOMY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
These sources said non-disclosure agreements were sent out last week to more than 20 potential buyers, including Warner Music Group, Primary Wave Music, Round Hill Music, Imagem Music, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co LP, Platinum Equity Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and others.
The signing of non-disclosure agreements is typically required at the start of an auction process as a condition of receiving books with detailed financial data about the company being auctioned.
While a first-round bid deadline has not yet been set, the sources said they expect a deal to be valued at around $150 million.
The sale of the Virgin Music and Famous U.K. catalogs were among the concessions required by regulators in order for Sony/ATV to receive approval for its $2.2 billion acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. John Branca, a partner at law firm Ziffren Brittenham who has represented Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and others, is running the auction on behalf of Sony/ATV.
All parties mentioned above either declined comment or could not be reached for comment.
Combined, the two catalogs control the rights to more than 30,000 songs, the bulk of which are from artists who rose to prominence during the 1980s and 1990s. Included in the catalogs are rights to songs from the Culture Club, Lenny Kravitz, Goo-Goo Dolls, Iggy Pop, Tears for Fears, Fine Young Cannibals, and many others.
Music publishing catalogs can range in size from a few dozen songs to a few million. For instance, Round Hill on Tuesday acquired Arthouse Entertainment, which controlled the rights to just 150 songs from artists including Katy Perry and Cee Lo Green. By contrast, Sony/ATV, which is a joint venture of Sony Music and the estate of Michael Jackson, ranks as the record industry's largest music publishing house with the rights to more than 2 million songs.
While record labels have struggled with declining CDs sales as a result of piracy and a shift to digital distribution, music publishing companies have gained in value because they collect revenue every time a song is played in any format since they control the underlying rights to the composition.
All of the major record labels - Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music - have publishing divisions, and a slew of independent companies such as Spirit Music Group and Primary Wave Music have cropped up in recent years to acquire the rights to song catalogs.
(Reporting By Peter Lauria and Nadia Damouni)
This news article is brought to you by ECONOMY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Singer Fiona Apple arrested on drug charge at Texas border
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Fiona Apple spent the night in a Texas jail after being arrested late Wednesday on a drug possession charge at the border patrol checkpoint where her tour bus was searched, a local judge said.
Apple, 35, was taken into custody in the same town where authorities previously nabbed singer Willie Nelson, rapper Snoop Dogg and 'The Social Network' actor Armie Hammer on drug charges.
The celebrity news website TMZ reported that authorities found hashish, a form of cannabis, on the singer's bus. Officials in Hudspeth County, Texas, could not immediately confirm that allegation to Reuters.
The Hudspeth County clerk said a judge set Apple's bond at $11,000 on Thursday.
Asked why so many celebrities have been arrested in the remote West Texas county, Judge Becky Dean-Walker, who confirmed Apple's arrest, said, 'because they come through here with stuff they shouldn't have.'
Apple, who won a Grammy for the single 'Criminal' off her 1996 debut album 'Tidal,' was due to perform in Austin on Thursday night. The venue's marketing director said the show had not yet been canceled.
The singer-songwriter's representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Reporting by Jim Forsyth; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Alden Bentley)
This article is brought to you by MATCH.
Apple, 35, was taken into custody in the same town where authorities previously nabbed singer Willie Nelson, rapper Snoop Dogg and 'The Social Network' actor Armie Hammer on drug charges.
The celebrity news website TMZ reported that authorities found hashish, a form of cannabis, on the singer's bus. Officials in Hudspeth County, Texas, could not immediately confirm that allegation to Reuters.
The Hudspeth County clerk said a judge set Apple's bond at $11,000 on Thursday.
Asked why so many celebrities have been arrested in the remote West Texas county, Judge Becky Dean-Walker, who confirmed Apple's arrest, said, 'because they come through here with stuff they shouldn't have.'
Apple, who won a Grammy for the single 'Criminal' off her 1996 debut album 'Tidal,' was due to perform in Austin on Thursday night. The venue's marketing director said the show had not yet been canceled.
The singer-songwriter's representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Reporting by Jim Forsyth; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Alden Bentley)
This article is brought to you by MATCH.
Singer Shakira pregnant with first child
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Colombian singer Shakira said on Wednesday she is expecting her first child, with her Spanish soccer player boyfriend Gerard Pique.
'As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby! At this time we have decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days,' Shakira, 35, wrote on her website.
The singer, who did not specify a due date, is bowing out of a music festival in Las Vegas this weekend.
In the near future she will be juggling both motherhood and work. Earlier this week the singer, along with R&B star Usher, were confirmed to replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green for the fourth season next year of NBC's hit singing contest 'The Voice.'
Shakira burst onto the international pop scene with her 2006 single, 'Hips Don't Lie.'
Pique, 25, plays for FC Barcelona. The couple first met in 2010. This will be their first child.
(Reporting by Zorianna Kit, editing by Jill Serjeant and Prudence Crowther)
This news article is brought to you by ECONOMY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
'As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby! At this time we have decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days,' Shakira, 35, wrote on her website.
The singer, who did not specify a due date, is bowing out of a music festival in Las Vegas this weekend.
In the near future she will be juggling both motherhood and work. Earlier this week the singer, along with R&B star Usher, were confirmed to replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green for the fourth season next year of NBC's hit singing contest 'The Voice.'
Shakira burst onto the international pop scene with her 2006 single, 'Hips Don't Lie.'
Pique, 25, plays for FC Barcelona. The couple first met in 2010. This will be their first child.
(Reporting by Zorianna Kit, editing by Jill Serjeant and Prudence Crowther)
This news article is brought to you by ECONOMY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Round Hill buying Katy Perry, Cee Lo, other song rights: source
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Music publisher Round Hill Music is expected to announce a deal to acquire the rights to a catalog of 150 songs, including hits by Katy Perry, Flo Rida, Bruno Mars and Cee Lo Green from Arthouse Entertainment LLC, a person close to the situation said.
This source said a deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday morning, but declined to comment on its terms.
Late last year, Round Hill purchased the rights to a catalog of music containing six songs written and recorded by the Beatles including 'She Loves You,' 'I Saw Her Standing There,' and 'I Wanna Be Your Man.'
Arthouse Entertainment was founded by record producer and former 'American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi and music publisher Stephen Finfer. Among the songs included in the catalog are: 'Forget You,' by Cee Lo Green, 'Just The Way You Are,' by Bruno Mars and 'Club Can't Handle Me,' by Flo Rida.
While record labels have struggled with declining CDs sales as a result of piracy and a shift to digital distribution, music publishing companies have gained in value because they collect revenue every time a song in played in any format since they control the underlying rights to the composition. In many cases these rights aren't held by the artist, who actually performs the song, but rather the writers and producers who created it.
All of the major record labels - Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music, and EMI - have publishing divisions, and a slew of independent companies such as Spirit Music Group and Primary Wave Music have cropped up in recent years to acquire the rights to song catalogs.
For instance, Primary Wave has in recent years acquired the rights to songs written by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and a consortium led by Sony/ATV agreed to buy EMI's publishing division last year for $2.2 billion to bulk up in that area.
Former Bear Stearns investment banker Josh Gruss founded Round Hill Music last year and also served as its chairman and chief executive. Its vice chairman, Richard Rowe, formerly served as President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The source said Rowe was instrumental in luring DioGuardi and Finfer to Round Hill Music.
The stable of writers and producers featured in Arthouse's catalog include Ari Levine to Kasia 'KC' Livingston, who have written chart-topping and Grammy-winning hits such as Bruno Mars' 'Just The Way You Are,' and 'Grenade.'
(This version of the story corrects the buyer and value of EMI's publishing business.)
(Reporting by Nadia Damouni; editing by Peter Lauria and Gunna Dickson)
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
This source said a deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday morning, but declined to comment on its terms.
Late last year, Round Hill purchased the rights to a catalog of music containing six songs written and recorded by the Beatles including 'She Loves You,' 'I Saw Her Standing There,' and 'I Wanna Be Your Man.'
Arthouse Entertainment was founded by record producer and former 'American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi and music publisher Stephen Finfer. Among the songs included in the catalog are: 'Forget You,' by Cee Lo Green, 'Just The Way You Are,' by Bruno Mars and 'Club Can't Handle Me,' by Flo Rida.
While record labels have struggled with declining CDs sales as a result of piracy and a shift to digital distribution, music publishing companies have gained in value because they collect revenue every time a song in played in any format since they control the underlying rights to the composition. In many cases these rights aren't held by the artist, who actually performs the song, but rather the writers and producers who created it.
All of the major record labels - Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music, and EMI - have publishing divisions, and a slew of independent companies such as Spirit Music Group and Primary Wave Music have cropped up in recent years to acquire the rights to song catalogs.
For instance, Primary Wave has in recent years acquired the rights to songs written by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and a consortium led by Sony/ATV agreed to buy EMI's publishing division last year for $2.2 billion to bulk up in that area.
Former Bear Stearns investment banker Josh Gruss founded Round Hill Music last year and also served as its chairman and chief executive. Its vice chairman, Richard Rowe, formerly served as President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The source said Rowe was instrumental in luring DioGuardi and Finfer to Round Hill Music.
The stable of writers and producers featured in Arthouse's catalog include Ari Levine to Kasia 'KC' Livingston, who have written chart-topping and Grammy-winning hits such as Bruno Mars' 'Just The Way You Are,' and 'Grenade.'
(This version of the story corrects the buyer and value of EMI's publishing business.)
(Reporting by Nadia Damouni; editing by Peter Lauria and Gunna Dickson)
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Usher, Shakira shake up judging panel on "The Voice"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B star Usher and Colombian singer Shakira will replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green for the fourth season next year of NBC's hit singing contest 'The Voice,' the network said on Monday.
The changes in the celebrity judge line-up will allow Aguilera and Green to work on new projects. Aguilera is releasing a new album in November and going on tour, while Green is developing a scripted comedy series for NBC based on his life, NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.
Judge-mentors Adam Levine, frontman of pop group Maroon 5, and country singer Blake Shelton will stay in place for season four, which starts in the spring of 2013.
'Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time, and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and Cee Lo,' Greenblatt said.
'The participants on our show benefit from our coaches' expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return,' he added.
The line-up change for 'The Voice' follows the announcement on Sunday that rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban will join rival Fox TV singing contest 'American Idol' when it returns in January 2013. Mariah Carey has also signed up for 'Idol.'
Usher, best known for his 2004 album 'Confessions,' is one of the world's best-selling artists with global sales of 65 million record and seven Grammy awards.
Shakira burst onto the international pop scene with her 2006 single 'Hips Don't Lie.'
'The Voice' has been a bright spot in struggling NBC's schedule since its 2011 debut, and moved to a twice a year cycle this month. Its third season opener last week notably drew more U.S. viewers than the revamped version of Fox's 'The X Factor,' with Britney Spears making her debut as a judge.
Fox in a unit of News Corp and NBC is majority-owned by Comcast.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Eric Walsh)
The changes in the celebrity judge line-up will allow Aguilera and Green to work on new projects. Aguilera is releasing a new album in November and going on tour, while Green is developing a scripted comedy series for NBC based on his life, NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.
Judge-mentors Adam Levine, frontman of pop group Maroon 5, and country singer Blake Shelton will stay in place for season four, which starts in the spring of 2013.
'Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time, and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and Cee Lo,' Greenblatt said.
'The participants on our show benefit from our coaches' expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return,' he added.
The line-up change for 'The Voice' follows the announcement on Sunday that rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban will join rival Fox TV singing contest 'American Idol' when it returns in January 2013. Mariah Carey has also signed up for 'Idol.'
Usher, best known for his 2004 album 'Confessions,' is one of the world's best-selling artists with global sales of 65 million record and seven Grammy awards.
Shakira burst onto the international pop scene with her 2006 single 'Hips Don't Lie.'
'The Voice' has been a bright spot in struggling NBC's schedule since its 2011 debut, and moved to a twice a year cycle this month. Its third season opener last week notably drew more U.S. viewers than the revamped version of Fox's 'The X Factor,' with Britney Spears making her debut as a judge.
Fox in a unit of News Corp and NBC is majority-owned by Comcast.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Rihanna leads MTV Europe Music Award nominations
LONDON (Reuters) - Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna led the nominations for the MTV Europe Music Awards on Monday with six, ahead of country songstress Taylor Swift on five and pop stars Justin Bieber and Katy Perry on four each.
The music channel said Rihanna had been shortlisted for best song ('We Found Love'), best female, best pop, best video ('We Found Love'), biggest fans and in the new category, best look.
She is up against Swift in the female, pop and look sections, while Swift was also nominated for best live and best world stage act.
Lady Gaga dominated last year's awards held in Belfast, coming away with four prizes and performing 'Marry the Night'. This year she is nominated for three awards - best live act, video (Marry the Night) and 'biggest' fans.
A host of other acts, including Lana Del Rey, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z and Kanye West also earned three nominations each.
The awards, many of which are voted for by MTV fans online, are one of the biggest pop events outside the United States, and, despite being based in Europe, are generally dominated by American artists.
This year they will be held in Frankfurt's Festhalle on November 11.
Following are the main nominations:
BEST SONG: Carly Rae Jepsen/Call Me Maybe; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; Gotye/Somebody That I Used To Know; Pitbull feat. Chris Brown/International Love; fun. feat. Janelle Monáe/We Are Young
BEST NEW: Rita Ora; fun.; One Direction; Lana Del Rey; Carly Rae Jepsen
BEST FEMALE: Rihanna; Katy Perry; P!nk; Taylor Swift; Nicki Minaj
BEST MALE: Justin Bieber; Kanye West; Flo Rida; Pitbull; Jay-Z
BEST POP: Justin Bieber; No Doubt; Katy Perry; Taylor Swift; Rihanna
BEST LIVE: Taylor Swift; Lady Gaga; Jay-Z & Kanye West; Green Day; Muse
BEST HIP HOP: Jay-Z & Kanye West; Nas; Rick Ross; Drake; Nicki Minaj
BEST ROCK: Linkin Park; Green Day; Muse; The Killers; Coldplay
BEST ELECTRONIC: David Guetta; Swedish House Mafia; Avicii; Skrillex; Calvin Harris
BEST ALTERNATIVE: Jack White; The Black Keys; Arctic Monkeys; Florence + The Machine; Lana Del Rey
BEST VIDEO: M.I.A./Bad Girls; Lady Gaga/Marry The Night; Katy Perry/Wide Awake; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; PSY/Gangnam Style.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATE.
The music channel said Rihanna had been shortlisted for best song ('We Found Love'), best female, best pop, best video ('We Found Love'), biggest fans and in the new category, best look.
She is up against Swift in the female, pop and look sections, while Swift was also nominated for best live and best world stage act.
Lady Gaga dominated last year's awards held in Belfast, coming away with four prizes and performing 'Marry the Night'. This year she is nominated for three awards - best live act, video (Marry the Night) and 'biggest' fans.
A host of other acts, including Lana Del Rey, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z and Kanye West also earned three nominations each.
The awards, many of which are voted for by MTV fans online, are one of the biggest pop events outside the United States, and, despite being based in Europe, are generally dominated by American artists.
This year they will be held in Frankfurt's Festhalle on November 11.
Following are the main nominations:
BEST SONG: Carly Rae Jepsen/Call Me Maybe; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; Gotye/Somebody That I Used To Know; Pitbull feat. Chris Brown/International Love; fun. feat. Janelle Monáe/We Are Young
BEST NEW: Rita Ora; fun.; One Direction; Lana Del Rey; Carly Rae Jepsen
BEST FEMALE: Rihanna; Katy Perry; P!nk; Taylor Swift; Nicki Minaj
BEST MALE: Justin Bieber; Kanye West; Flo Rida; Pitbull; Jay-Z
BEST POP: Justin Bieber; No Doubt; Katy Perry; Taylor Swift; Rihanna
BEST LIVE: Taylor Swift; Lady Gaga; Jay-Z & Kanye West; Green Day; Muse
BEST HIP HOP: Jay-Z & Kanye West; Nas; Rick Ross; Drake; Nicki Minaj
BEST ROCK: Linkin Park; Green Day; Muse; The Killers; Coldplay
BEST ELECTRONIC: David Guetta; Swedish House Mafia; Avicii; Skrillex; Calvin Harris
BEST ALTERNATIVE: Jack White; The Black Keys; Arctic Monkeys; Florence + The Machine; Lana Del Rey
BEST VIDEO: M.I.A./Bad Girls; Lady Gaga/Marry The Night; Katy Perry/Wide Awake; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; PSY/Gangnam Style.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by DATE.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Script top UK charts with "Hall of Fame"
LONDON (Reuters) - The Irish rock band The Script topped the British singles charts on Sunday to score their first number one with 'Hall of Fame', a collaboration with the American rapper will.i.am, the Official Charts Company said.
The group's success meant that British singer Amelia Lily, a former finalist in the TV talent show 'The X Factor', had to settle for second place for her new release 'You Bring Me Joy'.
The English pop band The xx went straight to number one in the album charts with their latest recording, 'Coexist'.
Second place went to The Script's third album, 'Number 3', just one spot ahead of Bob Dylan's latest, his 35th studio album 'Tempest'.
Also new in the album listings was English singer-songwriter Joe McElderry, who won the X Factor contest in 2009, with 'Here's What I Believe' at number eight.
In ninth place was 'Elysium', a new entry from the Pet Shop Boys dance music duo.
Gerry and the Pacemakers' 1963 version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' re-entered the singles charts at number 12 after a campaign by Liverpool soccer fans in memory of the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.
The song, adopted as an Liverpool anthem, sold over 28,000 copies in 48 hours following a damning report into a police cover-up over the tragedy, in which 96 of the club's fans died.
(Reporting by Tim Castle; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The group's success meant that British singer Amelia Lily, a former finalist in the TV talent show 'The X Factor', had to settle for second place for her new release 'You Bring Me Joy'.
The English pop band The xx went straight to number one in the album charts with their latest recording, 'Coexist'.
Second place went to The Script's third album, 'Number 3', just one spot ahead of Bob Dylan's latest, his 35th studio album 'Tempest'.
Also new in the album listings was English singer-songwriter Joe McElderry, who won the X Factor contest in 2009, with 'Here's What I Believe' at number eight.
In ninth place was 'Elysium', a new entry from the Pet Shop Boys dance music duo.
Gerry and the Pacemakers' 1963 version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' re-entered the singles charts at number 12 after a campaign by Liverpool soccer fans in memory of the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.
The song, adopted as an Liverpool anthem, sold over 28,000 copies in 48 hours following a damning report into a police cover-up over the tragedy, in which 96 of the club's fans died.
(Reporting by Tim Castle; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Rapper Nicki Minaj, country's Keith Urban pump up "American Idol"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Controversial rapper Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban joined the 'American Idol' judging panel on Sunday, as the ageing Fox show seeks to boost its star power and recapture sliding audiences in a crowded TV talent show field.
In a decision that divided 'Idol' fans, Minaj, 29, known for her outlandish outfits and headline-making performances, and Urban were confirmed by Fox hours before auditions in front of judges kicked off in New York for the show's 12th season.
They joined Grammy-winning singer Mariah Carey, whose name was announced in July, and record producer Randy Jackson - who with host Ryan Seacrest are the only remaining members of the original line-up.
The new line-up follows the departures earlier this year of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez after two years, and returns the singing show to a four-person panel last seen in 2010.
The Fox announcement followed months of rumors about likely contenders for the job, including rapper Kanye West, pop star Katy Perry, Latin singer Enrique Iglesias, former 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert, and teen idols Nick Jonas and Miley Cyrus.
'American Idol' has been a ratings juggernaut since it debuted on Fox in 2002 but audiences are now only about half the more than 30 million who watched regularly in the show's 2005 and 2006 heyday.
The last season finale in May drew a record low of 21.5 million viewers and 'Idol' lost its eight-year crown as the most-watched program on U.S. television to 'Sunday Night Football'. The 12th season will start broadcasting in January 2013.
Competition in the TV talent show market has increased dramatically in the last year with the hiring of pop star Britney Spears for a reported $15 million salary for 'The X Factor' on Fox, and radio DJ Howard Stern for NBC summer hit 'America's Got Talent'.
FAKE POPES, ALTER-EGOS, EXPLETIVES
Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell said 'Idol' now boasts 'one of the most exciting judging panels around'.
'Nicki's an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop. And Keith is ... one of the biggest stars in country music and I know that our fans and contestants will fall in love with him,' Darnell said in a statement.
Minaj is the top female rapper in a hip-hop world dominated by male artists. She burst onto the music scene in 2010 and quickly made a name for herself by adopting numerous alter-egos and with multiple hit records including 'Starships'.
She has also proved controversial, appearing on the Grammy awards red carpet in February with a fake pope. She made headlines last week for expletive-filled lyrics that appeared to support U.S. Republican contender Mitt Romney, but which she later said were meant to be sarcastic.
Reaction to Minaj on Sunday was typically extreme, with some viewers saying they would never watch 'Idol' again and others giving a big thumbs up.
'Nicki is a judge on American idol this year watch them ratings go all the way up,' wrote Montrell on the official AmericanIdol.com message board.
'Well American Idol has lost this viewer and his family. Nicki Minaj is a disgusting choice to judge any talent show,' wrote user Sheavendoor83 on the Entertainment Weekly comments page.
New Zealand-born Urban, 44, is married to Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and is a four-time Grammy winner with sales of 15 million albums.
'SO excited to be joining the team on ?@AmericanIdol!!!!!!' Urban tweeted on Sunday.
According to industry website The Hollywood Reporter, Minaj will get about $8 million, with Urban collecting around $4 million. Carey, one of the world's top recording artists, is said to be getting $17 million, making her the highest-paid celebrity judge on television.
But celebrity judges don't always guarantee success. Audiences for Fox's revamped 'X Factor' were down about 3.5 million viewers from 2011 when the show returned last week, despite the addition of Spears and singer Demi Lovato.
'X Factor' was beaten by NBC pop contest 'The Voice', boasting judges Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and country star Blake Shelton. 'The Voice' will also get a spring season in 2013 that competes with 'Idol' for viewers.
Fox is a unit of News Corp and NBC is majority-owned by Comcast.
(Editing by David Brunnstrom and Dale Hudson)
(jill.serjeant1@thomsonreuters.com; 213 955 6749)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
In a decision that divided 'Idol' fans, Minaj, 29, known for her outlandish outfits and headline-making performances, and Urban were confirmed by Fox hours before auditions in front of judges kicked off in New York for the show's 12th season.
They joined Grammy-winning singer Mariah Carey, whose name was announced in July, and record producer Randy Jackson - who with host Ryan Seacrest are the only remaining members of the original line-up.
The new line-up follows the departures earlier this year of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez after two years, and returns the singing show to a four-person panel last seen in 2010.
The Fox announcement followed months of rumors about likely contenders for the job, including rapper Kanye West, pop star Katy Perry, Latin singer Enrique Iglesias, former 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert, and teen idols Nick Jonas and Miley Cyrus.
'American Idol' has been a ratings juggernaut since it debuted on Fox in 2002 but audiences are now only about half the more than 30 million who watched regularly in the show's 2005 and 2006 heyday.
The last season finale in May drew a record low of 21.5 million viewers and 'Idol' lost its eight-year crown as the most-watched program on U.S. television to 'Sunday Night Football'. The 12th season will start broadcasting in January 2013.
Competition in the TV talent show market has increased dramatically in the last year with the hiring of pop star Britney Spears for a reported $15 million salary for 'The X Factor' on Fox, and radio DJ Howard Stern for NBC summer hit 'America's Got Talent'.
FAKE POPES, ALTER-EGOS, EXPLETIVES
Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell said 'Idol' now boasts 'one of the most exciting judging panels around'.
'Nicki's an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop. And Keith is ... one of the biggest stars in country music and I know that our fans and contestants will fall in love with him,' Darnell said in a statement.
Minaj is the top female rapper in a hip-hop world dominated by male artists. She burst onto the music scene in 2010 and quickly made a name for herself by adopting numerous alter-egos and with multiple hit records including 'Starships'.
She has also proved controversial, appearing on the Grammy awards red carpet in February with a fake pope. She made headlines last week for expletive-filled lyrics that appeared to support U.S. Republican contender Mitt Romney, but which she later said were meant to be sarcastic.
Reaction to Minaj on Sunday was typically extreme, with some viewers saying they would never watch 'Idol' again and others giving a big thumbs up.
'Nicki is a judge on American idol this year watch them ratings go all the way up,' wrote Montrell on the official AmericanIdol.com message board.
'Well American Idol has lost this viewer and his family. Nicki Minaj is a disgusting choice to judge any talent show,' wrote user Sheavendoor83 on the Entertainment Weekly comments page.
New Zealand-born Urban, 44, is married to Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and is a four-time Grammy winner with sales of 15 million albums.
'SO excited to be joining the team on ?@AmericanIdol!!!!!!' Urban tweeted on Sunday.
According to industry website The Hollywood Reporter, Minaj will get about $8 million, with Urban collecting around $4 million. Carey, one of the world's top recording artists, is said to be getting $17 million, making her the highest-paid celebrity judge on television.
But celebrity judges don't always guarantee success. Audiences for Fox's revamped 'X Factor' were down about 3.5 million viewers from 2011 when the show returned last week, despite the addition of Spears and singer Demi Lovato.
'X Factor' was beaten by NBC pop contest 'The Voice', boasting judges Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and country star Blake Shelton. 'The Voice' will also get a spring season in 2013 that competes with 'Idol' for viewers.
Fox is a unit of News Corp and NBC is majority-owned by Comcast.
(Editing by David Brunnstrom and Dale Hudson)
(jill.serjeant1@thomsonreuters.com; 213 955 6749)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban join "American Idol" as judges
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban have signed up as judges for TV singing contest 'American Idol,' Fox television said on Sunday.
They will join Grammy-winning artist Mariah Carey for the 12th season of the show when it returns in January 2013. It lost some 20 percent of its audience last season.
Randy Jackson, the only remaining member of the original panel, will remain with the show.
The new judging line-up follows the departures earlier this year of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez after two years on the show. Carey's name was announced in July.
Fox is a unit of News Corp
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by David Brunnstrom)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
They will join Grammy-winning artist Mariah Carey for the 12th season of the show when it returns in January 2013. It lost some 20 percent of its audience last season.
Randy Jackson, the only remaining member of the original panel, will remain with the show.
The new judging line-up follows the departures earlier this year of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez after two years on the show. Carey's name was announced in July.
Fox is a unit of News Corp
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by David Brunnstrom)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Beyoncé, Jay-Z join Obama for contest, fundraiser
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles are still in it to help President Obama win it in his second bid for the White House.
Knowles made an online pitch on Obama's behalf on Thursday, sending his supporters an email with an 'amazing invitation' to meet with the musical duo and the president for an evening in New York City at an as-yet-undetermined date before Election Day.
'I've had the honor of meeting President Obama and the First Lady a few times,' Beyoncé says in the promotional email, 'and believe me - it's an opportunity you don't want to miss.'
As with several previous Obama campaign sweepstakes involving famous figures from the entertainment realm, the contest makes room for a winner and a guest to join POTUS and the VIPs for the price of a small donation. Contenders have until midnight on Thursday to enter.
This time, however, some pre-election inflation has apparently jacked up the cost, with an entry-level contribution of $25 as opposed to the $3 or $5 base price requested for other recent events.
The pair are also hosting a numerically catchy $40,000-a-head fund-raising dinner party at Jay-Z's 40/40 club in Manhattan on September 18, according to the New York Post. But it's unclear from Knowles' memo whether the civilian meet-and-greet will be part of that event.
Knowles has made herself visible in this election season, making a video tribute to Michelle Obama posted on BarackObama.com in July and taking part in the First Lady's 'Let's Move!' kid-targeted fitness campaign in May, among other high-profile appearances.
And after several rounds of star-powered fundraising, the Obama campaign appears to have the celebrity endorsement rigmarole down pat and isn't shy about linking their candidate's brand with Hollywood-level fame.
George Clooney, Harvey Weinstein, Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Jordan, Gwen Stefani and Eva Longoria have all done their part to direct attention and funds to Obama's re-election effort, and with just under eight weeks to go, there's still plenty of time for that list to grow.
Knowles made an online pitch on Obama's behalf on Thursday, sending his supporters an email with an 'amazing invitation' to meet with the musical duo and the president for an evening in New York City at an as-yet-undetermined date before Election Day.
'I've had the honor of meeting President Obama and the First Lady a few times,' Beyoncé says in the promotional email, 'and believe me - it's an opportunity you don't want to miss.'
As with several previous Obama campaign sweepstakes involving famous figures from the entertainment realm, the contest makes room for a winner and a guest to join POTUS and the VIPs for the price of a small donation. Contenders have until midnight on Thursday to enter.
This time, however, some pre-election inflation has apparently jacked up the cost, with an entry-level contribution of $25 as opposed to the $3 or $5 base price requested for other recent events.
The pair are also hosting a numerically catchy $40,000-a-head fund-raising dinner party at Jay-Z's 40/40 club in Manhattan on September 18, according to the New York Post. But it's unclear from Knowles' memo whether the civilian meet-and-greet will be part of that event.
Knowles has made herself visible in this election season, making a video tribute to Michelle Obama posted on BarackObama.com in July and taking part in the First Lady's 'Let's Move!' kid-targeted fitness campaign in May, among other high-profile appearances.
And after several rounds of star-powered fundraising, the Obama campaign appears to have the celebrity endorsement rigmarole down pat and isn't shy about linking their candidate's brand with Hollywood-level fame.
George Clooney, Harvey Weinstein, Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Jordan, Gwen Stefani and Eva Longoria have all done their part to direct attention and funds to Obama's re-election effort, and with just under eight weeks to go, there's still plenty of time for that list to grow.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Led Zeppelin to release reunion concert film
LONDON (Reuters) - British rockers Led Zeppelin will release a concert film based on their 2007 charity performance in London that hits cinemas on October 17, the band said on Thursday.
The film, called 'Celebration Day' and directed by Dick Carruthers, was taken from the long-awaited reunion of one of rock's most successful acts.
The theatrical release will be across 1,500 screens in more than 40 territories, followed by an audio and video release on November 19.
There will be premieres in London, Los Angeles, New York and other major cities before the theatrical release, raising the possibility of seeing the three surviving band members on the same red carpet, if not the same stage.
The band broke up in 1980 after the death of their drummer John Bonham, but despite repeated calls from millions of fans to get back together to tour and record, reunions have been fleeting and, by their own admission, unsatisfactory.
But in 2007, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bass player John Paul Jones, along with Bonham's son and drummer Jason, took the stage at London's O2 Arena for a tribute gig to Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun.
It was the first headline show by the band in 27 years, and according to Cineworld, the cinema chain which will screen the movie in Britain, it was the most over-subscribed gig in history after more than 20 million people applied for 18,000 tickets.
'It's a unique opportunity to savor what is likely to be Led Zeppelin's final performance,' Cineworld said.
The band, one of rock's biggest acts with global album sales estimated at up to 300 million, played 16 songs on the night including hits like 'Whole Lotta Love', 'Kashmir' and 'Stairway to Heaven'.
The poster promoting the film features a cartoon of a zeppelin airship against a red sky above London's Houses of Parliament, reminiscent of the artwork on the band's 2007 compilation album 'Mothership'.
Following is the track listing of the upcoming film, which will last just over two hours.
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying
5. For Your Life
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine
8. No Quarter
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Dazed And Confused
11. Stairway To Heaven
12. The Song Remains The Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock And Roll.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by WOMEN'S BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
The film, called 'Celebration Day' and directed by Dick Carruthers, was taken from the long-awaited reunion of one of rock's most successful acts.
The theatrical release will be across 1,500 screens in more than 40 territories, followed by an audio and video release on November 19.
There will be premieres in London, Los Angeles, New York and other major cities before the theatrical release, raising the possibility of seeing the three surviving band members on the same red carpet, if not the same stage.
The band broke up in 1980 after the death of their drummer John Bonham, but despite repeated calls from millions of fans to get back together to tour and record, reunions have been fleeting and, by their own admission, unsatisfactory.
But in 2007, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bass player John Paul Jones, along with Bonham's son and drummer Jason, took the stage at London's O2 Arena for a tribute gig to Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun.
It was the first headline show by the band in 27 years, and according to Cineworld, the cinema chain which will screen the movie in Britain, it was the most over-subscribed gig in history after more than 20 million people applied for 18,000 tickets.
'It's a unique opportunity to savor what is likely to be Led Zeppelin's final performance,' Cineworld said.
The band, one of rock's biggest acts with global album sales estimated at up to 300 million, played 16 songs on the night including hits like 'Whole Lotta Love', 'Kashmir' and 'Stairway to Heaven'.
The poster promoting the film features a cartoon of a zeppelin airship against a red sky above London's Houses of Parliament, reminiscent of the artwork on the band's 2007 compilation album 'Mothership'.
Following is the track listing of the upcoming film, which will last just over two hours.
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying
5. For Your Life
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine
8. No Quarter
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Dazed And Confused
11. Stairway To Heaven
12. The Song Remains The Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock And Roll.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by WOMEN'S BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Bob Dylan says plagiarism charges made by "wussies and pussies"
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bob Dylan has angrily responded to charges he plagiarized some of his lyrics, calling critics 'wussies and pussies' and saying musical appropriation is 'part of the folk tradition.'
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine for its Friday edition, the influential singer-songwriter made his first public comments on the accusations, saying that in folk and jazz music 'quotation is a rich and enriching tradition.'
'Everyone else can do it but not me,' he complained. 'There are different rules for me.'
Rolling Stone released excerpts of the interview on Wednesday and Reuters obtained a complete transcript.
In 2003, the Wall Street Journal reported that lyrics from Dylan's 2001 record 'Love and Theft' were remarkably similar to phrases in an obscure 1995 biography of a Japanese mobster.
A line from the biography, 'I'm not as cool or forgiving as I might have sounded' was compared to Dylan's 'I'm not quite as cool or forgiving as I sound.' Twelve such similar phrasings have been identified.
In 2006, the New York Times made similar claims about a Civil War era poet's phrasings and Dylan's 2006 record 'Modern Times.'
'I'm working within my art form,' the 71 year-old singer told Rolling Stone. 'It's that simple. ... It's called songwriting. It has to do with melody and rhythm, and then after that, anything goes. You make everything yours. We all do it.'
'These are the same people that tried to pin the name Judas on me,' Dylan added, referring to bitter 1960s folk fans who decried his move into electric guitar blues and famously compared the singer to the Biblical apostle who betrayed Jesus.
'Judas - the most hated name in human history!' he exclaimed. 'If you think you've been called a bad name, try to work your way out from under that. Yeah, and for what? For playing an electric guitar? As if that is in some kind of way equitable to betraying our Lord and delivering him up to be crucified. All those evil ... can rot in hell,' he said.
ART DIFFERENT FROM WRITING
Musical appropriation - using familiar cultural references or language in a new context - is different from non-fiction writing or journalism, said Sean Wilentz, a Princeton University professor of American history who has written extensively about Dylan.
'Of course it's legitimate,' Wilentz told Reuters on Wednesday of Dylan's use of others' material. 'Dylan's frame of reference is so much larger than most songwriters' - more literary, historical and philosophical.'
Wilentz said crediting bits and pieces of another's work is scholarly tradition, not an artistic tradition.
'Creating art is different, and always has been, especially the kind Dylan creates,' he said.
Dylan, who released 'Tempest,' his 35th studio album this week, has been scrutinized throughout his 50-year career, at least in part because he has proven so unpredictable and defied convention at virtually every turn.
In 2006, he stunned fans when he appeared in a sensuous Victoria's Secret commercial. In 1990, he released an album made up largely of children's nursery rhymes. In the late 1970s, the Jewish-raised Dylan embraced Christianity and sang only religious-themed music for several years.
In a 50-year career, he has won 11 Grammys, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous other awards.
'I'm not like you,' he told the Rolling Stone interviewer at one point.
(Reporting By Chris Francescani; editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine for its Friday edition, the influential singer-songwriter made his first public comments on the accusations, saying that in folk and jazz music 'quotation is a rich and enriching tradition.'
'Everyone else can do it but not me,' he complained. 'There are different rules for me.'
Rolling Stone released excerpts of the interview on Wednesday and Reuters obtained a complete transcript.
In 2003, the Wall Street Journal reported that lyrics from Dylan's 2001 record 'Love and Theft' were remarkably similar to phrases in an obscure 1995 biography of a Japanese mobster.
A line from the biography, 'I'm not as cool or forgiving as I might have sounded' was compared to Dylan's 'I'm not quite as cool or forgiving as I sound.' Twelve such similar phrasings have been identified.
In 2006, the New York Times made similar claims about a Civil War era poet's phrasings and Dylan's 2006 record 'Modern Times.'
'I'm working within my art form,' the 71 year-old singer told Rolling Stone. 'It's that simple. ... It's called songwriting. It has to do with melody and rhythm, and then after that, anything goes. You make everything yours. We all do it.'
'These are the same people that tried to pin the name Judas on me,' Dylan added, referring to bitter 1960s folk fans who decried his move into electric guitar blues and famously compared the singer to the Biblical apostle who betrayed Jesus.
'Judas - the most hated name in human history!' he exclaimed. 'If you think you've been called a bad name, try to work your way out from under that. Yeah, and for what? For playing an electric guitar? As if that is in some kind of way equitable to betraying our Lord and delivering him up to be crucified. All those evil ... can rot in hell,' he said.
ART DIFFERENT FROM WRITING
Musical appropriation - using familiar cultural references or language in a new context - is different from non-fiction writing or journalism, said Sean Wilentz, a Princeton University professor of American history who has written extensively about Dylan.
'Of course it's legitimate,' Wilentz told Reuters on Wednesday of Dylan's use of others' material. 'Dylan's frame of reference is so much larger than most songwriters' - more literary, historical and philosophical.'
Wilentz said crediting bits and pieces of another's work is scholarly tradition, not an artistic tradition.
'Creating art is different, and always has been, especially the kind Dylan creates,' he said.
Dylan, who released 'Tempest,' his 35th studio album this week, has been scrutinized throughout his 50-year career, at least in part because he has proven so unpredictable and defied convention at virtually every turn.
In 2006, he stunned fans when he appeared in a sensuous Victoria's Secret commercial. In 1990, he released an album made up largely of children's nursery rhymes. In the late 1970s, the Jewish-raised Dylan embraced Christianity and sang only religious-themed music for several years.
In a 50-year career, he has won 11 Grammys, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous other awards.
'I'm not like you,' he told the Rolling Stone interviewer at one point.
(Reporting By Chris Francescani; editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Matchbox Twenty get to No. 1 at last with "North"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop-rock band Matchbox Twenty scored their first No. 1 album with their long-awaited 'North' release, selling 95,000 record to top the Billboard 200 chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures on Wednesday.
'North' is the first full-length studio album since 2002 for the four piece band from Florida, which formed in 1995 and had big hits with singles 'Unwell,' and '3 A.M'.
Sales for 'North' were powered by the new album's first single 'She's So Mean,' released in June.
Matchbox Twenty have not played a major tour since 2008 and started work on 'North' about two years ago. Band members have said the disc was delayed because they wanted to get the album right after such a long absence.
'North' was one of four new arrivals on the Billboard 200. Rock band Imagine Dragons came in at No. 2 with their first full-length effort 'Night Visions,' and Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae debuted at No. 3 with 'Gravity.'
It was the highest Billboard entry ever for Lecrae, and came just a week after fellow Christian singer TobyMac debuted at No. 1 with 'Eye On It' in what was the first Christian act to reach the top Billboard 200 spot since 1997. TobyMac slipped to No. 8 in this week's chart.
On the digital songs chart, country pop artist Taylor Swift topped the list for the fourth consecutive week with her infectious hit single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' while her new cancer charity single 'Ronan,' entered at No. 2.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
'North' is the first full-length studio album since 2002 for the four piece band from Florida, which formed in 1995 and had big hits with singles 'Unwell,' and '3 A.M'.
Sales for 'North' were powered by the new album's first single 'She's So Mean,' released in June.
Matchbox Twenty have not played a major tour since 2008 and started work on 'North' about two years ago. Band members have said the disc was delayed because they wanted to get the album right after such a long absence.
'North' was one of four new arrivals on the Billboard 200. Rock band Imagine Dragons came in at No. 2 with their first full-length effort 'Night Visions,' and Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae debuted at No. 3 with 'Gravity.'
It was the highest Billboard entry ever for Lecrae, and came just a week after fellow Christian singer TobyMac debuted at No. 1 with 'Eye On It' in what was the first Christian act to reach the top Billboard 200 spot since 1997. TobyMac slipped to No. 8 in this week's chart.
On the digital songs chart, country pop artist Taylor Swift topped the list for the fourth consecutive week with her infectious hit single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' while her new cancer charity single 'Ronan,' entered at No. 2.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Frank Ocean, P!nk net huge sales after VMA performances
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - One Direction, Frank Ocean and P!nk were just a few of the artists that registered huge increases in album sales after performing at this year's Video Music Awards, continuing a trend from past years of MTV's hallmark event.
One Direction, a big winner at the VMAs with three moon men (the VMA trophy), saw album sales jump 27 percent following the broadcast while sales of their single, 'One Thing,' rose 51 percent. The group also performed 'One Thing' at the event, causing some teenage girls in attendance to swoon.
P!nk's trapeze act at the awards show must have made an impression with viewers, as sales of her single 'Blow Me One Last Kiss' spiked 89 percent, moving the song to sixth on the iTunes singles chart.
'Once again we see the immediate impact in sales from the VMAs,' Joe Riccitelli, EVP of Promotion at RCA Recods, P!nk's label, said in a statement. 'Both of our performing artists, P!nk and Alicia Keys, showed increases at iTunes in the 80 percent and 100 percent ranges respectively. They also both jumped inside of the Top 10 on ITunes songs chart within 24 hours. Now that is immediate impact.'
Though ratings for the awards show were down considerably from the past year, due in part to a move from Sunday night to Thursday night, the social buzz around the show was considerable.
As Riccitelli noted, Keys, who performed 'Girl on Fire' at the VMAs alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas, saw sales of the song rise 88 percent. In climbing to 8th on the iTunes chart, 'Girl on Fire' is Keys' highest ranked single on iTunes since 'No One.'
Frank Ocean and Rihanna also benefited from their VMA, Ocean in particular. Sales of his debut album, the widely praised 'Channel Orange,' jumped 49 percent while sales of 'Thinkin Bout You,' which he performed in front of a faux desert campfire, rose 209 percent.
This news article is brought to you by SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
One Direction, a big winner at the VMAs with three moon men (the VMA trophy), saw album sales jump 27 percent following the broadcast while sales of their single, 'One Thing,' rose 51 percent. The group also performed 'One Thing' at the event, causing some teenage girls in attendance to swoon.
P!nk's trapeze act at the awards show must have made an impression with viewers, as sales of her single 'Blow Me One Last Kiss' spiked 89 percent, moving the song to sixth on the iTunes singles chart.
'Once again we see the immediate impact in sales from the VMAs,' Joe Riccitelli, EVP of Promotion at RCA Recods, P!nk's label, said in a statement. 'Both of our performing artists, P!nk and Alicia Keys, showed increases at iTunes in the 80 percent and 100 percent ranges respectively. They also both jumped inside of the Top 10 on ITunes songs chart within 24 hours. Now that is immediate impact.'
Though ratings for the awards show were down considerably from the past year, due in part to a move from Sunday night to Thursday night, the social buzz around the show was considerable.
As Riccitelli noted, Keys, who performed 'Girl on Fire' at the VMAs alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas, saw sales of the song rise 88 percent. In climbing to 8th on the iTunes chart, 'Girl on Fire' is Keys' highest ranked single on iTunes since 'No One.'
Frank Ocean and Rihanna also benefited from their VMA, Ocean in particular. Sales of his debut album, the widely praised 'Channel Orange,' jumped 49 percent while sales of 'Thinkin Bout You,' which he performed in front of a faux desert campfire, rose 209 percent.
This news article is brought to you by SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Appeals court raises damages award in music piracy case
(Reuters) - The music industry won the latest round on Tuesday in its long-running legal battle against a woman accused of illegally downloading and sharing two dozen songs on the Kazaa peer-to-peer network.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota, reinstated a $222,000 jury verdict against Jammie Thomas-Rasset, rejecting her arguments that the damages award was excessive and violated her due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The decision is the latest to address the music industry's ability to use the Copyright Act to pursue individuals who illegally download music from the Internet. The law allows copyright owners to recover damages between $750 and $150,000 per infringed work.
Thomas-Rasset, from Brainerd, Minnesota, was one of 18,000 individuals sued by the Recording Industry Association of America between 2003 and 2008 in a legal assault meant to discourage people from illegally downloading songs from sites like Kazaa.
The industry organization accused her of illegally downloading more than 1,700 files. After failing to reach a settlement, the association sued Thomas-Rasset in 2006 over 24 songs on behalf of six major record labels, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings Inc and Arista Records.
The case has followed a circuitous path. Thomas-Rasset lost her first trial in 2007 and was ordered to pay $222,000, only to have the court throw out the verdict because of a faulty jury instruction.
At her second trial, Thomas-Rasset testified that her ex-boyfriend or sons, then 8 and 10, were most likely responsible for downloading and distributing the songs. The jury awarded the record labels $1.92 million in damages. But the court lowered the damages to $54,000, calling the jury's award 'shocking.'
Instead of accepting the lowered amount, the record companies exercised their right to a new trial, and a third jury awarded the music industry $1.5 million in damages. The district court again ruled that the maximum amount allowed by due process was only $54,000. The recording companies appealed.
On Tuesday, a unanimous three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit reinstated the original $222,000 in damages that the first jury had awarded.
The $222,000 award was not 'so severe and oppressive' as to violate the Constitution, Judge Steven Colloton wrote for the panel. Rather, the amount, equivalent to $9,250 per song, was at the lower end of the $750 to $150,000 range that Congress established.
Thomas-Rasset argued that if the labels had sued her over 1,000 songs, the damages would be clearly excessive at over $9 million. But the panel refused to extrapolate.
'If and when a jury returns a multi-million dollar award for noncommercial online copyright infringement, then there will be time enough to consider it,' Colloton wrote.
Kiwi Camara, a lawyer for Thomas-Rasset, called the $222,000 damages award 'punitive' and out-of-line with the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings. He said he would likely appeal the case to the high court.
The Recording Industry Association of America welcomed the court's decision. We 'look forward to putting this case behind us,' the organization said in a statement. The group has ended its lawsuit campaign, and now sends warning notices to users caught illegally downloading music.
In a separate case in 2011, the 1st Circuit reinstated a $675,000 judgment against Joel Tenenbaum, a former Boston University student, for 30 charges of illegal downloading. That ruling reversed a trial judge's decision to knock the award down to $67,500.
Tenenbaum appealed that case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Copyright Act was never meant to be applied to individual consumers. But the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in May, allowing the 1st Circuit decision to stand.
The latest 8th Circuit case is Capitol Records Inc et al v. Thomas-Rasset, No. 11-2820.
(Reporting By Terry Baynes; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota, reinstated a $222,000 jury verdict against Jammie Thomas-Rasset, rejecting her arguments that the damages award was excessive and violated her due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The decision is the latest to address the music industry's ability to use the Copyright Act to pursue individuals who illegally download music from the Internet. The law allows copyright owners to recover damages between $750 and $150,000 per infringed work.
Thomas-Rasset, from Brainerd, Minnesota, was one of 18,000 individuals sued by the Recording Industry Association of America between 2003 and 2008 in a legal assault meant to discourage people from illegally downloading songs from sites like Kazaa.
The industry organization accused her of illegally downloading more than 1,700 files. After failing to reach a settlement, the association sued Thomas-Rasset in 2006 over 24 songs on behalf of six major record labels, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings Inc and Arista Records.
The case has followed a circuitous path. Thomas-Rasset lost her first trial in 2007 and was ordered to pay $222,000, only to have the court throw out the verdict because of a faulty jury instruction.
At her second trial, Thomas-Rasset testified that her ex-boyfriend or sons, then 8 and 10, were most likely responsible for downloading and distributing the songs. The jury awarded the record labels $1.92 million in damages. But the court lowered the damages to $54,000, calling the jury's award 'shocking.'
Instead of accepting the lowered amount, the record companies exercised their right to a new trial, and a third jury awarded the music industry $1.5 million in damages. The district court again ruled that the maximum amount allowed by due process was only $54,000. The recording companies appealed.
On Tuesday, a unanimous three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit reinstated the original $222,000 in damages that the first jury had awarded.
The $222,000 award was not 'so severe and oppressive' as to violate the Constitution, Judge Steven Colloton wrote for the panel. Rather, the amount, equivalent to $9,250 per song, was at the lower end of the $750 to $150,000 range that Congress established.
Thomas-Rasset argued that if the labels had sued her over 1,000 songs, the damages would be clearly excessive at over $9 million. But the panel refused to extrapolate.
'If and when a jury returns a multi-million dollar award for noncommercial online copyright infringement, then there will be time enough to consider it,' Colloton wrote.
Kiwi Camara, a lawyer for Thomas-Rasset, called the $222,000 damages award 'punitive' and out-of-line with the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings. He said he would likely appeal the case to the high court.
The Recording Industry Association of America welcomed the court's decision. We 'look forward to putting this case behind us,' the organization said in a statement. The group has ended its lawsuit campaign, and now sends warning notices to users caught illegally downloading music.
In a separate case in 2011, the 1st Circuit reinstated a $675,000 judgment against Joel Tenenbaum, a former Boston University student, for 30 charges of illegal downloading. That ruling reversed a trial judge's decision to knock the award down to $67,500.
Tenenbaum appealed that case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Copyright Act was never meant to be applied to individual consumers. But the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in May, allowing the 1st Circuit decision to stand.
The latest 8th Circuit case is Capitol Records Inc et al v. Thomas-Rasset, No. 11-2820.
(Reporting By Terry Baynes; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Paul McCartney decorated with France's highest award
PARIS (Reuters) - Former Beatle Paul McCartney received France's highest public distinction for his contribution to music on Saturday when President Francois Hollande made him an officer of the Legion of Honour in a short ceremony at the presidential palace.
Shortly after the private ceremony during which Hollande joked with McCartney he had preferred the Rolling Stones to the Beatles, the British rock star gave a thumbs up and tweeted his thanks to France.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour has three grades - chevalier, officer and commander. It carries social status but no money, and recipients have to buy their own medal from a licensed jeweler, with prices ranging from 169 to 700 euros ($210 to $880) for the highest rank.
McCartney, 70, one of the most influential songwriters in the history of popular music, follows in the footsteps of U.S. actors Clint Eastwood and Robert De Niro, and singers Liza Minnelli and Lenny Kravtiz, who have also been decorated with the Legion of Honour.
The musician has already been awarded a knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. He recently performed in front of the queen and tens of thousands of spectators at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
He first rose to international fame with The Beatles, co-authoring songs such as 'Yesterday', 'A Hard Day's Night', 'Hey Jude', 'Let it be' alongside bandmate John Lennon.
He then went on to forge a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife Linda. He and Ringo Starr are the only surviving members of the Beatles following the deaths of Lennon and George Harrison.
(Reporting By John Irish; Editing by Sophie Hares)
This news article is brought to you by PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Shortly after the private ceremony during which Hollande joked with McCartney he had preferred the Rolling Stones to the Beatles, the British rock star gave a thumbs up and tweeted his thanks to France.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour has three grades - chevalier, officer and commander. It carries social status but no money, and recipients have to buy their own medal from a licensed jeweler, with prices ranging from 169 to 700 euros ($210 to $880) for the highest rank.
McCartney, 70, one of the most influential songwriters in the history of popular music, follows in the footsteps of U.S. actors Clint Eastwood and Robert De Niro, and singers Liza Minnelli and Lenny Kravtiz, who have also been decorated with the Legion of Honour.
The musician has already been awarded a knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. He recently performed in front of the queen and tens of thousands of spectators at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
He first rose to international fame with The Beatles, co-authoring songs such as 'Yesterday', 'A Hard Day's Night', 'Hey Jude', 'Let it be' alongside bandmate John Lennon.
He then went on to forge a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife Linda. He and Ringo Starr are the only surviving members of the Beatles following the deaths of Lennon and George Harrison.
(Reporting By John Irish; Editing by Sophie Hares)
This news article is brought to you by PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, September 7, 2012
MTV's Video Music Awards: The most social TV event of all time?
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - The 2012 Video Music Awards was the most social TV event of all-time. Or was it second?
According to social analytics company Trendrr, MTV's annual celebration of the most popular music videos of the year was the biggest tentpole event so far in 2012, which also makes it the biggest of all-time, excluding political events.
The VMAs notched 19,175,032 mentions across Twitter, Facebook, GetGlue and Viggle, besting the second-biggest event ever, this year's Super Bowl, by almost 2 million mentions. The 2012 Grammys rank third.
According to Bluefin Labs, another social analytics company, the show was the second biggest social TV event ever, trailing this year's Grammys. The VMAs registered 12.8 million social media comments, while the Grammys notched 13 million.
These differing reports demonstrate the inexactitude of social analytics, as every company has its own measurement system.
Still, whichever way you slice it, those numbers are huge (unlike the ratings) - and driven by women. According to Trendrr, 71 percent of social interactions around the awards show came from women.
In keeping with the female bent of the tweetage, it was an R&B crooner and a spunky boy band who drove the conversation.
By Bluefin's measurements, activity spiked during Frank Ocean's performance of 'Thinkin 'Bout You,' a stripped-down spectacle compared to the rest of the bombast, as well as when British pop group One Direction won 'Best New Artist.'
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
According to social analytics company Trendrr, MTV's annual celebration of the most popular music videos of the year was the biggest tentpole event so far in 2012, which also makes it the biggest of all-time, excluding political events.
The VMAs notched 19,175,032 mentions across Twitter, Facebook, GetGlue and Viggle, besting the second-biggest event ever, this year's Super Bowl, by almost 2 million mentions. The 2012 Grammys rank third.
According to Bluefin Labs, another social analytics company, the show was the second biggest social TV event ever, trailing this year's Grammys. The VMAs registered 12.8 million social media comments, while the Grammys notched 13 million.
These differing reports demonstrate the inexactitude of social analytics, as every company has its own measurement system.
Still, whichever way you slice it, those numbers are huge (unlike the ratings) - and driven by women. According to Trendrr, 71 percent of social interactions around the awards show came from women.
In keeping with the female bent of the tweetage, it was an R&B crooner and a spunky boy band who drove the conversation.
By Bluefin's measurements, activity spiked during Frank Ocean's performance of 'Thinkin 'Bout You,' a stripped-down spectacle compared to the rest of the bombast, as well as when British pop group One Direction won 'Best New Artist.'
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
UK boy band One Direction big winner at MTV video awards
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British boy band One Direction were the big winners at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, edging out Rihanna and taking home three prizes to crown their arrival on the U.S. pop scene just six months ago.
The five baby-faced guys, contestants on the British version of TV singing contest 'The X Factor,' beat Justin Bieber and Rihanna for best pop video, and fellow all-boy British outfit The Wanted as best new artists.
They also won the most-shareworthy video award - which was voted on by fans - for their debut hit single 'What Makes You Beautiful' and later performed their latest release 'One Thing' to hordes of screaming girls at the two-hour Los Angeles ceremony.
'To win one Moonman is amazing, to win two is incredible,' said Harry Styles, as the band collected the silver VMA trophy for best new artists.
'Thank you so much! We have grown up watching this show and to collect one of these straight away is incredible,' said a jubilant Niall Horan.
One Direction, which is managed by British TV entrepreneur Simon Cowell, made history in March when it became the first UK group to see its first album, 'Up All Night,' debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
Rihanna, who went into the VMA's sharing a leading five nominations with Canadian rapper Drake, came away with just one award.
But it was the most coveted award of the night - video of the year - and the Barbados-born superstar won it for her dizzying visual romp in hit single 'We Found Love.'
'I love you guys! This is awesome,' Rihanna told her fans as she collected the Moonman trophy and showed off a new pixie hair cut.
In a hip-hop-heavy show, rapper Nicki Minaj won best female video for 'Starships,' while Chris Brown won two awards - best male video and best choreography for 'Turn Up the Music.'
Drake also came away with just one win, for his hip-hop video 'HYFR,' which celebrates his Jewish heritage. 'I want to dedicate this award to any kid who has had a long walk home,' Drake said.
The VMA's have become known as one of the more unpredictable and controversial award shows, but Thursday's ceremony had none of the jaw-dropping moments - like the steamy 2003 Madonna/Britney Spears kiss - that have marked previous years.
This year, U.S. Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Ross, 16, back-flipped and leapt across the stage while Alicia Keys sang her new single 'Girl On Fire.' Ross and her four fellow team-mates also introduced Keys.
Punk rocker Billie Joe Armstrong seemed fully recovered from a weekend dehydration episode that forced Green Day to cancel a performance in Italy, and he was mobbed on Thursday while singing after inviting fans to come up on stage.
Lil Wayne gave the first televised performance of his new single 'No Worries,' and Frank Ocean, who made headlines in July by coming out as a rare gay hip-hop artist, performed an emotional version of 'Thinkin Bout You.'
Calvin Harris was the winner of the VMA's first award in the increasingly popular electronic dance music category for 'Feel So Close.'
Country-pop crossover singer Taylor Swift closed the show with her best-selling single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' and other performers included Pink, Minaj, and Rihanna.
(Additional reporting by Courtney Garcia; Editing by Eric Walsh)
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The five baby-faced guys, contestants on the British version of TV singing contest 'The X Factor,' beat Justin Bieber and Rihanna for best pop video, and fellow all-boy British outfit The Wanted as best new artists.
They also won the most-shareworthy video award - which was voted on by fans - for their debut hit single 'What Makes You Beautiful' and later performed their latest release 'One Thing' to hordes of screaming girls at the two-hour Los Angeles ceremony.
'To win one Moonman is amazing, to win two is incredible,' said Harry Styles, as the band collected the silver VMA trophy for best new artists.
'Thank you so much! We have grown up watching this show and to collect one of these straight away is incredible,' said a jubilant Niall Horan.
One Direction, which is managed by British TV entrepreneur Simon Cowell, made history in March when it became the first UK group to see its first album, 'Up All Night,' debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
Rihanna, who went into the VMA's sharing a leading five nominations with Canadian rapper Drake, came away with just one award.
But it was the most coveted award of the night - video of the year - and the Barbados-born superstar won it for her dizzying visual romp in hit single 'We Found Love.'
'I love you guys! This is awesome,' Rihanna told her fans as she collected the Moonman trophy and showed off a new pixie hair cut.
In a hip-hop-heavy show, rapper Nicki Minaj won best female video for 'Starships,' while Chris Brown won two awards - best male video and best choreography for 'Turn Up the Music.'
Drake also came away with just one win, for his hip-hop video 'HYFR,' which celebrates his Jewish heritage. 'I want to dedicate this award to any kid who has had a long walk home,' Drake said.
The VMA's have become known as one of the more unpredictable and controversial award shows, but Thursday's ceremony had none of the jaw-dropping moments - like the steamy 2003 Madonna/Britney Spears kiss - that have marked previous years.
This year, U.S. Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Ross, 16, back-flipped and leapt across the stage while Alicia Keys sang her new single 'Girl On Fire.' Ross and her four fellow team-mates also introduced Keys.
Punk rocker Billie Joe Armstrong seemed fully recovered from a weekend dehydration episode that forced Green Day to cancel a performance in Italy, and he was mobbed on Thursday while singing after inviting fans to come up on stage.
Lil Wayne gave the first televised performance of his new single 'No Worries,' and Frank Ocean, who made headlines in July by coming out as a rare gay hip-hop artist, performed an emotional version of 'Thinkin Bout You.'
Calvin Harris was the winner of the VMA's first award in the increasingly popular electronic dance music category for 'Feel So Close.'
Country-pop crossover singer Taylor Swift closed the show with her best-selling single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' and other performers included Pink, Minaj, and Rihanna.
(Additional reporting by Courtney Garcia; Editing by Eric Walsh)
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Green Day on for MTV awards after dehydration scare
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Punk rock band Green Day will perform as planned at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday after a case of severe dehydration sent frontman Billie Joe Armstrong to the hospital and forced the cancellation of a weekend concert in Italy.
Bass player Mike Dirnt told MTV News on Thursday that Armstrong, whose illness had not been explained, came down with 'heavy, heavy dehydration' in Italy but was recovering well on a regimen of 'push-ups, prayers and vitamins'.
'It was like severe dehydration, influenza, and it was just a really, really bad situation,' Dirnt told MTV News in a break for rehearsals for the VMA award show.
'He woke up in the morning and it was bad. Let's put it this way, if you're in your hotel room and you're vomiting profusely, it's not fun. So what are you gonna do? It's hard to sing while you're puking,' he added.
The band canceled a show in Bologna on Sunday but said they hoped to make their way back to the Italian city as soon as possible.
As for Thursday's performance at the annual MTV VMA show, 'We're ready to rock, we're gonna be here, we're gonna have a good time,' Dirnt told MTV News.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Bass player Mike Dirnt told MTV News on Thursday that Armstrong, whose illness had not been explained, came down with 'heavy, heavy dehydration' in Italy but was recovering well on a regimen of 'push-ups, prayers and vitamins'.
'It was like severe dehydration, influenza, and it was just a really, really bad situation,' Dirnt told MTV News in a break for rehearsals for the VMA award show.
'He woke up in the morning and it was bad. Let's put it this way, if you're in your hotel room and you're vomiting profusely, it's not fun. So what are you gonna do? It's hard to sing while you're puking,' he added.
The band canceled a show in Bologna on Sunday but said they hoped to make their way back to the Italian city as soon as possible.
As for Thursday's performance at the annual MTV VMA show, 'We're ready to rock, we're gonna be here, we're gonna have a good time,' Dirnt told MTV News.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)