TunageTown: March 2012

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Cher, John Legend Lend Voices to Outrage Over Trayvon Martin's Death

by Billboard Staff | March 22, 2012 10:00 EDT

The Feb. 26 fatal shooting of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch captain has sparked a nationwide outrage, due in part because the alleged shooter has not been charged or detained. As of Thursday morning, an online petition on Change.org started by Martin's parents is fast approaching 1 million signatures, among them a number of music's biggest stars who have also been vocal on social media.

"We must not forget Trayvon Martin! This beautiful young man was murdered in FLA. & his killer was set free without even a drug test! SHAME!" wrote Cher on Twitter. Other musicians like Wyclef Jean, Flea, Jill Scott, Monica, Janelle Monae, Joel Madden, Big Boi, Chuck D, Questlove of The Roots and John Legend have all spoken out. Russell Simmons' Global Grind website has covered the uproar extensively.

"Murder is illegal. If you get caught you go to prison," wrote Legend on March 18. "This is egregious because the guy is comfortably sitting at home."

Monae has posted several tweets with links to the petition throughout the last week, writing on Sunday that, "I'm gonna keep sending this out until justice is served. Racial profiling on our people has got to end."

Keyshia Cole wrote, "He had no right to take this young man's life."

The 17-year-old Martin was shot and killed Feb. 26 in a gated community in Sanford, a suburb of Orlando. The neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, said he shot the teen in self-defense because the youth attacked him. Police said that Martin was walking to a family friend's house holding a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered at New York City's Union Square to call for Zimmerman's arrest. The victim's parents were on hand to address supporters at the event, dubbed the Million Hoodie March in reference to the sweatshirt Martin was wearing at the time of his death.

"My son did not deserve to die," Martin's dad Tracy Martin said. Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, told the crowd: "My heart is in pain, but to see the support of all of you really makes a difference."

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J. Cole Enlists Melanie Fiona For Upcoming Album

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 4:25 EDT

Expect to hear more from J. Cole and Melanie Fiona in the near future as they join forces for Cole's upcoming sophomore album.

Melanie Fiona Used 'MF Life' Delay To Bring In Nas, Drake, J. Cole

Aside from their collaboration, "This Time," off her sophomore album, "The MF Life," (March 20), Fiona told The Juice that the two recently got in the studio in L.A. to lace a song for Cole's next project.

"I did a track for him which will probably be on his new album... His song [has] a real positive message," Melanie Fiona revealed. "It's about a competition he was having with young girls and boys about keeping your head up and staying positive. I actually haven't heard a final version of it yet."

Fiona couldn't pass up on collaborating, yet again, with fellow Roc Nation labelmate, especially on a track that showcases one of Cole's strong points. Enlightening lyricism. "It felt good that he had reached out to me to be on a record like that, you know? I think that says a lot about how he sees me as an artist and that's cool. That's exactly how I want to be represented," Fiona told The Juice.

J. Cole Already Prepping New Album: 'Be Back in Nine Months'

J. Cole has been working on a new album for some time now. In October 2011, he told Billboard that he's "already tracking the second album." "I've got the foundation of songs that I'm gonna put on it already, so it's just a matter of taking these songs to the next level," Cole said.

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Four-Play: Tyga, Wale, Ryan Leslie & B.o.B

by Khalila Douze, N.Y. | March 21, 2012 3:45 EDT

Tyga goes for the gold, Wale revisits his youth, Ryan Leslie lives lavishly in M.I.A., and B.o.B plays globetrotter. Check out four virals that deserve extra playtime starring Tyga, Wale, Ryan Leslie, and B.o.B.

Tyga's gold-themed video exemplifies the West Coast rapper's affinity for females and fortune. "Faded" also features fellow YMCMB rapper, Lil Wayne.

Oh to be young again. Wale taps into the nostalgia of his high school days in "Sabotage." "Sabotage," featuring Lloyd, documents the troubles of the rapper's fictional relationship.

The lavish life of Ryan Leslie depicted in his Miami-based video for "5 Minute Freshen up" is packed with everything of luxury.

From the heart of Paris to the streets of Buenos Aires, the Atlanta rapper stunts his international swag in "So Good."

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White Stripes Reunion? 'Only If We Were Bankrupt,' Says Jack White

by RJ Cubarrubia, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 5:45 EDT

Detroit rocker Jack White has revealed that he will only reform the White Stripes if they were to hit bankruptcy.

Speaking to NME, White called a reunion "a really sad thing" if it were to happen. Despite the White Stripes success, and his former marriage to only bandmate Meg White, Jack White expressed a severe reluctance and unwillingness to reunite the band.

"I would probably say absolutely not. Absolutely no chance. I couldn't see any reason to ever do that," said White. "I'm not the kind of person that would retire from baseball and come out of retirement the next year."

Jack White To Release First Solo Album, 'Blunderbuss,' in April

"If we were forced to change our mind about that, I can only imagine the reason being if we went bankrupt or really needed the cash, which would be a really sad thing," he continued. "I would probably be issuing an apology along with the announcement of the show dates."

Jack White is set to release his debut solo album "Blunderbluss" on April 24 via Third Man Records and will kick off a US tour on May 15 in Nashville, Tenn.

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Fun. Still No. 1 on Hot 100, Flo Rida Enters Top 10

by Gary Trust, N.Y. | March 21, 2012 3:50 EDT

Fun.'s "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, spends a third week atop the Billboard Hot 100, while Flo Rida jumps into the chart's top 10 with the assistance of pop singer/songwriter Sia.
"Young" logs a fifth week at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart with 349,000 downloads sold (up 8%), according to Nielsen SoundScan. With the sum, the song passes 2 million in digital sales since its release.

Fun.: The Billboard Cover Story

On Radio Songs, "Young" bounds 19-14 with 65 million audience impressions (up 40%), according to Nielsen BDS, granting the song the Hot 100's top Airplay Gainer award for a third consecutive week.
As announced last week, streaming data now carries a greater weight on the Hot 100 with the addition of the newly-launched On-Demand Songs chart. Streaming figures continue to help keep "Young" at the Hot 100's summit, as the song, which crowns On-Demand Songs for a second week, drew 1.1 million on-demand streams in the chart's tracking week, according to BDS.

Hot 100 March Madness Round 3: Vote Now!

Flo Rida, meanwhile, boasts the Hot 100's lone new top 10 title, as "Wild Ones," featuring Sia, surges 12-9. The track gains on all three Hot 100 chart components: Digital Songs (No. 6; 158,000, up 5%), Radio Songs (35-29; 39 million, up 17%) and On-Demand Songs (18-11; 429,000, up 22%).
"Wild" marks the Sunshine State rapper's seventh Hot 100 top 10 (all in lead roles). The song follows his No. 3-peaking "Good Feeling." Both cuts preview Flo Rida's forthcoming fourth album, "Only One Rida (Part 2)." The Australian-born Sia (last name: Furler) scores her first Hot 100 top 10. (She made mainstream inroads as far back as 2005 when her haunting track "Breathe Me" accompanied the closing scenes of the last episode of HBO's "Six Feet Under.")

Sia Explodes on Hot 100, While Stepping Back From Fame

Below "Young," the same songs as last week populate the Hot 100's top five.
Kelly Clarkson's former three-week No. 1 "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" holds at No. 2. The song bullets at No. 2 on Radio Songs (118 million, up 1%) while dipping 3-5 on Digital Songs (162,000, down 2%). It ranks at No. 8 on On-Demand Songs with 462,000 streams (up 5%).
The Wanted's "Glad You Came" advances 4-3 on the Hot 100, courtesy of a No. 2 rank on Digital Songs (183,000, down 4%) and a 13-7 jump on Radio Songs (73 million, up 13%). The boy band's debut single rumbles 7-4 on On-Demand Songs (570,000, up 21%).
Adele's former two-week No. 1 "Set Fire to the Rain" descends 3-4 on the Hot 100 and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," featuring Kimbra, bullets at No. 5 for a second week. The collaboration, which tops Alternative Songs for a fifth week, climbs 5-4 on Digital Songs (166,000, up 8%) and 45-36 on Radio Songs (36 million, up 21%). "Somebody" remains at No. 2 on On-Demand Songs (778,000).

Nicki Minaj's "Starships" rebounds 9-6 on the Hot 100, returning to its peak position to date and showing gains in all Hot 100 measurement fields. The song rises 4-3 on Digital Songs (172,000, up 6%), 31-21 on Radio Songs (41 million, up 12%) and 13-10 on On-Demand Songs (440,000, up 19%).

The advance of "Starships" pushes back David Guetta's "Turn Me On," featuring Minaj, 6-7 on the Hot 100, along with Drake's "Take Care," featuring Rihanna (7-8).

Below Flo Rida's "Wild," Katy Perry's "Part of Me" rounds out the top 10, holding at No. 10 for a second week. It's the first time that it hasn't fallen since it debuted at No. 1 four weeks ago. "Part" breaks into the Radio Songs top 10 (11-6; 74 million, up 13%) and elevates 41-34 on On-Demand Songs (260,000, up 31%). The song drops 7-10 on Digital Songs (114,000, down 8%) but could yet rebound on the Hot 100; it opened atop the Hot 100 due to strong initial sales but strong airplay gains are now offsetting its sales erosion. Next week's release of Perry's "Teenage Dream: the Complete Confection" should additionally enhance the song's profile and future chart potential.

Check billboard.com tomorrow (March 22), when all rankings, including the Hot 100 and On-Demand Songs in their entirety and Digital Songs and Radio Songs, will be refreshed, as they are each Thursday.

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Waka Flocka Flame: A Day in the Life

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 2:00 EDT

On any other day, Waka Flocka Flame would wake up at 12 p.m., hit up a few of his favorite food spots in ATL then head over to Rich Beatz's recording studio to continue working on his sophomore studio album, "Triple F Life: Friends, Fans and Family." But on Wednesday morning (March 21), Waka Flocka walked into the Warner Bros. Records offices in NYC close to 11 a.m. to start a hectic promotional run. First up? A listening session with The Source.

Waka ran through five to six tracks, enough to let those in the room know that he has a few hits in the bag. "Triple F Life" (June 12) is laced with bombastic rap and includes guest appearances by Flo Rida, Tyga, Slim Thug, Ludacris, Alley Boy, Trey Songz, Drake Bun B and more.

After chatting with The Source, Waka spent the day visiting various media outlets (Paper, XXL, VIBE, Complex, and more), arm wrestling, hiding away in cubicles and more. Oh, don't worry! We took snapshots of it all for we had the chance to come along for the ride. Check it out (above and below).

Waka Flocka Flame: A Day in the Life in Photos

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Game Talks 50 Cent Beef on 'Behind The Music' Episode

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 10:35 EDT

Game and 50 Cent's rap beef, which began in 2005, still "haunts" Game's career.

On VH1's "Behind the Music: Game," premiering tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, the rapper goes into depth of how the rivalry unraveled after 50 Cent claimed to have written his songs.

"50 didn't write my songs, that's just his ego rising above the team aspect of what Aftermath was all about," Game says. "I could easily say, 'Yo, I wrote this song on "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" it was a team effort."

Game continues to explain how his anger towards 50 Cent and G-Unit turned into a movement. ""300 Bars," when I wrote that I was angry I wanted G-Unit to die as a brand, a record label, a group... There was a bar that said 'you sell records but a G-G-G you not.' And all it was, was a metaphor. I didn't know what I created. Next thing I know fans started yelling G-G-G U NOT! [They] started making T-shirts and the movement it got bigger than me."

Check out a sneak peek at tonight's 'Behind the Music' episode, starring Game.

Earlier in the month, Game told Billboard.com that he's already working on new music. He's currently working on his fifth studio album, "FIVE: Fear Is Victory's Evolution," and is set to release his mixtape, "California Republic," by the end of the month. While in the studio, Game continues to promote his recent album, "R.E.D. Album." Yesterday (March 21), Game debuted his video for the Kendrick Lamar assisted, "The City," on RollingStone.com.

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Whitney Houston Drowned With Cocaine in Her System

by Billboard Staff / AP Reports | March 22, 2012 6:00 EDT

W hitney Houston's death on Feb. 12 was caused by accidental drowning, heart disease and the effects of cocaine use, the L.A. County Coroner's office announced on Thursday. The just-released coroner's report states Houston was found submerged in a bathtub filled with water and lists "cocaine intake" as a cause of the injury.

According to spokesman Craig Harvey, Houston, 48, had cocaine in her system and that it contributed directly to her death. Marijuana, Xanax and Flexeril, a muscle relaxant, were also found but did not contribute to her death. He says the results indicated Houston was a chronic cocaine user.

Beverly Hills police said in a statement there was no evidence of wrongdoing in connection with Houston's death. Officials had previously confirmed that prescription pills were found in the room, but no mention of cocaine.

A TMZ source that is connected to the investigation calls it "very possible" that Houston suffered a heart attack that led her to lose consciousness in the bathtub.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure,' said Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager.

Houston died just hours before she was scheduled to appear at producer Clive Davis' pre-Grammy Awards bash.

Sister-in-Law Feared Drugs Would Take Whitney's Life

The singer was buried in a New Jersey cemetery next to her father after an emotional four-hour funeral service that was attended by friends, family and superstars such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson and Roberta Flack

Houston, a sensation from her first, eponymous album in 1985, was one of the world's best-selling artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, turning out such hits as "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," ''How Will I Know," ''The Greatest Love of All" and "I Will Always Love You." But as she struggled with drugs, her majestic voice became raspy, and she couldn't hit the high notes.

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Taylor Swift Inks Sixth No. 1 Country Song With 'Ours'

by Wade Jessen, Nashville | mars 22, 2012 12:20 EDT

T aylor Swift claims her sixth No. 1 and completes her second set of two straight leaders on Country Songs, as "Ours" piles 34.1 million audience impressions and steps 3-1 in its 17th chart week. Her slowest chart-topping climb was noted when previous leader "Sparks Fly" needed 19 weeks to peak last fall, and her quickest pace was a nine-week climb with "Love Story" nearly four years ago.

Swift clocked two previous leaders in 17 weeks, starting with her first No. 1 "Our Song" in 2007, and two years later with "You Belong with Me." She achieved her first pair of back-to-back No. 1's three months apart when "Story" followed "Should've Said No" in November 2008. Top audience contributors during the tracking week for "Ours" are WUSN Chicago (1.3 million impressions), KKGO Los Angeles (1.0 million), WYCD Detroit (768,000), KEEY Minneapolis (747,000) and WKLB Boston (717,000). In its 19th week on Country Digital Songs, "Ours" ranks at No. 13 with 30,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Elsewhere on Country Songs, Lee Brice wears the Greatest Gainer crown for a second straight week with "A Woman Like You," which gains 3.6 million impressions and shoots 9-5. On Country Digital Songs, the track bullets for a fourth straight (fifth cumulative) week at its No. 3 peak, moving 48,000 downloads during the tracking week.

Also noteworthy in the upper tier, Rascal Flatts logs its 27th top 10 with "Banjo," which gains 900,000 impressions and hops 9-11 in its 10th chart week -- it introduces the trio's next album, "changed," due April 3. The album's title track opens with 57,000 downloads at No. 2 on Country Digital Songs.

Miranda Lambert's "Over You" also helps freshen up the radio top 10 with a 12-10 jump in its 13th chart week, marking her sixth song to compete at that level. She's reached the top 10 three times in fewer weeks-her quickest was 10 weeks with "The House That Built Me" two years ago, a feat she repeated with "Baggage Claim" last October. She cracked the top 10 in 11 weeks with "Heart Like Mine" a year ago.

Also noteworthy on Country Songs: Following a No. 10 peak on the Hot 100 last fall, Kelly Clarkson's "Mr. Know It All" gets traction (48-44) with unsolicited play at three of the 130 stations monitored by Nielsen BDS for the country list. The song enters Country Digital Songs at No. 21 (17,000 downloads)

On Country Albums, Shooter Jennings logs his highest debut ever with "Family Man," which opens at No. 10 (8,000 copies sold). He posted his previous best rank with two albums, both of which peaked where they bowed at No. 12: "Electric Rodeo" (2006); "The Wolf" (2007).

Singer/songwriter Logan Mize draws his first national chart ink with "Nobody In Nashville," which debuts at No. 49 on Country Albums and No. 15 on Heatseekers (approximately 1,500 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan). Although he's unsigned as an artist, he's a staff writer at powerhouse independent publisher Big Yellow Dog in Nashville. The new set is Mize's second full-length, self-released project, and follows his eponymous 2011 debut album. He is a native of Kansas, and a distant relative of well-known 1960's west coast country musician/television host, Billy Mize. The younger Mize has club and theatre performance dates booked through May.

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Video: Will the 'Real Mitt Romney' Please Stand Up?

by Sarah Maloy | March 22, 2012 10:35 EDT

Mitt Romney takes on the form of Eminem in the latest viral video burning up YouTube, a mash-up of the GOP frontrunner's speeches set to the tune of "The Real Slim Shady." The man behind it all is Australian lawyer Hugh Atkin -- the same video satirist who created the now-removed "Barack Roll" video back in 2008. Watch it below.

Atkin recently told Forbes that he's been thinking about this video for a long time, and was finally able to execute it using interview and speech transcripts matched to videos on the White House, Fox News and C-SPAN websites.

"For example, I could search for the words "trucks" and "Romney" on the Fox website and see that Governor Romney said "trucks" at 2:59 in an interview on Dec. 4, 2011," Atkin explained.

Music & Politics: 5 Moments When They Didn't Mix

His last political YouTube video, an Obama-themed version of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," was removed from YouTube because of a copyright claim by Sony. He has not yet had any problems with the "Real Mitt Romney" video, which he said is because "the use of instrumental audio from 'The Real Slim Shady' for the purpose of parody constitutes fair use." Atkin went on to cite the US Supreme Court decision in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, which ruled in favor of 2 Live Crew regarding its parody of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman."

"Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up (feat. Eminem)" was only posted on March 19, but as of today (March 22), already has more than 1.4 million views on Youtube.

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Guns N' Roses Have 'No Real Plans' For Rock Hall Performance

by Gary Graff, Detroit | March 22, 2012 10:00 EDT

Nobody, it seems -- including current and former band members -- know whether Guns N' Roses will wind up playing at their April 12 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in Cleveland. But they'll certainly be in close enough proximity to talk about it.

"We're all sitting at the same table, so it should be cool," former drummer Matt Sorum told Billboard.com at the red carpet premiere of "Sunset Strip," the new documentary he co-produced, at last week's South By Southwest Film Festival. "After we get a little bit of food in us, hopefully someone will get up and want to play, but I don't know. I'm not the guy to ask. I just hope it works out."

All Original Guns N' Roses Members Will Be at Rock Hall Induction

Sorum -- who replaced original GN'R drummer Steven Adler in 1989 -- spouted what's been the party line that "there's no real plans," but he added that the uncertainty is "in tradition, Guns N' Roses style." He also said he'd be "fine playing tambourine" if necessary, and even just jamming with the group Paul Shaffer is putting together for the ceremony. And, Sorum noted, getting into the Rock Hall will be more than enough for him to enjoy the evening.

"I feel great about it," he said. "I`m glad I made the cut. I don't know who that secret society is that votes you into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I'm glad I have some friends in there, somehow. The original band got in and I got in and (keyboardist) Dizzy Reed and that's it, seven of us. It'll be a great night."

Rock Hall Presenters: John Mellencamp, Carole King, Chuck D, Bette Midler

Meanwhile, Sorum is happy to see "Sunset Strip" rolling out, though he described producing as "more of a moving parts thing. This film was a lot about relationships, so I had to bring in a lot of my friends for, like nothing, so I used up a lot of favors. I think I owe now, but it's cool. We've got a great cast." He also explained that the film "isn't just about the 80s. It spans about 80 years on the strip, so we start in the 20s, when they were doing some debaucherous, fun stuff out there way before you heard the name 'rock star.' There's so much more history than just the 80s rock thing; that's been told a million times, though we do have that in the film and we got people like Tommy Lee and Slash."

In addition to the film, Sorum has been busy producing albums for the band Diamond Baby and also for former Runaways singer Cherie Currie, whose set will feature guests such as Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Slash, the Veronicas and Brody Dalle (the Distillers, Spinnerette).

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Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Lyrics: The 5 Best Lines

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y. | March 21, 2012 5:10 EDT

The Beliebers may have to wait until Monday (Mar. 26) to hear Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" in its entirety, but the pop superstar was kind enough to unveil the full lyrics of his new single on his official web site on Wednesday, so that his fans could submit their own videos of the song using the lyrics. Riddled with tender come-ons, introductions to his falsetto (yes, he literally says "Say hello to falsetto" before presumably reaching new heights with his voice) and the word 'swag,' the Mike Posner-produced track seems to -- from a lyrical standpoint, at least -- up the ante for the teen titan.

What, you ask, are the standout lines in "Boyfriend," the memorable turn-of-phrases that pop fans will be mouthing along to all summer long? Billboard.com was happy to rank (and attempt to decipher) the five best lines from Justin Bieber's latest single:

5. "You could be my girlfriend until the ---- world ends." This chestnut from verse 2 raises a lot of questions. Is 18-year-old Bieber really ready to commit to one girl (in this case, Selena Gomez) for all of eternity, until the apocalypse arrives? If that's the case, why doesn't he just marry that special girl? Is this line suggesting that Bieber will never choose a wife, and will only be capable of "boyfriend" status until Earth is no more? We've probably read too much into this one already -- let's move on.

4. "Tell me what you like yeah tell me what you don't/I could be your Buzz Lightyear fly across the globe." Classic Pixar reference. Who doesn't like "Toy Story"? Although, technically, Buzz Lightyear never really had any desire to "fly across the globe" -- dude was more of a Space Ranger than a pilot. But it's the thought that counts, and Bieber is demonstrating just how far he would literally travel to please his special girl.

3. "Swaggie." As it exists on the lyrics sheet, this one, crazy word is given its own separate line in the second verse, after the phrase, "Voice goin crazy on this hook like a whirl wind," and before the second pre-hook. What could it be doing there? Bieber has already busted out the "swag" in the song (more on that later); is he now going for the jugular by dropping a context-free "swaggie"? If so, count us on board. Bieber needs a catchphrase, and like his buddy Chris Brown's "leggo," "swaggie" is perfectly cool-sounding nonsense. Can we start printing up a thousand "Swaggie" t-shirts yet?

2. "I'ma make you shine bright like you're laying in the snow/Burr." There's a lot to love in this one -- not only the idea that Bieber's adoration will make his lady shine so bright that it's like she's covered in the crystal-clear whiteness of fresh, powdery snow, but also the extra "Burr" for added emphasis, as if he's convincing his girl that she is, indeed, laying in the snow, and yes, it is cold. There is no game-playing when it comes to Bieber's smooth moves -- when he says that you're shining bright like you're laying in the snow, the simile is so real to him that he actually feels a bit chilly. Someone get this heartthrob a scarf!

1. "Swag swag swag, on you/Chillin by the fire why we eaten' fondue." Let's give credit where credit is due -- did you think it was possible to follow the phrase "Swag swag swag, on you" with an even more awesome line? Not only does Bieber let his audience momentarily wonder how he specifically plans to triple-swag on his girl, he then drops the ultimate image in his listeners' minds: the Biebs and his special lady, sitting by a roaring fire, eating some fondue. Fondue! Most couplets in the English language strive to end with the word "fondue," but more often than not, they fall short. Bieber wastes no time in lyrically embracing the cheesy dessert dish, and immediately creates a lasting image in his first single. (Side note: the lyrics on Bieber's web site read, "Chillin by the fire why we eaten' fondue." This may or may not be a typo and the line could go "Chillin by the fire while we eatin' fondue" in the finished audio, but we hope it remains a question of "why" in the song. Maybe Bieber is expressing a deep-rooted confusion: "Chillin by the fire -- wait, why are we eating fondue? I hate fondue!" We don't know why Bieber and his gal are eating fondue, but perhaps we'll find out soon enough.)

Here are the full lyrics to Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend":

VERSE 1
If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go
I can take you places you ain't never been before
Baby take a chance or you'll never ever know
I got money in my hands that I'd really like to blow
Swag swag swag, on you
Chillin by the fire why we eatin' fondue
I dunno about me but I know about you
So say hello to falsetto in three two
PRE HOOK
I'd like to be everything you want
Hey girl, let me talk to you
HOOK
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl, you'd never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go, I'd never let you go
VERSE 2
Tell me what you like yeah tell me what you don't
I could be your Buzz Lightyear fly across the globe
I don't never wanna fight yeah, you already know
I am 'ma a make you shine bright like you're laying in the snow
Burr
Girlfriend, girlfriend, you could be my girlfriend
You could be my girlfriend until the ---- world ends
Make you dance do a spin and a twirl and
Voice goin crazy on this hook like a whirl wind
Swaggie

PRE HOOK
I'd like to be everything you want
Hey girl, let me talk to you
HOOK
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl you'd never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go, I'd never let you go
BRIDGE
So give me a chance, 'cause you're all I need girl
Spend a week wit your boy I'll be calling you my girlfriend
If I was your man, I'd never leave you girl
I just want to love you, and treat you right
HOOK
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl you'd never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go, never let you go
Na na na, na na na, na na na
Ya girl
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
If I was your boyfriend

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Usher to Play Sugar Ray Leonard in 'Hands of Stone'

by Sarah Maloy | March 22, 2012 4:45 EDT

Usher has announced that he will be playing Sugar Ray Leonard alongside Robert De Niro and Gael Garcia Bernal in an upcoming boxing biopic called "Hands of Stone."

"I'm actually in preparation for a very incredible role," the R&B star told BBC. "I'm in preparation later this year to play the role of Sugar Ray Leonard in a boxing film and it's going to be incredible."

Usher Busts Out a Gun in 'Climax' Video: Watch

He has been in London recently, finishing up his album and in the ring training for the film, which focuses on the life of Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán. "This is going to be an incredible movie -- in time an incredible story -- and I'm really looking forward to that," Usher said.

This won't be Usher's first appearance on the silver screen -- the "Confessions" singer has also acted since the '90s, most recently in the Ashton Kutcher-Katherine Heigl romantic comedy "Killers."

De Niro is cast in the boxing project as famed trainer Ray Arcell and actor/director Gael Bernal will star as Durán.

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StarKid's 'Space' Sets Sail, Debuts at No. 2 on Cast Albums Chart

Team StarKid is back on the Billboard charts with their latest release, "The Space Tour." The set flies in at No. 2 on the Cast Albums chart, selling 2,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Space" is blocked from the pole position by the No. 1 debut of the original Broadway cast recording of new musical "Once" (based on the hit film of the same name).

The StarKid production troupe (which includes "Glee" star Darren Criss) has made quite a name for itself since forming at the University of Michigan a few years ago. With a tiny budget (only $150), the ensemble composed and produced the original parody show "A Very Potter Musical" in April 2009.

Shortly thereafter, a filmed version of "Potter" -- a spoof of the "Harry Potter" books and films -- went viral on YouTube and made the StarKid folks stars.

"My Dick" Rises to Become First Charting Student Musical

The "Space Tour" album was recorded during the November 2011 trek of the same name, and features highlights from the troupe's earlier shows, including "A Very Potter Musical" and its follow-up "A Very Potter Sequel."

Brian Holden, one of StarKid's founding members, says that the ensemble is "definitely going to do another tour, but it's going to be totally different from the Space Tour." He's mum on the next trek's details, saying "As for where and when the next tour will be, we'll keep that a secret for now." For those that missed the Space Tour, aside from the album, a DVD of the show will be released on March 24.

Next up for the group in the short term is their newest parody musical, "Holy Musical B@man!" The show will debut on their YouTube channel in April.

StarKid's Billboard chart history dates back almost exactly two years this week. On March 27, 2010, its cast recording of the cheeky "Me and My Dick" musical debuted at No. 11 on Cast Albums. It made history as the first student-produced show to reach a Billboard chart.

Since then, the StarKid team has notched Billboard hits with 2010's compilation "A Very StarKid Album" and 2011's "Starship" cast recording. The latter debuted at No. 1 on the Cast Albums chart dated May 14, 2011.

Inside Darren Criss' Team StarKid: From "A Very Potter Musical" to S.P.A.C.E. Tour

It's been a whirlwind couple of years for the StarKid gang -- something that isn't lost on Holden.

"We've been unbelievably fortunate and overwhelmingly challenged at the same time," he says. "Being a part of StarKid has completely changed the course of my life. But more than anything I feel that all of our success is the direct result of our incredible fan base."

"Glee's" Darren Criss: The Billboard Cover Story

StarKid's YouTube channel has 225,000 subscribers and has amassed over 115 million views. The official Team StarKid Twitter account has nearly 100,000 followers, while their Facebook page has 177,000 likes.

"I think the past two years have been a coming of age story for StarKid," Holden says, "and the fans are growing with us, side by side, every step of the way."

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'American Idol' Recap: In a Billy Joel State of Mind

In a world where pre-packaged musical artists are becoming more and more prominent every year, there's something to be said for staying true to oneself, as a certain "American Idol" contestant did on Wednesday night (Mar. 21).

Phillip Phillips, "American Idol's" guy-with-guitar rocker of the 11th season, has done very little to change his good ol' boy image since the season began. He's remained a player in the competition due to his handsome stature, raspy voice and advanced guitar playing.

But Wednesday night (March 21) marked the beginning of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger's appearances on the show. Hilfiger's purpose? Help the budding stars find their fashion sense. While the decision to bring him on as a consultant may not be wholly necessary, it seems to be the nature of the beast these days.

But Phillip was unfazed. Rather than taking Hilfiger's advice, he stuck to his guns. The designer told him not to wear gray, as it's apparently the worst possible color to wear on TV. What did he wear? Gray on gray.

Avoiding the advice of others seemed to work for Phillip on Wednesday night, but quite a few singers actually did take the advice of Hilfiger and mentors Jimmy Iovine and guest Diddy to heart, while others decided to stay with what they know.

What worked for which contestant on a night of Billy Joel songs? Here's a list of the singers, broken into those who will probably stick around another week and those who could be in trouble Thursday night.

Definitely In:

Colton Dixon - "Piano Man"

Colton got the hotly-contested "pimp spot" Wednesday, possibly because he sang the one Billy Joel song everyone knows. Of course, he's also the only contestant that's shown he can play the piano fairly soundly, which helped his cause with the song. His performance of "Piano Man" was updated for the "Twilight" generation, and judging by the chorus of voices chanting his name at song's end, that should mean good tidings for the singer.

Joshua Ledet - "She's Got a Way"

Here's the thing about Joshua's performance: if you've heard the original, it's probably not your bag. If it was your first time hearing the tune, you probably found it to be yet another astounding performance from the singer. So, take your pick. I thought Joshua did the best he could with "She's Got a Way" considering he'd never heard the song before -- not surprisingly, Billy Joel isn't his forte. Jennifer didn't think he felt the lyrics, while Steven thought he sang his life into the song. The performance is polarizing, but I think the general consensus will be positive.

Skylar Laine - "Shameless"

Another solid performance from the country girl. "Shameless" has been recorded by Garth Brooks as well, so her twangy rendition of the song was neither new nor special. But Skylar has shown week after week that she can get the job done with relative ease. Skylar may still need a moment -- and this wasn't it -- but it'll be enough to keep her in.

Jessica Sanchez - "Everybody Has a Dream"

Jessica rebounded from a subpar performance last week to turn in a pretty little ballad, warranting a standing ovation by song's end from the judges. She had to convince Diddy first, after the rapper claimed he didn't believe her when she sang. Frankly, I still didn't once the actual performance happened. Her singing was pitchy in places and sometimes she oversang the song, but she was still near the top of the heap.

Phillip Phillips - "Movin' Out"

I wasn't a fan of Phillip's performance this week, but it's hard to dispute his popularity, so considering him in danger of going home would be asinine. Phillip went against Hilfiger's advice, wearing as much gray as possible. He also went against the mentors' advice, playing his guitar when they told him to try the song without it. So, I guess we can expect him to be doing the exact same thing all season. Could it hurt him? Maybe in the long run. And while "Movin' Out" was a solid song for him and certainly had an aggressive feel, he still needs a big moment to solidify his standing in the competition.

In trouble:

Hollie Cavanagh - "Honesty"

I may catch some backlash putting her down here, but Hollie's starting to tire for me, and I have a feeling America could feel the same way very soon. Hilfiger decided to dress her down, which was a good move, but there's still something missing with her performances. What sets Jessica apart from Hollie is her ability to hit the high notes every single time; Hollie isn't as consistent. Plus, she doesn't have much of a singing presence. Steven said she was over-thinking the song -- that sounds about right to me.

Elise Testone - "Vienna"

Voters let me down last week putting Elise in the bottom three, and I have a very bad feeling this week will be more of the same. This is sad. Why? I thought Elise's rendition of "Vienna" was easily the best of the night. She was in her element taking on Billy Joel, with her rasp coming out in full effect. She was commanding onstage, drawing in the audience and showing remarkable control on the song's vocal runs. We talk about the singers having moments -- well, here's Elise's. So why's she down here on the list? Because she hasn't connected with America before tonight, and I don't think that's going to change.

Erika Van Pelt - "New York State of Mind

As opposed to Phillip, Erika took Hilfiger's advice and went all out with it. She named Pink as one of her favorite artists, and her new haircut -- reminiscent of the superstar's "Missundaztood" days, dyed black and cut short -- helped prove her point. Erika's rendition of "New York State of Mind" shows off her strong voice, and although she didn't go places with the song that I would've liked her to, she turned in a very good performance that I think will leave many wondering where she's been this competition. I put her down here because I don't know if the look change will actually help her enough.

Deandre Brackensick - "Only the Good Die Young"

Deandre got the first spot of the evening, which will never help your cause. With a performance like last night's, it's only going to hurt him more. The song needed a stronger singer, and Deandre's got more of an airy vocal suited to R&B. His fan support may keep him from going home this week, but I'll be very surprised if he isn't in the bottom three.

Heejun Han - "My Life"

Wednesday will be remembered as the night Heejun Han just started trolling everyone. Starting his performance off as he usually does -- i.e., with a ballad -- he turned to the piano player as though he forgot the words to the song. "Way, way too slow for me," he said. "I want to dance!" Then he ripped off his dinner jacket and went to town on the up-tempo "My Life," basically giving a big middle finger to anyone who wants to make him something he's not. It was hilarious, but goodness, was it bad -- nearly on par with Sanjaya Malakar singing "You Really Got Me." Steven told him he should take the music business more seriously. You know he's not going to, though. And that's what we tend to love about him... I think.

Who will be in the bottom three tonight? Did Erika's style change throw you off, and was it the right move? Does Heejun even care anymore? Let us know in the comments and check out the results show tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.

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Karmin Debuts Video for, Makes Chart Gains With 'Brokenhearted'

by Gary Trust | March 22, 2012 5:05 EDT

Karmin debuted its video today (March 22) for "Brokenhearted," the pop duo's first Billboard Hot 100 hit. The song jumps 84-60 in its second week on the survey. Take a look (and listen) here:

The pair first gained attention for their viral covers of such songs as Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass." Karmin - Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, who met at Boston's Berklee College of Music - releases its debut album, "Hello," on April 24. The twosome sang "Brokenhearted" in its breakout apprearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" last month.

Karmin Recalls 'Emotional' Experience on 'SNL'

In addition to its Hot 100 flight, "Brokenhearted" pushes 10-4 on Heatseekers Songs, 22-20 on Pop Songs and enters Digital Songs (No. 52) and Radio Songs (No. 67).

Karmin clearly recognizes the important role that radio can play in building its audience. "Turn up your R-A-D-I-O Pennsylvania!," the act Tweeted today. "We are on our way to @985wkrz right now. Tune in or come on by!"

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Ol' Dirty Bastard To Be Played By 'The Wire's' Omar

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 3:35 EDT

Michael K. Williams, the actor best known for portraying Baltimore gunslinger Omar Little on the HBO drama "The Wire," has signed on to play deceased Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard in a forthcoming film titled "Dirty White Boy."

According to Deadline, the drama will focus on Jarred Weisfeld, a former VH1 intern-turned-manager, and his experiences alongside the rapper. Joaquin Baca-Asay is making his feature film directorial debut, and Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy and Tod Hagopian are set to produce.

RZA Talks Headphone Line, Movie-Making, Wu-Tang's Future

"This felt to us like 'Risky Business' and '8 Mile,' with equal elements of darkness, humor, and humanity," say Knudsen and Van Hoy in a statement.

Ol' Dirty Bastard (whose real name was Russell Jones) came to prominence as the most unhinged member of the Wu-Tang Clan in the mid-90s, and released two solo albums before his 2004 death of a drug overdose. Along with his starring role on "The Wire," Williams has scored supporting roles on "Boardwalk Empire" and films like "Brooklyn's Finest" and "Life During Wartime."

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VH1 Orders 'Hollywood Exes,' Starring the Ex-Wives of Prince, R. Kelly & Will Smith

by Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter | March 22, 2012 11:25 EDT

VH1 is enlisting the ex-wives of Prince, R. Kelly, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and baseball star Jose Canseco for "Hollywood Exes," an hourlong series set to bow this summer.

The unscripted show, which has been granted a 10-episode order by the pop culture-themed network, stars Mayte Garcia (formerly Mrs. Prince), Andrea Kelly (formerly Mrs. R. Kelly), Sheree Fletcher (formerly Mrs. Will Smith), Nicole Murphy (formerly Mrs. Eddie Murphy) and Jessica Canseco (formerly Mrs. Jose Canseco).

"These extraordinarily strong women adjusted to and endured a lot while their ex-spouses won fame and fortune defining pop culture for that moment," said Jeff Olde, executive vp original programming and production at VH1.

"Now these women must reinvent themselves again, stepping out of the long shadows cast by their famous husbands and supporting each other as they define the next stage of their lives -- this time on their own terms," he added.

The tentatively titled "Hollywood Exes" sets out to peel back the curtain on Cinderella tales gone wrong. The five women have been friends for several years and are looking to make a name for themselves outside of their bold-face exes.

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Pitbull Going 'Back In Time' with 'Men in Black 3' Theme Song

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 12:35 EDT

After handling the theme songs for the first two "Men in Black" movies, Will Smith has deferred to superstar rapper Pitbull to provide the theme for the forthcoming third installment of the sci-fi franchise. "Back In Time" will be released to radio and as a digital single on Monday (Mar. 26), two months ahead of "Men in Black 3's" May 25 release.

"It's an incredible honor to be a part of such an amazing franchise as Men in Black and I have so much respect for Will Smith, especially with our similar musical backgrounds," said Pitbull in a statement on Thursday. "MiB 3" director Barry Sonnenfeld added, "My 19-year-old daughter turned me on to Pitbull. I'm thrilled that he wrote such a great song for our movie that totally gets it."

"Men in Black," Will Smith's 1997 track featured on the original "Men in Black" soundtrack, led Billboard's Radio Songs chart for four weeks in the summer of 1997. For 2002's "Men in Black II," Smith recorded "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)," which also served as the lead single to his third solo album, "Born To Reign." The original "Men in Black" soundtrack has sold 3.1 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The title of Pitbull's "Back In Time" serves as a reference to the plot of "Men in Black 3," in which Agent J (Smith) must travel back in time in order to save the universe. Pitbull sampled Mickey & Sylvia's 50s hit "Love is Strange" for the new song.

Pitbull scored his first-ever No. 1 song on the Hot 100 last year with "Give Me Everything," featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer. "International Love," his single with Chris Brown, topped last week's Dance Club Songs Chart.

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Chart Juice: Kirko Bangz Earns Long-Awaited Top 10 With 'Drank In My Cup'

by Karinah Santiago, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 5:35 EDT

Houston-born rapper Kirko Bangz earns his first top 10 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as his second charted single, "Drank in My Cup," advances 13-10.

"Drank in My Cup" enters the top tier in its 31st week, a rare showing of a long chart climb culminating in a top 10 peak. The last rapper to take longer to the region was Yung L.A. in 2009 with "Ain't I," which broke into the top 10 in its 33rd week. Bangz's title also celebrates its second week in the top 10 (10-9) on Rap Songs (where it has a chart life of 14 weeks).

"Drank in My Cup" appears on Bangz's fifth mixtape, "Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa."

Beyoncé, meanwhile, stands firm atop R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a fourth week at the coveted No. 1 spot with "Love on Top." With an audience of 35 million (up 7%), according to Nielsen BDS, the song sports a 5-million-impression lead over runner-up, and former two-week No. 1, "The Motto" by Drake featuring Lil Wayne, which chills out at No. 2 for a fourth frame. Chris Brown's "Strip," featuring Kevin K-MAC McCall, holds solid at No. 3 for a fourth week.

An Open Letter to Rihanna | An Open Letter to Chris Brown

Rihanna steals the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Greatest Gainer/Airplay nod for a third week, as the tawdry "Birthday Cake" takes a 25% increase in audience to 23 million and zooms 7-4. The track's rise represents her fastest-climbing top five on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. She had previously sprinted to the top five in as little as eight weeks with three tracks.
Wale's signature love theme has yet to fall below the top five for the past 18 weeks (of its 24-week chart run), as "Lotus Flower Bomb," featuring Miguel, slips 4-5. Trey Songz holds at No. 6 with "Sex Ain't Better Than Love" and Tyga's "Rack City" drops 5-7.
After bounding into the top 10 last week, Usher's "Climax" rises to No. 8 in its fifth frame with a 13% audience gain to 18 million. At No. 9, Melanie Fiona holds steady with "4 AM."
N9NE IS 4: On R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Tech N9ne claims the top debut, as his "Klusterfuk" EP opens at No. 4 with 17,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set, produced by southern hip-hop group ¡Mayday!, boasts six tracks, with guest appearances by Krizz Kaliko and Wrekonize. The set is Tech N9ne's seventh top 10, all tallied since 2008.
Also making a notable entrance, Ruben Studdard debuts his fifth studio album, "Letters From Birmingham" on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at No. 12 (6,000 units). The set boasts the single "June 28th (I'm Single)," which ranks at No. 18 on the Adult R&B airplay chart. The song references the anniversary of his wedding to former wife Surata Zuri McCants, as "Letters From Birmingham" is Studdard's first album post-divorce. The set is also his first on the Shanachie label (with distribution by eOne). Studdard, the second season champion of "American Idol," reached the top 10 with all four of his prior sets, with his 2004 debut "Soulful" spending two weeks at No. 1. His last release, 2009's "Love Is," launched with 15,000 and started at No. 8.
As for the rest of the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top five, Drake's "Take Care" remains at No. 1 for a 12th week (36,000, down 38%); Tyga's "Careless World: Rise of the Last King" rebounds 4-2 (20,000, down 12%); Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" shoots 5-3 (18,000, down 7%); and, "Project X," the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, descends 3-5 (15,000, down 36%).

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Nicki Minaj, Skrillex and One Direction Make Social Chart Gains

by William Gruger, New York | March 22, 2012 7:47 EDT

This week on Billboard's Social 50 chart, Nicki Minaj bounds back into the top 10, Skrillex hits a new high and One Direction continue its American takeover.

After a brief sojourn from the top 10 last week, Nicki Minaj is back in the upper tier at No. 4 (up 13 slots) following a 6.1% increase in overall followers over the previous week. The flurry of social activity comes as the diva reigns in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with two different tracks: "Starships" (up to No. 6 from No. 9) and "Turn Me On" (with David Guetta, down one slot to No. 7).

The Social 50 chart ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, using a formula that blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays.

Minaj experiences a surge of 170,000 "likes" on Facebook, a 55% increase over her fan acquisition rate from the previous week. Blogs were in a tizzy last week courtesy of pictures of the bikini-clad artist during a video shoot for "Starships."

After 36 weeks on the chart, Skrillex finally cracks the top 10, rising seven spots to No. 9. The electronic artist was one of the most buzzed about acts who played South by Southwest last week, receiving over 107,000 Facebook "likes" (up 42% compared to the week previous).

UK pop group One Direction continues their march up the Social 50, moving from No. 9 to No. 5 (a new high) after the release of their debut album "Up All Night" on March 13. The act made history on the Billboard 200 albums chart as the first UK group to bow at No. 1 with a debut album. "Up All Night" entered atop the list with 176,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The media frenzy surrounding One Direction, including a performance on NBC's "Today" show, has translated into a storm of social buzz and activity. During the charting week the group experienced a 9% increase in overall online fan acquisition from the previous week, mostly resulting from a 164,000 gain in Twitter followers (up 29%).

The group understands how to reach fans, too. One Direction's Vevo channel features behind-the-scenes and touring-related content -- in addition to traditional music video clips. A video of the act greeting fans gathered in Natick Mall in Boston has received over 150,000 views since debuting March 20, contributing to an 16% increase in video views over the previous week.

Elsewhere on the chart, Usher (moving 37-31) experiences gains as well, as this week captured the tail-end of the surge of online activity surrounding the release of the video for his new single "Climax." The video debuted on March 8 and has since received over 4 million views, contributing in part to his total of 8,485,000 video views during the week (up 18.5%).

Back in the top 10: Adele continues to watch the Social 50 throne, resting comfortably at No. 1 as Lady Gaga jumps from No. 4 to No. 2. Gaga bumps Justin Bieber down four slots to No. 6 while Rihanna remains at the No. 3 spot. Eminem falls from No. 6 to No. 7 and Chris Brown slips from No. 5 to No. 10 as online activity generated by his newest single "Turn Up The Music" begins to taper off. Finally, LMFAO re-enters the top 10 at No. 8 (up six rungs) after a busy week touring.

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KISS, Motley Crue Take Aim at Rihanna, Awards Show Pop Stars

by David Greenwald, L.A. | March 21, 2012 11:09 EDT

Two of hard rock's biggest acts aren't happy with the state of pop.

"We're sick and tired of girls getting up there with dancers and karaoke tapes in back of them," KISS' Gene Simmons said on Tuesday afternoon as KISS and Motley Crue announced their first joint tour in three decades. "The guys you see on stage are playing their instruments. No fake bullshit. Leave that to the Rihanna, Shmianna and anyone who ends their name with an 'A.'"

Backstage at the Roosevelt Hotel, Motley Crue's Tommy Lee expanded on his colleague's comments, criticizing the state of pop-heavy award shows.

"No disrespect to Rihanna, she's a great singer, but we're in a slump for some shit that has some personality and appeal beyond a bunch of pop stuff that's floating around out there," he told Billboard.com. "I'm glad he said that actually because I don't think i can bear watching another f***ing award show that is just a little bit better than 'American Idol.' It's f***ing pathetic to watch people go out and f***ing karaoke with a bunch of lights and video. It's all completely watered down."

KISS & Motley Crue Announce Summer Tour: 'No Fake Bulls---'

"He's right, anyone can buy a light show, anyone can buy pyro," KISS' Eric Singer added. "You can't keep reinserting a different he or she in there. you have to be able to get up there and play and sing."

Other members of the bands questioned the apparent dearth of guitar rock, on the road and elsewhere.

"It's a shame you don't have as many rock and roll bands, only the cream of the crop has survived," KISS' Tommy Thayer said. "It makes [the tour] more of a unique event. It's definitely the biggest rock show of the year."

While many musicians have found success online in recent years -- Rihanna, for instance, has 53 million Facebook likes -- KISS' Paul Stanley said the real fan interaction happens at the show.

"Isn't that what we're all about? We're only as good as the audiences. So fan interaction, that's really what rock and roll is," he said on Tuesday. "If you [just] want to listen to music, stay home and put it on the stereo."

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Listen: Kelly Clarkson's Country Version of 'Mr. Know It All' Debuts

by Sarah Maloy | March 22, 2012 1:08 EDT

Kelly Clarkson has teamed up with famed country producer Dann Huff ( Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood) on a country version of her "Stronger" single "Mr. Know It All." The new version is due out April 3, but has already leaked online. Listen below:

Clarkson announced the country version on Twitter Wednesday (March 21). She posted a photo of the album art and tweeted, "Hey everybody, I got to work with Dann Huff and recut 'Mr. Know It All' for country radio! I hope y'all like it!! I had a lot of fun recutting the song and getting the opportunity to work with Dann! It will be available on iTunes April 3rd."

Kelly Clarkson Drops 'Mr. Know It All' Video

The new track is just as sassy and strong as the original, but with a bit of southern flair more appropriate for country radio. "Mr. Know It All" debuted back in August at No. 18 on the Hot 100. The single was written by Brett James (Carrie Underwood), Ester Dean ( Rihanna, Beyoncé), Dante Jones and Brian Kennedy.

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'Hunger Games' Soundtrack Set for No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200

by Keith Caulfield, L.A. | March 21, 2012 6:30 EDT

"The Hunger Games" soundtrack is set to debut at No. 1 next week's Billboard 200 chart, so say industry sources.

The multi-artist album should sell at least 150,000 to 170,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, March 25 -- easily enough for a No. 1 entry. If it does arrive atop the list, it will be the first chart-topping theatrical film soundtrack since "Michael Jackson's This Is It" bowed at No. 1 on the tally dated Nov. 14, 2009.

'Hunger Games' Soundtrack: Track-By-Track Review

"The Hunger Games" film opens in theaters worldwide on March 23, the first of four planned movies based on the popular series of books.
Other albums heading for a high debut on the Billboard 200 include the Shins' "Port of Morrow" and Odd Future's "The OF Tape Vol. 2." Both could start in the top 10. Melanie Fiona's "The MF Life" and Esperanza Spalding's "Radio Music Society" are also looking towards a bow in the top 20 -- perhaps even top 15.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, March 28.

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Drake Taking 'Club Paradise Tour' Across U.S.

by Billboard Staff | March 22, 2012 8:55 EDT

D rake is hitting the road for a 27-city, cross country tour of U.S. amphitheaters in support of his chart-topping album "Take Care." Dubbed "The Club Paradise Tour," Drake is bringing J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and French Montana along for the ride that starts May 7 in Concord, Calif.

"I feel like this tour is coming at the perfect time," Drake announced on Thursday. "It's taking place in the season that we all wait for, We're outdoors and you've got every single artist you wait to hear in the club on one bill… that's Club Paradise."

Tickets go on sale March 23, but Citi card users already have access to presale tickets here.

The "Paradise" tour follows Drake's sold out European arena and U.S. college tours. "Take Care," Drake's sophomore album, debuted atop the Billboard 200 in November and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S.

"The Club Paradise Tour" Dates:

May:

7 -- Concord, Calif (Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord)
8 -- Irvine, Calif (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater)
10 -- Phoenix, Ariz (Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion)
11 -- Las Vegas, NV (MGM Grand Garden Arena)
13 -- Denver Colo. (Comfort Dental Amphitheatre)
14 -- Albuquerque, NM (Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion)
16 -- Dallas, Texas (Gexa Energy Pavilion)
17 -- Houston, Texas (Toyota Center)
19 -- Charlotte, NC (Verizon Wireless)
20 -- Atlanta, Ga. (Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood)
22 -- Raleigh, NC (Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek)
23 -- Virginia Beach, Va. (Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach)
25 -- Washington, DC (Verizon Center)
26 -- Pittsburgh, Pa. (First Niagara Pavilion)
28 -- Cleveland, Ohio (Blossom Music Center)
30 -- Detroit, Mich. (DTE Energy Music Theatre)

June:

1 -- Indianapolis, IN (Klipsch Music Center)
2 -- Chicago, Il. (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
5 -- Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum)
6 -- Cincinnati, Ohio (Riverbend Music Center)
8 -- Darien Lake, NY (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center)
9 -- Philadelphia, Pa. (Susquehanna Bank Center)
11 -- Hartford, Conn. (Comcast Theatre)
12 -- Holmdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center)
14 -- Saratoga Springs, NY (Saratoga Performing Arts Center)
16 -- Long Island, NY (Nikon at Jones Beach Theater)
17 -- Boston, Mass. (Comcast Center)

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Black Keys Apologize to Nickelback: Watch

by David Greenwald, L.A. | March 21, 2012 8:22 EDT

The Black Keys have taken back their comments on Nickeback being "s---" -- sort of.

"I didn't mean to single them out. It just came out," the band's Patrick Carney told MTV News Canada.

"There's much worse bands than Nickelback. Maybe," he said as he and Dan Auerbach broke into giggles. "That was the worst apology."

Carney made the initial remarks on the alternative rockers in Rolling Stone, a snipe that drew a humorous tweet from Nickelback thanking the indie duo for naming then "the biggest rock band in the world."

Asked if the duo were music snobs, Carney said he wasn't.

"I don't like bad music, but look, I've got a lot of friends and not one of them has a Nickelback record. I'm not a small minority."

Still, the ascendent indie act said they'd avoid Nickelback's Chad Kroeger at the next awards show.

"He'd probably punch us in the face," Carney said.

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Marilyn Manson Reveals 'Born Villain' Album Art, Track List

by David Greenwald, L.A. | March 22, 2012 9:36 EDT

Marilyn Manson is taking a personal approach to "Born Villain."

The bad-boy rocker's image covers his eighth studio album, due May 1 on Cooking Vinyl and Downtown Records. It's his first release since 2009's "The High End of Low," which marked the end of his career-long run with Interscope.

Marilyn Manson - No Reflection by Cooking Vinyl

The musician debuted the thrashy single "No Reflection" last week. The album launch will be accompanied by his first U.S. dates since 2009, including a headlining show at Revolver's Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles on April 11.

See the "Born Villain" track list below:

1. Hey, Cruel World…
2. No Reflection
3. Pistol Whipped
4. Overneath the Path of Misery
5. Slo-Mo-Tion
6. The Gardner
7. The Flowers of Evil
8. Children of Cain
9. Disengaged
10. Lay Down Your Goddamn Arms
11. Murderers Are Getting Prettier Every Day
12. Born Villain
13. Breaking the Same Old Ground
Bonus track: You're So Vain

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Skrillex, Bassnectar to Co-Headline Camp Bisco

by Emmanuelle Saliba, N.Y. | March 22, 2012 5:00 EDT

Camp Bisco announced on Wednesday (March 21) that EDM heavyweights Skrillex and Bassnectar will co-headline their 11th edition, taking place from July 10 to 14 at the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, New York. Festival founders Disco Biscuits, will once again host and headline each night of the three-day event.

Big names such as A-Trak, Simian Mobile Disco and Zedd will also join the two headliners and grace Camp Disco. This year's lineup would suggest that organizers are more aware of this and last year's EDM resurgence as they have also locked down other breakthrough EDM acts such as, Dada Life, Zeds Dead, Kill The Noise, and Porter Robinson.

Founded in 1999 and known as the country's longest and largest running electronic and rock music festival, Camp Bisco is also known to be open-minded and all-inclusive when it comes to musical genres. They have once again expanded their scope to include some hip-hop and indie-rock acts like Big Boi, Portugal The Man, Atmosphere, Break Science feat. Chali 2NA.

According to Camp Bisco's PR Director, Chad David Shearer, new features such as larger dance tents, wooded camping, increased venue facilities, and lower attendance numbers have been put in place to enhance fan experience. The additional three entrance points, "will enable us to process the attendees and get them enjoying the festival faster than ever," explained Shearer. Long distance shuttle service from Boston, New York, Burlington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, will also be available this year.

Tickets went on sale March 21 at 12pm EST. Three-day general admission tickets are available for $170 and include non car camping and parking. A VIP upgrade can be purchased for an additional $229 with the VIP platinum upgrade already sold-out. Tickets can be purchased at the Camp Bisco website.

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James Wesley Talks New Single, Touring With Taylor Swift & Ronnie Dunn

Much has been made of the glamour of the road life for a studio musician. If you truly want glamour, talk to Broken Bow recording artist James Wesley.

"I've got a small fifteen passenger bus that we take out for some of our shorter shows with," he begins. "I've got a heater on the back of the bus, and it's been cold lately. The heater that I have -- you have the front heater, and there's one in the back. With all of our equipment, it covers the heater up. So, it really doesn't get out. I don't want to burn the heater up, so I will run it for a while, and then go shut it off. So, we're all bundled up in the back trying to keep warm," he says, chuckling. "But, there's always some kind of road story. It's things like that that make it all worthwhile. It makes you what you are today."

And who James Wesley is today is one of the top rising stars in the business. Singles like "Didn't I" and "Real" have helped him carve out a name for himself at radio and with fans. He says that as his career continues to progress, he is grateful for the support he has received.

"I'm very thankful to country radio and the friends that I've made," he says. "It's a big circle, but there are a lot of people that are pulling for me. I can't thank them enough."

His new single, "Walking Contradiction," is one that he feels a lot of people will identify with. "I think we've all got a little walking contradiction in us. We're not all perfect. Like the song says, 'We go to Church, we go to bars, we read the word, we read the stars. It's true. If we were perfect, we wouldn't be here. Westin Davis, Kip Moore, and Dan Couch wrote this song, and I was fortunate enough to be the messenger on it. A lot of it speaks true. I'm looking forward to getting it out there."

He'll also be performing the single on the road this spring -- opening for one of country's legends.

"We've got a lot of shows coming up -- a lot of dates on the books. I've got some dates with Ronnie Dunn, that's going to be awesome. The guy can sing. When we did 'Bleed Red' at the ACM's last year, it was so moving. It really was. It's like getting invited to the Opry, standing to the side of the stage, and thinking 'I can't believe I'm here."

Wesley had had those moments at the Opry on several occasions, and it's something he doesn't take for granted. "I just feel blessed that they ask me to the Opry to come over and sing. It was Oct. 16, 2010 when they asked me to sing there for the first time. Since then, I've been on there 12 times. Every time seems like the first time."

As a performer who values the artists that have come before him, he feels every country artist needs to know about the roots of the format. "The thing I like about it is the tradition. Without the Opry, I don't think there would be a Nashville. There's so much history. I think if you're going to be in country music, you need to know about the roots and history of it, and how we got here. We're on a paved road. When it started, it was dirt. People like Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline paved the road, and it's them we should pay tribute to. Without them, we wouldn't be here."

2011 featured many highlights for Wesley, including opening for the CMA Entertainer of the Year. "It's been great. We were fortunate enough to open for Taylor Swift. It was mind blowing. You go from playing honky-tonks to 60,000 people at Foxboro. It was insane. For her to ask me to come out with her, that was one of the greatest things I've been a part of."

Wesley said he admires Swift for how she treats her fans, sometimes even sending them pizzas while waiting in line for tickets. "Call them fans, but I like to call them friends. After a while, they get to know you, and you get to know them. They come out night after night, rain or shine. It's awesome how she treats people. When you get as successful as she is, it's amazing how she gives back. Someday..," he says hopefully, eager to follow in her footsteps.

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Now That a Radio Guy Co-Owns the Mets, What Changes Might Be in Store?

by Gary Trust | March 22, 2012 11:15 EDT

News broke yesterday that Clear Channel Media and Entertainment CEO Bob Pittman is among the investors purchasing a minority stake in baseball's financially-troubled New York Mets.

With apologies to David Letterman - and with good-natured love to our friends at Clear Channel - here are the top five concerns now that a radio guy co-owns the Mets.

(Paul, drumroll please!)

5. When manager Terry Collins calls the bullpen, he'll now be greeted with a, "Sorry, you're caller No. 1, please try again …"

4. Now starting for the Mets in center field: John Fogerty

3. Pitching rotation tightened to the three top-testing starters, per fan research.

2. He'll hire his chatty DJ friends as stadium vendors. "Hot dogs here! … at 7:05, five past 7, 67 degrees ..."

And … the No. 1 concern now that a radio guy co-owns the Mets:

Only his radio stations will have hits!

(Applause out)

(... maybe ...)

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Friday, March 23, 2012

UK boy band One Direction breaks Billboard record with debut album

Members of British-Irish band One Direction pose after performing on NBC's ''Today'' show in New York March 12, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Brendan McDermid

By Li-mei Hoang

LONDON/LOS ANGELES | Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:48pm EDT

LONDON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British boy band One Direction has become the first UK group to debut at No. 1 in the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, adding another victory in their whirlwind success story.

The band sold more than 176,000 copies of their debut album "Up All Night", making chart history in the United States, with the record soaring straight to the top of the digital charts within minutes of its official release on March 13th, a statement from the band's label Syco said on Wednesday.

One Direction's debut album knocked last week's chart topper, Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball," from No. 1 and came in ahead of Adele's Grammy-winning album "21," which remained at No. 2 with 148,000 copies sold last week.

The boy band came together on Britain's "The X Factor" television talent contest after judge Simon Cowell suggested they sing together as a band rather than on their own.

Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, all aged between 18 and 21, joined forces and became hot competition during the 2010 edition of "The X Factor," finishing in third place.

"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the U.S. album charts is unbelievable," Horan said in a statement.

Over 10,000 fans turned up for the band's first live TV performance on the NBC's Today Show in New York.

The band have also racked up more than 204 million views on video website YouTube, have 12 million followers on Twitter and 3.6 million fans on Facebook.

"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement," Cowell said.

One Direction's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" won a BRIT Award in February and sold more than 131,000 copies in its first week. Their entry at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart also marked the highest singles debut from a British band since the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" in 1997.

"It's beyond a dream come true for us," fellow band member Styles said.

One Direction were signed to Cowell's Syco label in 2011 in partnership with Columbia Records in the United States.

Syco Entertainment is a music television, film and digital joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment whose assets include The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.

One Direction's 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be added. An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first day. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.

(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Paul Casciato)

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Irish love story "Once" explodes onto Broadway

Undated publicity handout still shows Steve Gazee and Cristin Milioti performing in the Broadway version of ''Once'' in New York. The fairytale success of the unpretentious, beloved indie Irish film ''Once'' just hit new musical heights. The Broadway version of the Dublin-based tale about an Irish busker and Czech immigrant who share their passion for music and a blossoming yet impossible love with a soaring soundtrack captured by the Oscar-winning song, ''Falling Slowly,'' has hit the Great White Way to teary, standing ovations and rave reviews.

Credit: Reuters/Joan Marcus/Handout

By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK | Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:17am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The fairytale success of the unpretentious, beloved indie Irish film "Once" just hit new musical heights.

The Broadway version of the Dublin-based tale about an Irish busker and Czech immigrant who share their passion for music and a blossoming yet impossible love with a soaring soundtrack captured by the Oscar-winning song, "Falling Slowly," has hit the Great White Way to teary, standing ovations and rave reviews.

Critics on Monday called the intimate musical a "gem of a show", "a knockout,", "gorgeously crafted" and "the sweetest and most romantic show on Broadway" with talk already buzzing about a world musical tour and likely Tony Award nominations.

"'Once' uses song and dance in a way I've never experienced in an American musical," said The New York Times, complementing its soulful songs about the power of music and connection and performances by the musical's charming main stars, Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti, as well as the supporting cast.

Before the musical's premiere on Sunday night, the success of the gentle film that starred songwriters Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova playing a version of themselves, seemed difficult to top. Shot in 3 weeks on a shoestring budget, it ended up raking in $20 million worldwide.

The 2006 film, written and directed by John Carney, went all the way to the Oscars where Hansard told the awards show TV audience of nearly 40 million viewers: "We never thought we'd ever come into a room like this and be in front of you people."

The stage musical, adapted from a short off-Broadway run, was handed over to a different team of collaborators, including British director John Tiffany and choreographer Steven Hoggett, who created the acclaimed Scottish theater piece, "Black Watch."

Much of the film's humble story and witty tone has been kept in the musical. "There's a kind of humility to the film that we have tried to keep hold of, and a purity," Tiffany told Reuters.

The production uses more than a dozen actor-musicians, who stay on stage the entire show. Even before the musical begins, they play folksy music to audience members who can grab a drink on a makeshift bar on the stage, helping create the atmosphere of a Dublin pub setting.

"There is a simplicity about the fact that this is about the healing power of music. This is about seeing people create music and the effect and resonance that has on each other - and that is what the audience really seem to be getting off on," Tiffany said.

He also admitted, "I was obsessed with the idea of the audience being able to buy a drink."

IRISH FAIRYTALE

The musical's main differences include the Irish busker beginning his journey a more broken man, and the quirky Czech Milioti plays a larger, almost angel-like role inspired by the 1946 film, "It's A Wonderful Life."

"There is an element of fairytale to this story," Tiffany said. "She appears out of nowhere, just at the right time, and seems to have the energy and the resources to go with him on this journey for him to gain life back and to move on."

Several new songs were added by Irglova and Hansard, who have kept a low profile with the musical after spending years promoting and touring the film and becoming a real life couple before splitting up.

Reviewers gushed the show was as a textbook example of how to adapt screen to stage with a compelling story by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, heartfelt performances, subliminal choreography, a stylized set and unusual sound quality without relying on typical tricks of an outlandish Broadway spectacle.

But the musical also relies heavily on the same stirring songs and lyrics as the movie, said Tiffany, which he called "extraordinary."

"They story tell through it," he said, "that even though we don't necessarily have happy endings all the time in life, we can resource each other. The time we spend with each other can be enriching to the point that we can move on with the next part of our lives. That is a really sad and happy thing."

Already dubbed a Tony winner for best musical by some critics, Tiffany joked, "we don't talk about that", but he said, "I am so proud I have made the piece of work I wanted to make because you can't always say that."

As to its success so far, he wondered if it might simply be a sign of more humble times in society with audiences yearning for something other than the splashy Broadway experience.

"Part of me wonders if it is a real sign of the times, to do with, not austerity, that's not the right word, but just to do with simplicity. Do we want something a bit different?"

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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