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Saturday, June 30, 2012

50 Cent & Oprah Winfrey Bury the Hatchet

Oprah Winfrey and 50 Cent have ended their six-year feud.

The talk show host and the rapper sat down for an interview on OWN's Oprah's Next Chapter to sort out their differences. Among them, Winfrey said she had taken offense when 50 -- whose real name is Curtis Jackson -- once said of her daytime talk show: "Oprah's audience is my audience's parents, so I could care less about Oprah or her show."

During the interview -- which took place at the Queens, N.Y., house of Jackson's grandparents, who raised him after his mother's death in 1983 -- Jackson indicated that he was surprised the interview with Winfrey was actually happening.

"This is a huge milestone for me -- just being in your presence and on the show," he said. "That's a huge accomplishment." (The two even embraced before the interview got under way.)
Winfrey went on to ask Jackson about his "audience" comment and brought up her own public criticism of rappers' use of the N-word and misogynistic lyrics in their music.

"I would see moments when you would discuss your feelings on the culture and everything that was wrong with the culture was what was on my CD, and I was like, 'Oh, she doesn't like me'," Jackson said. "I was saying, 'If I can't be your friend, at least let me be your enemy, so I co-exist.'"

Replied Winfrey: "That's interesting. I don't spend a lot of time looking at people who don't like me, but I did hear that you said something like I had white women in my audience that were as old as your grandmother. I felt that that was a pointed criticism. Did you say things about me to be provocative, or did you just not like me?"

Answered Jackson: "I was saying it's a conservative audience -- their kids are listening to it, and they look for something that allows them to be a little rebellious -- that's rap and roll."

Winfrey said she couldn't understand why her criticism of rap music lyrics led Jackson to think she didn't like him personally.

"I think it's so interesting that you thought that because I was against the use of the N-word, violence and singing about violence and misogynism, meant that I did not like you, because I did not know you," she said.

But the two agreed to disagree about the use of the N-word.

"When you're actually using it with malice in your heart, you can feel the difference," Jackson said.

Winfrey also asked Jackson about his decision to name his dog after her.

"That was not a compliment," she said. "I heard you had a bitch named Oprah."

"At the time, I was just looking at the situation and I saw I was developing negative feelings for someone who doesn't even know me -- and I gave it to the dog," he replied.

Meanwhile, Jackson also revealed his softer side to Winfrey, telling her that he paints his grandmother's toenails because she is unable to reach them and giving her a tour of the pink bedroom he sleeps in at his grandparents' house.


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St. Vincent, David Byrne Team Up for 'Giant' Album

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 5:30 EDT

Art-rock legend David Byrne and indie chanteuse St. Vincent have teamed up for a new album, "Love This Giant," as well as a corresponding fall tour. First track "Who" has been offered up as a free download on the album's official website.

"Love This Giant," out Sept. 11 on 4AD through Byrne's label Todo Mundo, was recorded in Hoboken, N.J. over a two-year period and features 10 songs co-written by the two musicians, with each one fully penning one track. The former Talking Heads leader and "Strange Mercy" auteur previously teamed up for the "Dark Was The Night" benefit compilation in 2009, and Byrne's "Here Lies Love" project the following year.

Days after the album release, St. Vincent and Byrne will kick off a joint tour in Minneapolis on Sept. 15. "We'll be doing these songs and a bunch of songs that we suspect people will know, with a group that includes eight brass players, a keyboardist and a drummer," says Byrne in a statement.

St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, has released her last two albums, 2009's "Actor" and last year's "Strange Mercy," on 4AD. Byrne, meanwhile, has recently taken to joint albums -- in 2008 he released "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" with Talking Heads producer/musical genius Brian Eno, and collaborated with Fatboy Slim on "Here Lies Love" two years later.

Here is the tracklist for "Love This Giant":

1. Who
2. Weekend in the Dust
3. Dinner For Two
4. Ice Age
5. I Am An Ape
6. The Forest Awakes
7. I Should Watch TV
8. Lazarus
9. Optimist
10. Lightning
11. The One Who Broke Your Heart (featuring The Dap-Kings and Antibalas)
12. Outside of Space & Time

Here are David Byrne & St. Vincent's upcoming North American tour dates:

Sept. 15: Minneapolis, MN (State Theater)
Sept. 16: Milwaukee, WI (Riverside Theater)
Sept. 18: Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)
Sept. 20: Toronto, ONT (Queen Elizabeth Theater)
Sept. 21: Montreal, QUE (Eglise St-Jean Baptiste (POP Montreal))
Sept. 23: Boston, MA (Orpheum Theatre)
Sept. 25: New York, NY (Beacon Theater)
Sept. 26: New York, NY (Beacon Theater)
Sept. 27: Philadelphia, PA (Tower Theater)
Sept. 29: Brooklyn, NY (Williamsburg Park)
Sept. 30: N. Bethesda MD (The Music Center at Strathmore)
Oct. 2: Nashville, TN (Ryman Auditorium)
Oct. 3: Atlanta, GA (Cobb Energy Center)
Oct. 5: Austin, TX (Bass Concert Hall)
Oct. 6: Houston, TX (Hobby Center)
Oct. 7: Dallas, TX (McFarlin Memorial Auditorium (SMU))
Oct. 10: San Diego, CA (Humphrey's)
Oct. 11: Santa Barbara, CA (Arlington Theatre)
Oct. 12: Costa Mesa, CA (Segerstrom Theater for the Arts)
Oct. 13: Los Angeles, CA (Greek Theater)
Oct. 15: San Francisco, CA (Orpheum Theatre)
Oct. 17: Seattle, WA (5th Ave Theatre)
Oct. 18: Portland, OR (Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium)
Oct. 20: Vancouver, BC (Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts)


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Kanye West's L.A. Home Burglarized

by David Greenwald, L.A.  |   June 13, 2012 8:51 EDT

Burglars have broken into Kanye West's Los Angeles residence, according to TMZ.

The musician, on the "Watch the Throne" tour in the UK, was not present. A member of his camp reportedly called the LAPD to report the burglary on Wednesday morning.

No "obvious" items were reported missing from the scene of the crime, with investigators waiting for West's presence to establish any stolen possessions.

The three-bedroom Hollywood Hills home is currently on the market for nearly $4 million. According to E! Online, West previously tried to sell the house in 2010.

While West has yet to comment on the incident, his rep did weigh in on inaccurate rumors that he'd tweeted a nude photo of girlfriend Kim Kardashian.

"In regards to this 'story' that Kanye posted and then took down intimate pictures on his Twitter account: TOTALLY FALSE. Laughably so," the rep reportedly told E! Online on Wednesday.

In less unfortunate news, West recently celebrated his 35th birthday and released the video for current single "Mercy."


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Friday, June 29, 2012

Alan Jackson gets personal in 'Thirty Miles West'

Singer Alan Jackson performs during ''A Concert for Hope'' at the Kennedy Center in Washington September 11, 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Singer Alan Jackson performs during ''A Concert for Hope'' at the Kennedy Center in Washington September 11, 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

By Vernell Hackett

NASHVILLE | Fri Jun 8, 2012 5:14pm EDT

NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Country singer Alan Jackson is known for telling true-to-life tales but he says a song about his wife's battle with cancer, "When I Saw You Leaving (For Nicey)," was tougher than most.

In fact, he admits it was the hardest tune he's ever had to record.

The heartfelt song about Denise, his wife of 30 years, is the closing track on Jackson's newly released album "Thirty Miles West" and it keeps with the country music tradition of writing about the realities of life.

"I wrote it right after we found out about her cancer, but I didn't want to play it for her then," Jackson told Reuters. "A year or so later, when everything was okay and after we recorded it, I played. Like most of the people who hear it, she cried."

Jackson, 53, is one of country's top artists and made his name in 1990 with debut album "Here in the Real World." Dozens of hits have followed, including "Midnight in Montgomery," "Small Town Southern Man," "Good Time" and "Chattahoochee."

The Grand Ole Opry member also wrote the Grammy-winning hit "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" which attempted to make sense of the September 11, 2001 attacks and their aftermath.

Even with all that experience, Jackson said the first one or two times he tried to record "When I Saw You Leaving," he couldn't get through it because he was overcome with emotion.

"I finally got it," he said. "I tried to write it so that it would be something other people could identify with, because so many people have been through those same emotions and experiences."

LOVE, LIFE AND COUNTRY

"So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore", Jackson's current single from his new album, was co-written by his nephew Adam Wright and Jay Knowles. It is currently in the top 30 on Billboard's country music chart and climbing.

He said his nephew is a bit like himself, "not too pushy and he's modest about his stuff," so Jackson must ask him to play new songs each time he enters the studio. "When I heard this song, the hairs stood up on my arm," Jackson said.

Similarly, the opening track, "Gonna Come Back as a Country Song" sounds like it came straight from Jackson's songbook, but he had little to do with the tune, which talks about coming back as a country song and hanging out in honky-tonks every night.

One tune Jackson did write, "Look Her In the Eye and Lie," is something he swears he never had to do with a woman.

"I don't know where that line came from. I keep these pieces of paper around so that whenever I hear something or think of an idea for a song I can write it down," he said. "That line had been on my list since my last album, and I just pulled it out and wrote it."

Not all the numbers on "Thirty Miles West" have sad themes.

"Dixie Highway," recorded with Zac Brown, is about a stretch of 200-year-old road that runs from Michigan to South Florida. Jackson said he heard about it while fishing in Florida, and he was intrigued by the history of the road and the people who live along it. And it seemed a perfect tune for Brown.

"It's about the rural south and the small towns and how life is very similar in all of them," he said. "It's about eight minutes long and has seven or eight verses and a lot of pickin'!"

And while the tune "Life Keeps Bringing Me Down," co-written by Jackson's former fiddle player Shawn Camp and Al Anderson, may seem dark due to its title, the song is a fun tune with a lot of energy behind the music.

"Thirty Miles West" was released on June 5, and Jackson is supporting the album with a three-month U.S. tour.

(Reporting Vernell Hackett, Editing by Jill Serjeant, Bob Tourtellotte and James Dalgleish)


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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Bob Seger 'Sifting Through' 70 Songs for New Album

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   June 13, 2012 5:30 EDT

With a Songwriters Hall of Fame induction looming, Bob Seger plans to come up with more new songs as he continues to make progress on his next album.

"I've got five (songs) that I really, really like, and then I'm sifting through the other 70 that I've got in the can," Seger tells Billboard.com. It will be his first all-new studio release since 2006's "Face The Promise," though no release date has yet been determined. "Some of them aren't that old. Some of them are just last album stuff that I really liked and I got talked out of and I'm really sorry I did. I could actually put (an album) out for this fall right now if I wanted to, but I'm just going to write a little more before I make a final decision."

Among the songs Seger is weighing for the album -- whose current working titles are "Wonderland" or "Ride Out" -- are a duet with Trisha Yearwood called "The Price" and a rock ballad called "You Take Me." He's also considering a pair of live recordings from the 2006 tour with his Silver Bullet Band, his own "Sometimes" and a cover of Little Feat's "Fat Man in the Bathtub." "They're just firecrackers, pure rage, and I've been sitting on those for 20-some years and I'd love for people to hear them," Seger says. "There's mistakes in them, but I don't give a s***. They've just got this thing that is so powerful, and I think it'd be a nice kind of change-up to go from the contemporary feel back to that mid-80s feel."

Meanwhile, Seger is also penning music for the trailer to "Threshhold," a "psycho-thriller" film co-written by his son Cole, who just finished his freshman year of college.

New album or not, Seger plans to take his Silver Bullet Band back on the road for two weeks in November, hitting either the North American west coast -- including San Diego, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Denver -- or Australia, where his 2011 compilation "Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets" has spent six weeks in the top 10 this year. "The promoters are kind of bidding against each other, and whoever comes up with the best deal is going to get it. Or, if we get greedy, we'll do both," Seger -- who played 54 shows in 2011 and early 2012, says with a laugh. He adds that he would like "to just finish what we started" in North America, hitting cities that the group didn't play on its last run.

Seger is also excited about entering the Songwriters Hall of Fame during the June 14 ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, where he plans to perform "Turn the Page." "It's a really nice honor," says Seger, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. "They've been doing it since '69, so they haven't taken it lightly. Songwriting...I really work hard on that. I like to think that, like (Don) Henley says, I leave a little blood on the page and work really hard on my lyrics chord changes, structure and everything. So it's pretty heartening to get that nod."

Seger will be joined at the ceremony by Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Steinman, Don Schlitz and the team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Special awards will be given to Bette Midler, Ne-Yo, Woody Guthrie, Ben E. King and Lance Freed.


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Chart Beat Meet & Greet: Jana Kramer

by Gary Trust  |   June 14, 2012 11:05 EDT

"The very first time I heard it, I was so sick. I had bronchitis," Jana Kramer recalls of hearing her maiden Country Songs chart entry, "Why Ya Wanna," on the radio.

"I needed to go get medicine at the store, and all of a sudden, I heard my name on the car stereo receiver. I thought 'No way.' I turned it up and, sure enough, it was me. I started screaming with this little voice that I had."

Kramer's memories of hearing her music on the radio aren't all as bittersweet.

"The coolest time was when I was with my mom back home in Detroit a few weeks after that. We had just finished doing a little shopping and my song started coming on. We looked at each other and started screaming, then crying."

The 615 Spotlight: Jana Kramer

This week, Kramer's self-titled debut album bows at No. 5 on Billboard's Country Albums chart and No. 19 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 16,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. On Country Songs, "Why Ya Wanna" reaches a new peak, rising 18-17 in its 25th chart week with 14 million in audience (up 6%), according to Nielsen BDS.

Before releasing the set, Kramer enjoyed fanfare from numerous acting roles, including on the recently-wrapped CW TV series "One Tree Hill." The Michigan native says, however, that music was always her first love.

"Music has always been my No. 1 passion in life," she says. "I did ('Hill') for three years, and it helped me get the nerve to finally follow my dreams and what I really wanted to do ... my music."

Upon the set's chart entrance, revisit Chuck Dauphin's recent spotlight feature on Kramer for Billboard.com's country column, the 615.

"It's authentic, and it's real," Kramer says of her music. "It's country, and I think you can feel it."


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Singer Chris Brown attacked in NY club: spokesman

Chris Brown accepts the award for best R&B album for ''F.A.M.E.'' at the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Chris Brown accepts the award for best R&B album for ''F.A.M.E.'' at the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:08pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B star Chris Brown was attacked in a fight at a New York club early on Thursday morning, his spokesman said, as rapper Drake was on his way out of the nightspot.

"Chris, Karrueche (Brown's girlfriend) and his friends were victims of a brutal attack last night at WIP. They sustained several injuries. Chris and his party are cooperating with NY authorities who are pursuing this incident further," Brown's spokesman, Jeff Raymond, said in a statement

Drake's spokeswoman Allison Elbl Striegel issued a statement saying the 25-year-old singer "did not participate in any wrongdoing of any kind last night at W.i.P. He was on his way out of the club when the altercation began. He did not engage in any activity which resulted in injury to person or damage to property."

Details were not released by New York City police, who said they were investigating the incident at Manhattan club WIP in which eight men and women had cuts, bruises and other injuries.

An NYPD spokeswoman would not say if Brown, who won a Grammy for his album "F.A.M.E.," or Drake, whose hits include "Take Care," were involved. Brown tweeted a picture of his face with a cut on his chin, then deleted it.

Pictures of the nightclub with shattered glass and furniture strewn around a cavernous room were posted on the Internet, and celebrity websites carried reports from unnamed sources about a fight between friends and associates of the two singers.

Police said the injured were treated at a hospital and released.

Several celebrity media outlets reported that the fight broke out between Brown and Drake over singer Rihanna, who they both dated.

Brown, 23, was previously arrested and pleaded guilty to beating Rihanna in February 2009. He was sentenced to five years probation.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)


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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Beach Boys Beat the Beatles for Billboard 200 Record

by Gary Trust  |   June 14, 2012 4:15 EDT

Fifty years into their career, the Beach Boys are still making waves on Billboard charts.

This week, they best the Beatles for a Billboard 200 album chart record.

As their reunion set, "That's Why God Made the Radio" (their first album of all-new material since 1992), bursts onto the chart at No. 3, the Beach Boys break a record by expanding their span of Billboard 200 top 10s to 49 years and one week. They first graced the top 10 with "Surfin' U.S.A." the week of June 15, 1963.

The Beach Boys' stretch between their first week in the Billboard 200 top 10 to their most recent is now the longest among groups, passing the Beatles, whose top 10 span covers 47 years, seven months and three weeks. The Fab Four first entered the top bracket when "Meet the Beatles" rocketed 92-3 on the Feb. 8, 1964, chart at the blastoff of Beatlemania. The group most recently appeared in the top 10 with "1" the week of Oct. 1, 2011.

The Rolling Stones are pushed to third among groups with the longest top 10 span on the Billboard 200. Their 45-year, six-month top 10 span ranges from the week of Dec. 12, 1964 ("12 x 5"), through June 12, 2010 ("Exile on Main St.")

Among all acts, Frank Sinatra boasts the longest top 10 span on the Billboard 200: 52 years, two months and one week. Sinatra first entered the top tier with "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" the week of April 7, 1956, and last ranked in the region on June 14, 2008, with "Nothing But the Best."

The Billboard 200 launched as a weekly chart in the pages of Billboard magazine the week of March 24, 1956.

Beach Boys Talk Reunion Tour: No Holograms 'Yet'

Upon its arrival, "Radio" becomes the Beach Boys' highest-charting album since 1965's "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)," which reached No. 2. The new release is their 14th top 10 and first since 1976's "15 Big Ones." The Beach Boys have topped the Billboard 200 with two titles: 1964's "Beach Boys Concert" (for four weeks) and 1974's "Endless Summer" (one).


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Coldplay and 'Princess' Rihanna Rally On Social 50 Chart

Coldplay made some significant strides in the online world this week as the group's newest video for its hit song "Princess of China" (featuring Rihanna) was released on June 2. That causes the rock band to make a big jump on Billboard's Social 50 chart, rising 30-22.

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

"Princess of China," the fourth single from Coldplay's album "Mylo Xyloto," has so far peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100. The song's featured guest, Rihanna, happens to also hold the No. 1 spot on the Social 50 this week.

Channeling audiences from two massive online fan bases (over 75 million combined fans on Facebook alone) the video was able to garner 7 million views in only seven days. That helped Coldplay rack up 14,732,000 views to its VEVO channel during the charting week.

The success of the video created a positive impact on both artists' fan bases. Coldplay added just over 147,000 followers across Twitter, Facebook and Myspace to their overall fan base (a 7% increase) while Rihanna added 407,482.

Coldplay wasn't the only group to experience online gains riding the coattails of the Rihanna Navy. The greatest gains on the Social 50 this week were the five sisters that make up Cimorelli. The act returns to the top 10, jumping 16-3, reaching a new chart high. The jump comes thanks to the group's video cover of Rihanna's "Where Have You Been." So far, it has earned more than 600,000 views since its debut on June 4.

Its release has helped push Cimorelli's YouTube channel over 200 million views. It's full steam ahead for Cimorelli, who experienced nearly 20% gains across all other metrics (fans, views) during the charting week.

Miley Cyrus received some love online this week as well, as people flocked to her online properties to follow her as news broke of her recent engagement. The lucky fellow? Her boyfriend of two years, "Hunger Games" co-star Liam Hemsworth. Cyrus received a 82% boost in fan acquisition over the previous week and, according to additional data provided by Next Big Sound, her Wikipedia page received a 118% increase in weekly viewership.

Other gains on the Social 50 include Eminem, who rose 19-13 correlating with activity (news releases and videos) surrounding the Shady Records Hot 97 Summer Jam BBQ. (The same Summer Jam where Nicki Minaj, who holds at No. 7, didn't show up after DJ Peter Rosenberg dissed her onstage before her scheduled performance.)

Selena Gomez has a fragrance and Spring Break to thank for her 24-21 climb this week. The June 9 launch of her fragrance with Macy's, and press surrounding her upcoming movie "Spring Breakers," helped earn her a 20% increase in profile views.

The rest of this week's top 10: Adele holds fast at No. 2, Justin Bieber steps down (3-4), as does Katy Perry (5-6). The latter swaps spots with Skrillex who rose a position (6-5). Linkin Park continues to climb (9-8), eclipsing Lady Gaga whose decrease in activity allowed her to sink (4-9). Rounding out the top 10 is One Direction, falling two rungs to No. 10.


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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Magazine apologizes to Morrissey over "racism" slur

Singer Steven Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths, performs on stage during his concert at the Rock-en-Seine Festival in Saint-Cloud near Paris, August 25, 2006. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Singer Steven Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths, performs on stage during his concert at the Rock-en-Seine Festival in Saint-Cloud near Paris, August 25, 2006.

Credit: Reuters/Benoit Tessier

LONDON | Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:18am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Music magazine NME has apologized to Morrissey for a 2007 article which the former Smiths frontman complained suggested he was a racist.

Morrissey, 53, sued the publication for a story titled "Morrissey: Big Mouth Strikes Again" in which he discussed the issue of immigration in Britain.

The case had been due to go to court after the singer won a pre-trial hearing at the High Court in October where the publication had sought to strike out his claim on the grounds of delay.

"NME is pleased that it has buried the hatchet with Morrissey in respect of the libel case he brought against us in 2007," a statement from the magazine said.

"Morrissey sued over an article based on interviews with him which he believed accused him of racism.

"After an on-going dialogue with Morrissey and his representatives, NME today (Tuesday) publishes a clarification in the magazine and online which makes it clear that we do not believe we ever called Morrissey a racist and nor do we believe he is.

"We have said sorry to Morrissey for any misunderstanding that may have arisen."

The publication added that the settlement did not involve payment of damages or legal costs to the singer. A "small" sum was paid by NME last year on the court's orders.

In the original article, Morrissey was asked if he would ever move back to England, and was quoted as saying in reply:

"With the issue of immigration, it's very difficult because, although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears."

Morrissey's lawyer, John Reid, of Russells Solicitors, said: "My client is obviously pleased that the NME have finally and publicly apologized to him.

"This claim was never about financial damages, and no money was sought as part of a settlement. The NME apology in itself is settlement enough, and it closes the case".

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)


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Rockers The Hives lay down the law for "Lex Hives"

Singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist of The Hives performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in this January 15, 2005 file photo. REUTERS/Ethan Miller/Files

Singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist of The Hives performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in this January 15, 2005 file photo.

Credit: Reuters/Ethan Miller/Files

By Piya Sinha-Roy

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:09pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Swedish garage rock band The Hives put their hardest rock'n'roll effort into their latest studio album following their last record five years ago which harnessed urban music influences.

The new record, titled "Lex Hives" because the album "is the law of the Hives" according to bandmember Nicholaus Arson, follows "The Black And White Album" (2007). It took The Hives about two years to pull together as they struggled to find a sound that returned them to their garage rock roots from the hip hop-influenced previous effort.

"It's sort of timeless, what we do as a band," lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist told Reuters. "We want to be one of those bands that withstands the tide of change in the industry."

Formed in 1993 in Fagersta, Sweden, The Hives consists of Almqvist, his brother Arson and Vigilante Carlstroem on guitar, bassist Dr. Matt Destruction and drummer Chris Dangerous.

The band first gained popularity during the garage rock resurgence of the early 2000s that gave way to bands like "The White Stripes," but The Hives changed tracks and experimented with new sounds on their last record, working with R&B producers Timbaland and The Neptunes.

For their fifth studio album, released earlier this month, The Hives went back to their roots, which is showcased on the energetic opening track "Come On!," as well as the blues-rock track "I Want More" and the anthem-like tune, "These Spectacles Reveal The Nostalgics."

"We were really more interested in making a classic record. We wanted it to be like it could have been recorded at any point in the last forty years, whereas our last record was more like our attempt at being modern," said Almqvist.

The band compiled the entire album themselves from "plugging in the guitar" to "arranging the songs and engineering."

The frontman's personal favorites on the album are "Patrolling Days" for its "epic quality" and "Midnight Shifter," which reinvents energetic soul music from 1960s America.

Reviews have been generally favorable with the album earning 70 out of 100 on review aggregator site MetaCritic.com.

Rolling Stone's Chuck Eddy gave "Lex Hives" three out of five stars, saying the band "lose steam at times, but by the LP's end, their toga party is back pogoing and the neighbors are knocking." Hamish McBain at music publication NME gave the album an eight out of 10 rating, calling the album "amazing.

DECADE OF GARAGE ROCK

The band embraced garage rock and punk for their debut album in 1997, "Barely Legal," following it up with 2000's "Veni Vidi Vicious," both of which achieved moderate success.

Their 2001 'best-of' album, "Your New Favourite Band," launched The Hives onto mainstream charts, led by their singles "Hate To Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender."

More than a decade on, the band has an extensive touring schedule in both Europe and the United States, and while some industry watchers say rock is giving way to the popularity of electronica and dance music among younger fans, Almqvist believes the opposite.

"Rock 'n' roll seems to be doing pretty damn great ... I don't really feel like it's struggling. There's definitely enough of an audience," Almqvist said

The Swedish rockers are known for their on stage antics while clad in black suits and ties, led by Almqvist, who combines hyper energy and scissor kicks with provocative comments to the audience.

The lead singer said that while he doesn't plan his live performance stunts, he's been perfecting the persona of Howlin' Pelle since the age of eight, when he decided he wanted to be a rock band frontman.

"One New Year's Eve, we were watching television, and there was a live performance by James Brown and The Who. Those two performers were pretty much where I got my stage groove. They're all you need," said Almqvist, referring to Brown and the antics of Who bandmates Pete Townsend and Keith Moon.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Alden Bentley)


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Monday, June 25, 2012

Usher Covers Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks'

by Hannah Gilman, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 3:35 EDT

Usher Usher seems to be shaking things up and genuinely enjoying himself in London as he promotes the release of his seventh studio album, "Looking 4 Myself," which dropped Tuesday (June 12). The sexy "Climax" singer, decked in all black and an indie rock-appropriate cutoff denim vest, stopped by BBC's Radio 1 on Wednesday (June 13) to perform a live cover of "Pumped Up Kicks."

Usher Dances Below Floating Women in 'Scream' Video

Shades in place, Usher took to the microphone and addressed the crowd, saying "This is one of my favorites, and it goes a little something like this," before playing the beloved bass line of Foster the People's indie pop hit. It's no secret that Usher can dance, sing, and even play the piano, but the bass guitar was a surprise. Is there anything that man can't do? The only downside is that it left less room for his impressive dance moves.

Usher's smooth R&B voice meshes with upbeat background vocals and distortion of the guitars in the video for an impressive blending of genres. The superstar's crew seems to be having a good time, too, as they "run, baby, run" to the beat.

He opened the six-song Live Lounge set with his second single, "Scream," which currently sits at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, before breaking into the unexpected cover. Usher is set to return to London in the fall as a headliner for the 2012 iTunes Festival.


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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Maybach Music Group Holds 'Self Made Vol. 2' Album Listening at NY Strip Club

by Lacey Seidman, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 3:45 EDT

"All we know how to do is be self-made," Rick Ross declared last night (Wednesday, June 13), at an exclusive listening session designed to unveil tracks from the sequel to Maybach Music Group's first collaborative album, "MMG Presents: Self Made Vol. 1."

Well-versed in manufacturing a spectacle as seen with their press conference last month, the members of MMG -- Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Omarion and Stalley -- chose Bronx's gentlemen's club, Sin City, for the evening's proceedings, transforming a run-of-the mill press gathering into an exhibition of excess that visibly ran the attendees' comfort zone gamut.

Maybach Music Day: Label Signs Omarion, Sets Rick Ross Album Release Date

"June 26 is the official release date for 'Self Made 2,'" Ross reiterated to the room before handing the mic over to DJ Khaled to introduce each track, one-by-one. After nodding to Power 105's DJ Self  -- who spun back-to-back MMG favorites for the preceding two hours -- Ross saluted the album's core contributors who were also present: MMG, Gunplay, and Bad Boy's French Montana.

Drake, Busta Rhymes, DJ Scoob Doo, Fred Da Godson, and Warner Bros. Records and Def Jam label execs
-- Def Jam President, Joie Manda, Senior VP Shawn "Pecas" Costner, Senior VP of Marketing Chris Atlas --  also convened in support of the project that kicks off MMG's string of summer releases. Upcoming MMG projects include "MMG Presents: Self Made Vol. 2" (June 26), Meek 's debut album, "Dreams & Nightmares" (August 28), and Ross' highly-anticipated, "God Forgives, I Don't," out July 31.

Though in an untamed atmosphere with dancers' shift-assignments announced every so often over the PA system, MMG's music still managed to project growth. A balance of hard-hitting street anthems like "Actin' Up" and "Black On Black," featuring Ace Hood and Bun B, co-exist with smooth, R&B-leaning tracks, "M.I.A" and "Let's Talk," courtsey of their new acquisiton, Omarion. Verses from the album's featured marquee artists were finally revealed and stand-out flows from Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Nipsey Hu$$le, Wiz Khalifa and T.I. commanded head nods.

Whether or not intended, MMG gave all a Petri dish peek into their fast lives. Hosting the "Self Made Vol. 2" listening session at Sin City -- where French shot "Everything's A Go" -- the scene was set. The braggadocio-laden cuts were unleashed in the same atmosphere that births them. But for those examining the landscape a bit closer, the celebratory vibe was oddly juxtaposed by some of the rappers' own subdued temperaments.

Omarion and Stalley spent much of the evening on their cells, albeit standing on couches in the VIP section. Meek politely declined repeated advances from the female staff members. Not long after an intoxicated female associate became visibly ill,  Noah "40" Shebib and Drake, who had kept a parental watchful eye on her, were escorted out the building appearing relieved. Drake left a smiling French behind to hold down the section that stood just below of the rabid VIP area.

Cocktail waitresses donning tuxedo bustiers were instructed to "make it sparkle" on command. The dancers shook their lady parts while performing their best tricks, attempting to catch eyes with MMG and their entourage. Watching the ladies' efforts go unnoticed was telling considering the environment. Rap clichés permeated the room and were, in turn, absorbed through all five sensory channels of those invited as a majority of the rappers, themselves, seemed not the least fazed. 

Celebratory events like yesterday's listening are a recent mainstay for the Maybach Music Group conglomerate and friends. Last month, they took over New York to celebrate Omarion's MMG signing, Meek's birthday and their headlining slot at Hot 97's Summer Jam. Whether work or play, it would appear that the MMG movement is in full-throttle.


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R. Kelly Owes Nearly $5M in Taxes, Say Documents

by The Associated Press  |   June 14, 2012 9:06 EDT

R&B star R. Kelly, who last year saw his suburban Chicago mansion fall into foreclosure, now has the Internal Revenue Service at his door.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports documents held by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds show the recording artist owes the IRS nearly $5 million in unpaid taxes.

Kelly owes the money for taxes dating back as far as 2005. He paid $2.6 million in back taxes in 2008 and another $1 million last year, but the records show he still owes the federal government more than $4.8 million.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday for Kelly spokesman Allan Mayer. The Sun-Times reports Mayer said last year that Kelly didn't have any serious financial troubles.

The Grammy-winning singer was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008.

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Music industry leader Frances Preston dies, age 83

LOS ANGELES | Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:14pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Frances Preston, a music industry pioneer and former president and chief executive of record company BMI, died on Wednesday at home in Nashville of heart failure, the label said. She was 83.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Preston was a driving force in music spanning six decades as she fought for songwriters' rights and for her company's growth in representing a diverse roster of talent.

Singer Kris Kristofferson called Preston "the songwriter's guardian angel," and Fortune magazine said she was "one of the true powerhouses of the pop music business."

Born in Nashville on August 27, 1928, Preston began her career at the city's WSM radio station. She was hired to open BMI's southern regional office in 1958 as the first full-time performing rights representative in the Southern United States.

Preston was promoted to vice president in 1964, named president and CEO in 1986 and held that title until 2004. During her tenure, royalty payments increased for songwriters and publishers, ultimately tripling under her direction.

She was known as a staunch champion of songwriters' rights and worked to make Nashville a viable force within the music industry. She also helped get the U.S. Copyright Amendments Act of 1992 passed to extend protection to older compositions.

Outside music, Preston was a member of the Panama Canal Study Committee and sat on the commission for the White House Record Library in the administration of President Jimmy Carter. In 1995 and 1996, she served on Vice President Al Gore's National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Preston is survived by her three sons, Kirk, David, and Donald, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

(Reporting by Vernell Hackett; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte; Desking by Peter Cooney)


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Friday, June 22, 2012

Four-Play: Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz & 50 Cent

by Hannah Gilman, N.Y.  |   June 13, 2012 4:25 EDT

Chris Brown chases the girl of his dreams, Ne-Yo makes "Lazy Love," Trey Songz hits the club for two reasons, and 50 Cent shows us what life in jail is really like. Check out four virals that deserve extra playtime featuring C.B., Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, and 50.

Chris Brown can't quite catch his fantasy in the Colin Tilley-directed, "Don't Wake Me Up." The singer travels through a lush secret garden maze, a city high above the clouds, and a dusty desert all for his dream girl. Who you after, Breezy?

Ne-Yo makes "Lazy Love," all day long, to his leading lady in his new explicit cut. It's essentially three minutes of soft-core porn, so we suggest checking out this one after work hours.

Trey Songz and T.I. buddy up and hit the clubs for two reasons, and two reasons only: babes and booze. Lucky for the boys, the Benny Boom-directed short, "2 Reasons," features plenty of both.

What does a day in play jail mean for 50? Inmate hang outs, Cheez-It galore, guard hook-ups and blessings. 50 Cent and his partner in crime, Kidd Kidd, do all the above and more in his latest, "OJ."


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Van Halen 'Bit Off More Than We Could Chew' with Tour, says Eddie

by Aaron Couch, THR  |   June 13, 2012 5:05 EDT

After Van Halen abruptly decided to postpone more than 30 dates on its North American tour, fans speculated that the infighting that had historically plagued the band was back. The band insisted it was simply a case of being overbooked. Now Eddie Van Halen has offered his take.

"We bit off more than we could chew," the guitarist told USA Today. "This record took a lot out of us. And we went on tour earlier than we wanted to so we could play Madison Square Garden [in March, before a renovation], and that threw the schedule out of whack."

Source: Van Halen's Scrapped Tour Dates Due To 'Fatigue,' Not In-Fighting

Van Halen, whose 21-year-old son Wolfgang is playing bass for his second tour with the band, said many of the canceled shows were in cities they had already played.

"So in November, we'll hit Japan, and in the new year, we'll possibly do something special, but I can't talk about it."

In the interview, the iconic guitarist also revealed that playing live still makes him so nervous that he vomits.

"Really. I did it just before the show last night," Van Halen said. "Then I don't eat, so by the time I get offstage, I'm cooked."

The band's latest album, "A Different Kind of Truth," is its first with singer David Lee Roth since 1984. Released in February, it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 187,000 units sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The band has sold 57 million albums in the U.S. during its career.


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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Josh Turner Releases 'Punching Bag,' Tries Out Nicknames

All throughout country music history, many artists have nicknames. George Jones is known as "The Possum." Bill Anderson is known as "Whisperin' Bill," and Josh Turner might become known by one of two different monikers that fans will hear on his new album, "Punching Bag."

With a title like that, a light went off in Turner's head. "I had an idea to ask (wrestling announcer) Michael Buffer to intro the record, and do a video thing for our live show. He did it, which was above and beyond what we asked him to do. My manager and I wanted to have two or three nicknames, and the first one that came to mind was 'Tornado of Testosterone,' which the Riders In The Sky gave me one night at the Grand Ole Opry," he said with a laugh. "At the same time, we needed another, so I came up with 'The Bone Shakin' Baritone.'"

Whether either name will stick is up for a good natured debate, but the music on the disc has gotten some of the best reviews of Turner's decade-long career. The first single, "Time Is Love," has already made an impact -- on listeners (currently No. 15 on the Hot Country Songs chart), as well as the singer. "It's a song that speaks to the idea of quantity time more so than quality time," he says. "Quantity time -- getting to know people better and growing relationships-is the more important thing. To me, it's a great message, and it feels good and sounds good."

Turner wrote or co-wrote eight of the eleven cuts on "Punching Bag" at a cabin located on his property south of Nashville that has come to be a definite point of inspiration.

"I spent two years building this cottage, and faced a lot of obstacles and challenges in getting this built," he told Billboard. "But, I was building it for a purpose - to write songs in - to inspire my co-writers and myself, or anybody that walks in. I wanted it to be a place where ideas and creativity can flourish. I had so many things on my heart and that I wanted to write about. The first song that I wrote was called 'Moses,' which was about my dog, and the feelings and emotions I had about losing him. From there, the juices just started flowing."

There's plenty of music in the cabin - even a copy of Randy Travis's Storms Of Life, the first cassette Turner ever bought - in a shadowbox, but not much else in the way of distractions. That's the way he likes it. "It's fun to sit here without TV and no phone ringing off the hook. We can get down to the heart and core of each song." He adds that his productivity has increased since the cabin was completed in late 2010. "I think I've written 27 or 28 songs, and eight of the songs ended up on the record."

This time around, many of Turner's songs made the final cut. But, that's not always the case, he points out. "For me, I just have to choose the best songs period - whether I wrote them or not. I try to leave no stone unturned, but with this album -- I had plenty of time to write and to create."

While not likely a radio single, one of the highlights of the disc is the haunting "Pallbearer," which also features Marty Stuart and Iris DeMent. Turner admits the song comes from a personal place.

"I wrote that song with no commercial intentions whatsoever," he says. "A distant relative of mine had passed away, and I wasn't able to make it home for his funeral. My parents went, and they sent me a bulletin from the service, and I saw that my daddy had been asked to be a pallbearer. I started reading that name, and it's one you hear all the time. I thought of the emotions of being a pallbearer. I've been one a couple of times, and it's one of the most lonesome things you can do - especially if you know the person you're carrying. I didn't write the song specifically about him, but it was inspired about his death and his life. I came up with an idea about how this man had been in love with a woman, and she just turned her back on him. His emotions were like that of being a pallbearer, bearing the loss of this woman and the hardship and the pain that she had caused."

Turner will promote the album with appearances on PBS's "A Capitol Fourth" on July 4, and will appear July 11 on ABC's "Good Morning America."


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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Les Paul guitars, items fetch $5 million at auction

By Andrea Burzynski

NEW YORK | Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:04pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A rare guitar designed and owned by renowned guitarist Les Paul sold for $180,000 as part of a two-day auction of his instruments and personal effects that raised nearly $5 million, Julien's Auctions said on Sunday.

The guitar, a rare 1982 Gibson Les Paul prototype recording model, was among several of the iconic guitarist's instruments that sold in Los Angeles over the weekend.

Other models included a 1951 Fender Nocaster that brought in a whopping $216,000 and a 1940s Epiphone Zephyr, known as "Klunker #3," which fetched $144,000. Research notes, a sign for the Les Paul Iridium Club, and a custom license plate were among other items being sold.

Paul and his wife Mary Ford enjoyed a string of hits in the 1940s and 1950s that included "Mockin' Bird Hill" and the influential "How High the Moon." He was best known in the music community as an inventor of guitars and a pioneer of recording techniques. He died in 2009 at age 94 from complications of pneumonia.

Sometimes called the father of the electric guitar, Paul produced one of the first solid body versions and commissioned the first 8-track tape recorder, revolutionizing the way music was produced and distributed.

The auction's proceeds benefited the Les Paul Foundation, which the guitarist founded to support music education, engineering, innovation and medical research.

(Reporting By Andrea Burzynski; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Stacey Joyce)


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615 Spotlight: Rachel Holder Stands Out With 'In Your Arms,' Lady Gaga Cover

Spend any amount of time with singer Rachel Holder, and you will indeed be charmed by the wide-eyed innocence and stunning vocal range of the East Tennessee native. She recalls a night where she showed just what nerve she had -- much to her parent's surprise.

"I was at a Vince Gill concert in my hometown of Chattanooga," the Curb artist recalls. "I was in the second row, and I was with my parents." They could see the fire burning in their daughter's eyes.

"They said to me 'We know what you are about to do. Please don't embarrass us," she remembers with a laugh. "I told them I was going to get on stage with him before the night was over. He had just got done performing 'Go Rest High On That Mountain.' Then, it got really quiet in the auditorium. There were about 5,000 people there. I raised my hand, and said 'Mr. Vince, can I sing a song with you? He said 'I normally don't do this, but come on up here.' We sang 'Oklahoma Swing' together, and after that, he said 'You did Reba proud.' It was a really great moment."

Holder has enjoyed a lot of great moments as of late, touring around the country while promoting her single "In Your Arms" at radio. Music Directors are definitely mindful of Holder's talent. Award-winning programmer Mike Thomas of KFAV in Warrenton, MO, says of Holder, "With the current youth movement in country music, this young lady stands out in the crowd as one of the most talented, energetic entertainers to come along in years."

We agree -- Thomas couldn't be more on the mark. Her stunning range has helped to make the single one of the best of the year so far, and has landed her on many of the "ones to watch" list.

Performing live has been something that Holder has done from the start -- literally, she says. "I've been singing since I could talk. My mom has video tapes of me singing when I was two years old. I listened to Gospel Music like Karen Peck and Dolly Parton. I've always been around Country or Gospel. I think that God led me to music. I grew up singing in Church, talent shows, and competitions -- anywhere there was a stage in my hometown, I was there. I believe that God led me down this musical path to touch lives, and put a light in the darkness."

Rachel recently caused a splash with a video of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" that turned into a viral sensation. "We worked really hard on it. I'm really fortunate to have a home studio at home. We went into the studio, and spent about 148 hours on it. It was so amazing. It's a great way to get your name out these days, especially with social marketing -- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace -- it's a great way to get your attention."

For her forthcoming debut album, Holder teamed up in the studio with producers Chuck Howard and Wilbur Rimes. She said it could not have been a better musical fit. Rimes even joins the singer on vocals on Holder's cut of the Bob Wills classic "Faded Love."

Holder proudly proclaims that she is definitely a "small town girl," hailing from tiny Birchwood, TN. "My grandmother lives a mile away, as do my aunts. We are a tight-knit family. I love spending time with my family. I sing a lot of duets at Church with my grandfather. They've always supported me -- especially my Dad. He's taught me to be driven - to work hard, and you'll get to where you want to go. I always respected my dad for teaching me those lessons in life that work will pay off with the dream you want."

And, what exactly is that dream to Holder? "The definition of success to me has got to be to keep singing and writing songs, doing what I love to do. I've actually performed for one person in the audience before. If it's one person, a thousand, or a million -- they paid to see you. I believe that if you love what you do, and you're on stage -- you should have fun. I want to make people's life better, to put a smile on their face for 45 minutes -- whether on stage or on an album."


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Mary J. Blige sings for Justice in "Rock of Ages"

Cast member Mary J. Blige poses at the premiere of ''Rock of Ages'' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 8, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on June 15. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Cast member Mary J. Blige poses at the premiere of ''Rock of Ages'' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 8, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on June 15.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:07am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy-winning R&B singer Mary J. Blige has always sung from her heart, telling of personal struggles on albums such as "No More Drama" and "Stronger with Each Tear." She also has dabbled in acting with guest roles on TV's "Ghost Whisperer" and in the Tyler Perry film "I Can Do Bad All By Myself."

On Friday, her acting and singing skills will both be on display in her most high-profile film role yet - Justice, owner of the Venus Gentlemen's Club in the rock musical "Rock of Ages."

In the adaptation of the Broadway musical, Blige belts out tunes like Journey's "Any Way You Want It" and Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night" while taking in an aspiring young singer named Sherrie (Julianne Hough) whose own Hollywood dreams have hit a low point.

Blige, 41, sat down with Reuters to talk about the role, her strong desire to mentor young women and the recent scandal that has plagued her female empowerment foundation.

Q: You play the owner of strip club in the film. Did you try and find some commonality between yourself and your character?

A: We have a lot in common. She was a protector of young women in that environment. She saw herself in Sherrie and wanted Sherrie to be better than her. And not be stuck in a place like a strip club.

Q: How does that relate to you?

A: The back story I gave Justice was that some man took the power from her when she was younger. And they kept taking it from her to the point that she ended up in place like (a strip club) to take the power back from them. A lot of that is Mary.

Q: Explain taking the power back?

A: Stand up for your rights, learning to not let your environment control how you feel about yourself, staying confident no matter where you are. Nurturing young women, being an inspiration to them. That's Mary.

Q: You lent one of your songs, "Need Someone to Love You," to the upcoming documentary "The Invisible War," which is about the rape of women within the U.S. military. How did that happen?

A: When they approached me about it, I was like, that's fine because people are hurting. It was a way of giving back. When you're lending your voice, you're saving a life.

Q: Why is helping others so important to you?

A: I think the more you have, the more you're supposed to give. It would be real selfish of people like myself not to give, not to want to help someone. I remember when I was that girl, so why wouldn't I want to help? To sit and be selfish, to sit on all (your success), what are you doing with it? It's not moving, it's not going anywhere, so you're not growing. When you help others, you grow.

Q: With that said, it must have been tough to learn last month that your charity, The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation For the Advancement Of Women Now Inc, was being accused of mishandling funds and cheating scholarship students.

A: The lives of young women are at stake. I feel what they feel. I don't want them to suffer. I promised them something and I'm gonna deliver. Period.

Q: For your music fans, when will you deliver the sequel to last fall's album, "My Life II ... The Journey Continues (Act 1)"?

A: We already have songs for "Act 2" and we're still recording a couple of new ones. Right now, we're rehearsing a tour for "Act 1," which starts in August. The sequel will be next year.

Q: Any more plans to act?

A: I'm going to do a Lifetime movie called "Parallel Lives" about the lives of Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, the widows of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. It's about what they had to deal with when their men were fighting for freedom. It's powerful.

Q: Who will you play?

A: "I'm supposed to play Betty but I'm on the fence. Betty, or Coretta? We'll figure it out. It's Betty for now, but when you see the movie and I'm Coretta...(laughs)

Q: Getting back to "Rock of Ages," what do you hope to get out of it? It's your first time as part of such a high-profile cast with actors like Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin.

A: This is my big break for people to see me not as the greatest actress but as someone who is on her way to doing something great. Because she's trying to do the work.

(Reporting By Zorianna Kit; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Bill Trott)


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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Usher 'Looking' for Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200

by Keith Caulfield, L.A.  |   June 13, 2012 7:45 EDT

Usher is heading for his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as "Looking 4 Myself" should easily top the list next week. Industry sources say the album will sell around 120,000 to 130,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, June 17.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, June 20.

Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself': Track-By-Track Review

The pop/R&B superstar's last full-length studio album, 2010's "Raymond v. Raymond," also launched at No. 1, but with a much larger sales figure. It began with 329,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Looking" could register Usher's smallest first-week sales for a regular studio album since 1997's "My Way" bowed with 67,000.

"Looking 4 Myself" has already spawned a handful of smash singles, including "Climax." That track is currently in its ninth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Over on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached No. 17. More recently, his pop/dance track "Scream" has shaken up the charts: it has so far peaked at No. 13 on the Hot 100.

Other albums aiming for high debuts next week on the Billboard 200 include Rush's "Clockwork Angels," Ed Sheeran's "+" and Josh Turner's "Punching Bag."

Rush's latest -- the band's first studio album since 2007 -- may sell around 80,000 to 90,000. Its last set, "Snakes & Arrows," flew in at No. 3 with 93,000.

Sheeran's first full-length studio effort, "+," follows his EP "The A Team," which reached No. 14 on the Heatseekers Albums chart last month. "+" could sell around 40,000 or so copies in its debut. The British singer is riding high on the Official U.K. Charts, where "+" -- a former No. 1 there -- is currently No. 2 on the albums tally.

Country singer Josh Turner will likely nab his fourth top 10 album as "Punching Bag" may shift around 30,000 to 40,000. Over on the Top Country Albums chart, depending on how the week shakes out, it could become his second No. 1 set. His first was 2006's "Your Man," which debuted in the top slot.


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Monday, June 18, 2012

Field Report Making Bon Iver-Aided Debut in September

by David Greenwald, L.A.  |   June 13, 2012 9:20 EDT

Field Report will showcase its findings with its self-titled debut on Sept. 11.

The new project's the latest from musician Chris Porterfield, who formerly played in DeYarmond Edison with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and members of Megafaun. When it came time to record "Field Report," due for release on Partisan Records, Porterfield turned to Vernon's Eau Claire studio.

"He invited us to use his space," Porterfield said in a release. "We were particularly interested in recording at his studio [April Base] because of the large live room. We wanted to capture the sound of a band in a moment."

The up-and-coming act's summer dates will include shows with veterans such as Emmylou Harris and Counting Crows, with the latter act a vocal supporter of the band.

"It is undeniable when you listen to Field Report. This is just great music," Counting Crows' Adam Duritz told Rolling Stone.

See the "Field Report" track list and summer tour dates below:

"Field Report" track list:

1. Fergus Falls
2. The Year Of The Get You Alone
3. I Am Not Waiting Anymore
4. Taking Alcatraz
5. Incommunicado
6. Circle Drive
7. Chico The American
8. Evergreen
9. Captain Video
10. Route 18
Tour Dates:

6/28 - Apple Valley, MN - Minneapolis Zoo Amphitheater^
6/29 - Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens^
7/17 - Brooklyn, NY - Williamsburg Park*
7/19 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent*
7/20 - Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus*
7/21 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge  
7/22 - Camden, NJ - XpoNential Music Fest - Susquehanna Bank Center*
7/23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE*
7/25 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest*
7/28 - Lincoln, NE - Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater*
7/31 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre*
8/2 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
8/4 - Salt Lake City, UT - Rail Event Center*
8/6 - Boise, ID - Idaho Botanical Gardens*
8/7 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater*
8/10 - Sandpoint, IA - The Festival at Sandpoint*
8/11 - Billings, MT - Magic City Blues Festival*
^ with Emmylou Harris
* with Counting Crows


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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Watch: The Making of Big K.R.I.T.'s 'Live From the Underground' Album

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 12:55 EDT

Last Tuesday (June 5) was the day Big K.R.I.T. has been anticipating. The rapper/producer released his debut album, "Live From the Underground" after intricately lacing the debut album for two years. On the exclusive documentary above, directed by Steve-Ography and edited by Slick Jackson, fans get a sneak peek into the making of the full-length opus, from recording studio sessions, listening sessions, interviews, to a few words from K.R.I.T. and his manager, Johnny Shipes.

"Man… It's been a long time coming but it's finally here. My album 'Live From The Underground' is online and in stores," K.R.I.T. tells The Juice. "In this video you'll get to see some of the process of making the album. You'll get to see me working with legend B.B. King in the studio and hear some great stories about some of the songs and the album cover. Y'all enjoy."

Big K.R.I.T., 'Live From The Underground': Track-By-Track Review

The hard work from K.R.I.T. and his team is paying off. This week, "Live From the Underground" debuts on the Billboard 200 at No. 5 with 41,000. His album also comes in at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Rap Albums chart.


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Metallica Helps FBI in Hunt for Killer

Metallica has made a public service video as part of a law enforcement publicity blitz to try to catch a man wanted in the death of a Virginia Tech student who disappeared after one of the heavy metal band's concerts.

Composite sketches of the suspect will be featured at bus shelters and on digital billboards up and down the East Coast, and a video on the Internet from lead singer James Hetfield urges people to come forward with tips.

"Remember, any information - no matter how small you might think it is - could be that crucial piece investigators need to help solve the case," Hetfield said in the video, which was on YouTube and an FBI website dedicated to the case. The FBI and Virginia State Police announced the campaign on Wednesday.

Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old aspiring teacher and Virginia Tech student, disappeared after an October 2009 concert in Charlottesville, Va. Her skeletal remains were discovered about three months later in a remote hay field about 10 miles from the concert venue. Her T-shirt was found in front an apartment building near the area. A camera and a crystal necklace she had with her were never located. She was last seen hitchhiking.

The FBI says the suspect has also been linked through DNA to a 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax City, where a woman walking home from a grocery story reported being grabbed from behind, dragged behind a maintenance shed and attacked. Authorities this month released an enhanced composite sketch based on a description from the sexual assault victim.

"We don't know who he is so we don't know where he is," said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

Harrington's mother, Gil Harrington, said she and her husband, Dan, are hopeful the new publicity effort will lead to an arrest.

"Our big motivation now is to catch this man and help save the next girl because he is a predatory at the top of his game," Gil Harrington said, adding, "I have urgency as time goes on as to where he's going to strike next."

The Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers is offering $100,000 for any information leading to an arrest, and Metallica has put up a $50,000 reward.

Gil Harrington said it was an "abomination" to suffer through the murder of a child.

"The band reacted to that right away. It was a matter of days before James Hetfield was on the phone to Dan saying, 'As a father, I am outraged.'"

The FBI campaign, which also includes a podcast and online photo gallery, is similar to ones that have led to the arrests of former Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, and of Aaron Thomas, the so-called East Coast Rapist.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.


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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Farewell Thrice: A Thunderous Appreciation

by Zach Dionne, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 6:30 EDT

There was no elegiac note to be found in Thrice's New York City appearance last month, despite the Best Buy Theater's digital marquee blaring the decisive words FAREWELL TOUR. Thrice had acknowledged as far back as November this would be the last live run "for the foreseeable future." That knowledge alone, without teary goodbyes and overwrought thanks, imbued the show with significance to spare.

From the outset of Thrice's nearly two-hour performance, there was a palpable, unspoken challenge to the assembled fandom: How loud can you be? How much can you enjoy this? Because you might not get another chance. (Much hinges on that "might"-the band has insisted they'll be on hiatus rather than broken up, but there's a very transparent "let's wait and see" approach at hand.)

The setlist made the excitement easy to share in; a fan-voted jaunt across the group's history began in the present, with "Yellow Belly," the lead off the 2011 opus "Major/Minor," and wove exhaustively, lovingly through everything else. At a Thrice show, you're not taken to all corners of rock-tinged music, but you find yourself visiting quite a few of them -- more than would seem reasonable to expect from a tight ten-year span of studio releases. While other bands have genre-skipped prodigiously within single records, Thrice always made concerted stylistic stands, album by album. Live, the gaps were erased, the mixes and production values equalized. Thrice in concert, on this tour more than ever, was a career on display.

That career -- which feels odd to address in the past tense although it may imminently become appropriate -- was noteworthy, if not awe-inspiring, for its methodical determinism in careening toward individuality. Like the Beatles, Thrice began by capably directing their chops at an established pocket of music. The Irvine, California foursome's early material copped hardcore's dissonant ferocity, punk's tempos and brash idealism, singalongs lifted from the burgeoning emo realm, and the occasional slice of Iron Maiden shred.

Then: "It's, like, experimental rock," a friend and trusted musical adviser told me in the autumn of 2005, referring to Thrice's album 'Vheissu,' a venture that seemed complex from the first glimpse at the verdant, symbol-strewn cover art. If we'd been more familiar with the word "ambient" at that wide-eyed stage in our careers as music obsessives, this friend may have taken a swing at that term. He attempted several more descriptions, all of them swiveling on the word "rock." And despite, or because of, the difficulty to depict 'Vheissu' conversationally, it marked a watershed moment; until now, Thrice had been punk, or hardcore, but never rock.

Thrice embraced the ambiguity of rock, the cultural downshifting of its significance, and sought, with vigorous passion, their place within it. And trite as it sounds, Thrice found themselves. They spent three records crescendoing through an oversaturated sound, peaking in that department on "Artist," and went off the rails from there, writing "Vheissu," then four concept EPs (released as two albums, "The Alchemy Index Vols. I-IV") about the elements, and finally a pair of bold senior theses in "Beggars" and "Major/Minor." Those last two embodied a dual-pronged statement from the band: These are the songs only we can write, played the way only we can play them. Thrice's career was one of the few where a staunch proclamation of "I only like the old stuff" begs, or demands, justification. The old stuff was fast and fun and worthy of praise; then things got revelatory.

Virtuosic musicianship was a hallmark of Thrice, with each member contributing hugely, audibly, and being a memorable participant along the way: Teppei Teranishi is a guitar wiz, and his name is Teppei Teranishi; Eddie and Riley Breckenbridge are brothers, and they hold down the rhythm section accordingly familiarly; Dustin Kensrue is a tender personification of force, and it somehow feels right to just call him Dustin.

Kensrue's roar has been invariably, but inadequately, compared to a lion, a bear, and other clawed quadrupeds. To sufficiently describe both the amplitude and the anger therein, one can recall the technique George Lucas and his minions utilized in voicing Chewbacca, combining the sounds of so many animals to create something unique. When he is bellowing, Kensrue is not only a lion and a grizzly both, but a steaming freight train, a jaguar, a rumbling dumptruck, a father swearing revenge against the one who did his child wrong, and thunder-as-human. (At one point during the NYC performance -- probably in the middle of 'Silhouette' -- it becomes impossible not to imagine Liam Neeson's 'Clash of the Titans' character crying, "Release the Kensrue!")

"Artist in the Ambulance" proved itself not only a milestone and a rite of passage into new territory, but a goldmine of true sentiments. One embodied Thrice as well as any: "There's a difference between sleight of hand and giving everything you have." That the band was aware of that notion every step of the way was never a question.

The "Farewell Tour" ends Tuesday, June 19.


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Country Countdown: Eric Church Takes 'Springsteen' to No. 1

Sometimes confident predictions turn out to be more than just cheerleading. When Eric Church surprised the music industry with simultaneous No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200 and Country Albums with "Chief" last summer, then-EMI Nashville/Capitol Nashville president Mike Dungan (now in a similar role at Universal Music Group Nashville) predicted a pair of back-to-back No. 1 singles from the album.

"I can comfortably project that our next single will be a No. 1 single at radio, which will be massive for him, because we haven't had anything near that so far. And then we'll follow it up with another No. 1. I feel very comfortable with that," Dungan told Billboard last summer, two weeks after the album's lead single "Homeboy" peaked at No. 13 on the July 30, 2011 Country Songs chart -- then made good on the first half of the projection when second single "Drink in My Hand" capped the January 28 list.

The promise of Dungan's prediction is fully realized this week, as third single "Springsteen" becomes the artist's second No. 1 on Country Songs (2-1).

The new No. 1 reaches the summit four weeks faster (19 weeks) than his first, which needed 23 weeks to ring the top bell. On its way to No. 1 on the radio list, "Springsteen" dominated Country Digital Songs for four weeks, with sales of more than 1.2 million downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It holds at No. 3 this week (78,000 sold). Now at No. 6 in its 46th week on the Country Albums chart -- all but nine of those weeks inside the top 10 -- "Chief" has sold 855,000 so far.

Also noteworthy on Country Songs is the 15th top 10 for Dierks Bentley, noted as "5-1-5-0" advances 11-10. Concurrently, the third single from Bentley's "Home" album -- the artist's second straight top 10 contender on Country Digital Songs -- sells 44,000 downloads, ranking at No. 8. The album's title track became Bentley's first top 10 on the digital tally, peaking at No. 8 in February. The digital tally is led for a third consecutive week by Bentley's label mate Luke Bryan, whose "Drunk on You" sells 109,000 downloads during the Nielsen SoundScan tracking week.

Alan Jackson Has Top Debut on Billboard 200

With Hot Shot Debut honors at No. 27, Zac Brown Band splashes onto Country Songs with the second-highest Nielsen BDS-era debut by a group, as "The Wind" bows with airplay at 85 of the 131 stations monitored for the chart. Among groups during that time frame, Rascal Flatts' "Take Me There" posted the highest arrival when it debuted at No. 24 on the July 21, 2007 chart. Lady Antebellum holds the third-highest start, set when "Just a Kiss" popped onto the May 21, 2011 chart at No. 28. "The Wind" is the lead single from Zac Brown Band's third studio set, "Uncaged," which is scheduled for release July 10.

Meanwhile, Zac Brown's fellow Georgia native Alan Jackson claims his 13th No. 1 on Country Albums with "Thirty Miles West," his 15th non-seasonal studio album and his first for EMI Nashville -- all of his previous sets were issued by Arista Nashville, dating back to 1990. The new album pops on with 73,000 sold, good for a No. 2 start on the Billboard 200. His chart history includes 26 No. 1's on Country Songs, most recently as guest singer on Zac Brown Band's "As She's Walking Away" two years ago. Jackson's new album features Brown's group on a track titled "Dixie Highway."

Jana Kramer Gave Up 'One Tree Hill' for Music Dreams

Singer and "One Tree Hill" actress Jana Kramer's self-titled rookie album opens at No. 5 on Country Albums, marking the highest arrival for a woman's debut set since Lauren Alaina's "Wildflower" entered at No. 2 last fall. Kramer's current single "Why Ya Wanna" rises 18-17 in its 25th week on the radio-driven Country Songs chart.


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Songs of the Summer Chart Returns to Billboard.com

by Gary Trust, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 10:00 EDT

Now that barbecues, beaches and sundresses are commonplace once again (along with, sadly, burnt burgers, beach traffic and mandals), Billboard's annual Songs of the Summer chart returns to Billboard.com.

The 10-position running tally, presented by Pepsi, tracks the most popular songs based on cumulative performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart from Memorial Day through Labor Day. At the end of the season of sun and fun, the top song of the summer will be revealed. ( LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock, took the title last summer.) The chart will be updated with new weekly data each Thursday when Billboard.com's chart menu is refreshed.

Having ranked at No. 1 on the weekly Hot 100 not just since Memorial Day but for eight weeks until this week, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," featuring Kimbra, takes an early lead in the running for Billboard's top song of this summer, ranking at No. 1 on Songs of the Summer.

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" places at No. 2 on the chart. With the bouncy track having dethroned "Somebody" on the Hot 100 this week, "Maybe" could be in line to overtake Gotye's hit on the cumulative Summer chart in coming weeks.

Maroon 5's "Payphone," featuring Wiz Khalifa, looks to be another strong candidate in the race for this summer's top hit, taking the No. 3 spot on the tally. With "Somebody" in its 23rd week on the Hot 100 and "Maybe" in its 16th, "Payphone," at just eight weeks old, could hit its chart prime during the summer and likewise challenge for the season's top smash.

Fun.'s "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monae), now descending the Hot 100 after spending six weeks at No. 1 in March/April, and Nicki Minaj's "Starships," a top 10 Hot 100 fixture each week since its March 3 debut at No. 9, round out this year's inaugural Summer Songs top five at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.

Click here for this season's first Songs of the Summer ranking in its entirety.


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Friday, June 15, 2012

Green Day Unveils 'Uno!' Album Artwork

by Hannah Gilman, N.Y.  |   June 14, 2012 4:05 EDT

Green Day fans were treated to a sneak peek Thursday (June 14), when the band debuted the album artwork for their upcoming Sept. 25 album, "¡Uno!" The release, the pop-punk trio's first since 2009's "20th Century Breakdown," will be closely followed by two more albums, "¡Dos!" and "¡Tré!"

The cover features a black and white cutout of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's face, eyes crossed out with hot pink X's, against a gritty, geometric, neon green background. "Green Day" is loudly splashed in hot pink across the top of the cover, while "¡Uno!" is sprawled graffiti-style in white in the lower left-hand corner.

Green Day Announces New Album Trilogy

The artwork was accompanied by a 30-second trailer that gives fans a glimpse into the making of the band's new album trilogy. Each shot changes with the beat of the music, leaving plenty of opportunity for viewers to catch a look at what went into the record's creation.

The trailer shows the trio recording in the studio, with bits of handwritten songs shown on tattered paper, and a dry erase board covered in what are presumably song names. Titles include "Carpe Diem," "Crushing Bastards" and "Makeout Party."

"¡Dos!" is slated to land Nov. 13, and the final installment of the trilogy, "¡Tré!," is set to drop Jan. 15, 2013.


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Broken Bells' Sophomore Disc May Come Before Next Shins Album

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   June 14, 2012 11:45 EDT

James Mercer says a second Broken Bells record may be likely before his Shins follow-up to this year's "Port of Morrow."

"We have to do another Broken Bells record, which I'm really excited about," Mercer tells Billboard.com about the group he and Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) launched in 2010. "We've talked about it a little bit. We've got songs already worked out, too, a few things we had been working on after the (self-titled debut) record was pretty much done which we figured would be on the next record we did."

Bonnaroo 2012: The 10 Best Performances

A timetable is hardly etched in stone, however. "It'll be whenever we get together," Mercer says. "Right now Brian's doing U2; I think he's still in Dublin doing that. He's so sought after and so busy. And I've got (the Shins) for the next year. It's kind of a fun, cool way to do it, very compartmentalized, which I like."

For now, however, Mercer is perfectly happy being on the road with the Shins supporting "Port of Morrow" -- the group's first new album in five years -- and enjoying the Shins' new lineup. "It does feel very much like a band," reports Mercer, who parted ways with most of the Shins' original lineup in 2009. "Joe Plummer (the Shins' drummer) basically joined the band about three years ago, when I was just starting the process of recording ('Port of Morrow'). Richard Swift had opened up for the Shins and was Eric Johnson's (of the Fruit Bats) recommendation; Swift has a very similar sense of humor to me, and he helped the other guy, so I think that helped. We all get along really well."

And while Broken Bells is in his sights, Mercer says he's open to the idea that "if (Danger Mouse) got really busy, maybe I'll just begin construction on the next Shins thing." He doesn't think he'll be wanting for material; for starters, Mercer says, "there's stuff that didn't make ('Port of Morrow') that I'm confident could be turned into really good songs." And, he adds, "I'm always messing around with the guitar at home. Whenever I'm doing that it's always with a goal of coming up with some new part or some new idea for a song. I've got several little things right now, so I'm sure there'll be a lot of material available whenever (the Shins) wind up recording."


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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Kelly Clarkson Tackles Heavy Issues in 'Dark Side' Video: Watch

by Sarah Maloy, N.Y.  |   May 24, 2012 5:20 EDT

Kelly Clarkson Kelly Clarkson tackles demons of sorts in her new video for "Dark Side." As the singer showcases people facing drug addiction, alcoholism, unemployment, weight issues and marital problems in "Dark Side," which premiered today (May 24), Clarkson sings of how better days are to come.

"Everybody's got a dark side. Do you love me? Can you love mine?" she belts on the inspirational track. The sun rises as the track picks up and the shots of drugs, alcohol and sadness are replaced by cheerful imagery.

As the video comes to a close, Clarkson exchanges comforting hugs with those struggling with their problems; accepting each one of them despite their "dark side."

Clarkson premiered "Dark Side" Sunday night (May 20) at the Billboard Music Awards, in a mash-up with her hit "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." Now a decade removed from her "American Idol" victory in 2002, the 30-year-old singer will be returning to TV as a judge on ABC's "Duets," airing tonight.


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Donna Summer Laid to Rest in Nashville

by The Associated Press  |   May 24, 2012 8:51 EDT

Family and some of her closest friends helped celebrate the life of Donna Summer at the singer's funeral.

A private memorial service was held Wednesday for Summer at Christ Presbyterian in Nashville, Tenn., where she had been a resident since 1995.

Donna Summer's Album Sales Increase 3,277% Following Death

Summer, deemed the "Queen of Disco" for hits like "I Feel Love," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance," died May 17 of lung cancer at 63 in Naples, Fla.

Producer and close friend David Foster performed "The Prayer" with Natalie Grant. Summer's sisters, Linda Gaines Lotman, Mary Ellen Bernard, Dara Bernard and Jenette Yancey, sang "We've Come This Far By Faith."

Other guests included producer Giorgio Moroder and Tony Orlando.

Summer is survived by husband Bruce Sudano; three daughters, Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda; and four grandchildren.

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Weekly Chart Notes: Adam Lambert, 'Glee,' Karmin

Something for newly-crowned "American Idol" champion Phillip Phillips (and runner-up Jessica Sanchez) to shoot for: Adam Lambert, who finished second on the Fox reality competition in 2009, becomes the seventh series finalist to occupy the Billboard 200 penthouse, as "Trespassing" arrives at No. 1.

Dim the lights, please.

This … is "American Idol" … 's group of contestants who've sent sets to the Billboard 200's top spot:

Kelly Clarkson (finished 1st, 2002 season)
"Thankful," May 3, 2003 (one week at No. 1)
"All I Ever Wanted," March 28, 2009 (two)

Ruben Studdard (1st, 2003)
"Soulful," Dec.27, 2003 (one)

Clay Aiken (2nd, 2003)
"Measure of a Man," Nov. 1, 2003 (two)

Carrie Underwood (1st, 2005)
"Carnival Ride," Nov. 10, 2007 (one)
"Play On," Nov. 21, 2009 (one)
"Blown Away," May 19, 2012 (two)

Chris Daughtry (of Daughtry ) (4th, 2005)
"Daughtry," Feb. 3, 2007 (two)
"Leave This Town," Aug. 1, 2009 (one)

Scotty McCreery (1st, 2011)
"Clear as Day," Oct. 22, 2011 (one)

Adam Lambert (2nd, 2009)
"Trespassing," June 2, 2012 (one to-date)

Just as in the "Idol" finale three years ago, Lambert has to share the spotlight this week with Kris Allen, who defeated him for the 2009 "Idol" title. Allen debuts on the Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart at No. 36 with "The Vision of Love." The song previews his second major-label album, "Thank You Camellia," released Tuesday (May 22). The set could bow in the top 20 on next week's Billboard 200.

Another former "Idol" hopeful, 2011 third-place finalist Haley Reinhart, is also on course for a top 20 arrival next week with her debut album "Listen Up!"

New "Idol" victor Phillips, meanwhile, looks set for a lofty launch on Digital Songs next week. His coronation single "Home" is currently the top-selling song in the iTunes Store.

MORE FOX NEWS: Fox's other primetime musical juggernaut, "Glee," adds to the network's top 10 haul on the Billboard 200, as "Glee: The Music: Season Three: The Graduation Album" begins at No. 8. The set includes songs leading up to this past Tuesday's third season finale, in which Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) was accepted to "NYADA," aka, the "New York Academy of Dramatic Arts."
The album marks the series' 13th Billboard 200 top 10 among 13 studio compilations. Since it first reached the top tier (No. 4) with "Glee: Season One: The Music Volume One" the week of Nov. 21, 2009, the cast boasts more than twice as many top 10s as the next closest act. Justin Bieber ranks second with five top 10 sets in that span.
(FYI, real conversation between my girlfriend, Michelle, and me recently:

Me: Since we're in New York, I should go to the NYADA campus and video some interviews with students and professors for a Chart Beat feature! Why has no one else thought to do that?!

Michelle: You know that NYADA isn't a real school, right?

Me: … Thank you for saving me from all that work.)


NEXT


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Monday, June 4, 2012

Alice Cooper on Bonnaroo: 'I Can't Wait to Kill This Audience'

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   May 25, 2012 9:00 EDT

For 20 years, Alice Cooper fans have aped the "We are not worthy!" salutation from "Wayne's World." But the shock rocker is anticipating a new catch phrase taking root soon thanks to his cameo in the new film adaptation of "Dark Shadows."

"We're going to get T-shirts made that say 'Alice Cooper is the ugliest woman in the world... Barnabas Collins,' " Cooper told Billboard.com during a conference call with reporters promoting his appearance at this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. "As soon as (Johnny Depp) said that, 'cause it got a big laugh in the movie theater, I went, 'Boy, I just got stuck wtih a new one. That's gonna be the new catch line.'"

Bonnaroo 2012 Lineup: Radiohead, Phish, Chili Peppers Headlining

The "Dark Shadows" bump comes in front of a busy rest of the year for Cooper, including a tour itinerary with a run of shows as special guest to Iron Maiden and, besides Bonnaroo, appearances at Milwaukee's Summerfest, the RBC Bluestfest and Sarnia Bayfest in Canada, Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisc., and a late July and August sing through Europe. At the same time he'll be preparing for the fall launch of a fresh production built around last year's "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" album, the sequel to 1975's platinum "Welcome to My Nightmare."

"In October we go out with an entirely new show," Cooper reported. "Things are being built right now. The stuff for that show is in construction as we speak. I had a big meeting with Shep (Gordon, his manager) and a couple of the directors and, yeah, it's going to be fun." Cooper played just one song from the album, "Bite Your Face Off," during his 2011 shows, but this year he's planning to add additional "Nightmare 2" material, including "Caffeine" and "Runaway Train."

"With Iron Maiden, we're like the guest star, so we're only doing an hour," Cooper says. "We'll just be doing all the hits during that, plus the theatrics and stuff, but you're really kind of limited to doing all your big stuff. When we do our normal hour and 45-minutes, it'll be the full-out Alice explosion."

Cooper said he's especially looking forward to doing that on June 9 at Bonnaroo as a late-night Saturday change-of-pace. It's not the kind of show the Bonnaroo crowd is used to seeing, and Cooper is relishing the prospect of winning over the masses in Tennessee.

"I always like to put Alice where he doesn't belong," Cooper explained. "I think there's going to be 80 percent of that audience that has never seen Alice. They've only heard of Alice via Slipknot or Marilyn Manson or whatever. They'll see the real thing this time. If you're in the first 20 rows, you'll probably get some blood on you."

It was a conversation while flying to Nashville to work on "Nightmare 2" that stoked Cooper's interest in bringing his ghouls and guillotines to Bonnaroo. "There were two guys on the plane with me talking about all the Bonnaroo bands," Cooper recalled, "and then one of them says, 'I like the old, blind black guy.' I said, 'Who? Stevie Wonder?' 'Yeah.' The old, blind black guy? I went, 'I can't wait to kill this audience.' They're not expecting me at all. I think they might be expecting the old scary skinny guy. We're gonna go up there to basically do a real Alice Cooper show. I don't think they've seen a classic Alice Cooper show."


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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Doc Watson, Grammy-Winning Folk Musician, in Critical Condition

Grammy-winning folk musician Doc Watson is in critical condition Friday at a North Carolina hospital after falling at his home in Deep Gap earlier this week.

A spokeswoman at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem says Watson remains in critical condition Friday morning.

Watson's daughter, Nancy, told The Associated Press the 89-year-old Watson fell Monday. She said he did not break any bones.

The blind singer and guitarist, whose legal first name is Arthel, has won several Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He also received the National Medal of the Arts.

He's known as a master of the flatpicking style of guitar playing. He also started Merlefest, an annual gathering of musicians in North Wilkesboro named after his son, a musician who died in a tractor accident in 1985.

Doc Watson's wife of more than 60 years, RosaLee, has been in a nursing home since last year, Nancy Watson said. The two married when she was 15 and he was 23.

"She saw what little good there was in me and there was little," Doc said in an interview with the Associated Press in 2000. "I'm awful glad she cared about me, and I'm awful glad she married me."

Wayne Martin, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council, said Watson takes southern Appalachian forms of music, such as ballad singing, old-time string music and bluegrass, and makes them accessible.

"He takes old music and puts his own creativity on it," Martin said. "It retained its core, yet it felt relevant to people today."


Video: Doc Watson playing "Deep River Blues"

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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