Madonna to be honored for top grossing tour at Billboard Awards

Singer Madonna arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of ''PUNK: Chaos to Couture'' in New York, May 6, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Carlo Allegri

NEW YORK | Wed May 8, 2013 11:33am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Madonna will be honored at the Billboard Music Awards show this month for her 2012 MDNA tour, the high grossing concert tour of the year, organizers of the awards show said on Wednesday.

The singer will accept the Top Touring Artist award at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 19th for the tour that grossed more than $305 million from 88 sold-out shows and attracted an audience of 2.2 million people.

"A cultural icon, Madonna is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time and was recently named Billboard's Top Money Maker of 2012," Billboard said in a statement.

The chart-topping singer holds numerous other Billboard awards, including the record for the most top 10 singles (38).

In addition to her music, Madonna is also an avid art collector. On Tuesday she sold a 1921 painting by the French artist Fernand Leger, "Trois Femmes a la Table Rouge," for $7.16 million to raise money for the non-profit Ray of Light Foundation, to fund girls' education in poor countries.

The mother of four, including two adopted children from Malawi, is planning to build 10 schools in the African nation.

(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; Editing by Vicki Allen)

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Russian court throws out Madonna anti-gay compensation claim

Singer Madonna performs at Staples Center as part of her MDNA world tour in Los Angeles, California October 10, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

ST.PETERSBURG, Russia | Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:45pm EST

ST.PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian court rejected a $10 million compensation claim against U.S. pop star Madonna on Thursday by a group of anti-gay activists who accused her hurting their feelings by promoting homosexuality at a St.Petersburg concert.

Performing in black lingerie with the words "No Fear" scrawled on her back, Madonna attacked a city law adopted in March that imposed fines for spreading homosexual "propaganda". She had earlier called the law a "ridiculous atrocity".

The activists based their case on a video recording where they claimed Madonna could be seen trampling on an Orthodox cross and asking spectators to raise their hands with pink bracelets in support of the gay movement.

Judge Vitaly Barkovsky did not explain his decision but also ruled the activists should compensate legal expenses to companies which organized Madonna's concert. The activists said they will appeal the court ruling.

"Our position is the same. We believe there was a case of the breach of law, namely gay propaganda among minors," said activist Darya Dedova.

Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.

(Reporting by Liza Dobkina; Editing by Jon Hemming)

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Madonna Concerts Threatened With Violence in Russia

by Billboard Staff  |   August 07, 2012 11:55 EDT

U.S. officials in Russia have received information regarding threats of physical violence against performers and spectators at a pair of Madonna concerts this week, and are urging U.S. citizens to "remain vigilant."

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg issued the warning on Tuesday for U.S. citizens in Russia that are planning to attend Madonna's concerts in Moscow (Aug. 7) or in St. Petersburg (Aug. 9). The information has been shared with Russian authorities, who have indicated they will add increased security to the events.

"While we expect that enhanced security measures will be put in place at both concerts, U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant regarding their personal security, and to be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially in crowded areas," the message reads.

It's unclear whether Madonna, on tour since late May, has been directly threatened or if U.S. officials have contacted her camp. A request for comment from LiveNation was not returned by press time.

Madonna wraps the European leg of her "MDNA" tour on Aug. 21 in Nice, France and then heads to North America to perform through mid-November. A South American leg begins in Colombia on Nov. 28 and will wrap on Dec. 22 in Argentina.

--

Read the Full Statement From the U.S. Embassy Below:

U.S. Embassy Moscow and U.S. Consulate General St. Petersburg

SECURITY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS:
MADONNA CONCERTS

August 7, 2012

This is to alert U.S. citizens in Russia who are planning to attend the Madonna concerts in Moscow on Tuesday, August 7, or in St. Petersburg on Thursday, August 9, that the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg has received information regarding a threat of physical violence against spectators and performers at the St. Petersburg concert on August 9.  The U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg have shared the information with appropriate Russian law enforcement authorities.  Russian authorities have indicated to the Embassy that they are taking appropriate measures in light of this information.  While we expect that enhanced security measures will be put in place at both concerts, U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant regarding their personal security, and to be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially in crowded areas.

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French far right to sue Madonna over swastika images

U.S. pop singer Madonna performs during a concert for her MDNA world tour at the Stade de France Stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, July 14, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Benoit Tessier

PARIS | Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:15am EDT

PARIS (Reuters) - France's far right National Front will sue Madonna after she screened footage of party leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika superimposed on her face at a concert in Paris on Saturday, a party official said.

The video shown on a huge screen has already been used on other legs of the U.S. singer's tour and shows the singer's face merging with other public figures, such as Pope Benedict and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by popular protests last year.

The face of the National Front leader appears for a few seconds, with the Fascist symbol briefly imposed on it, and is followed by the features of a man resembling Adolf Hitler.

"A private plaintiff's case for insult will be presented next week," Florian Philippot, vice-president of the National Front, told Reuters.

He called the images an "unacceptable" provocation for attempting to associate Le Pen, who won 18 percent of the vote in April's first-round presidential election in France, with fascism.

Since taking the reins of the National Front last year from her ex-paratrooper father Jean-Marie, Le Pen has tried to widen her party's appeal by expelling extremists and cracking down on racist talk and anti-Semitism.

"It is our duty to bring a complaint to defend our voters and our supporters," Philippot said.

Although Le Pen's calls for protectionism and for France's to exit the euro currency have won sympathy with some parts of the electorate, the party won only two seats in the 577-member National Assembly in last month's legislative elections, partly due to France's first-past-the-post electoral system.

(Reporting by Patrick Vignal; Editing by Alison Williams)

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Weekly Chart Notes: Madonna, Justin Bieber, Silversun Pickups

WE LOVE THE '80s: "What's going on family? Can you believe we are sitting on the top of the charts together again?," Lionel Richie Tweeted to Madonna Wednesday (April 4). Madonna's "MDNA" and Richie's "Tuskegee" bow at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the Billboard 200 this week.

"There is no one I would rather be on top with," Richie added, to which Madonna wryly replied, "OK, but as long as I'm on top."

Despite boasting a combined five No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in the '80s, the pair had never ranked in the survey's top two concurrently until this week. The superstar veterans had last charted in the top five together the week of Oct. 4, 1986, when the top of the tally looked like this:

No. 1, "Dancing on the Ceiling," Lionel Richie
No. 2, "Top Gun," soundtrack
No. 3, "Raising Hell," Run-D.M.C.
No. 4, "Fore!," Huey Lewis & the News

No. 5, "True Blue," Madonna

(The artist directly below Madonna and Richie on this week's chart - Adele - was not even born as of that chart date. She turns 24 on May 5.)

GLORY DAYS: Madonna and Richie aren't the only legends with a history of '80s success in this week's Billboard 200 top 10. Bruce Springsteen dips 6-9 with his former No. 1 "Wrecking Ball."

The Queen of Pop and the Boss hadn't shared space in the chart's top region since the week of February 7, 1987, when "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band 1975-1985" placed at No. 8 and "True Blue" held at No. 10.

The last time that Springsteen and Richie appeared in the top 10 in the same week? Jan. 24, 1987, also the last week that all three acts had charted together in the top bracket until this week. That frame, Springsteen's "Live" remained at No. 2, "True Blue" descended 6-7 and Richie's "Dancing on the Ceiling" stayed at No. 9.

'BOYFRIEND' IS BACK: Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" storms in as the Billboard Hot 100's second-most-popular song. It's also the second-highest-peaking track featuring the word "boyfriend."

As Chart Beat temporarily borrows from Teen Beat, only two songs with the word "boyfriend" in their titles have hit the Hot 100's top 10:

No. 1 (three weeks), "My Boyfriend's Back," the Angels, 1963
No. 2 (as of this week), "Boyfriend," Justin Bieber, 2012

In a chart battle of the sexes, one "girlfriend" song has also reigned, although one more such hit has reached the top 10:

No. 1 (one week), "Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne, 2007
No. 5, "Girlfriend," 'N Sync featuring Nelly, 2002
No. 5, "Girlfriend," Pebbles, 1988

Honorary mention among Hot 100 tributes to going steady: at the height of Beatlemania, teen singer Donna Lynn charted for four weeks with the spoofy "My Boyfriend Got a Beatle Haircut."

Despite piggybacking onto the Beatles' early adoration, Lynn and her song stopped at No. 83 on the March 21, 1964, Hot 100. The same week, the Fab Four (mop-)topped the chart with "She Loves You," which dethroned their first No. 1, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," after seven weeks at the summit.

65(-WEEK) LOVE AFFAIR: Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" ties for the third-longest stay in the Hot 100's 53-year history. At 65 weeks (falling 43-49), the song now trails only Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" (the record-holder with 76 weeks) and LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live" (69). Jewel's double-sided "You Were Meant for Me"/" Foolish Games" also logged 65 chart weeks.

("Deep" will need to remain above No. 50 on next week's Hot 100 to tally a 66th frame, as descending songs below the chart's top half are removed after 20 weeks.)

'ENDINGS' BEGINS: Silversun Pickups arrive on Alternative Songs at No. 22 and Rock Songs at No. 39 with "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)." The track previews the group's third album, "Neck of the Woods," due May 8.

The Los Angeles-based band has scored four Alternative Songs top 10s, including the 2009 No. 1 "Panic Switch."

"There was a playfulness and an experimentation that we lost a little bit of along the way," says Silversun Pickups frontman Brian Aubert. "(The new album was) kind of like, 'let's get back to playing with different drum tones and playing with these pads.' It sounds like a cool, digital drum thing.

"And then it was, 'how do we find the humanity in all that?'

"And then, we played some basketball."

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