'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010
Related ArtistsWednesday, April 27, 2011
Lauren Conrad & Whitney Port: Us Weekly Party Pals
They both enjoy social occasions, and last night (April 26) Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port were both spotted at the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood party.
The ?Sweet Little Lies? author was all smiles as she arrived at Eden in Hollywood, sporting a beige blouse with a navy blue skirt and tan heels.
Meanwhile, Miss Port went for a retro 1980s look in a multicolored one-shoulder dress with blue lace-up platform heels.
The 2011 Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Party celebrated the brightest and biggest stars in Tinseltown.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/lauren-conrad/lauren-conrad-whitney-port-us-weekly-party-pals-500522
Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick
Rihanna, Eminem, Justin Bieber Lead Billboard Music Award Finalists
Rihanna leads the pack with nominations in 18 categories.
By Gil Kaufman
Rihanna
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
It was strictly A-list names at the top of the list when the lead finalists for the 2011 Billboard Music Awards were announced Wednesday (April 13).
In the lead among all nominees was Rihanna, a finalist in 18 categories, who was followed by fellow multiple-award finalists Eminem, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.
Among the categories Rihanna is up for awards in are: Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Female Artist, Top R&B Artist and Top Dance/Electronic Artist, while her smash collaboration with Eminem, "Love the Way You Lie," racked up notices in six song categories. Right behind her was Slim Shady, a finalist in 16 categories, including Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Rap Artist.
Lady Gaga was next with nods in 12 categories, including Top Dance/Electronic Album, which included three of her releases, The Fame, The Fame Monster and The Remix
Mars and Bieber had 11 nominations each and will face each other in the Top New Artist and Top Male Artist categories. The other contenders in Top New Artist include Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj and Taio Cruz.
The Top Artist category will pit Bieber against, Eminem, Gaga, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, while the Top Rap Album category will be a showdown between Drake, Eminem, Minaj, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. The Top Alternative Artist race will feature Muse facing the Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park and Mumford & Sons.
The event honors artists who have appeared on the Billboard charts during the period of February 28, 2010, through March 1, 2011. Winners are also determined by album, single and digital sales, touring, streaming and social interactions on MySpace, Facebook and other popular online destinations for music.
Winners will be announced at the Billboard Music Awards on May 22 at 5 p.m. PT. Among the announced performers are Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Cruz, Lady Antebellum, the Black Eyed Peas and Keith Urban.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661913/rihanna-eminem-justin-bieber-billboard.jhtml
Friday, April 22, 2011
Exciting News
I have all but abandoned this blog and, for that, I am sorry. I am, however, going to get back to it because... wait for it, wait for it... I'm moving to LA for six months starting in June and I'm going to share every dirty detail with you!
You see, Mark and my good friend Patty are executive producers of a new television show that will be taping in New York from June to November. Instead of him getting his own apartment here, we thought it would be more fun to trade places. It's going to be like The Holiday and I get to be Kate Winslet. I'M GOING TO HAVE A CAR AND EVERYTHING. (Watch. Out.)
I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and have other friends out there besides him. Also, the movie is being released at the end of September, so it will be fun to be out there for that.
So anyway, that's what I've been up to—planning all this and getting ready for my (temporary) move. Stay tuned!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/3/29/exciting-news.html
Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum
Beyonc� - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=455581
Jamie Chung: Esquire Sexy
She?s definitely easy on the eyes, and Jamie Chung looks amazing in a new photo spread from Esquire magazine.
The ?Hangover II? hottie shows off her super-hot figure in black lingerie with leopard print accents in a feature that?s sure to sell plenty of copies.
In the accompanying interview, Jamie talked about her days as a Kappa Kappa Gamma and how they helped her for her ?Sorority Row? gig back in 2009.
"You know how producers fine-tune things by bringing in an expert? I was that person. When they asked, 'Would we be doing this?' I'd say, 'No, there's always a secret handshake.'"
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/jamie-chung/jamie-chung-esquire-sexy-499547
Aaliyah Abbie Cornish Adriana Lima Adrianne Curry Adrianne Palicki
Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'
Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658043/usher-rev-pop.jhtml
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Thursday, April 21, 2011
Ke$ha Postpones Japan Tour Dates
Ne-Yo, Cyndi Lauper continue to perform in the country following earthquake.
By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images
As the people of Japan continue to struggle with recovering from the nation's devastating earthquake and tsunami, some artists are being forced to cancel their tour dates in the nation. Ke$ha released a statement on Monday announcing that she would have to postpone her upcoming dates in Japan.
"My heart is with Japan right now through this disaster and these hardships," the singer wrote on her website. "I genuinely don't think right now would be appropriate timing for me to perform in Japan given the content and the spirit of my show, which is all about feeling exuberant, rowdy, and wild. ... I plan to bring my party there and to that part of the world when we are all ready to dance and Get $leazy together again. In the meantime I am going to do everything I can to help relief efforts and I encourage everyone in the world to do the same."
In the meantime, Ke$ha has a string of North American dates kicking off on April 1 with a show in Clarion, Pennsylvania, and running through early May.
According to Billboard, the promoter of the scotched Japanese tour, Creativeman Productions, also announced that it would be canceling a pair of its annual spring festivals. The Springgroove, an R&B, soul and hip-hop festival scheduled for April 2 near Tokyo and April 3 in Osaka, would have featured Nelly and Flo Rida, among others. Also called off was then annual hardcore Punkspring festival on April 1 and 2 in Osaka and Nagoya with headliners Good Charlotte and Hoobastank.
Ne-Yo continued with his planned dates in Japan over the weekend, performing a show in Nagoya on Friday and launching a charity initiative to help the people of the country. Called "Spread Love Through Music," the show included donation boxes at the concert to help those in need and the sale of a special wristband with proceeds going to earthquake relief. He plans to do the same during his shows on Tuesday (March 22) in Yokohama and Thursday in Tokyo. "You can absolutely spread love through music, and I think that's what's absolutely called for in this time of crisis," he said in a video on his website.
Also currently touring Japan is Cyndi Lauper, who is slated to play a show in Osaka on Tuesday and was in the country promoting her Memphis Blues album when the quake hit on March 11. She's been tweeting about her experience all along, and on Monday, she wrote about the healing power of music in the shattered country.
"Miss my family but have my music family and the warmth of the peeps I sing to. Tonight I will lose myself in the music and the rhythm," she wrote. Like Ne-Yo, she is asking fans to donate cash at the shows to earthquake relief and is donating all royalties from sales of her Blues album in Japan to the Japanese Red Cross.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660383/kesha-japan-tour.jhtml
Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez
Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
- Artist: Usher
- Label: JLG
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Album: Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=476362
Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd
Britney Spears - 2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me
2008 Video Of The Year: Britney Spears "Piece of Me
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Wayne Isham
- Album: Blackout
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=421943
America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Ke$ha's 'Blow' Director Addresses Lady Gaga 'Unicorn' Flap
Unicorn cameos in 'Born This Way' and 'Blow' videos is 'just weird coincidence,' Chris Marrs Piliero tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ke$ha in her video for "Blow"
Photo: RCA
The brand-new videos for Ke$ha's "Blow" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" couldn't be more different. But fans on the Web have been comparing the clips, thanks to a special cameo the two videos have in common. With unicorns appearing in both "Blow" and "BTW," some Gaga fans are accusing the K-Dollar of stealing from their Mother Monster.
But MTV News spoke to "Blow" director Chris Marrs Piliero, who explained that it's pure coincidence his video and the Nick Knight-directed video both feature unicorns.
"It's very odd. It's one of those weird things, and I think a lot of people on the Internet don't grasp the sense of time [that goes into making videos]. Some Gaga fans, they don't realize that just because it was announced there might be a unicorn [in Gaga's video], it's like, we didn't film the video after that announcement," he said.
"It's like [the movies] 'Dante's Peak' and 'Volcano' and then there was 'Armageddon' and 'Deep Impact.' I don't know, I know when things like that happen when I was a part of the audience, I was like, 'That's weird and fishy,' but now being on the other side, it's just weird coincidences," he explained. "What are the odds of that?"
In fact, Piliero had a gut feeling that he should use unicorns many, many moons ago and he thought Ke$ha was the right artist to join with the mythological creatures onscreen.
"Ke$ha was looking to make kind of something different, a video that was cool and random, and I had this idea running in my head with just the idea of unicorns," he recalled. "If I massacred unicorns, they could bleed rainbows. I'm a fan of violence and I'm always trying to find a way to make it OK."
The rainbow-spewing unicorns weren't the only cameo that Piliero hoped to nab. He also wanted "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek to appear in the clip. "He's such an awesome guy. He was down for it," he said. "He had seen the Black Keys video [I shot] and he was stoked on the idea. It was so much fun. He and Ke$ha kind of went for all the craziness. I think he has a fantastic comic side. He's good at being naturally funny. It's about the delivery."
Ke$ha, of course, was onboard for all the zaniness. "Before we started filming, we had quite a few talks. She was adamant you can't back away from the crazy; everything about the idea she loved and she enforced the fact that she wanted to embrace every aspect of it and really go for it," he recalled. "On set, she was having fun. She was like, 'I want to lick a unicorn.' It was rad working with her because there definitely wasn't a sense of her feeling awkward about stuff or detached; no ego. It felt like we had worked together before."
Which video do you prefer: "Blow" or "Born This Way"? Tell us in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659284/kesha-blow-unicorns.jhtml
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Michael Jackson - Gone Too Soon
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director: Bill Dicicco
- Album: Dangerous
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208381
Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy
Photos | Justin Bieber, Ozzy Osbourne On The Set Of Their Super Bowl Commercial
Ke$ha Postpones Japan Tour Dates
Ne-Yo, Cyndi Lauper continue to perform in the country following earthquake.
By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images
As the people of Japan continue to struggle with recovering from the nation's devastating earthquake and tsunami, some artists are being forced to cancel their tour dates in the nation. Ke$ha released a statement on Monday announcing that she would have to postpone her upcoming dates in Japan.
"My heart is with Japan right now through this disaster and these hardships," the singer wrote on her website. "I genuinely don't think right now would be appropriate timing for me to perform in Japan given the content and the spirit of my show, which is all about feeling exuberant, rowdy, and wild. ... I plan to bring my party there and to that part of the world when we are all ready to dance and Get $leazy together again. In the meantime I am going to do everything I can to help relief efforts and I encourage everyone in the world to do the same."
In the meantime, Ke$ha has a string of North American dates kicking off on April 1 with a show in Clarion, Pennsylvania, and running through early May.
According to Billboard, the promoter of the scotched Japanese tour, Creativeman Productions, also announced that it would be canceling a pair of its annual spring festivals. The Springgroove, an R&B, soul and hip-hop festival scheduled for April 2 near Tokyo and April 3 in Osaka, would have featured Nelly and Flo Rida, among others. Also called off was then annual hardcore Punkspring festival on April 1 and 2 in Osaka and Nagoya with headliners Good Charlotte and Hoobastank.
Ne-Yo continued with his planned dates in Japan over the weekend, performing a show in Nagoya on Friday and launching a charity initiative to help the people of the country. Called "Spread Love Through Music," the show included donation boxes at the concert to help those in need and the sale of a special wristband with proceeds going to earthquake relief. He plans to do the same during his shows on Tuesday (March 22) in Yokohama and Thursday in Tokyo. "You can absolutely spread love through music, and I think that's what's absolutely called for in this time of crisis," he said in a video on his website.
Also currently touring Japan is Cyndi Lauper, who is slated to play a show in Osaka on Tuesday and was in the country promoting her Memphis Blues album when the quake hit on March 11. She's been tweeting about her experience all along, and on Monday, she wrote about the healing power of music in the shattered country.
"Miss my family but have my music family and the warmth of the peeps I sing to. Tonight I will lose myself in the music and the rhythm," she wrote. Like Ne-Yo, she is asking fans to donate cash at the shows to earthquake relief and is donating all royalties from sales of her Blues album in Japan to the Japanese Red Cross.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660383/kesha-japan-tour.jhtml
Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle
'Hunger Games' Eyeing Elizabeth Banks For Effie Trinket
The '30 Rock' actress reportedly is in talks to play the escort who helps Katniss and Peeta on their dangerous journey.
By Eric Ditzian
Elizabeth Banks
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
The "Hunger Games" gang is multiplying every day, so it seems. Following the news that Hollywood newcomers Dayo Okeniyi and Amandla Stenberg have been cast as District 11 tributes Thresh and Rue, Variety brings word that a more familiar face is close to joining the production.
Elizabeth Banks is in talks to star as Effie Trinket in the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling young-adult novel, the trade magazine reports. A pink-haired escort to District 12's Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, Effie accompanies the kids on their fight-to-the-death journey.
A rep for Lionsgate declined to confirm the report, but said the studio hoped to have official news soon. A representative for Banks could not be reached as of press time.
The 37-year-old Banks last appeared onscreen opposite Russell Crowe in the blink-and-you-missed-it thriller "The Next Three Days," and has a recurring role on NBC's "30 Rock." She'll next be seen alongside Paul Rudd in the comedy "Our Idiot Brother."
While we await official word of the Banks casting, we already know that much of the cast is in place. Katniss and Peeta have already been nailed down, with Jennifer Lawrence stepping in to play lead female Katniss and Josh Hutcherson portraying her Hunger Games partner, respectively. Liam Hemsworth is set to become Gale Hawthorne, Peeta's best friend.
Directed by Gary Ross and scripted by Billy Ray, "The Hunger Games," the first movie in a planned trilogy based on Collins' books, is expected to shift into production later this year. The film is slated to be released on March 23, 2012.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662239/hunger-games-eyeing-elizabeth-banks-effie-trinket.jhtml
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Michael Jackson Doctor Pleads Not Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter
Conrad Murray's trial slated to start March 28.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray appears in court on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Irfan Khan-Pool/ Getty Images
Michael Jackson's former personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray entered a plea of not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the pop star at his arraignment on Tuesday morning (January 25).
According to the Los Angeles Times, when asked by judge Michael Pastor how he pleaded to the charge, Murray said, "Your honor, I am an innocent man." When Pastor interrupted and asked Murray what his plea was, the cardiologist said, "Therefore, I plead not guilty."
The brief hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court ended with Pastor setting a March 28 date for the start of a trial in the case. Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted, and the Times noted that he surprised the judge by invoking his right to a speedy trial, which meant the case would have to begin by late March. Pastor noted the rarity of a defendant asking to have a speedy trial, then set jury selection for the week of March 28 and said he was inclined to allow television coverage of the trial that the defense expects will last two months.
Lawyers for Murray have maintained his innocence all along, saying he did not do anything that "should have" caused the 50-year-old pop icon's death. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined that Jackson died of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol mixed with a cocktail of other sedatives.
Murray has admitted to administering propofol to Jackson in the hours before the singer's death, but the defense appears to be gearing up to claim that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of the drug after he woke in a panic from a fitful night of sleep.
During a preliminary hearing earlier this month to determine if there was enough evidence to hold Murray over for trial, the physician's attorneys said that there was evidence Jackson injected or drank a fatal amount of the drug when the doctor was not looking.
Related Photos Related ArtistsBar Refaeli Beyoncé Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lady Gaga Drops 'Judas' Early
Dark, synthy track premiered on London radio station on Friday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
When you're Lady Gaga, scheduled premiere dates mean absolutely nothing. Her next single, "Judas," was originally slated to drop April 19, but Capital FM in London played the song days earlier, during the radio station's "Home Run" program on Friday afternoon (April 15).
The RedOne-produced track finds Gaga in familiar territory, singing about a lover she knows might not be right for her, but whom she just can't resist. "Ohhh, I'm in love with Judas," she opens on the track, accompanied by building synths. Soon a thumping electronic beat kicks in as Gaga sings, "Judahhh/ Juda-a-ah/ Gaga." The battle cry is reminiscent of the one in "Bad Romance."
Gaga's vocals are partially spoken, and at times she seems to have a Caribbean accent. She laments, "When he comes to me I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times, he betrays me/ I'll bring him down, I came with no crown."
The tone lightens up a bit more on the song's chorus, which throws back to '80s pop in melody, as the beat picks up a bit and Gaga sings, "I'm just a holy fool/ Oh, baby, he's so cruel/ But I'm still in love with Judas, baby."
After the second verse and chorus, the song breaks down into a churning house song as Gaga chants in much the same way she does in the middle of "Born This Way." Then she sings, "I wanna love you/ But something's pulling me away from you/ Jesus is my virtue, Judas is the demon I cling to, I cling to."
A day before she decided to release the track early, Gaga tweeted this message for her fans: "#PawsUpForJudas! I've learned love is like a brick, you can build a house or sink a dead body."
The song is Born This Way's second single, following the phenomenal success of "Born This Way." The album hits stores on May 23, and the video for "Judas," directed by Gaga and her creative director Laurieann Gibson, is expected to premiere in the coming weeks.
"Let the cultural baptism begin," Gaga said of the track in a Gagavision video earlier this month. "If they were not who you were taught they would be, would you still believe?"
What do you think of Lady Gaga's "Judas"? Share your reviews in the comments!
Related Videos- MTV News Extended Play: Lady Gaga Creative Director Laurieann Gibson
- Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Video Premieres
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662074/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml
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Ke$ha - Your Love Is My Drug
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Honey
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=516772
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Poor Beverly
This little girl's life is about to drastically change.
Check back Monday for exciting news.
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/4/14/poor-beverly.html
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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Beyonce May Work With Diplo, Sleigh Bells On New Album
Producer says he was 'in NYC tryin' to make tracks' for B and Bells' songwriter/guitarist.
By James Montgomery
Beyonce
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Over the years, Diplo has worked with everyone from Thom Yorke to Spank Rock (and, of course, M.I.A.) so perhaps it should come as no surprise that, for his next collaboration, he's chosen to work with none other than Beyoncé. Oh, and electro-slammers Sleigh Bells, too. It all makes sense, in some bizarre way.
This is according to Dip himself, who posted a message — and a remix of the Sleigh Bells track "Tell 'Em" — on his blog, in which he let it be known that he, his production partner Switch and Sleigh Bells' songwriter/guitarist Derek Miller just wrapped sessions for Beyoncé's follow-up to I Am ... Sasha Fierce. He wasn't quite sure what would come of the tracks they created.
"Me and Switch was in [the] studio in NYC tryin' to make tracks with Derek and Beyoncé last week after we played her team [Sleigh Bells'] album," Diplo wrote. "Dunno if we gonna manage to finish, but [it] was good times."
At the very least, you know Bey's husband, indie-rock fan Jay-Z, is pumped by the news. Diplo is just the latest in an ever-growing list of top-flight producers who have worked with Beyoncé in recent months. There's still no release date or tentative title for her upcoming album, but she's logged studio time with the likes of S1 (he of "Power" fame), Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin.
A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the Diplo tracks by press time.
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Monday, April 18, 2011
Britney Spears Tour Invite 'Is Such An Honor,' Nervo Say
Aussie DJ duo tell MTV News they're ready to 'spread the Nervo love' on Femme Fatale tour.
By Jocelyn Vena
Nervo
Photo: Getty Images
Nervo's Mim and Liv will be joining Britney Spears this summer for her highly anticipated Femme Fatale tour, alongside Nicki Minaj and Jessie and the Toy Boys.
When the Aussie twins spoke to MTV News on Tuesday, the same day the tour lineup was announced, they seemed genuinely surprised by the news, calling the slot "such an honor."
"We have worked with her team of people for songwriting camps and stuff like that, but we've never met Britney. It's been a dream to have one of our record productions on her album, but we didn't get there this time," Mim said.
All the acts on the tour are female, so Liv thinks "it's going to be ladies night every night. I imagine we'll be playing some of our club releases," she added of Nervo's set. "It'll be a DJ set and very electronic and house-based. We're really excited to be able to warm everyone up with some sexy house music."
The girls are also excited about the prospect of meeting Britney. "I wonder if I'll be starstruck? I just love her. I just love her records. She always releases great pop records. I really respect her," Mim said.
"You hear rumors that [the openers] never really get to meet [the main acts]," Liv said. "I hope we get to hang out. We've been told we're going to be on an RV for a lot of it. I love the whole experience of being on a tour bus. I love the road."
Since the tour seems to be all about girl power, the two sassy ladies explained what makes them such femme fatales. "I guess we have a no-fear attitude," Mim said. "We don't let our being girls stop us. Certainly DJing is a very male-dominated [field], and we haven't let us being girls stop us."
Bottom line: They're hoping through their house-music set they can "spread the Nervo love."
Are you excited to see Nervo on Britney Spears' tour? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661855/britney-spears-nervo-tour.jhtml
Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher
Beyonc� - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=401347
Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci
Is Beyonce Prepping Her Next Music Video?
Photos and reports surface of a B video shoot featuring couture fashion and 200 dancers.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyonce on the set of her next music video
Photo: Robero Cavalli's Twitter
Last week a photo appeared on NYMag.com of Beyoncé, dressed in a blue Roberto Cavalli jumpsuit and a funky maroon fur coat, reportedly shooting a video in New Jersey for her forthcoming studio album.
A rep for the singer never returned MTV News' request for comment and now, nearly two weeks later, details about the video shoot are being revealed. According to Ace Showbiz, the video will be directed by music video auteur Francis Lawrence, who has gone behind the lens for Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Pink and Bey's former girl group, Destiny's Child.
Rumor has it that 200 African dancers and eight choreographers were hired for the clip. According to several online message boards, auditions for dancers were held in Los Angeles. Fan sites such as BeyonceDaily.com have posted blurry pictures that appear to show the singer on the set of the video, which is reportedly for the song called "Girl."
In the snapshots, Beyoncé's hair is done up in a faux-hawk, and she's wearing a white jumpsuit and sunglasses. The outfit is reportedly Givenchy couture.
The song is a "female empowerment/girl power type of song that is a definite club banger with Top 40/Worldly appeal," according to one commenter who talked about the open call after his friend attended. "The beat is driven by a sample of a popular club song that a lot of you will probably recognize. There's a breakdown in the song that is described as absolutely disgustingly sick! Definitely an anthem in the style of her singing." The post also backs up the claim that there will be upwards of 200 dancers in the video.
Rumors are floating around that Beyoncé's new album may drop this June. Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin told The Telegraph in Australia that "it was just amazing." He added that while he was in New York, the star herself was on hand to play some of the new music.
"She came in and played us six tracks from the album. She wants to do a big tour off the back of this record, which will include Australia," he explained. "These songs, the best description I can give is groundbreaking; she's gone to another level."
Over the course of recording the new album, Beyoncé has been rumored to hit the studio with a number of big industry names like Diplo, Sleigh Bells and Kanye West's producer S1. When she spoke to MTV News last November, she made it clear that sonically she was thinking outside the box.
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm inventing a new genre," Beyoncé explained. "I'm mixing every type of genre that I love and I'm inspired by every type of genre. ... I'm not in a box. It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661774/beyonce-roberto-cavalli-new-music-video.jhtml
Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle
Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit Vs. AEG Can Proceed, Judge Rules
Katherine Jackson and family are pursuing a claim against concert promoter.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
When he was alive, Michael Jackson was forever embroiled in a series of complex and expensive-sounding lawsuits. But even in death, the late King of Pop is the subject of major legal action. None could potentially be bigger than the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the pop icon's mother, Katherine Jackson, against concert promotion giant AEG Live.
Reuters reported that a Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that the civil lawsuit can go forward. It will proceed in parallel with the criminal case against Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol. Murray is the only person charged in Jackson's death and he is currently awaiting trial in that matter.
Katherine Jackson's lawsuit — filed in September on behalf of her and Jackson's three young children — accuses AEG of being responsible for the medical decisions made by Murray, whose salary was paid by the touring company behind Jackson's attempted "This Is It" comeback shows in London. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos denied a motion on Wednesday by AEG to dismiss Katherine Jackson's suit, but warned Jackson's attorneys that they would need to show evidence of "fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy" in order to win the case.
The judge has already said she doubts they can prove the latter charge, because the suit does not detail any agreement between Murray and AEG to break the law in providing medical care to Jackson.
"If the object was to get him to rehearsals, I don't see that as a wrongful or illegal act," the judge said. A lawyer for AEG told the judge that the company could not have predicted beforehand that Murray's medical decisions would result in Jackson's death. Court papers also show that AEG "did not choose to hire Murray" and had only participated in negotiations to bring him on as an independent contractor. Michael, who had previously been treated by Murray in Las Vegas, was reportedly the one who suggested the cardiologist serve as his personal, on-call physician during the "This Is It" rehearsals and shows.
Katherine Jackson's attorney recently dropped choreographer Kenny Ortega from the lawsuit based on new information they received about his actions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 22, just six days before Murray is due back in court for his trial. Jackson's father, Joseph, has twice attempted to file a wrongful death suit in the matter, though his is focused on Murray and the Las Vegas pharmacy that supplied the propofol, not AEG Live.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657214/michael-jackson-wrongful-death-suit.jhtml
Chuckie Will Debut Michael Jackson Remix In Miami
Official 'Hollywood Tonight' remix coming to Miami Music Week.
By Akshay Bhansali
Chuckie
Photo: Jason Ano/ One and Only Productions
Leaving the South by Southwest festival, Lavo New York and Las Vegas' Marquee in his wake, house DJ Chuckie has his sights set on the week ahead. With Miami Music Week now upon us, Chuckie plans to seize the opportunity to debut new material. Fans will be tickled to know the Dutch producer has tracks in the can with Kelly Rowland and T-Pain, but when MTV News caught up with him Friday in New York, Chuckie shared the achievement of which he's most proud.
"I did a Michael Jackson remix, which was really scary — to touch Michael Jackson vocals," Chuckie said. "I did this remix for this track 'Hollywood Tonight.' I couldn't say it for a minute: The label called me, and they said, 'You can't say nothing about this. It's kind of a secret project.' It's gonna come out anytime now."
"Hollywood Tonight" was originally produced by Teddy Riley for Jackson's posthumous Michael album, and Chuckie's mix of the song will be the sole official remix of the track.
"I will play it Miami," Chuckie revealed. "I told them this is the best week to launch the remix. So it feels really good. I'm the only one remixing that Michael Jackson track, and they are considering it a single. For me, especially, it's an honor to remix the King of Pop because he died on my birthday."
So, will the mix be a thundering Chuckie Dutch house banger or will it have a melodic progressive house feel, like his Marquee remix of Diddy-Dirty Money's "I Hate That You Love Me"? Well, according to the "Let the Bass Kick" producer, fans will be getting a healthy dose of both.
"I had to bring in the raucous," Chuckie confessed. "Yeah, I did the Chuckie flavor, but then again, I wanted to make it really musical, so I went progressive (house) on it."
Chuckie will be performing twice at Miami Music Week: at the Cr2 Records Party at Wall Lounge on Wednesday, and then headlining "No Sugar Added" at Nikki Beach on Friday.
Are you excited to hear Chuckie's remix of Michael Jackson's "Hollywood Tonight"? Let us know in the comments below!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660345/michael-jackson-chuckie-remix.jhtml
Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum
Seal & His Lil' Mohawk Man
Another busy weekend for Seal and Heidi Klum's cute crew!
The doting dad was spotted escorting his son Henry - who was sporting another new 'do - to karate class in Los Angeles, California yesterday (April 16). Big sister Leni, still in her ballet best, was also with the pair.
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/04/17/seal-his-lil-mohawk-man
Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish Adriana Lima Adrianne Curry
Linkin Park? U2? Ke$ha? Behind MTV's Musical March Madness Selection
With the tipoff of our tournament set for Monday, Bigger Than the Sound breaks down your favorite band's chances of busting the bracket.
By James Montgomery
Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington
Photo: Frank Hoensch/ Getty Images
Last year, when we launched the inaugural Musical March Madness tournament, we did it largely on a whim.
As I wrote when I revealed my original (handwritten) bracket, the basic idea was to combine my love of college basketball, gambling and rock music (and superfluous lists) into one magical event, and it really didn't matter that I hadn't figured out how bands would advance in the tournament or even what they'd get for winning. All I knew was that it seemed like a fun idea (especially since I didn't have anything else to write my column about that week) and that somewhere, there had to be someone who cared about these seemingly disparate things nearly as much as I did.
As it turned out, there were a lot of people who cared, and when it was all said and done — thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of folks, including Newsroom blog editor Kyle Anderson, who basically decided "You know what? People should vote on this!" — not only was Musical March Madness a certified success, but we somehow even managed to get an actual trophy to present to the winners, Coheed and Cambria, too. So, really, everybody won.
Of course, given the success of the original MMM, attention quickly shifted to the 2011 tournament. Last year, I basically just threw together a list of 64 bands (65, actually; who could forget the epic Against Me!/ Creed play-in battle?). For the 2011 tournament, however, I did research, monitored album sales and basically became a Selection Committee of one. And, yes, it took way longer than I ever could have imagined.
So, with the 2011 Musical March Madness set to tip off Monday — when we reveal our full bracket of 64 bands and launch voting in first-round matchups — I decided to pull back the curtain on that selection process. Some teams have all but locked up their spots in the 2011 tournament, while others still have some work to do. In the spirit of all things bracketological, here's my up-to-the-minute look at where your favorite bands stand for this year's MMM:
The #1 Seeds
The biggest bands in the land. Last year, I gave out #1's to Nickelback, Coldplay, Blink-182 and the Kings of Leon. Somewhat surprisingly, three-quarters of them ended up losing in the opening round of the tournament (only Blink survived, making it to the round of 32 before losing to 30 Seconds to Mars). Obviously, I overestimated the popularity of some of those acts, which means that, in 2011, to be a #1 seed, you have to have proven yourself as not only a rock-solid commodity, but an actual threat to win the championship too. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to have an album either in stores or coming soon. So here are my latest contenders for top seeds:
» Foo Fighters
» 30 Seconds to Mars
» Linkin Park
» My Chemical Romance
» Arcade Fire
» Vampire Weekend
» Muse
» The Black Keys
» Blink-182
» Radiohead
» Coldplay
» Mumford & Sons
The Foos have a hotly anticipated album coming down the pipeline, as does Coldplay. Are expectations enough to make them #1's? Or will the committee recognize the breakout success of the Black Keys, Muse and Mumford? Does a #1 album and a shocking Grammy win earn the Arcade Fire a top seed? Linkin Park and MCR both scuffed a bit with their latest albums, but does that matter, especially since they're both legacy acts with loyal fanbases (and, in the case of My Chem, are tournament-tested)? And will the committee ignore the fact that, by most accounts, Radiohead's latest was a bit of a letdown or that Blink-182 may never actually release their new album? As you can see, there are still plenty of questions left to be answered.
The Old Guard
Legacy acts with something left in the tank. In 2010, time-tested faves like Slipknot, the White Stripes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Pearl Jam, U2 and the Dave Matthews Band all got invites to the big dance based largely on reputation alone (just think of them as the Dukes or Kansases of MMM). Of course, nearly all of them got knocked off in the first round, which means that this time around, reputation isn't going to be enough to punch their tickets. Shoot, some of these acts aren't even around anymore, which means that some deck-shuffling is in order. Here are the established acts that are still fighting for their tournament lives:
» Green Day
» Dave Matthews Band
» U2
» Red Hot Chili Peppers
» Rage Against the Machine
» Kid Rock
» Pearl Jam
» R.E.M.
Some (like the Chili Peppers and U2) have announced new albums this year, while others (like DMB) are planning to take 2011 off entirely. Still, whatever their status may be, the old guard remain forces at the cash registers and on radio, even if their latest albums didn't exactly light the world on fire. And ignoring that entirely just isn't possible. So how does the committee decide which make the field of 64? Good question. I'm still trying to figure out the answer.
The New Blood
Upset-minded young guns. The 2010 MMM featured up-and-coming acts like the Young Veins, 3OH!3, Owl City and MGMT. One year later, none of them are even on the radar. Picking new bands for MMM is always a challenge, though in 2011, there seem to be a handful who have all but secured their spots in the tournament, thanks to their breakout successes. I'm talking about the likes of:
» Mumford & Sons
» Florence and the Machine
» The Black Keys
» Cage the Elephant
» Sleigh Bells
» Adele
If the tournament started today, all of the above have been in (and some may even earn high seeds). But do any of them have enough to actually win the tournament? We'll just have to wait and see.
The Bracket Busters
Bands with solid, if not spectacular, résumés (weak out-of-conference schedules, etc.). Last year, this included eventual champs Coheed and Cambria, Final Four acts like Tokio Hotel, Elite Eight bands like Panic! at the Disco and Owl City, and even Patrick Stump, who rumbled all the way to the Sweet 16. In other words, the 2011 champion could very well come from this group. Here's my list of under-the-radar threats:
» Panic! (once again)
» Weezer
» The Decemberists
» Cake
» Paramore
» Avril Lavigne
» Crystal Bowersox
» Adam Lambert
» Death Cab for Cutie
» All Time Low
Two of the above — Cake and the Decemberists — have recent #1 debuts under their belts, while others have new albums on the horizon (DCFC, ATL, Avril). Others, like Bowersox and Lambert (who made the Sweet 16 last year), command insane fanbases, which make them dangerous on any day. Lavigne and ATL still have some work to do, but I'd consider all of the acts I just mentioned as safe for now.
The Bubble Bands
On-the-verge acts that need a little help to make it in. Maybe they win their conference championship, or maybe they PayPal the selection committee some cash, but these are the bands on the brink. In 2010, that included Panic! (no new album or single), the Gaslight Anthem (up-and-comers just learning to play together) and Coheed (largely ignored by mainstream radio). Most of those bands managed to do quite well in the tournament, while others, like Hollywood Undead, Lil Wayne, Them Crooked Vultures and the National, all flamed out in the tournament's opening round. Somewhat fittingly, it's a real feast-or-famine type of thing. Here's my updated list of bubble bands:
» Cobra Starship
» Ke$ha
» Tokio Hotel
» MGMT
» Train
» Adele
» Bret Michaels
» Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
» Taylor Swift
Right off the bat, neither Ke$ha nor Swift really rock (though Ke$h does use Jack Daniels as mouthwash), which makes them long shots. Tokio Hotel have done next to nothing since last year's tournament, but was their success enough to earn them a spot this year? Bret Michaels is basically indestructible at this point, so I'd consider him a lock. Cobra Starship are largely dormant but command a big enough fanbase to warrant consideration. MGMT's last album stiffed in spectacular fashion, which places them squarely on the soapy surface of the bubble.
So, will your favorite band make the cut for the 2011 Musical March Madness tournament? As you can see, the Selection Committee still has plenty of work to do — which means that, between now and Monday, I'll be burning the midnight oil, busting out the brackets and then re-busting them once again. It'll be a chore, but I bet it will be worth it. And I hope you'll be along for the ride. Your band needs you, after all.
MTV's 2011 Musical March Madness Tournament begins Monday, March 14, when we reveal the full field of 64 bands that will battle for the championship. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act makes the cut, it'll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, it's gonna be a war.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659479/musical-march-madness.jhtml
Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'
Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658043/usher-rev-pop.jhtml
Bar Refaeli Beyoncé Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively
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