LADY GAGA MIGHT CHANGE THE GRAMMYS
Much to many people’s chagrins, Lady Gaga is not eligible to win a GRAMMY award in the category of Best New Artist because she was nominated at last year’s award show for her song “Just Dance” in the category of Best Dance Recording. Well it seems that Gaga might be responsible for getting that rule changed. According to People.com, GRAMMY President Neil Portnow said that the issue is on their “radar” and that he would “expect changes to address it in next year’s voting.”
NATASHA BEDINGFIELD TO PERFORM AT NOBEL CONCERT
Natasha Bedingfield will perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert honoring this year’s winner, President Barack Obama. According to the Associated Press, Bedingfield will join Wyclef Jean, Toby Keith, and others at the December 11th concert in Oslo, Norway. Will Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, will host the event, which will take place the day after the Obama is presented the Nobel Peace Prize.
KELIS SIGNS WITH WILL.I.AM’S MUSIC GROUP
Billboard.com reports Kelis has signed a new deal with Interscope Records through will.i.am’s Music Group. The “Milkshake” singer released a statement explaining that she loves being “a part of the Interscope family.” She added, “2010 is around the corner and I can’t wait to put out new music and spend time with real music fans on tour again.” Nas’ ex-wife released a buzz track titled “Acapella” to help tide her fans over until her upcoming album drops in 2010.
TAYLOR SWIFT TAKES TOP SPOT FROM CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Carrie Underwood has ruled the top spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart since her latest project, Play On, was released. But this week, Taylor Swift takes the top spots with Fearless beating Carrie by less than 100-thousand albums sold. Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut album sits in the third spot followed by Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice in the four spot. Sugarland’s Christmas album Green to Gold rounds out the top five.
MORE TOYING AROUND FOR TAYLOR SWIFT
Jakks Pacific, the toymaker who already has a line of Taylor Swift dolls, has announced they will be expanding their line to include more stores and to feature The Taylor Swift Performance Collection Doll Assortment line. The new line will boast dolls that sing a 30-second highlight from one of five of Taylor’s hit songs – “Our Song,” “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Picture to Burn,” “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” Each doll is dressed in an outfit replicating what Taylor wore in the song’s music video, plus comes with accessories, including a guitar and hair brush. Also available will be Taylor Fashion Packs, which will have outfits based on real looks worn by Taylor including shoes and accessories. The new dolls will be available this spring.
ROB THOMAS ON LETTERMAN
One week from today, Rob Thomas will be performing on The Late Show with David Letterman. The singer-songwriter hasn’t revealed which songs he’ll be performing yet, so stay tuned to RobThomasMusic.com to find out. Letterman airs weekdays at 11:35 PM Eastern on CBS.
WHITNEY HOUSTON GOES PLATINUM
According to her official fan site, Whitney Houston’s I Look To You album has officially been certified platinum by the RIAA. The critically-acclaimed disc was released back in August and it only took the songstress four months to prove that she still has it! Congrats!
JOHN MAYER TO DO AMSTERDAM
John Mayer’s Battle Studies wasn’t only the number one album in the United States this week, but it was also at the top of the charts in Holland too. Because of this, the singer-songwriter just announced that the first date of his European tour will be at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. His Euro-trek will kick off on June 2nd, 2010, after he wraps up his American tour, which gets underway in February. For more info head to JohnMayer.com.
KATY PERRY TALKS TWITTER
Katy Perry appreciates her friends — especially when she’s a little tipsy. According to an interview with ShowBizSpy.com, the pop star explained that she’s grateful to her pals who take away her phone when she’s drinking because she might do some “buzz Twittering.” Follow Katy at Twitter.com/KatyPerry.
THE ROSSDALES DO ENGLAND
As we previously reported, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani and their kids are spending this holiday season in the former Bush frontman’s home country of England. PerezHilton.com has gotten their hands on some pics of the happy family, so head there now to check them out.
PARAMORE PONDERS LOVE
Every wonder what Paramore singer Hayley Williams thinks about love? She doesn’t get too mushy with her song lyrics but the singer does open up about romance in her latest blog post. Williams wrote on Paramore.net that she feels one can’t experience true love without having felt the opposite. She goes on to say it takes a lot of faith to give love and even more to be loved. Fans can read more at Paramore.net now.
PARAMORE AND WEEZER FOR BAMBOOZLE
Paramore and Weezer will headline The Bamboozle Festival next May. The annual event will take place at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 1st and 2nd. Pre-sale for the festival starts tomorrow at 3 PM on Bamboozle.com. More artists for the line-up are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
SERENA WILLIAMS LOVES GREEN DAY
It seems tennis superstar Serena Williams is a huge Green Day fan. The number one tennis player in the world recently went to see the rock act play and someone videotaped her rocking out and singing along to the band’s set. The proof that Serena is a huge Green Day fan can be seen in a YouTube clip at GreenDay.com now.
LILY ALLEN IS DONE WITH MUSIC
It’s official — Lily Allen really is taking a break from music. The singer-songwriter told BBC Newsbeat that after she fulfills all of her commitments which takes her up to March of next year, she’s going to be taking “one or two years off from recording and performing music” and focus on launching a record label and running a clothing store. Learn more at NME.com.
PREVIEW CHRIS BROWN’S GRAFFITI ALBUM
Wanna hear what Chris Brown has to offer on his upcoming Graffiti album? Well, now you can. We’ve just learned MTV.com is allowing fans to hear the album in its entirety before it hits shelves on Tuesday. Enjoy!
http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/chris_brown/graffiti/
CHRIS BROWN TEAMS UP WITH SEAN PAUL
According to Rap-Up.com, Chris Brown recruited Sean Paul on a song called “Brown Skin Girl.” The Scott Storch-produced track will reportedly be included on the deluxe edition of Brown’s upcoming Graffiti album — which drops on Tuesday. <WM>
http://limelinx.com/files/c1a99085976a34c18f2874ec26c130b5
PREVIEW SNOOP DOGG’S MALICE N WONDERLAND
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should purchase Snoop Dogg’s much hyped Malice N Wonderland LP, now you can preview it before it comes out! All you have to do it head over to the rapper’s MySpace page (MySpace.com/SnoopDogg) for your first listen. The Doggfather’s tenth studio effort officially hits shelves on Tuesday.
STEVIE WONDER STILL MOURNS MJ’S DEATH
According to TMZ, Stevie Wonder is still having a hard time coping with Michael Jackson’s untimely death. In fact, Wonder reportedly broke down during the Rock and Roll 25th Hall of Fame Anniversary Concert. While singing MJ’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Stevie literally start crying as the music continued to play. Luckily, John Legend was on stage with the legend to give him a hug at the end of the performance. You can see it for yourself when HBO re-airs the concert tonight at 9 PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvB7I2O7Zs8
TRY RIPPING OFF JAY-Z AND GET SUED
ASCAP, an enforcer of music royalties, went undercover at A Spot of Tea, which doubles as a nightclub in Alabama, and caught the establishment playing Rihanna’s song “Umbrella” which Jay-Z owns the rights to. TMZ reports Hova is just one of the many celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Gwen Stefani, who are teaming up to stop small businesses who have not paid for rights to play their music. Other artists whose songs were being played include Michael Jackson, Madonna and Rick James.
SUSAN BOYLE TOPS ALBUM CHART
Susan Boyle’s debut album, I Dreamed a Dream, opens at number one on the Billboard album chart, selling over 701-thousand copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The You Tube sensation and former Britain’s Got Talent contestant scored the best sales week for an album in the U-S this year. Andrea Bocelli holds steady at number two for the third straight week with his holiday album My Christmas. American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert’s debut For Your Entertainment starts at number three with 198-thousand copies. Rihanna’s fourth album, Rated R, bows in at number four, selling over 181-thousand copies, her best sales week yet. Lady Gaga’s new eight-song EP The Fame Monster debuts at number five, while her first album, The Fame, rises 25 notches to number six, fueled by sales of the two-disc deluxe package that contains both The Fame and the new Monster disc. Miley Cyrus’ Wal-Mart-exclusive EP The Time Of Our Lives leaps 22 spots to number seven, Taylor Swift’s Fearless moves up two slots to number eight, Carrie Underwood’s Play On holds at number nine and Norah Jones’ The Fall drops seven spots to number 10.
AMERIE DOESN’T STRESS ALBUM SALES
Despite only selling 12,500 copies in her first week, Amerie told Rap-Up.com that she is not stressing over the lukewarm sales. The “Why RU” singer explained she kinda anticipated that her In Love & War album would be a grower not a show-er — especially when she just released her “Pretty Brown” single two weeks before the disc hit stores. She wasn’t even upset that her LP wasn’t listed on the iTunes chart during its launch date, stating she was just happy “they tried to fix it as fast as they could.” In Love & War debuted at the number 46 spot on the Billboard 200 via Def Jam Records.
