JAY SEAN RINGS IN NEW YEAR AT NASDAQ
Jay Sean started out the New Year with a bang. He was on hand to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square on Monday. The U-K crooner will release his Freeze Time album on February 22nd.
JT NOT BEHIND RUMORED SONG
According to MTV News, Justin Timberlake is not the singer behind a track called “Take You Down.” Contrary to reports earlier this week, which said the Neptunes-produced track was a previously unreleased JT tune, the song is actually by a Danish artist Rasmus Thude and titled “LLL (Love, Liquor, Lick It).”
STATEMENT: A rep for Justin Timberlake gave this statement to MTV: “Various media outlets recently reported that a song called ‘Take You Down’ is a new track from Justin Timberlake. These reports are untrue. Justin has no involvement with either the song or the artist but wants to assure his fans that when he releases new music, they will be the first to know.”
STEVEN TYLER TO APPEAR ON LATE SHOW
Season ten of American Idol premieres on January 19th, but a couple days before then, on Monday the 17th, new judge Steven Tyler will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman. See what the Aerosmith singer has to say about his latest gig when the Late Show airs at 11:30 PM Eastern on CBS on the 17th.
A NEW VIDEO FROM TRAIN
Train have just released the video for their latest single, “Marry Me,” which is off of their hit album, Save Me, San Francisco. The beginning of the clip features real couples talking about how they met and fell in love, and then it jumps into the actual video, which shows different people meeting up in a café. Watch the official clip now at TrainLine.com.
BRUNO MARS ON ELLEN TODAY
Watch out for “Grenades” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today. That’s because Bruno Mars is going to be stopping by and singing his hit single, “Grenade,” off of his Doo — Wops & Hooligans album. Check your local listings for time and station, and if you can’t see it today, be sure to head over to Ellen.WarnerBros.com to watch at a later date.
RIHANNA TO RELEASE TWO NEW SINGLES
According to AllAccess.com, Rihanna is scheduled to drop two new singles off her latest album, Loud. Fans can expect the next offerings to be her collaboration with Kanye West, “All of the Lights,” followed by an up-tempo tune called “S & M.” Both songs will officially be released later this month.
BRATMAN MOVES OUT OF CHRISTINA’S HOME
According to TMZ.com, on Monday, Jordan Bratman moved out of the home he shared with soon-to-be ex-wife, Christina Aguilera. The site is also reporting that Aguilera’s current boyfriend, Matt Rutler, moved into the house weeks ago, which made things very awkward.
NO DOUBT BEGIN RECORDING NEW ALBUM
No Doubt have ten new songs written, according to a tweet from guitarist Tom Dumont. The band entered the studio this week to begin recording the follow-up to 2001’s Rock Steady. Dumont said they spent time in the studio last year writing songs, but are now recording and finally laying down new tracks. Great news for No Doubt fans!
PARAMORE INSIST THEY ARE NOT A MANUFACTURED BAND
Is Paramore a manufactured band? A lot of fans started asking that question after Josh Farro, who recently left the group, accused the group of that very thing in a strongly worded blog post. Paramore want their say and sat down with MTV News for an interview. During the discussion, singer Hayley Williams stated, “I mean, we’ve been honest about it, and we are a band, and to me, it doesn’t matter if there’s a name on a contract. I hate business, it’s the last thing I ever want to talk about.” Fans can hear more of Paramore’s feelings on the matter on the live stream, Paramore: The Last Word, on Friday at 4 PM on MTV.com.
NICKI MINAJ REACHES PLATINUM STATUS!
Just like Drake’s Thank Me Later LP, Nicki Minaj’s debut effort, Pink Friday, has officially been certified platinum by the RIAA. The news is very impressive considering the Young Money stand out released her album on November 22nd. Somewhere Nicki’s nemesis, Lil Kim, is rolling her eyes.
TONI BRAXTON WANTS TO DO PLAYBOY?
After being forced to file for bankruptcy for the second time, Toni Braxton revealed on Twitter that she’s considering posing nude for Playboy. The songbird wrote that the mag has offered her the chance to grace its cover. Toni promised her fans if she accepts the offer, it will be “tastefully done” and it won’t be a spread. No word yet on if Toni has agreed or not. Playboy has asked her to pose for three times already, perhaps third times the charm?
Last year, the singer filed for divorce and received disappointing album sales for her latest album, Pulse.
KID ROCK, DURAN DURAN AT SUPER BOWL PARTY
There’s going to be a super concert a few days before the Super Bowl. According to a press release, the NFL Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam is taking place Thursday, February 3rd right outside of Dallas, where the Super Bowl is being played, and will feature performances from Kid Rock, Duran Duran and Jason Derulo. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, but don’t worry if you can’t make it to Texas – the show will be airing live that night at 9 PM Eastern on Vh1.
GAGA’S CHOREOGRAPHER GETS TV SHOW
Laurieann Gibson, Lady Gaga’s choreographer, is getting her own show on E! According to EW.com, the half-hour program will be titled The Dance Scene, and the green-light has been given to make eight episodes. The website reports that the show will follow Gibson as she prepares dancers and choreographers to begin working with high-profile stars. The series debuts on April 10th.
NEW IDOL ALUMS NOT SELLING WELL
American Idol is still one of the biggest shows on TV, but there’s no denying that it’s not as popular as it once was. Weeks before Season 10 kicks off, USA Today has released some numbers about how the FOX reality series just doesn’t make stars like they used to. For example, Season 9’s top two finishers, Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, have each sold around 100-thouand copies of their respective albums, which would be considered poor for any other season preceding it. Also, Idol hasn’t had a contestant sell two-million copies of an album since Chris Daughtry, who was on the show was back in Season Five. Will you still be watching American Idol when Season 10 kicks off on January 19th?
VIDEO FROM DAVID COOK IN THE STUDIO
David Cook has been working hard in the studio on the follow-up to his 2008 self-titled debut, and the former American Idol has just posted some footage of himself. Check out the black-and-white video, which features some short clips of a few of the songs that will be on the album, at DavidCookOfficial.com. A release date is still yet to be confirmed.
LIFEHOUSE TAKE A VACATION
Even rock bands need vacations. According to Lifehouse’s official Twitter account, the “Hanging By a Moment” band is “back in L-A for a month off.” They should enjoy it while they can, because they’re heading overseas for a bunch of international shows beginning on February 17th in Dubai.
MICHELLE WILLIAMS TO DO A NEW PLAY
SingersRoom.com has learned Michelle Williams is expected to appear in a new stage play called What My Husband Doesn’t Know. Beginning in February, the former Destiny’s Child singer will share the stage with actor Brian White. She’s previously appeared in Aida, The Color Purple, Chicago and Strictly Come Dancing.
