GAGA TO PERFORM AT GRAMMYS
Lady Gaga will indeed be performing at this year’s GRAMMY awards on Sunday, February 13th. According to GagaDaily.com, the pop star’s choreographer Laurieann Gibson confirmed the news, and also said that she’ll be behind all the dancing in the videos that are made from songs on Gaga’s forthcoming album Born This Way. Still no official confirmation on what exactly Gaga will be performing at the award show, but it’s assumed that it will be her song “Born This Way,” which is being released two days before.
BRITNEY SPEARS DOMINATES RADIO
After just a few days, Britney Spears’ new single “Hold It Against Me” already ranks as the 17th most-played track at pop radio this week, according to Nielsen BDS. The track was added to 82 stations in just two days, according to Mediabase. “Hold It Against Me” logged 595 plays Monday on 114 of the chart’s reporting stations and the song’s first-day airplay translated to 7.8 million in audience.
NEW JUSTIN BIEBER FOOTAGE
In just four weeks, Justin Bieber’s 3-D flick, Never Say Never, will open in theaters. As fans gear up for the film event of 2011, Ryan Seacrest shared a never-before-released clip from the flick, which shows Bieber performing an acoustic version of “Baby.” The footage is combined with scenes of him greeting his fans. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never will arrive in theaters on February 11th.
JUSTIN BIEBER SHOOTS CSI EPISODE
Justin Bieber will reprise his role of “Jason McCann,” in the February 17th episode of CSI. According to Entertainment Weekly, the upcoming episode is titled Targets of Obsession, and picks up where last September’s episode left off. In his first CSI appearance, which was Bieber’s acting debut, he portrayed a young kid whose older brother had been killed at the end of the previous season. Cops suspected that Bieber’s character took out his anger over his brother’s death on authority by planting bombs. Bieber’s CSI episode airs just six days after his 3D film hits theaters on February 11th.
TWEET! Beiber tweeted the photo of his make-up-caked black eye on Tuesday along with the message, “On set… where? Let’s just say I’m back to my evil ways. #badass.”
FERGIE’S DR. PEPPER COMMERCIAL
Fergie recently made a commercial for Dr. Pepper, and you can see it online now. Watch the Black Eyed Peas singer acting sultry around a can of Dr. Pepper Cherry, while her music plays in the background, on YouTube now.
DIRECT LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG0of3hLLWM
MAROON 5 SHOOT MUSIC VIDEO
Maroon 5 have just shot a music video for the next single off their album Hands All Over, the tune “Never Gonna Leave This Bed.” According to frontman Adam Levine’s Twitter, the band did some filming for the clip yesterday at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. No word on when we’ll get to see the finished product.
WILL.I.AM WANTED TO INTRODUCE CHERYL TO MJ
Will.i.am is sad that he never got to introduce Cheryl Cole to Michael Jackson. The Black Eyed Peas frontman tells British paper The Sun that he told the late King of Pop that “Cheryl was the hottest thing in the U.K. and could sing and dance – basically, she was the complete package” and that he knows “he would have worked with her, no doubt, and it would have been something special.”
MADONNA CHARITY UPDATE
Madonna has released an update on her ongoing charity work in Malawi, from where she has adopted two children. In the statement, Madge says that she remains “deeply committed and am more passionate than ever about helping the children of Malawi – especially the girls,” and that she wants to help “thousands not hundreds.” Read more at HuffingtonPost.com.
MAROON 5 TAKE ON TARANTINO AT CRITICS CHOICE
The 16th annual Critics Choice Awards air live from Los Angeles on Friday on Vh1, and Maroon 5 are going to be the house band for the evening. Quentin Tarantino is being honored, and guitarist James Valentine told us that they are very excited to playing some of the music used in the director’s films (See Related Cut #1). Be sure to tune in and see Maroon 5 give their take on Quentin at the Critics Choice Awards. They air this Friday at 9 PM Eastern on Vh1.
KERI HILSON COMPARES HER ALBUMS
Keri Hilson is extremely proud that her latest album, No Boys Allowed, hasn’t steered too far away from her debut effort, In A Perfect World. The “Pretty Girl Rock” singer recently broke down the major differences and similarities between the two projects (See Related Cut #2). If you haven’t done so already, be sure to purchase No Boys Allowed, available in stores now.
CIARA READIES NEW SINGLE?
Despite disappointing album sales for her latest Basic Instinct LP, Ciara is reportedly looking to release another single from the project next month. ThatGrapeJuice.net reports a source close to her camp spilled that Ci Ci wants to issue “Turn It Up” featuring Usher as the next offering. If this is true, it looks like Ciara will finally get to make the video for the song that she recently kept talking to us about (See Related Cut #3). In related news, be sure to pick up Basic Instinct available now.
SARA BAREILLES ON CHELSEA LATELY
Thinking of watching a little late night TV tonight? Well you should definitely check out Chelsea Lately, because Sara Bareilles will be sitting down with the comedian on her talk show. Chelsea Lately airs at 11 PM Eastern on E!
DAUGHTRY TALKS ALBUM… SORT OF
Chris Daughtry got fans of his band a little prematurely excited yesterday. The former American Idol contestant wrote on his Twitter page that he was heading in to the studio to “get it all up and running and ready for album three.” Apparently this caused fans to start asking more about the follow up to Daughtry’s sophomore album Leave This Town, to which he replied, “There’s no timeline as to when this said album will be finished as it has not even been started…But rest assured that when we start, you will know.” And there you have it, straight from Chris himself.
COLBIE CAILLAT TO SHOOT ALBUM COVER
Colbie Caillat just revealed some more info about her highly anticipated third album on her Twitter page. The singer-songwriter admitted that she’s just days away from the “cover photo shoot” and that she’s “getting really excited for it.” Still no word on the title of the effort or when it will be released, but mid-2011 seems like a pretty good guess.
WINEHOUSE TO COLLABORATE WITH BENNETT?
It might not seem like the most obvious of parings, but it sure has the potential to sound great. According to the New York Post, we might be seeing a collaboration between Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse in the near future. Bennett tells the paper that he and the embattled singer are “working on partnering up to record a duet together” and that “it’s still in the works.”
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG HEADED TO THE SILVER SCREEN?
Green Day is once again talking about an American Idiot movie, and it seems Billie Joe Armstrong might star in the flick. In an interview with the New York Times, Broadway director Michael Mayer, who adapted the band’s album for the stage, says Armstrong, who is currently starring as “St. Jimmy” in the production would hopefully star in the movie saying, “that’s a no brainer.” We’ll keep you posted on if and when this film gets made!
LINKIN PARK ASK FANS TO DONATE TO HELP HAITI
It’s been a year since the devastation earthquake that hit Haiti. Funds are still needed to help repair the nation and Linkin Park is helping raise money. Download to Donate v2.0 asks fans to make a one-time donation of $10 via text or through DownloadToDonate.org. Fans will then receive a one year subscription to a catalogue of music donated by artists including Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Slash, Switchfoot and more.
COLDPLAY WANT TO MAKE A “MASTERPIECE”
Coldplay say they are striving to write a “masterpiece.” In the latest issue of NME, singer Chris Martin says he hopes their follow-up to 2008’s Viva La Vida, which they are currently working on, will be better than their previous efforts. He says the band clocked in sessions with producer Brian Eno and are now working with Markus Dravs. No word as to when we’ll hear their newest music.
BRANDY AND RAY-J PREP FAMILY BUSINESS ALBUM
We’ve just learned Brandy, Ray J, and their parents have decided to release their first album together, Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. Our favorite reality TV family is looking to drop the project this March. Fans can expect the disc to include their well-received first single, “Talk To Me,” which was issued last month. We’ll keep you posted with further details.
WIZ KHALIFA HAS HIGH HOPES FOR DEBUT ALBUM
According to XXLMag.com, Wiz Khalifa has revealed that his debut album on Atlantic Records will include better songs then his smash single, “Black & Yellow.” The rapper, who peaked at number six on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, stated that all the new material for his disc will “do as well or better” than his current hit. Wiz explained to the site, “‘Black & Yellow’ was just supposed to be a set-up record. We haven’t even gotten into the good stuff. So with ‘Black and Yellow’ taking off and people getting behind it and supporting it that much, that’s just great, great for what’s going to happen after that. I mean, I just feel that good about it.” So far, Pharrell Williams and Jim Jonsin have produced on Khalifa’s LP — which is slated for a March release.
JIM JONES TALKS WATCH THE THRONE
During an interview with Vibe.com, Jim Jones knew before Kanye West and Jay-Z issued their “H.A.M” single that it would be a monster. The rapper feels the vibe of their Watch The Throne joint LP “definitely ain’t gon’ be a one-way street. It should be good for music, good for hip-hop, as long as they don’t start rapping about too much strange s**t.” As previously reported Ye and Hova’s Watch The Throne lands in stores this March. Will you be buying?
CHRIS BROWN TEAMS WITH ASHER ROTH
Chris Brown’s guest spots for his upcoming fourth album, F.A.M.E, are becoming more and more impressive. The “Deuces” singer announced on Twitter that he’s reached out to Asher Roth to appear on the project. The “I Love College” emcee joins Game, Wiz Khalifa and Pitbull for the disc, which will arrive sometime this year.
IS 50 CENT IN TROUBLE FOR STOCK TWEETS?
Remember when we told you 50 Cent made 8.7-million dollars by tweeting to his followers that they should buy stock with the company TV Goods? Well, it looks like the mogul could be investigated for “manipulating the value of a stock.” According to the New York Post, the rapper’s encouraging messages on Twitter may have infringed on the strict guidelines by telling fans they can “double [their] money right now” and buy “what you can afford.” 50 has not commented on the situation and recently removed his initial tweets about the stock.
KANYE PURCHASES 180K WATCH
Hey when you got it, you got it. Kanye West has treated himself by purchasing a 180-thousand dollar Tiret watch that’s dipped with 18k worth of yellow gold and eight karats of multi-colored diamonds. The rapper is celebrating the success of his latest album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Head over to AllHipHop.com to see what Ye’s exclusive watch looks like!
SADE GRABS MOST NODS FOR NAACP AWARDS
The nominations for the 42nd NAACP Image Awards have just been announced and it looks like Sade leads the pack with four nominations, including Outstanding Female Artist. Other artists who scored nods includes Rihanna, Kanye West, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Willow Smith, Beyoncé, Maxwell and Alicia Keys. The event will broadcast live on March 4th at 8 PM ET on FOX. Please visit NAACPImageAwards.net for the full list of nominees and categories!
Outstanding New Artist
B.o.B
Bruno Mars
Jason Derulo
Nicki Minaj
Willow Smith
Outstanding Male Artist
Cee Lo Green
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Ne-Yo
Usher
Outstanding Female Artist
Chrisette Michele
Corinne Bailey Rae
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Sade
Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration
Diddy-Dirty Money
Eminem & Rihanna
Herbie Hancock (feat. India.Arie, Chaka Khan, and others)
John Legend and The Roots
The Black Eyed Peas
Outstanding Music Video
“Fistful of Tears” — Maxwell
“Soldier of Love” — Sade
“Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” — Alicia Keys
“Whip My Hair” — Willow Smith
“Why Don’t You Love Me” — Beyoncé
Outstanding Song
“Bittersweet” — Fantasia
“Fistful of Tears” — Maxwell
“Forget You” — Cee-Lo Green
“Soldier of Love” — Sade
“Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” — Alicia Keys
Outstanding Album
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy — Kanye West
Now and Then — Smokey Robinson
Raymond v. Raymond — Usher
Soldier of Love — Sade
Wake Up! — John Legend and The Roots
