GAGA SELLS 1.1-MILLION COPIES OF BORN THIS WAY
She’s done it. Lady Gaga’s new album Born This Way lived up to the hype and managed to sell more than one-million albums in its first week of release — 1.1-million to be exact. It’s the first album to sell over a million copies since Taylor Swift did it last year with Speak Now. Last week’s number one, Adele’s latest, 21, slipped to number three, but still managed to sell another 126-thousand copies, leaving her just shy of two-million albums sold in the U-S.
GAGA TO BE HONORED FOR HER FASHION
Lady Gaga is going to be honored for her contributions to fashion. According to ContactMusic.com, the pop star will receive the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America next week in New York City.
ADELE IS WORKING ON ALBUM NUMBER THREE
Adele’s latest album, 21, is taking the world by storm, but apparently the singer-songwriter is already gearing up for the release of her third record. She told British paper The Sun that she has “five tracks ready to go” for her next effort, one of which is a cover of INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart,” which she calls “probably” her “fave song of all time.” She plans on releasing the album in May 2012.
SEAN KINGSTON TO RECOVER IN SIX WEEKS
By now you know that Sean Kingston was involved in a bad jet skiing accident in Miami and that he’s no longer in critical condition and is currently stabilizing. According to CNN, the singer, who is connected to a ventilator, should be able to leave the hospital in about six weeks. Kingston is recovering inside the intensive care unit and is suffering from a broken jaw, fractured wrist and water in his lungs. After being in the accident with Sean, his longtime friend, Cassandra Sanchez told TMZ that she won’t “press any type of charges or hiring a lawyer. Sean is a good guy.” She adds, “I am going to be visiting him in the hospital at some point soon and hope he has a speedy recovery.”
ONEREPUBLIC SONG REMIXED WITH B.O.B
OneRepublic just posted on their Twitter account a remixed version of their song “Good Life” that features rapper B.o.B. Get the link to listen to the song now at Twitter.com/OneRepublic, or head to SoundCloud.com.
J.LO AND MARC ANTHONY ANNOUNCE ¡Q’VIVA! THE CHOSEN
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony announced that they will embark on an 21 country search to find the world’s best talent from across North and South America for the new show ¡Q’VIVA!! The Chosen. The show is a vehicle to celebrate Latin music, dance and artistry. The talent competition is open to all ages and contestants can upload their audition video to youtube.com/qviva.
JT OPENS UP IN VANITY FAIR
Justin Timberlake is featured in the new issue of Vanity Fair magazine. In the interview, JT talks about his exes, early fame, future music plans and his new movie Friends with Benefits. Justin said that Jessica Biel is the “most significant person in my life.” He also talked about his ex-Britney Spears saying he hasn’t spoken to her in 9 or 10 years, but wishes her the best. The most shocking news was that Justin said he would not go as far to say that he will never put another album out, but said he wouldn’t bet on it being any time soon. He added that he can see doing “one more big tour.” It’s clear that Justin is focusing on his film career. You can see him in Bad Teacher, which opens on June 24th and then you can see him star opposite Mila Kunis in Friends with Benefits, which will arrive in theaters on July 22nd.
JORDAN KNIGHT SAYS NEW KIDS ARE BETTER NOW THAN EVER
The New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys new joint album NKOTBSB debuts at number seven on the Billboard album chart, selling over 39-thousand copies. The effort features classic hits from the groups as well as two new songs and a mash-up. The guys are currently out on the road on the NKOTBSB Tour and Jordan Knight told us they the New Kids are better now than they were back in the day (Related Cut #2). Backstreet Boys and the New Kids will take the stage in Uncasville, Connecticut tonight.
BEYONCE’S “BEST I NEVER HAD” LEAKS
Switching gears from her lead single, “Run the World (Girls),” Beyonce has release a mid-tempo song called “Best Thing I Never Had.” In the Babyface-penned and Symbolyc One-produced song, Bey sings about demanding to be appreciated and moving on from a bad relationship. Fans can expect to see the song appear on the final track-list for the diva’s forthcoming album, 4, which arrives in stores and online on June 28th.
WIZ KHALIFA “ROLL UP” GOES PLATINUM
Is there anything Wiz Khalifa can’t do? The rapper’s newest single, “Roll Up,” has reportedly gone platinum. The song is lifted from the Pittsburg native’s latest album, Rolling Papers, which has sold over 417-thousand copies since its release. In related news, Wiz recently announced that Big Sean and Chevy Woods will join him during his upcoming Rolling Papers World Tour. Tickets go on sale on April 20th and fans can expect the trek to begin on June 12th in Missouri and wrap on August 3rd in Canandaigua, New York.
LL COOL J TO PERFROM WITH BLACK EYED PEAS IN NYC
According to reports, LL Cool J and MC Hammer will join the Black Eyed Peas for the upcoming Central Park’s Great Lawn concert in New York City. The free event, which will raise money for the anti-poverty Robin Hood Foundation, takes place on June 9th.
THE BAND PERRY ENJOYS CONTINUED SUCCESS
The Band Perry’s #1 smash hit, “If I Die Young,” has reached Double-Platinum status from the RIAA for sales exceeding 2-million. The news came over the Memorial Day weekend as The Band Perry launched into several headlining dates on Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour. The sibling trio has three nominations at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, including Video of the Year. The awards show airs live from Nashville on Wednesday, June 8th on CMT and CMT.com.
NICK JONAS SIGNS ON TO FIND THE NEXT YOUNG STAR
Nick Jonas has teamed up with Quaker Chewy Granola Bars to launch a new nationwide singing competition to find the next young star. The Quaker Chewy Superstar Search gives parents of children ages 8 — 14 a chance to showcase their child’s vocal talents. The parents will work with their kids to record a performance and upload it to enter at ChewySuperstar.com. The winner of will get to have a song produced by Nick Jonas, an online music video, a contract with Jonas Group Management and five thousand dollars in cash.
“Making music is my passion in life and the best way I know how to express myself. I wanted to be part of the Quaker Chewy Superstar Search to help other young musicians make music and follow their dreams.”
TWEET OF THE DAY: CHRIS BROWN
It’s very rare when you hear celebrities complain about how much things cost, but it’s good to know that Chris Brown still has a grasp on what’s expensive and not worth losing or breaking. He wrote, “I just paid $599.99 for the Beats By Dre! These sh**s betnot break! For all that money it should come with it’s own personal driver.”
TWEET OF THE DAY: RYAN TEDDER
From OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder (@OneRepublic) — “Just finished mix on Beyonce song- last one to make her album, once again she blew me away vocally, this is sumthin different- hope ya like!”
JAY-Z SHUTS DOWN 40/40?
Jay-Z has temporarily closed the doors to his 40/40 Club so that his midtown Manhattan nightspot can get renovated. The New York Daily News reports the club will undergo a complete transformation from floor to ceiling and will be re-opened for business in September. In related news, Hova is hard at work on completing his joint album, Watch The Throne, with Kanye West.
MARY J BLIGE SINGS ON SOUNDTRACK FOR THE HELP
Mary J Blige is lending her vocals to an original song, titled “The Living Proof,” for the soundtrack for The Help. If you haven’t heard about this highly anticipated film, it’s a movie adaptation of the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, which is about African American nannies in Jackson, Mississippi who spoke up about the way they were treated working for white families in the 1960’s. MJB recently told us why she was inspired to write the song (See Related Cut #5). The soundtrack will be available Tuesday, July 26th via Interscope Records at select Starbucks locations.
TRAILER LINK: http://youtu.be/_issFDMUoYE
COUNT DOWN TO THA CARTER IV!!!
In just 20 days, Lil Wayne’s much anticipated album, Tha Carter IV, will be available in stores and online. To get fans more excited we will be releasing a “Weezy Fact” every day until the project is available. Each tidbit will correspond to the date in June, leading up until the 21st, when the album drops:
June 2nd: Lil Wayne’s 2010 sentencing was postponed 2 times according to The New York Times online. Once for Wayne’s need for oral surgery, and again for a fire in the basement of the court house he was to be sentenced in.
