Mammoth Music Blog: April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Young Jeezy Concert Called Off Because of Swine Flu

With more than 100 schools closing and 176 reported deaths from swine flu in Mexico and cases confirmed in nine countries, the World Health Organization is on the brink of calling the swine flu a global pandemic. The University of Delaware canceled two major events due to the disease.

According to the Delaware News Journal, a Young Jeezy concert at the Bob Carpenter Center, as well as a talk with the host of PBS' "Washington Week," Gwen Ifill, has been canceled. Jeezy was supposed to perform with an up-and-coming artist, Drake. However, since 10 students at the campus are suspected to be carrying the virus, it was in their best interest to call off the events.

University president Patrick T. Harker wrote in a letter to the students of Wednesday, "While the Centers for Disease Control have not yet confirmed any swine flu diagnoses, I have no doubt that these suspected cases are causing a great deal of concern among the entire campus community. The University's first priority is the health and well-being of our students and employees."

The university will continue to stay open and have classes but will make decisions regarding large public events on a case-by-case basis.
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The Collectible Fender Stratocaster Market

New to the maze that's the collectible Fender Stratocaster market? Join me as I reacquaint myself with the current state of the market after a several-year Stratocaster hiatus. In light of the world's current state, economic, political and health included, it will be interesting to see what impact things have had on the vintage and non-vintage collectible Stratocaster. But first, for those new to this world, let's first go over a few basic ideas.

An old Stratocaster may or may not be collectible, despite the word vintage. Its collectibility depends on a number of factors such as year of manufacture and current condition (refinished, refretted, replaced electronics, etc., see this article by George Gruhn). Likewise, a rare and significant Custom Shop Stratocaster might not be a vintage instrument, but still very collectible. What's of concern in this article are collectible Stratocasters, both vintage and non-vintage. Note too though, that an argument can be made that the word vintage automatically connotes an element of collectibilty as opposed to the adjectives old or used. For example, a Frankenstrat assembled from a hodgepodge of parts from the '50s and '60s would certainly result in an old or used Stratocaster, but if we take the word seriously, not a vintage Stratocaster. In this line of thinking, using collectible and vintage together is a redundancy.

At what age does a used Stratocaster become a vintage Stratocaster? The answer is a matter of opinion with various sellers advocating milestones such as 20, 25 and 30 years. Most would probably agree that a guitar younger than 20 hasn't yet earned the title of vintage. In general, market interest in a vintage guitar widens the older the instrument is, meaning the number of people interested in a 55-year-old 1954 Stratocaster is probably greater than those interested in a 20-year-old 1989 American Standard. But, saying that the number of people interested in the '54 is greater than those interested in the '89 doesn't mean that there are automatically more ready, willing, and able buyers for the '54 than there are for the '89 in light of the tremendous price difference. An original '54 on eBay will most likely get more page views than an original '89 American Standard, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Standard received more bids as there is probably a larger number of qualified buyers in the Standard's price range.

What fuels the vintage and collectible market? Simply desire. Few of these instruments trade hands because of their playability or tonal quality. If anyone finds a YouTube video of someone playing a Custom Shop Marilyn or Harley Strat in a nightclub, please email me the link. The buy-and-store attitude isn't quite as sharp with vintage Stratocasters as you will find a number of musicians who view them as they were originally intended, working instruments, and likewise a few recording studios keep a variety of vintage guitars on hand precisely for their unique tonal features. But, it's still a safe bet that the majority of vintage and non-vintage collectibles are destined for the display case, closet, or custom storage locker.

The fickle nature of desire makes for a strange and confusing marketplace. Ages and models come in and out of fashion (e.g., the CBS-era Stratocaster's migration from shame to fame) and above all else, what a buyer or seller thinks is significant about a guitar might not be an opinion shared by his counterpart. The collectible Stratocaster market has a number of subcategories, such as 1960s Custom Colors, early Custom Shop one-offs, Custom Shop limited editions, prototypes, artist-related models, '50s two-tone Sunburst Strats, etc. Some collectors follow a particular model, such as the STRAT, the Dan Smith or early American Vintage Reissues. Most Stratocaster fans develop a particular desire bias or two and considering the prolific output from Fender since 1954, it's easy to see why the collectible Stratocaster market is a noisy something-for-everyone playground.

To put this in perspective, let's say that with respect to vintage we use the liberal age of 20. This means we're looking at models manufactured from 1954 through 1989, 35 years of Fender Stratocaster history. Then, if we broaden our interest to include non-vintage collectibles, we have another 20 years to consider, and the last 20 years represents a lineup that is mind boggling in diversity from a standpoint of both U.S. production models and the Custom Shop.

Chances are you're reading this article because you have a pre-existing interest in the Fender Stratocaster and most likely your particular desire bias has already begun to form. To sharpen and focus that bias, it's time to do some homework (or a lot of homework if you're a developing Strataholic). Time to get acquainted with Fender Stratocaster history.

Though websites like Strat Collector News offer a quick fix (or not so quick if you dig deeply), there's probably no better and enjoyable way to get acquainted with the Stratocaster's history than Tom Wheeler's excellent book, The Stratocaster Chronicles (review). It's the history of the Stratocaster from 1954 through 2004 with fact and detail presented in a story-like manner that brings to life the people behind the instrument. Tom's currently working on a new book that will chronicle the history of the Fender Custom Shop that's bound to have an impact on the non-vintage collectible market. Also highly recommended is A.R. Duchossoir's book, The Fender Stratocaster. Strat Collector News has compiled a basic reading list via Amazon that you might find helpful. And, no matter what Stratocasters interest you, it's always a good idea to spend quality time on Fender's current website, both with respect to its current models and the other information resources it offers. Fender is keenly aware of its history and what it offers today often has something to do with what was or was not popular yesterday.

Bob Dylan’s America in The New Issue of Rolling Stone

It's a land of Walt Whitman and Chuck Berry, of border towns and murder ballads -- and America's greatest songwriter may be the last man living there. For the new issue of Rolling Stone on newsstands today, historian and professor Douglas Brinkley followed Bob Dylan from Paris to Amsterdam as the Midwest's most famous son held court on American icons like Elvis Presley, Walt Whitman, Chuck Berry and Carl Sandburg.

Dylan also opened up about his partnership with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who contributed to Dylan's new Together Through Life and mused on playing with the guitarist Mike Bloomfield.

Rolling Stone also takes a look back at the magazine's long history with Dylan in a gallery of his RS covers (he appeared on his first in 1968), and explores the singer's non-musical work in a gallery of his paintings, which have been displayed in galleries worldwide. Plus, read David Fricke's review of Together Through Life. source>>>

A grand lineup for The Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair has landed at least two hot tickets for this year's grandstand: Kelly Clarkson and Kid Rock.

Clarkson, the first "American Idol," scored a No. 1 song this winter, "My Life Would Suck Without You." After disappointing sales for her third album, Clarkson's new CD, "All I Ever Wanted," debuted at No. 1 in March. After headlining KDWB's Star Party on May 14 at Mystic Lake Casino, the on-the-rebound Clarkson will return to Minnesota to the teen-friendly fair on Aug. 30. Tickets, priced at $35, will go on sale May 16.

Kid Rock also got hot again last year thanks to the smash "All Summer Long" from "Rock n Roll Jesus," his best-selling album in seven years. His Detroit hip-hop-meets-redneck rock concert at Target Center in May 2008 was howlingly entertaining. Kid Rock teams up with Lynyrd Skynyrd, the enduring southern rockers and grandstand veterans, on Aug. 29. Tickets, priced from $41 to $66, will go on sale May 9.

The biggest curiosity at the grandstand will be popular ventriloquist Jeff Dunham on Sept. 7.

Filling the grandstand's traditional country slots will be old-school crooner and "American Idol" coach Randy Travis on Sept. 1 and rising, rock-influenced star Jason Aldean, known for "Johnny Cash," "Hicktown" and the current "She's Country," on Aug. 28.

For the jam-band party crowd, the fair has booked O.A.R. and Brett Deneen on Sept. 2.

For baby-boomers, the grandstand will feature two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers who have been performing in the Twin Cities since the 1970s -- Bonnie Raitt with Taj Mahal on Aug. 27 and Jackson Browne on Aug. 31.

Since grandstand-goers love classic rock, the fair has turned once again to REO Speedwagon and Styx on Sept. 5. For a bonus, .38 Special will open.

Rounding out the schedule are Casting Crowns, the popular Christian group from Georgia, on Sept. 3, and Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," at the grandstand for the sixth consecutive year on Sept. 4.
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Jason Aldean Schedules Charity Event During CMA Music Festival

Jason Aldean will host his annual Concert for the Cure event on June 12 during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. The show at the Wildhorse Saloon will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breast cancer research. Aldean will appear at the event immediately following his stadium performance at LP Field with Rodney Atkins, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen and the Zac Brown Band. Bryan will also perform at Aldean's charity event, and additional guests will be announced in the weeks to come. Tickets, priced at $25 to $100, are available to fan club members this week and to the public beginning Saturday (May 2) via Ticketmaster. source>>>

Tim McGraw Hires a New Manager

Tim McGraw has split from longtime manager Scott Siman of RPM Management and has signed a new deal with Red Light Management and its founder, Coran Capshaw, it was announced Wednesday (April 29). Capshaw formed his company in 1991 at the beginning of his role as the personal manager of the Dave Matthews Band. Based in Charlottesville, Va., Red Light Management also has offices in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and Denver. The company has an extensive roster of rock acts, including Alanis Morissette, Chris Cornell and Cheap Trick. Its country clients include Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Heidi Newfield, Rodney Atkins, the Lost Trailers, Phil Vassar and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Capshaw will be the primary management contact for McGraw, the Dave Matthews Band and Phish. source>>>

Jason Michael Carroll Views New Album as "Make or Break"

Jason Michael Carroll's second album, Growing Up Is Getting Old, came out this week, and he feels pretty confident about its sales prospects. But he knows the stakes are high.

"As much as I hate reality shows, this is kind of the reality show of the music business," he says with a chuckle. "If this record does well, I get to stick around. If not, I get voted off the island. This is a make-or-break album -- although I don't really have a Plan B."

So far, Plan A seems to be working. "Where I'm From," the first single from the album, is in the Top 20 and still rising. Moreover, Carroll made a lot of radio programmers sit up and take notice when he previewed songs from the project during the recent Country Radio Seminar.

Carroll's first album, Waitin' in the Country, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country charts and yielded two Top 10 hits -- "Alyssa Lies" and "Livin' Our Love Song."

But the album has sold only a modest 395,000 copies since it emerged two years ago, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the company that tracks such data.

"I called Don Gehman, my producer, the other day," Carroll continues. "I said, 'Don, I really have a good feeling about everything we've done on this record. I think it's going to be a big record for both of us.'

"He said he had the same feeling -- which made me feel good because he's done records with Hootie & the Blowfish, John Mellencamp, Tracy Chapman, R.E.M. and all those folks."

There's no doubt the new album has plenty of musical muscle, whether it's the full-bodied romp of "Barn Burner," the chest-thumping pride of "Where I'm From" or the desolate cry of "Tears."

Carroll is a powerful vocalist who can summon up just about any shade of emotion the lyrics call for. He co-wrote three of the project's 10 songs and turned for the rest to such other A-list writers as Tom Shapiro, Keith Anderson and Patrick Davis.

"[Don and I] didn't put a lot of thought into the 'sophomore curse' thing," Carroll says. "We honestly felt that if we thought negative thoughts, it would have brought [negativity] to it. We focused on making a record that would mean something to us."

Although the two men knew the kind of album they wanted to create, they had only a few songs in hand when they began recording. In fact, Carroll wrote all his songs after the recording started.

"The album definitely grew organically," he says. "We put pieces together. I believed in 'Where I'm From' so much after our first session in the studio, back in April of last year, that when we went out on tour with Carrie Underwood in June, I included it in my set then.

"One of my main goals -- something that's very important to me -- is keeping the music so that a fan can listen to one song on this record and walk away with a little piece of an idea of who I am."

Carroll says the album is "almost biographical," adding, "For every song on there, I can tell you how I relate to it. That was a big deal to me. A lot of fans may or may not get the chance to ever meet me or come see me at shows. So for those fans, I want them to be able to pick up a CD and get just as much about getting to know me as if they were able to come to a show."

One song on the new album, "We Threw It All Away," Carroll regards as a thematic sequel to "Livin' Our Love Song." He should know. He co-wrote both. And both center on his real-life relationship with his wife, Wendy.

"'Livin' Our Love Song' came from the fact that Wendy and I dated in high school for a while," he explains. "Her parents found out and didn't like it. They sent her away to college. Several years went by, and Wendy just happened to come into a nightclub where I was playing in my local cover band back home [in North Carolina]. That was seven years later, and we started talking like we'd never missed a day. People said it would never work out, but look at us now: That's 'Livin' Our Love Song.'

"Well, you fast forward a few years, and 'We Threw It All Away' kind of takes you to that spot where Wendy had gone through college, become an X-ray tech, worked at a great hospital and her parents were very proud of her. I -- after all those years of being in a band and trying to do what I could -- had finally gotten my record deal.

"I remember a couple of months later we found out that Wendy was pregnant. And I'll never forget -- her mom and my mom, her dad and my dad were all telling us the same thing: 'You're throwing everything away.' Although it wasn't the exact way we would have planned it, Wendy and I never felt like that. So that's where that song came from."

A highlight for Carroll in the recording process was getting to write with prize-winning composers Casey Beathard and Paul Overstreet. Their joint contribution to the album is a tune called "That's All I Know."

"I remember walking into the studio that day," Carroll says, "and I really felt we all knew we were going to write something big. The feeling in the room was there. But we were kicking out ideas, and nothing seemed to be as big as we wanted to write it.

"After about five minutes, I looked down at my sheet of paper, and I've got this list of things we've come up with. I said, 'Guys, what if we take this list of things we've been mentioning? They don't really mean a whole lot on their own, but if you put them together, they mean everything.' That's the way we wrote 'That's All I Know.'"

The album's title tune, whose tone is reminiscent of Hank Williams Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)," was one of the last songs Carroll and his producer selected to record. Even though he had no hand in writing it, Carroll says it summed up his feelings perfectly.

"I liked this song from the first time I heard it -- from the opening line, 'It's been a while since I did something I could be arrested for' to the second verse, 'My buddy and I used to raise 'em high and stay out 'til four/But now his new wife won't let me crash on the couch no more.' I love this song because I've lived every piece of it."

To date, Carroll has opened shows for Arista Records labelmates Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson. If all goes as planned, he'll hit the road this fall with another superstar act. Between such major swings, he'll continue to work the fairs and festivals circuit, which he's cheerfully dubbed his Corn Dog & Funnel Cake tour. source>>>

2009 CMT Music Awards on June 16. Tickets go on sale Saturday May 2 at 10 a.m.CT

Want to be part of the action when the biggest stars in country music party along with their most devoted fans? Then make plans now to be in Nashville for the 2009 CMT Music Awards on June 16. Tickets go on sale May 2, and we need you to make the CMT Music Awards Live + Loud.

This year's show will be bigger than ever as it returns to downtown Nashville's Sommet Center. Ticket prices start at just $25 and go up to $99 ticket packages that include a seat on the red carpet as well as the main show. Be sure to get your tickets when they go on sale May 2 at 10 a.m. CT source>>>

Be The First To Hear The New Taking Back Sunday Album - With The Band

Taking Back Sunday are hitting the eastern part of the US next week, and are offering fans in select cities a chance to hear the tracks from the new album on their bus!

All you have to do is simply show up at the locations below! You also might be filmed asking what you thought of the new record, which might be featured in a documentary on Myspace so bring your friends!

Friday, May 1 - Long Island, NY

4:30pm
Looney Tunes
31 Brookvale Ave
West Babylon, NY 11704

Monday, May 4 - Philadelphia, PA

3:00pm
Tunes
910 Route 73 N
Marlton, NJ

5:00
Journeys
Plaza @ King of Prussia
160 N Gulph Rd, SP #1056
King Of Prussia, PA

8:00pm
Denny's
47 Industrial Hwy
Essington PA, 19029

Tuesday, May 5 - New York, NY

4:00pm
McCaren Park
Bedford Ave and N 12th St
Brooklyn, NY 11222

8:00pm
Journeys
Herald Center
1293 Broadway
New York, NY

Thursday, May 7 - Boston, MA

Noon
Whitehorse Tavern
116 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134

2:00pm
WFNX Event
Fan Pier (near the Bank of America Pavilion (across from Seaport Hotel) on Atlantic Ave)

5:00pm
Newbury Comics
859 Boston/Providence Hwy
Route 1
Norwood, MA 02062

8:00pm
Denny's
152 Endicott St
Danvers, MA 01923

Britney Spears announces Europe tour dates

Pop star Britney Spears' first tour of Europe in five years begins in London June 3 and ends in Helsinki July 16, organisers said Wednesday.

"The circus starring Britney Spears" tour began March 3 in New Orleans with 39 concerts scheduled in the US and Canada until May 5, to be followed by eight in London between June 3 and 14 and one in Manchester on June 17.

Next stops will take the 27-year-old star to Dublin on June 19 and 20, Paris on July 5 and 6, Antwerp on July 9, Copenhagen on July 11, Stockholm on July 13 and Helsinki on July 16, the French organisers Nous Productions said.

The organisers said the 50-million-dollar concerts bring together more than 50 artists on stage, including dancers, magicians, clowns and acrobats.

Spears, a few years back said to be the world's most highly paid singer, is gradually getting her career back on track after a torrid period following her 2006 divorce from ex-husband Kevin Federline that culminated in her admission to hospital.

A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday ruled her ex-manager Sam Lutfi and the attorney Jon Eardley stay away from the singer and her family for three years.

The court had already issued a temporary order against Lutfi and Eardly in January. Lawyers for Spears father Jamie, who controls his daughter's estate, alleged the two men had caused the singer emotional distress. source>>>

'Idol:' Everybody Loves Somebody

The rundown on Standards Night: Five contestants left. One hyperenthusiastic mentor in Jamie Foxx, who has coined new favorite "Idol" term for me: "The Throat Olympics." One truthful admission from Randy that he sounds like a broken record. Two dinner napkins apparently sitting on the front of Paula's dress. Four faithful, respectful renditions of Rat Pack tunes. One Adam Lambert. Zero clunkers or absolute train wrecks. One pretty entertaining show. Let's break it down.

Kris Allen. I really liked his "The Way You Look Tonight," particularly in the beginning: It was sultry and smooth and, while it wasn't the Throat Olympics, it still proved he has vocal chops. I actually wished the arrangement hadn't gone uptempo in the second half; I found him more compelling when he did the slow ballad.

Allison Iraheta. I'm not exactly sure why Simon's so hard on her, because I find her to be quite likable -- a real, live, not-weirdly-precocious 17-year-old girl who happens to have an incredibly precocious voice. I liked her "Someone to Watch Over Me." I thought it was sweet that Jamie Foxx told her to think about her family. (And this show made me really love Jamie Foxx. He's spastic in all the right ways.)

Matt Giraud. As I watched him sing "My Funny Valentine," I was thinking, a) That's a really tough song, and b) If he were singing it well enough, I wouldn't be thinking about how tough the song is. But then I remembered something famed "Idol" blogger MJ Santilli told me last week: that Matt sounds better on iTunes than he does on the performance shows. (That's the reason she thinks Simon and the producers have been backing Matt. They think he'd sound good on the radio.) So I rewound his performance and listened with my eyes closed. And it was, indeed, better. Maybe it was just because I didn't have to see that hat.

Danny Gokey. I've been bored with him for weeks now, but you know what? Not tonight. Tonight, I actually liked him, especially when he channeled Taylor Hicks at the end of "Come Rain or Come Shine." Kara and Simon said he's needed that Rat Pack swagger, but I actually think they had it backwards. Danny already has that Rat Pack swagger, a slightly-smarmy sense of self-assuredness, so when he sings earnest ballads, they come across as totally insincere. Tonight, he sang like a self-absorbed, uppity, talented guy, and it was good.

Adam Lambert. Wow. They really let him have a grand entrance, and he took full advantage. I was a little apprehensive when he announced he'd be singing "Feeling Good," which is so overused in the audition rounds. But leave it to Adam to do something totally different with the song. Honestly, between the preening and the tongue, he made me think of a vampire, and there seemed a less-than-slight chance that he'd dive into the audience and chomp on someone's neck. But my love for him has not diminished: This was weird, but it was brave, and you have to admit he's the boldest contestant "Idol" has ever seen.

Who's gone? I still think it's Matt's time. And if he manages to squeak through, then Allison might be in trouble, since she's been there before. We're headed to a Kris-Danny-Adam top three, and at that point, anything goes.

Agree? Disagree? Hash it out in the comments, then come back here tomorrow at 10 for our weekly "Idol" chat.
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New Film Examines Rise, Fall Of Famed Rock Club CBGB's

A new documentary about the former rock club CBGB's is making its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. NY1's Neil Rosen spoke with the filmmaker about the project.

"Burning Down The House: The Story Of CBGB" utilizes interviews and vintage performance footage to movie chronicle the history of the famed downtown club, which was founded in 1973 by Hilly Krystal and served as a launching pad for such groups as The Ramones, The Talking Heads and Blondie.

The movie also focuses on the massive efforts by musicians and the public to save the club, which closed its doors in 2006 following a rent dispute.

Filmmaker Mandy Stein spent her formative years in the club as her father was the head of Sire Records and her mother managed The Ramones.

"My goal in making the film was to make people care and follow this journey of trying to save the club," she said. "And without that history and knowledge you don't really care, so I had to kind of educate the view of what happened there, which is a huge responsibility because it's so many years."

Rosen: Why do you think CBGB's was so important to the New York scene?

Stein: Right before CBGB's opened the Mercer Art Center had collapsed, there just weren't a lot of places for people to play. I think that the legacy of CBGB's is seen in music today, definitely from a band like Blondie, you can see an influence in a band like the Yea Yea Yeas, or from the Ramones to Green Day. I mean the influence, the ripple just keeps going and going.

Rosen: Do you have a favorite personal memory of the place, since you grew up in CBGB's?

Stein: My earliest memory of CBGB's was going to sound check with my mom and Johnny Ramone sort of scolding my mother, like, 'Why did you bring your kids here?' My favorite memory of making the film would be the last week was just so beautiful and so overwhelming and so touching from Patty Smith to the Bad Brains, to Blondie to the Dictators, it was the best music I've seen all at once.

I just think it's really sad when we lose the flavor and core of New York, places like CBGB's and Second Avenue Deli, I mean those places belong in New York and mean New York

To find out when you can catch "Burning Down The House: The Story OF CBGB" at the Tribeca Films Festival, go to TribecaFilm.com/Festival for full details. source>>>

Jason Michael Carroll, Collin Raye Release New Albums

Jason Michael Carroll and Collin Raye are among the artists who released new albums on Tuesday (April 28). Carroll's second album, Growing Up Is Getting Old (Arista), contains his current single, "Where I'm From." Raye is in New York for a series of national TV appearances to promote his new project, Never Going Back (Time Life). Also now in stores are newcomer Dean Brody's self-titled release for Broken Bow Records, bluegrass quartet NewFound Road's Same Old Place (Rounder) and California based singer-songwriter Tim Easton's Porcupine (New West). source>>>

Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus Presents Piano on Behalf of CMA, Nashville Alliance

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts helped deliver a new piano to McGavock High School in Nashville on behalf of the Country Music Association and the Nashville Alliance. The two organizations have raised more than $2.2 million for music programs in Metro Nashville Public Schools. In presenting the Baldwin piano, DeMarcus also fielded questions from students who are active in the school's band, choir and music theory programs. source>>>

Bryan Adams, Jason Aldean Schedule CMT Crossroads

For the past few years, Taylor Swift has connected with country fans as an opening act for big names like Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and George Strait. This month, she embarked on her first headlining tour, complete with semi trucks and dancers. Just before taking the stage in Evansville, Ind., last week, Swift visited with CMT Insider host Katie Cook about her latest obsession.

Cook: This is so much to organize and so much to pull together, but I know you were born for this kind of work. Is it like a dream for you?

Swift: Yes, I'm pretty obsessed with it! My life these past couple of months has been completely circling around this tour. It's just all I think about. It's everything to me, and I'm so excited that we actually get to kick this thing off.

And it's so much your vision. How does it feel knowing that you're not warming up someone else's crowd now?

It's pretty awesome. It's insane to see the trucks pull in, and the trucks have pictures of me on them and not all the other people that I've been opening up for. Having all the buses out here and having all the control over what the backstage area looks like and getting to decide all this stuff to put this show together, I'm so excited!

It's kind of an awesome responsibility. You seem so cool about it.

It's a really, really great responsibility. For me, pressure really motivates me. It's something I really live for. It's the pressure of getting something ready on time, so that's been really fun for me -- to be down to the wire, making sure all the video content is right, making sure all the cues and the lighting cues and timing and the sound and everything is perfect. It's so fun for me.

I've heard you have six dancers?

We have six dancers with us.

Does this mean you're going to be dancing, too?

No! No! There's no choreography that's going to be going on here, but it's cool to have them to accent pieces like "Love Story," where they're completely decked out in period piece costumes. A lot of what we do onstage at this show is theatrical, so they play different parts and different characters, and it's really fun to make it more of a theatrical show.

I know you've got to keep some secrets, but can you tell me a little something about the stage itself?

The stage itself is giant. It's the first time anyone's ever really done this where the entire stage is projectable so it changes every single time we have a new song -- like the stage completely changes and you're seeing something completely different. ... We're going to have a constant flow of entertainment going on. My basic goal for this show is to make it a show and not just a concert and make something where everyone feels they walked out entertained. source>>>

Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" to become the official rock song of Oklahoma.

After weeks of controversy and uncertainty, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry is scheduled to sign an executive order tomorrow (April 28) that names the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" as the official rock song of Oklahoma. Flaming Lips main man Wayne Coyne tells Billboard.com the entire experience has been at times exciting and disappointing, and in quintessential Lips fashion, always surreal.

"It just seemed to me the whole thing was absurd to begin with and now it even becomes more absurd," Coyne says. "Now I really feel like it's something worth fighting for because I don't want people to just think, 'Oh, Oklahoma is this backwards state as we suspected.'"

It's been an interesting experience for the Oklahoma City band. Over the course of a month the act watched as its popular track, from 2002's "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," won an Internet contest for best Sooner State rock song - over All-American Rejects, Leon Russell and The Call - with the measure passed by the Oklahoma state senate and then rejected by the state house of representatives due to the fact band member Michael Ivins wore a sickle and hammer t-shirt.

"You know, when it happened a couple of months back that seemed surreal it ever happened and then when all of this (controversy) started, I think everybody's knee-jerk reaction in the beginning was, 'Ah, we knew it was too good to be true. That's more of the Oklahoma we thought we were dealing with,'" Coyne says. "But it's not true, and I think that's the main reason I wanted to make sure I got to say something about it.

"I don't think we're battling against what we feel is like a backwards mentality here. It's really just a few religious wackos that think they can tell everybody what to do. It's not even to me Democrats versus Republicans. It's really just a couple of these small-minded guys who are the most popular guys in their church and their little small towns. In some ways it's so absurd, it can only make us look good and them look stupid."

For Coyne, the best part of the entire ordeal revolves around Henry vetoing the house rejection of the contest results, which included over 21,000 votes cast.

"There are a lot of other great things that are happening in Oklahoma," Coyne says. "And you know for the governor to stand up and veto it and be on our side, it's such a great story in the end."

Coyne hints the band has one more wrinkle planned for Tuesday's ceremony when Henry will sign the executive order at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

"I think we'll print up a couple of thousand of these (sickle and hammer) t-shirts and everybody who comes to this thing will be wearing one," Coyne says. "We'll see if we can get the governor to wear one too."

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Scottish singer a welcome relief from today’s music

By now most everyone on the planet earth has heard of Susan Boyle. This unassuming woman from Scotland landed on England's version of American Idol and blew the audience and the judges away. It seems that even the ever cynical Simon Cowell went from smirk to smile in a matter of seconds. This, in itself, is enough to make the earth stop rotating on its axis.

I must admit I didn't rush to view the YouTube snippet until a group of my friends couldn't stop ooohing and ahhing. I finally took a peek and thought "wow this woman sounds like a trained vocalist."

What fascinated me even more was that she was singing a song from a Broadway show, "Les Miserables" that took some real "chops." It definitely was operatic in feeling and so different from what most radio stations carry.

I was fortunate to grow up in a family that loved music, particularly opera, jazz, and all things Broadway. Give me a Cole Porter or Gershwin tune sung by Frank Sinatra and I am close to fainting. I have to admit I have liked Rod Stewart's take on some of the oldies too.

I have come to enjoy other songwriters and artists over the years that are more contemporary, but I have always felt that most music today simply keeps replicating itself.

Many of the singers seem to be yodeling instead of singing. At the end of every bar an incessant bleating occurs as if they were trying to give birth to the notes.

I don't know when this shift was made, but it is so refreshing when someone allows the music to shine and gives us some space to think about the lyrics and we are able to understand them.

There have been times when one of my grandchildren will be playing a song and I have to keep asking them "what did they say." I strain to hear, but it all sounds so muddled. They seem to have no problems, so either I am going deaf or the younger generation has accommodated themselves to mumbling.

Whatever the reasons, it is interesting to see the impact Boyle has had on Americans. Perhaps we have all become too invested in mediocrity and when someone finally comes along that has not, we sigh with relief and gratitude. source>>>

Bob Dylan,John Mellencamp,Willie Nelson Team Up For U.S. Ballpark Tour

American rock artist Bob Dylan has announced Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp will be joining him on his U.S. summer concert tour. The trio will perform at Louisville Slugger Field on July 8 as a part of Dylan's ongoing tour of minor-league baseball parks.

"I'm really proud and happy to be on tour with these two artists. Very few people get to grow up and go on tour with guys they've admires for so long," Mellencamp said in a press release.

"The Bob Dylan Show" has been touring minor league baseball parks during the summers since 2004 and this will be only the second time in the past 24 years these three performers have shared a concert stage, Columbia Records said in a news release Friday.

They'll hit cities including Norfolk, Virginia; Corpus Christi, Texas and Las Vegas before wrapping up on August 15 at the Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, California.

Dylan will also release a new album, "Together Through Life," on Tuesday.

All tickets, which go on sale in May 9 for the July and August 2009 gigs, are priced at $67.50 and most shows are general admission.

The tour dates are:

* Sauget, IL GCS Ballpark (July 2)
* South Bend, IN Coveleski Stadium (July 4)
* Rothbury, MI Rothbury ( July 5)
* Louisville, KY Slugger Field (July 8)
* Dayton, OH Fifth Third Field (July 10)
* Eastlake, OH Classic Park ( July 11)
* Washingtom, PA Consol Energy Park ( July 13)
* Allentown, PA Coca-Cola Park ( July 14)
* New Britain, CT Stadium (July 15)
* Syracuse, NY Alliance Bank Stadium ( July 19)
* Pawtucket, RI McCoy Stadium (July 21)
* Lakewood, NJ FirstEnergy Park ( July 23)
* Aberdeen, MD Ripken Stadium ( July 24)
* Norfolk, VA Harbor Park (July 25)
* Durham, MC Bulls Athletic Park ( July 28)
* Seviervielle, TN Smokies Park (July 29)
* Round Rock, TX Dell Diamond (August 4)
* Corpus Christi, TX Whataburger Field ( Aug 5)
* Grand Prairie, TX QuikTrip Park ( Aug 7)
* Glendale, AZ Camelback Ranch ( Aug 11)
* Las Vegas, NV Cashman Field ( Aug 12)
* Fresno, CA Chukcansi Park ( Aug 14)
* Stockton, CA Banner Island Ballpark ( Aug 15) source>>>

Friends for 16 Years, Keith Urban and Monty Powell Celebrate "Sweet Thing" Success

Keith Urban and Monty Powell celebrated the No. 1 success of "Sweet Thing" with a small party at the SESAC offices in Nashville on Thursday afternoon (April 23). Both songwriters declined to formally address the industry crowd, but they also co-wrote Urban's new single, "Kiss a Girl," and their collaborative track record is well-established: "Days Go By," "Tonight I Wanna Cry," "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me," "She's Gotta Be" and "These Are the Days," among many others.

Prior to the party, Powell recalled the first time he heard Urban perform.

"It was at the Ace of Clubs in 1993-ish," he said. "It's funny, because we had a meeting about me producing his band, the Ranch, before I even ever heard him play. He just took a cold call. He came and told me what he was doing and said they were going to be playing later that week. ... The first time you see that band and his guitar playing and his singing, all at one time, it was like, 'I definitely want to get connected with this.'"

Asked what set Urban apart, Powell said, "I think it was the combination of his musical artistry -- his guitar playing and the way he fronted a power trio. You see a lot of people who can stand there and sing a song but a star -- a front man, one who carries an entire show or band with him -- is rare."

The two men struck up a business partnership, with Powell ultimately producing a few sides that ended up on the Ranch's album released by Capitol Nashville in 1997. Unsuccessful the first time out, the label reissued the album with bonus tracks in 2004. When Urban went solo, he chose their mutual friend, Matt Rollings, to produce the album.

"I was like, 'OK, cool. My role as a producer maybe has had its place, but there's still a creative place where we can connect and it's in songwriting,'" Powell says. "So we never looked back."

The first time they actually wrote together, Powell still couldn't get over Urban's instrumental prowess: "I remember thinking, 'If I could play guitar like that ... .' Honestly, if I could play a guitar like that, they would have to come find me on Mars. I mean, it's just unlimited"

A native of Resaca, Ga., Powell moved to Nashville in 1980 to attend David Lipscomb College. After co-founding a production company, he composed a jingle for Allstate that aired during the Super Bowl. One of his jingle singers, Van Stephenson of BlackHawk, introduced him around town and helped him find a publishing deal. In the early '90s, Powell co-wrote numerous songs with Diamond Rio, a band he recruited to the fledging label, Arista Nashville. The band quickly established itself at country radio with songs like "Norma Jean Riley" and "Nowhere Bound," both of which Powell co-wrote. Incidentally, his college roommate was Diamond Rio singer Marty Roe.

Powell's other songwriting credits include Alabama's "Pete's Music City" (his first cut), Brooks & Dunn's "I Am That Man," Tracy Byrd's "Love Lessons," Chris Cagle's "What a Beautiful Day," Billy Ray Cyrus' "Could've Been Me," Billy Dean's "Cowboy Band," Tim McGraw's "One of These Days," Rascal Flatts' "She Goes All the Way," Collin Raye's "My Kind of Girl," Restless Heart's "Dancy's Dream" and Lee Ann Womack's "When You Gonna Run to Me." He won a CMA Award in 1994 for production work on the multi-artist collection, Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles. He's currently involved in an artist management firm representing new artists James Otto, Trent Tomlinson and Chuck Wicks.

Powell says "It's a Love Thing" -- one of the first songs he and Urban co-wrote -- is what finally convinced the industry that Urban was for real. The song reached No. 18 at country radio in 1999.

"I feel like we were constantly trying to explain to everyone around us, 'No, you don't understand. This is the deal,'" Powell said. "It took a little while to get critical mass. I think the very thing that ... made it be really cool is the very thing that made it be obtuse to a lot of people. Here's a guitar slinger -- a good-looking kid who's not even from this country -- and yet who can recite every Don Williams album and Glen Campbell song. They were just not sure what to make of him or what convenient little slot to put him in.

"'Love Thing,' which was his first single as a solo artist, showed that not only could he keep all of those elements about himself together, he could also deliver it in a package that made sense to a country audience and country radio. So when all those elements kind of fused in that first song, everyone said, 'Oh, now we can see how this is going to work in our format.'"

When he hears "Sweet Thing" on the radio now, Powell says he's proud of the consistency of their collaborations.

"Keith can write with whoever he wants to, whenever he wants to, and he has taken plenty of creative excursions down other roads," Powell said. "Clearly, I take creative excursions all the time as a songwriter. I think it requires a certain amount of commitment to each other personally and loyalty to come back to that and give it a chance to work again because it would be easy to say, 'You know what, we've gone to that well a lot of times, and I'm ready for something new.' But we both keep coming back to that thing, and it keeps working."

Taylor Swift Presented Key to the City of Evansville, Ind.

Taylor Swift accepted a key to the city of Evansville, Ind., prior to her concert there on Thursday (April 24). In addition, City Council President B.J. Watts declared Wednesday (April 23) as Taylor Swift Day. The sold-out concert was the first stop for her first headlining tour. Kellie Pickler and new group Gloriana are the opening acts. Swift has divided her set into three acts, with an acoustic portion in the second set. She plays seven instruments and undergoes eight costume changes during her performance. Swift's tour is currently scheduled through Oct. 10. View photos of Taylor Swift's visit to Evansville, Ind source>>>

Rodney Atkins Has No. 1 Song With "It's America"

Rodney Atkins' "It's America" has ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart while Rascal Flatts' Unstoppable holds the No. 1 perch for the second week on the top country albums chart.

Two albums make their debut this week: John Doe and the Sadies' Country Club (at No. 39) and The Best of Trick Pony (No. 58). Returning to the chart are the companion various-artists collections, Bill Gaither Presents: Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One and Volume Two at No. 64 and No. 68, respectively.

New to the songs chart are Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" (No. 32), Joe Nichols' "Believers" (No. 53) and Miranda Lambert's "Dead Flowers" (No. 59). Staging comebacks are Pat Green's "What I'm For" (re-entering at No. 55) and Lee Ann Womack's "Solitary Thinkin'" (No. 56).

Arrayed in the No. 2 through No. 5 slots behind Unstoppable are Jason Aldean's Wide Open, Swift's Fearless, Keith Urban's Defying Gravity and Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride, in that order.

Darius Rucker's Learn to Live, a former No. 1 album, is on the rebound, taking a big leap this week from No. 10 to No. 6.

Among the current Top 5 songs, Rascal Flatts' "Here Comes Goodbye" slips back to No. 2. At No. 3 is Aldean's "She's Country." Underwood holds the No. 4 berth with "I Told You So." And Tim McGraw completes the set with "Nothin' to Die For."
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50 CENT OFFERED $100 MILLION TO JOIN JAY Z AT LIVE NATION!!

April 27, 2009. MediaTakeOut.com has been reporting on the recent problems between 50 Cent and his record label Interscope. Well 50 may have the last laugh in all of this.

According to an EXTREMELY well placed source, 50 has been offered a $100 MILLION deal with Live Nation. The deal, which MediaTakeOut.com has EXCLUSIVELY learned of, would cover 50s touring and 5 albums.

And it gets better. MediaTakeOut.com's insider claims that Shawn "Jay Z" Carter has been "instrumental" in putting together this deal with 50.

Who said there's no money in the music biz.. source>>>

John Rich, Hank Williams Jr. Get Topical, Tackle Current Events With Songs

There is a long tradition in country music of songs that provide social commentary and observation or even criticism. It harkens back to Woody Guthrie and his blunt songs of social observation and his lovelier songs about this country such as "This Land Is Your Land" and "Pastures of Plenty."

And there have many, many examples over the years, from Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" to Loretta Lynn's "The Pill" to Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" and many more. I'm pleased to see there are a few current songs that are about what's actually happening now, as opposed to what's not.

Obviously, the country audience has plenty of room for all the current songs about how country we all truly are and how we're all actually from a small town where mom and dad were high school sweethearts and you were the high school quarterback or the homecoming queen. Back when we all really came from Mayberry. And we knew what a tractor was and that it should be green. And that we should drive a pickup truck and it should be an F-150. But many listeners also yearn for some meat on the bones of their music.

"Shuttin' Detroit Down" by John Rich is one such meaty song. Rich wrote it with John Anderson, one of the few gifted populist country singer-songwriters who are still walking around Nashville and writing and singing. They use a two-by-four piece of lumber to preach about some current economic policies. This is a prime example of a song that was meant for a stellar video and it got one, with Mickey Rourke and Kris Kristofferson carrying the load in a production that amplifies the song's impact. It's a plain, unadorned populist message saying that this country shouldn't abandon Detroit and the American automobile industry. The song is also a blistering attack on banking's bonus babies. John Anderson has also recorded "Detroit" in a somewhat faster version for his forthcoming CD, Bigger Hands, due June 9.

There's a more powerful song on the new Rich album Son of a Preacher Man. It's about his grandfather, titled "The Good Lord and the Man." His grandfather was a heroic soldier from World War II, and Rich uses his life to sketch a broad and vivid vision of the greatest generation's contributions and what they stand for today. A good song is the equivalent of a three-minute sermon, and some deliver the message in that short time.

I can't remember ever agreeing with John Rich's politics, but the man knows and deeply loves country music, and I respect him for that.

With "Red White and Pink-Slip Blues," Hank Williams Jr. looks at the personal impacts of job layoffs. He didn't write it -- Mark Stephen Jones and Arthur Tower did. Jones also has another great song title with "Screwdriver and a Vicodin." Jones also does a softer, partly narrated version of "Pink-Slip Blues" on his CD, Self Made Man. Ultimately, the song's title surpasses the song, but it's a worthy effort.

Twelve severed heads in a bag. That's the dramatic and searing image left by the aptly-titled "Corrido Twelve Heads in a Bag" by the Krayolas from their CD Long Leaf Pine (No Smack Gum). Obviously, it's a commentary on the spate of brutal murders by Mexican drug gangs. And it's a very graphic song. The Krayolas are a San Antonio group in the long and honorable tradition of Tex-Mex groups in Texas. And on this album, they borrow the wonderful Augie Meyers on Vox organ and piano and also the West Side Horns, both from Doug Sahm's glory days in San Antone.

"Homeland Refugee" by the Flatlanders is an eloquent tale of the suddenly homeless finding themselves reliving the grim days of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. "I lost my home when the deal went bust/To the so-called security and trust" and from there, life spirals downward, until "the pastures of plenty are burning by the sea/And I'm just a homeland refugee."

"Christmas in Rehab" on Kacey Jones' forthcoming CD, Donald Trump's Hair, is another great song title. The former lead singer of the group Ethel & the Shameless Hussies has a quirky new CD with this cut tucked away on it. I've waited for years for someone in country music to write a song titled "Christmas in Rehab." (So why didn't I write it myself? Good question.) Rehab is the spa of last resort for many a Nashville star, so why not consider spending Christmas in rehab? Many people already do. Jones also includes here the acerbic song, "Something's Wrong With Kenny Rogers' Face."

Susan Boyle. Not her song per se, but her appearance on Britain's Got Talent and the subsequent worldwide hubbub about her. Her significance here: She is a total repudiation of the entire current Botox culture. Will that impact last? That's entirely up to the public.
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Kenny Chesney Has Earned $65 Million Since June 2008, Says Forbes

Kenny Chesney tops the list of the highest-earning country stars over the last year, according to Forbes magazine. The publication calculated concert grosses, merchandise revenue, album sales and income from endorsement and licensing deals since June 2008, and the totals include projected earnings through May 2009. Chesney was trailed by Rascal Flatts ($60 million), Toby Keith ($52 million), Taylor Swift ($18 million), Brooks & Dunn and Tim McGraw ($16 million each), Brad Paisley ($15 million), Sugarland and Carrie Underwood ($14 million each) and Alan Jackson ($12 million) source>>>

Christian Music's Biggest Night to Air Live Tonight

Christian music fans across the nation will be tuning in Thursday night for the live broadcast of the highly anticipated 40th Annual GMA (Gospel Music Association) Dove Awards.

Set to begin at 8 p.m. ET, the two-hour awards show will feature multiple musical performances from dozens of artists as well as appearances from a number of well-known celebrities.

Performers this year include established Christian favorites Mary Mary, Chris Tomlin, Natalie Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, as well as newcomers Francesca Battistelli, Chris Sligh, and Tenth Avenue North, among many others.

Also to take place will be a special tribute to Southern Gospel legend Dottie Rambo, who died in a tragic bus accident last year, and - one hour before the show - the world premiere of a new documentary special, "From Idol to Inspiration," which explorers the impact of popular reality show "American Idol" on the Christian music industry and vice-versa.

The main event, of course, will be the presentation of the Dove Awards, which will be handed out in 43 categories, including two - Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year - that will go to artists who drew the largest number of fan votes.

Leading the pack in nominations this year is renowned Christian worship leader and song writer Chris Tomlin with seven nods, followed closely by CCM singer and songwriter Natalie Grant with six. Both Tomlin and Grant are also vying again for "Male Vocalist of the Year" and "Female Vocalist of the Year," respectively, after having won in their respective categories for three consecutive years to date.

This year also marks the second straight time that the Dove Awards will be televised live by the Gospel Music Channel after years syndicating the event and having it shown later on tape.

The rapidly growing television network is currently available in more than 45 million homes in all major markets on the major cable systems as well as on DIRECTV on Channel 338.

The 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards encores on GMC at 10 p.m. ET and 12 a.m. ET. source>>>

Euro Parliament Ups Music Copyright Term To 70 Years, No Fee Change For Artists

The European Parliament has voted to extend the length of recorded music copyright to 70 years from 50 across the European Union, in a move that will delight music industry bosses and campaigners who feel that artists get an unfair revenue share in an mp3 age.

The motion, drafted by Irish MEP Brian Crowley, was passed Thursday by a 377 to 178 majority with 37 abstaining. MEPs had rejected plans to introduce a 95-year extension, with the 70-year rule a compromise brokered by several states including the UK. Member states have been given two years to introduce the legislation to their own legal systems and parliament has asked the EC to review the rules after three years to judge its impact, particular on the digital market. Release.

-- No revenue change: Many artists, including Billy Bragg (pictured) and the Featured Artists' Coalition, will be disappointed that there is no change in the proportion of revenue artists get from music sales. Artists commonly get between five and 15 percent of sales, with music companies traditionally taking the rest to pay for CD production and distribution. But with CD sales in decline and digital distribution increasing many challenge whether labels deserve to benefit on the same terms for an extra 20 years. Or as Bill Bragg told AP, "Now that they no longer have to (make CDs), that money will go straight into their bottom line."

-- MEPs' opposition: French Socialist MEP Guy Bono voted against the bill and sent us a thunderous communiqué saying the bill was "a gift to the music industry's failure to adapt to the digital revolution". Bono, also an active voice in opposing the graduated response bill on forcing ISPs to cut off repeat piracy offenders, argues that artists get about five percent on each CD sold. Eva Lichtenberg, a Green Party MEP from Austria, says: "Parliament's vote will be music to the ears of the big record companies and top-earning artists" (via Reuters).

-- - Old and new: The new term will apply to new music as well as old -- so it is good news for Cliff Richard, The Beatles and other artists whose 1950s/60s catalogues are about to expire. The extension isn't automatic, however: artists will have to re-negotiate their deals with labels and licensing agencies to enjoy another 20 years after hitting the 50-year mark. An amendment prevents music companies from using previous agreements to get extra royalties from the extended copyright term.

-- Use it or lose it: If music companies don't make material publicly available after the 50-year mark has passed, artists can file to terminate the original contract entirely and take over copyright control themselves.

-- Audio-visual: Parliament repeated its request that the European Commission launches a inquiry into copyright relating to audio and visual content by January 2010, with the aim of passing similar extension legislation. source>>>

Miss California Carrie Prejean scheduled for Dove Awards

Miss California Carrie Prejean has been confirmed as a presenter for Thursday night's Dove Awards show, which airs live from the Grand Ole Opry House at 7 p.m. on the

Prejean, who was crowned runner-up during Sunday night's Miss USA pageant, made national news after judge Perez Hilton asked her about her stance on legalizing gay marriage. She replied that that "marriage should be between a man and a woman."

News stories following the pageant reported Prejean thinks she would have won the title had she answered the question differently. Yet she has stood by her response, telling host Matt Lauer on Tuesday's NBC's Today that she spoke from the heart.

"She apparently answered in a particular way as a person of faith," says Brad Siegel, vice chairman of Gospel Music Channel. "For the show, having a person of faith who has gone as far as she went in the Miss USA pageant who has high celebrity and who is a big fan of Christian music is a great reason to have her be a presenter."

Prejean, who is rumored to be dating Olympian Michael Phelps, will introduce MercyMe during the program.

Others presenting or performing on Thursday night's Dove Awards show include Francesca Battistelli, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant with special guest Group 1 Crew, Brandon Heath, Mary Mary, Jonathan Nelson, Remedy Drive, Chris Sligh, Tenth Avenue North, Third Day and Chris Tomlin. source>>>

Rob Thomas Premieres Single, Gears Up For Album, Tour

Rob Thomas kicks off support of his June 30 solo album, "Cradlesong," by premiering lead single "Her Diamonds" on Billboard.com, planning a North American fall tour, and lending another new song to the NBA playoffs.

Dates for Thomas' fall trek will be announced this summer, but fans will be able to catch the Matchbox Twenty frontman performing on NBC's "Today" show summer concert series on July 3, three days after "Cradlesong" is released.

Rob Thomas (above) was influenced by global sounds on new album "Cradlesong." Single, "Her Diamonds" (cover shown below) is streaming at the top of this article.

Like Kanye West, Thomas also recently lent a song to the NBA for its 2009 playoff season. On April 19, the NBA began using "Give Me The Meltdown," also from "Cradlesong," as the music bed for select playoffs promos airing on ABC and ESPN.

Thomas' first solo album, "...Something to Be," debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 in 2005 and has sold 1,587,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. He also co-wrote the 1999 mega-hit "Smooth," which Billboard last year named the No. 2 Hot 100 song of all time. Matchbox Twenty has sold north of 16 million albums. But Thomas says he works hard to not let his success affect his everyday life. "It's a cliché, but I try to keep the focus on the music," the singer tells Billboard in a cover story available on Friday (April 24). "I'm not going to move to L.A. and go out every night."

Collaborations with South American and African percussionists had a strong influence on the global rhythms included on "Cradlesong," Thomas told Billboard.com last fall. "We started off with the idea of doing a newer version of [Paul Simon's] "Rhythm of the Saints," Thomas said. "And that kinda carried us a long way through. It gave us a whole new bed to work with, like 'How do I get my pop sensibility around this and work it into that?' It was a lot of fun." source>>>

For many on ‘Idol,’ the church came first

Despite the biblical Second Commandment against creating idols, the faithful flock to become the next one on "American Idol."

Singers who honed their skills Sunday mornings are dominating the show in 2009. Four of the remaining seven contestants came out of churches. They include a favorite, Danny Gokey, and Kris Allen, both church worship leaders. Matt Giraud has released two Christian music CDs; and Lil Rounds has said she "grew up in church."

Two contestants bounced recently, Michael Sarver and Scott McIntyre, were also church singers.

Past winners with Christian connections or who have released gospel albums include Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Jordin Sparks. There is good reason for the success rate.

"The church is one of the last places where young people are taught music today," said David Lewis, a former news reporter who produced "From Idol to Inspiration," a documentary for Atlanta-based Gospel Music Channel.

It airs at 7 p.m. today before the channel broadcasts the Dove Awards, the gospel music set's equivalent to the Grammys.

"Music programs in public schools are wilting or nonexistent at this point," he said. But in church, kids are taught music and start singing for audiences as soon as they can stand, Lewis said.

Brad Siegel, vice chairman of the channel, said a co-worker pointed out the gospel-"Idol" connection just a month or so ago.

"I said, 'This is it! This is absolutely perfect for us,' " Siegel said.

He knew Lewis when he worked for CNN and asked him to create a news show to lead in for the Dove Awards, where several past "Idol" performers will be singing. Lewis took it on in part because of the surprise factor.

" 'American Idol' is the massive juggernaut of a TV program, and you don't think of something like that," he said.

Siegel said, "I think God wants to hear music and see people dance. I guess that is his way of making it happen."
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Kid Rock, Dwight Yoakam Unite for the Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit

Kid Rock and Dwight Yoakam will appear together on a track on an upcoming album by the Eagles' bassist and singer, Timothy B. Schmit, according to Billboard. The album, titled Expando, is expected to be released in the fall and will feature all original material. Schmit recorded the project, his first solo album in eight years, in his home studio. Other guests will include Graham Nash, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Keb' Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Van Dyke Parks and The Band's Garth Hudson. source>>>

Kid Rock, Dwight Yoakam Unite for the Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit

Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton to Sing on Maura O'Connell's New Album

Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton are among the many singers who will appear on Maura O'Connell's upcoming album, Naked With Friends. A mix of traditional and contemporary songs, the a cappella album will be released June 16 on Sugar Hill Records. Other guests include Paul Brady, Mary Black, Jerry Douglas, the Duhks' Sarah Dugas, Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott, as well as many contemporary Irish singers. "The idea of doing a record like this has been with me a very long time," O'Connell says. "I'm always being asked why I don't play an instrument or why I don't write songs. I've gathered the consciousness that singing should be just fine, that it is a viable talent on its own. source>>>

Alan Jackson Creates Ideal World in His Music Videos

So great are his powers of self-effacement that Alan Jackson often seems a bystander in his own music videos. It's not that he's camera shy -- he's made more than 40 videos -- it's just that he's a master at directing our attention elsewhere.

Even when his lyrics are in first person, his "I's," "me's" and "my's" tend to focus on matters bigger than himself -- things like love, family, home and the distant joys of youth. He functions basically in his videos as a strolling troubadour who tells you stories so rich in images and so deep in emotions that he's gone before you notice. Such is the scenario for his latest video, "Sissy's Song," a tribute to a departed friend.

In a much less serious video, "www. memory," his singing face is everywhere, from the side of a passing bus to the front page of a newspaper to the top of a water tower. But the figure who really grabs and holds you is the svelte, black-clad blonde in the red PT Cruiser who looks upon this infestation of Alans with increasing alarm.

Jackson established who he is and what he values in 1989 with his first video, "Blue Blooded Woman." In it, he's a blue-collar garage owner who dates an elegant classical violinist. ("She loves the violin, I love the fiddle," so the song goes.) And he's simply one of the guys -- hard working, good natured, with no airs, no pretensions and no small talk. It's the persona that will inhabit all his subsequent videos.

Of the fabled Class of '89, Jackson was the only one to use videos to develop himself into a consistently recognizable "brand." Garth Brooks and Travis Tritt experimented with a series of dramatic roles that allowed you to see in them a variety of personalities. Clint Black never settled on a video identity that was any more specific than the one suggested by the lyrics of the particular song he was singing. But Jackson was same down-to-earth character every time he appeared on screen.

Just as important, he created his personal Garden of Eden -- the small-town South, to which his songs and videos would return again and again. There would be new stories but no surprising changes of image.

"Here in the Real World" and "Wanted" (both 1990) were visually and thematically somber, but "Don't Rock the Jukebox" (1991) allowed Jackson to kick up his heels a bit as he's proclaiming his affinity for traditional country music. The more Jackson rocks out, though, the more our gaze is drawn to the man silhouetted at a table beside the jukebox. There's something familiar about that profile. Could it be? Why, yes it is. It's George Jones. Jackson has succeeded in upstaging himself.

The same thing happens in "Midnight in Montgomery" (1992) in which he salutes another musical idol, Hank Williams. Shot in black and white, the video follows the singer as he alights from his tour bus late at night and walks to Williams' grave. There he's approached by "a drunk man in a cowboy hat" who speaks to him and then vanishes, only to appear again as a fleeting shadow as Jackson re-boards his bus. Here the dead have a stronger presence than the living.

"Chattahoochee" (1993) accentuated Jackson's fun-loving side and created the image that will stay with him for life -- that of him water-skiing wildly in jeans and cowboy hat. Even with such a strong visual, however, he doesn't dominate the video. Just as compelling are the young lovers stealing a kiss and the lissome lass in the bathing suit.

"Livin' on Love" (1994), Jackson's video valentine to his parents, celebrates love that matures and endures through mutually experienced hardships. Illustrating that point is a series of old photos of a couple at different stages of their life. In 2003, Jackson revisited this same theme in "Remember When," which features videos and photos of his wife and children. It is one of the most poetic and moving videos to come out of country music.

"Drive (For Daddy Gene)" (2002) is another family-themed outing in which Jackson recalls his father teaching him how to drive a boat and a truck and how he must now teach those skills to his own daughters. Each video opens the door wider on the singer's idealized world and values.

While "Chattahoochee" showed the joys of rural living, "Little Man" (1999) illustrates its dark side. Jackson explains at the start of the video that he was inspired to write the song on which it is based after he impulsively decided to hop into his car and take a long drive.

That drive led him through a string of small towns whose mom-and-pop businesses had dried up because of the onset of Wal-Marts, self-serve gas stations, convenience stores and strip malls. The video is less of a rallying cry than a death knell. It's not hard to imagine the garage-owner depicted in Jackson's first video as being a victim of this ruthless commercial onslaught.

Artistically speaking, the video for "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" (2001) has little going for it. It was shot live during the CMA Awards and consists of Jackson sitting on a stool singing with his band, backup singers and a string section lined up behind him. But he sings of the awful events of the previous Sept. 11 with such serenity, reassurance and wisdom that his performance is spellbinding.

This is the Alan Jackson you notice. source>>>

Rod Stewart Reunites With Jeff Beck at Los Angeles Concert

Just weeks after reuniting with Jeff Beck Group bassist Ronnie Wood at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Jeff Beck found himself onstage with another former bandmate from his namesake band last night as Rod Stewart hit the stage at Beck's gig at the El Rey in Los Angeles. According to Live Daily, Stewart surprised Beck last night when he appeared onstage with a microphone in hand, singing on covers of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" and Willie Dixon's "I Ain't Superstitious," which Beck and Stewart recorded together in 1967 for the Jeff Beck Group's Truth.

Stewart served as vocalist of the Jeff Beck Group for the classic LPs Truth and Beck-Ola. Wood, who along with Beck's former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page performed at the Rock Hall ceremony, was also a member of that Jeff Beck Group lineup. After Beck-Ola, both Stewart and Wood left the Group, forming another band that has been surrounded by reunion talk in recent months, the Faces. Beck and Stewart briefly reunited again in 1985 for their cover of "People Get Ready" for Beck's Flash. Last year, Rolling Stone spoke to Beck about the prospect of the Jeff Beck Group possibly reuniting, and at the time Beck seemed pessimistic. "Reformation of bands is never my idea of a good idea. Leave well enough alone, especially 35 years after it happened," Beck told RS. "It would be fun if we did it in private to see if it would sound any good, but leave it well enough alone and remember it for being groundbreaking at the time."

Joss Stone also guested at Beck's concert last night, singing on a cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher." As Rock Daily previously reported, Jeff Beck was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist after already receiving the honor as a member of the Yardbirds. For much more on this year's Rock Hall ceremony, check out our Rock Hall hub. source>>>

eBay frenzy sends Susan Boyle's CDs soaring

Rare CDs featuring Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle have sparked a bidding frenzy on eBay, with people willing to pay more than £1,000 for one.

Just 1,000 copies of Sounds Of West Lothian, featuring the 48-year-old's version of Cry Me A River, were made in 1999.

Boyle, of Blackburn, West Lothian, shot to fame last week on the TV show. source>>>

CMA Festival Riverfront Lineup Includes James Otto, Chuck Wicks

The lineup for the CMA Music Festival's riverfront stages has been announced. On June 11, performers include the Bellamy Brothers, Diamond Rio, Neal McCoy, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Randy Rogers Band, Ashton Shepherd, Phil Vassar and Chuck Wicks. The June 12 lineup features John Anderson, Eric Church, Bucky Covington, the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party (featuring Trent Willmon, Jeff Bates, Mark Wills), Randy Houser, Oak Ridge Boys, Jamie O'Neal, Aaron Tippin and Clay Walker. On June 13, performers include Bill Anderson, Keith Anderson, Tracy Byrd, Jason Michael Carroll, Emerson Drive, the Lost Trailers, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan and Chris Young. Appearing June 14 are the Eli Young Band, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, Jessica Harp, Joey & Rory, Joe Nichols, Collin Raye, Restless Heart and Darryl Worley. The daytime performances will take place in downtown Nashville and are free to the public. source>>>

Martina McBride Teams With Winemaker for Red Blend

Martina McBride and Blackbird Vineyards have partnered for an exclusive Napa Valley proprietary red wine as part of the vineyard's signature series. The blend is 56 percent cabernet sauvignon, 38 percent merlot and 6 percent cabernet franc. "I've been able to taste incredible wines while traveling the world on tour," says McBride. "I sampled Blackbird Vineyards' wines while on a trip to Napa Valley and loved them." The wine is available through her Web site and the $60 bottle features her stamped autograph. source>>>

Rascal Flatts Announce Summer Tour, Two Stadium Shows

Rascal Flatts will launch a summer tour on June 5 in St. Louis with opening act Darius Rucker. Sponsored by J.C. Penney with associate sponsor Hershey's, the tour will conclude Sept. 12 in Boston. The itinerary also includes two stadium concerts. The first will take place July 18 at Chicago's Wrigley Field with Rucker and special guest Vince Gill. The band will also play the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio -- the hometown of members Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus -- on Aug. 9 with Rucker and special guest Dierks Bentley. source>>>

Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift to Perform at CMT Music Awards

Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift are among the first round of performers announced for the 2009 CMT Music Awards to be held June 17 at Nashville's Sommet Center. Tickets go on sale on May 2 via Ticketmaster. Prices start at $25 and will go up to $99 for a ticket package that includes a seat on the red carpet as well as the main show. Fan voting continues through May 11, and final nominees in all categories except video of the year will be revealed on May 19. Learn more about this year's CMT Music Awards. source>>>

Black Panta signs worldwide recording deal at Tropical Records.

- Tropical Records Inks A Landmark Distribution Deal With The Newly Formed Gee Cee Records and Dancehall Superstar Original Black Panta.

The Original Black Panta signs worldwide recording deal at Tropical Records.

Don Lichterman of Tropical / Sunset Recordings, Inc. announces a well publicized landmark recording and distribution deal with the newly created reggae, dancehall and world music record label Gee Cee Records to market, promote and distribute dancehall superstar, Original Black Panta. "The Original Black Panta is one the greatest dancehall reggae performers in this specific style of music. When I saw him on You Tube playing live, I knew that I had to whatever was needed to get him signed to the label. Panta is an incredible addition to our artist roster at Tropical," Don Lichterman said from New York City. The first release from the Original Black Panta under the newly signed Tropical/Sunset Records venture with Gee Cee is setting up to record and release brand new material later on this year in 2009.

The well known artist is known for his high-level of energy at his live shows, the Original Black Panta a/k/a Neville Folkes is one of the few dancehall acts that have the ability to crossover his music into mainstream styles and over many radio formats. The newly recorded CD, Project Reggaeologist is expected to be a top seller for the Tropical Record label. In addition to the new CD in the works, Original Black Panta has plans to play a major music festival in Montego bay, Jamaica, will also hit the road supporting the new CD due out later this year. Panta says that he is "thankful for the Sunset Records connection; SWEET!"

A long time partner with George Campbell, the Original Black Panta signed with his Gee Cee Marketing Company, and now his Gee Cee Records and the upstart label / Management Company is ready to have this artist crossed over into more of a mainstream audience with his current underground UK dance club hit single "I Am A Buffalo Solider." And Gee Cee's other artist is the legendary, I Kong, also signed to the label this week. Don Lichterman, the head of Tropical / Sunset says regarding the distribution and label deal with Tropical / Sunset, "the Original Black Panta is one of the most excited artists in the world and I cannot tell you how psyched I am to work this music this year. And, for many years because I am planning on announcing a label deal with George's (Campbell), and with his two signings at Gee Cee, we are not only gonna take this style of dancehall music to another amazing level, we get to work a legend with I Kong." "These are two of best signings at the label to this day and I cannot wait to start working these guys. I expect big things from both artists for many years," says Lichterman.

George Campbell, President of Gee Cee Records says about his artist: "Original Black Panta has worked internationally his entire life playing his music, but I have noticed so much motivation to succeed with his music today. I welcome this signing and Don Lichterman's guidance for both Panta and I Kong. I look forward to a lasting successful relationship with Sunset and Tropical Records. This is the level we need to be at making sure this music in major retail and worked to more than one radio format." Tropical Records / Sunset Records Founder Don Lichterman comments that, "it's great to now be working with George (Campbell), Panta, I Kong and creating an A&R driven label with Gee Cee Records and I can now feel that my business plan for the world music label has taken great shape in one swoop."

Tropical Records, established in 2007 on the island of Jamaica is the stand alone world music, reggae styled and Caribbean Music Record Company at Sunset Records. Sunset is fast becoming one of the largest independent labels in the United States, and can boast to having top 50 songs playing on the Urban Radio Stations with its up and coming hip-hop-flavored and upbeat dancehall style of music. The 2007 release of Cryout's catalog of recorded music and Stondie's Indy Island hit song paved the way for these two signings. The label also released the Pleasure Of The Caribbean CD with the Menus and Music Production Company and these releases helped catapult the Jamaica-born label to have the ability to sign two of reggae music's household names today.

Sunset Records is one of the world's pre-eminent independent entertainment companies in the world today. Sunset already has innovative ventures including more than distributing music and the label encompasses a wide range of businesses including music publishing, a digital only record label, a live download company, an all live radio network, an Urban record company, a jazz label, a classical record label, a home video company, a special markets company, a company that sells environmental goods and company that sells products never tested on animals. Sunset is the label that has signed legends Gina Thompson, I Kong, Federal Moguls (QBall from Bloodhound Gang), as well as current chart toppers TenPenny Joke and up and coming brand new artists Richtaste, Cryout, Don Ward, LR-60 & Mr. Moods, House On The Hill, Lil Dynomite, The New Surreal, Steve Tilleli, Capt. Crunk, Stondie, and now the Original Black Panta.

Visit Original Panta's official website at www.BlackPanta.Tropical-Records.com.

About Tropical Records / Sunset Records
Tropical / Sunset is a privately owned Don Lichterman Company. Sunset is one of the leading independent record labels and entertainment companies in the world. The Sunset Group of Entertainment Companies, and its global operation, acquire, develop, and distribute major music recording artists, home visual entertainment products, online-digital entertainment technologies and music and filmed entertainment worldwide. Sunset's four major divisions are the Sunset Distributed Label Group, the Sunset Strategic Marketing and Licensing Division, the Radio Sunset Network and the Sunset Filmed Entertainment Division. source>>>

Slightly Stoopid, Snoop Dogg get 'Blazed and Confused'

Reggae, hip-hop and punk acts will go hand in hand this summer as Slightly Stoopid [ tickets ], Snoop Dogg [ tickets ] and Stephen Marley [ tickets ] join forces for the "Blazed and Confused" tour of North America.

The outing launches July 10 in Primm, NV, hitting amphitheaters in 17 cities nationwide, as well as a July 22 stop in Vancouver. The month-long trek finishes up on East Coast with a final performance slated for Aug. 8 in Mansfield, MA. Details are below.

Snoop Dogg, who will spend the first two weeks of May on the road with his crew in support of his forthcoming album, "Malice in Wonderland," considers Slightly Stoopid "his nephews," musically speaking, according to a press release.

"Ya'll just make sure ya'll tune in because Snoop Dogg and Slightly Stoopid, we gonna be rippin', rockin', flippin', floppin', hippin' and hoppin' in a 'hood near you," the rapper said in a statement.

Reggae-influenced punk-rockers Slightly Stoopid embarked on their first headlining run of US amphitheaters last summer and will continue supporting their 2008 album, "Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid," this go-round. The record, which marks the group's ninth release, includes outtakes, rarities and "brand new studio joints," according to the band's website.

Stephen Marley, the oldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley, dropped his solo debut, "Mind Control," in 2007 and watched it climb to the top of Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart. His first single from the effort, "The Traffic Jam," was later remixed by Snoop Dogg and dubbed the "Traffic Main Answer."
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A look at the influence of jazz

Jazz is dead, but only at first glance.

The era in which jazz first launched and gained massive popularity has come and gone by more than 50 years. But the improvisational genre continues to thrive in a much more subtle manner, both in and out of the mainstream.

Outside of modern pop culture, hip radio stations and the MTVs of the world, jazz spreads as a sort of underground passion for musicians of all backgrounds.

"Although jazz is relatively obscure now, at one time it was pop music," Peter Epstein, the director of jazz studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, said. "As time moves forward, the original conditions and realities that created this music are still with us and some of them are in the distant past, and yet I think people still feel very engaged with (jazz). Young musicians, every day, decide they want to spend their life playing this music."

But in terms of mainstream, jazz currently plays a different role, Epstein said.

"Commercially, jazz is peripheral in terms of album sales," he said. "(Jazz's) relevance is mostly cultural, not commercial."

Rather than play a direct part in music today, jazz instead plays a hidden role as a major influence for other popular genres, but to what extent?

Kimberly Medina, like many other 19-year-old girls, likes a wide variety of music, noting artists from Taylor Swift to Reel Big Fish.

"I like ska, but I also like really girly music," the journalism major said. "The last concert I went to was The Used and they were awesome. I pretty much like everything."

Medina said she didn't really listen to jazz and that she was more into pop, country and rock.

But the connection between jazz and pop are less obscure than Medina may think.

"I'm willing to bet some of the musicians backing up [Britney Spears] would be 'jazz musicians,'" Epstein said. "A lot of jazz musicians can adapt to different styles. It amazes me that musicians I know have gone from playing with world-renowned jazz musicians one night and then play with Jewel on "Saturday Night Live" the next night."

And while professional musicians that indulge in their jazzy desires on the side fuel the pop genre, the long arm of jazz reaches even further in specified genres, Epstein said.

Though he only listens to it by himself or at the gym, Brian Pierce, a 24-year-old supply chain management major, said hip-hop is one of his favorite genres of music.

Pierce said, "I went to the E-40 concert a few weeks back and it was real cool."

But those same rhythmic vocals that pump Pierce up for the gym are reflective of a much older style of music.

"One of the things [hip-hop and jazz] share is a rhythmical insistency," Larry Engstrom, the director of the School of Arts at UNR, said. "A lot of jazz has this really steady, driving beat, and you can say the same about hip-hop."

And while Engstrom drew musical comparisons between jazz and hip-hop, Epstein connects the two cultures. He said that the freestyle movement of hip-hop was very similar to jazz when jazz was in its prime, in terms of improvisational skills and creating art spontaneously.

"Rap artists lived a life that was somewhat similar to jazz musicians in the sense of just working on their craft constantly," Epstein said. "They are essentially working without a net and those artists that freestyle are influential on the faces of the genre. In other words, jazz and hip-hop are similar in that each has a mainstream appeal with an influential, improvisational underground."

But the relativity between jazz and modern genres does not stop there.

"From a cultural or sociological perspective, rock and jazz have [a rebellious attitude]," Engstrom said. "Things you couldn't say in public, people said through rock 'n' roll. Jazz was about fighting the written note."

Rock 'n' roll, Engstrom said, was a rebellion against what was going on in the world and was originally about an immediacy of expression. Jazz, on the other hand, was about a rebellion against the control of music, he said. And while cultural differences widen the gap between the two genres, the age-old bridge that is "the blues" continues to keep the two related as distant cousins.

The extent of jazz's likenesses is vast, stretching as far as sharing similarities with techno and house music.

"The improvisational style of performing is definitely similar in both," Epstein said. "[Jazz musicians and techno DJs] both mix sounds on the spot. The difference is that with a DJ there is always a groove for a base. Jazz musicians are willing to just drop a consistent beat completely, where if played in a club, dancers will just fold their arms and give up."

Though the connections between jazz and specific genres are unique at every turn, there are still plenty of popular bands that show heavy jazz influence, Epstein said. But conversely, he said, influence is beginning to bridge into a bit of role reversal.

"Bands like Radiohead use a lot of jazz influence in their music," he said. "But honestly, it's becoming easier to tell which outside bands or artists are having an influence on jazz. It's through connections like this that these differing genres can continue to thrive." source>>>

Richie Havens Concert To Mark Woodstock Anniversary

Richie Havens is going back to the garden -- again.

The veteran singer-songwriter, who was the first act on stage at the original Woodstock Music & Art Fair in 1969, will perform at noon on Aug. 14 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on the original festival site in Bethel, N.Y. Havens has frequently appeared at Woodstock anniversary celebrations on the former Yasgur farm -- including 1999's A Day in the Garden festival -- and he tells Billboard.com he still cherishes the memory of his Woodstock experience.

"I got up there and felt the whole place rise to the accounting and visibility of ourselves," recalls Havens, who's currently touring to promote his latest album, 2008's "Nobody Left to Crown." "All types of music went on that stage those three days, and all of them had the sense of what was needed -- and what's [i]still[/i] needed in terms of the information we'd like to latch onto and keep going."

A big part of Haven's Woodstock legend, of course, is that he was scheduled to be the festival's fifth performer, not its first, but he was drafted into service when traffic impeded those due on before him.

"It was 5 o'clock and nothing was happening yet," Havens remembers. "I had the least instruments and the least people (in his band). But they had to catch me first. I felt like, 'They're gonna kill me if I go up on stage first. Give me break. I need those four people in front of me to warm up the crowd. But the people were great. I was supposed to sing 40 minutes, which I did, and from the side of the stage they go, 'Richie, four more song?' I went back and did that, then it was, 'Four more songs...' and that kept happening 'til two hours and 45 minutes later I had sung every song I know," including an epic version of "Freedom."

Havens says he's hoping that the Aug. 14 event won't be the only commemoration of Woodstock's anniversary. He's a proponent of some sort of 2009 edition of the festival, which he hopes will be even greater in scope than the original.

"I think it's time for sharing," he explains. "You get the young guys who are up and coming and get the guys who are down and going and put 'em all in the same place and everybody gets a chance. Let's take five days and say, 'OK, rock, you get one day. Roll, you get one day,' and then you mix 'em all up."
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Brad Paisley and Wife Pick Jasper Warren as New Son's Name

Brad Paisley and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley have named their new son Jasper Warren Paisley. Born Friday morning (April 17) at a Nashville-area hospital, the baby weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces. Paisley, 36, and Williams-Paisley, 37, met in 2002 when she appeared in the music video for his hit, "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)." They married in 2003 and are the parents of a 2-year-old son, William Huckleberry Paisley, named for Huck Finn. She is best known for her starring roles in the film, Father of the Bride, and the TV sitcom, According to Jim. source>>>

Sugarland Tip Their Hat to Pop and Rock at Minneapolis Concert

Sugarland is now officially a hat act.

Kristian Bush always has covered his head, lately with a natty fedora. But Jennifer Nettles sported a stylish red sequined beret for much of Sugarland's concert Friday night (April 17) here at Target Center. Was it a new look? A new concept? Or just a tip of the hat to Prince's "Raspberry Beret" in his hometown?

Certainly, the pop-savvy Sugarland nodded to many other non-country acts in its 95-minute set, covering songs by the B-52's, Madonna, R.E.M. and Kings of Leon, Nettles' favorite rock band of late. The Georgia duo also borrowed a few stage tricks from the pop world -- waving glowsticks ('N Sync), blowing bubbles (Lady GaGa), dancing with umbrellas (Rihanna) and traveling over the crowd inside giant inflatable plastic balls (Flaming Lips). Even Sugarland's opening song -- "Love," from their third CD, Love on the Inside -- soared with all the anthemic rock glory of pop-rock giants U2.

On this second leg of their headline tour to promote Love on the Inside, Sugarland offered six songs from that 2008 CD as well as two new unrecorded numbers, the southern soul-styled "So Long" and the slow, dark rocker "Blood on Snow." Of course, the duo, backed by five musicians, did most of their biggest hits, including the toe-tapping "It Happens," the powerfully emotional "Stay" and "Everyday America," which had a reggae undercurrent before Nettles called audibles for Madonna's "Into the Groove" and "Holiday" followed by the Emotions' "Best of My Love." Hey, where was the mirrored disco ball when Sugarland needed it?

Those flashbacks might have been sparked by Nettles acknowledging a fan's sign inviting Bush to go to her prom.

"How long's it been?" Nettles asked him.

"Five years," Bush joked.

Right. Then Nettles mentioned her own prom memories of Depeche Mode and Rob Bass.

As always, Nettles was next-door-neighbor chatty, slap-a-fan's-hand accessible and just about as wired as a tween girl at a Jonas Brothers concert. She did more mugging for the big-screen video than in the past, and she and Bush did more choreographed dances, often to end a number. But there's no denying that she seems to be genuinely having more fun on an arena stage than just about any other woman in country music. And her sweaty joy was unstoppably infectious.

Before the concert, each of the 8,200 fans was given a free Sugarland glowstick and a bottle of bubbles with a wand. Nettles led the glowstick waving while dancing in the dark to the Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love." She and Bush blew bubbles before lanterns descended from the light rigging for the piano ballad "Night Swimming," an R.E.M. tune. Later, Nettles did a solo dance with the lanterns, touching them one by one at the end of "Already Gone" and triggering them to ascend to the rafters.

Other production touches included lights that simulated snow and a giant semi-circle video screen backdrop, on which popular Minneapolis sites and logos for the Twins, Vikings, Wild and Timberwolves pro sports teams were shown during "Who Says You Can't Go Home," the Nettles/Bon Jovi smash that afforded Bush a rare lead vocal opportunity. And then there was the giant blonde Afro wig Nettles wore for the closing "Love Shack," a bluesy version with some gospelly B-3 organ, which served as a tribute to another band from Georgia, the B-52's.

Not only did Sugarland vary their production values, but they were flexible with their musical combinations, stripping down to a trio for "Blood on Snow" (with Nettles on electric bass, Bush on electric guitar), an acoustic ensemble for the bluegrass-y "Genevieve" (with its echo of "Long Black Veil"), an acoustic duo for the misty-eyed "Stay" and Nettles sitting at an upright piano for a slow-burn treatment of Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire."

By the end of the night, this pop-loving hat act had knocked the socks off of everyone at Target Center.

Opening the show were Billy Currington, whose medium-tempo tunes pleased the crowd, and unadvertised, unsigned, un-country Brandon Young, whose emo choir-boy tenor made it sound as if he were auditioning for a Coldplay tribute band.
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Toby Keith to Speak at National Press Club Luncheon

Toby Keith will be the featured speaker at a National Press Club luncheon on Tuesday (April 21) at the organization's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Keith's appearance at the event comes one day before he embarks on his seventh tour to meet and entertain U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. The 11-day tour, sponsored by the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment, will include 17 shows on small military bases on the front lines of U.S. military operations. Following his speech at the National Press Club, Keith will field questions from journalists. source>>>

Jamey Johnson's That Lonesome Song Certified Gold

Jamey Johnson's album, That Lonesome Song, has been certified gold for shipments of 500,000 units. Johnson recorded the album on his own before it was picked up by Mercury Records and released on Aug. 5, 2008. "A gold record is one of the only awards that truly comes from your fans," says Johnson. "They just made our album relevant to country music." The Grammy-nominated album includes "In Color" and "High Cost of Livin'." source>>>

Lollapalooza 2009 lineup

Lollapalooza organizers reveal the complete list of artists and bands scheduled to appear at the festival Aug. 7-9 in Grant Park.

Besides confirming headliners Depeche Mode, Tool, the Killers, Jane's Addiction, Beastie Boys and Kings of Leon as reported last month in the Tribune, the festival also will announce sets by the following artists:

Lou Reed, Ben Harper, Thievery Corporation, Snoop Dogg, Rise Against, Andrew Bird, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, the Decemberists, Neko Case. STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9), Animal Collective, Band of Horses, Of Montreal, Arctic Monkeys, Coheed and Cambria, Ben Folds and Fleet Foxes.

The rest of the lineup is as follows:

Silversun Pickups
Kaiser Chiefs
Crystal Castles
Bon Iver
Santigold
Atmosphere
Dan Auberbach
Cold War Kids
Deerhunter
Lykke Li
Robert Earl Keen
Peter Bjorn and John
Heartless Bastards
Gomez
Glasvegas
Federico Aubele
Dan Deacon
Passion Pit
The Raveonettes
The Gaslight Anthem
The Airborne Toxic Event
White Lies
Ra Ra Riot
No Age
Asher Roth
Los Campesinos!
Bat For Lashes
Chairlift
Gang Gang Dance
The Virgins
Amazing Baby
Portugal. The Man
The Knux
Ida Maria
Delta Spirit
Friendly Fires
Manchester Orchestra
Constantines
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
Hockey
Miike Snow
Alberta Cross
Hey Champ
Sam Roberts Band
The Henry Clay People
Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam
Cage the Elephant
Living Things
The Low Anthem
Blind Pilot
Langhorne Slim
Other Lives
The Builders and The Butchers
Eric Church
Joe Pug
Kevin Devine
The Green Cards
Carney
Thenewno2

DJ sets etc. at Perry's Place
Bassnectar
MSTRKRFT
Simian Mobile Disco
DeadMau5
Boys Noise
KiD CuDi
Crookers
A-Trak
Hercules and Love Affair (DJ Set)
The Bloody Beetroots (DJ Set)
LA Riots
Kaskade
The Glitch Mob
Hollywood Holt
Rye Rye
He Say, She Say
Car Stereo (Wars)
Dark Wave Disco
Moneypenny
Yello Fever
Animal Collective (DJ Set)

Euphoria, unease at UK web singing sensation Boyle

A middle aged Scottish spinster with untamed hair and a plain-spoken manner has captivated millions of music lovers and confounded celebrity watchers with her rise to fame after appearing on a British TV talent show.

Susan Boyle, at 47, became one of the world's hottest celebrities virtually overnight after her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent" this month.

She has appeared on Larry King Live in the United States and in countless newspaper and internet articles. The clip of her song has been viewed around 50 million times on website YouTube.

But while most people see her story as a fairytale, some say it casts an unflattering light on the public and its preconceived notions about beauty and fame.

They argue that the reason Boyle, who lives alone with her cat, became the instant star she has was because she did not look or behave like a "typical" celebrity.

"Sadly it all Boyles down to image" said Miranda Sawyer in a commentary piece for the Daily Mirror tabloid.

"No woman gets to perform publicly unless she looks like Mariah Carey. If you're a female singer, you are required by showbiz law to appear sexy at all times."

Tanya Gold, writing in the Guardian broadsheet, asked: "Is Susan Boyle ugly? Or are we?

"By raising this Susan up, we will forgive ourselves for grinding every other Susan into the dust. It will be a very partial and poisoned redemption. Because Britain's Got Malice."

Some descriptions of Boyle underlined media prejudices about beauty and age, critics said, with Boyle referred to variously as "frumpy", "dowdy", with "several double chins" and, in Britain's Daily Mail, as a "hairy angel".

There has also been lively debate about what Boyle should do to build on her success -- stay as she is or have a makeover.

APOLOGIES, CONCERNS

A few celebrity watchers have rushed to confess that they, like the "Britain's Got Talent" audience on the night, had expected Boyle to founder because of the way she looked.

"She pierced my defenses," said Lisa Schwarzbaum of U.S. publication Entertainment Weekly. "She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective from time to time."

Boyle's success bears similarities to Paul Potts, a tenor who appeared on the same show in 2007 and confounded expectations with his rendition of opera aria "Nessun Dorma".

His performance spread quickly via Youtube and Potts went on to record a multi-million-selling album "One Chance".

Music critics wonder whether such instant success is justified, or even helpful.

"How can we expect young people to take the surer path and train for years in drama schools and music conservatoires when there's this short-cut ... approach to stardom on offer?" said the Telegraph's Rupert Christiansen in his blog.

But many experts and members of the public believe that Boyle's story should be seen as good news, not bad.

Marc French of Ugly, a "character model" agency, said the media had created an image of what beauty should be, but attitudes were changing.

"There is a media thing that you should look a certain way and be a certain weight, but if it does give people like Boyle a chance, then why not?" he told Reuters.

"Definitely the market is more daring, a little bit more happy to have a change of look, and more open-minded. I think everyone is getting more comfortable in themselves."

As for Boyle, she appears unfazed by the sudden attention.

"Haven't seen YouTube or any of that, but I understand it's quite immense," she told reporters at her home last week when asked about the millions of viewers on the website.

"Just take baby steps at the moment," she added, describing her approach to fame. "Keep my feet on the ground." source>>>

Madonna Blames Paparazzo For Horseback-Riding Accident

Madonna was hospitalized briefly on Saturday after taking a spill while riding a horse at the South Hampton, New York, home of photographer Steven Klein.

The 50-year-old singer was taken to a

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hospital after the fall, treated for suffering minor injuries and bruises before being released, according to spokesperson Liz Rosenberg.

"The accident occurred when the horse Madonna was riding was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the singer, who was visiting friends on Eastern Long Island over the weekend," Rosenberg said in a statement to UsMagazine.com. "Madonna will be having further tests and will continue to remain under observation by doctors.'

But the photographer who is being blamed for allegedly causing the incident, Thomas Hinton, told TMZ that while he was the only paparazzo around when Madonna tumbled off her horse, he had nothing to do with the incident. Hinton claimed to have taken shots of Madonna before and after she fell but said he has no pics of the actual accident because he walked away after shooting the pictures of her riding the horse. He said that 30 minutes later he got a tip about an ambulance being sent out to for a 50-year-old woman. Figuring it was Madonna, he returned to take pictures of her being tended to by the emergency workers.

Hinton told TMZ that all his pictures were taken from a public road and that the only other photographer around was the home's owner, Klein. "If I had startled the horse, I would have gotten pictures!," Hinton said.

The New York Post has what it calls the exclusive Hinton pictures, which show Madonna on the horse and then images of her being attended to by emergency personnel, but none of the accident itself. The paper claims that Madonna was hurt while taking the horse through a jumping routine.

In 2005, Madonna cracked three ribs and broke her hand and a collar bone in a riding accident at her estate outside of London. source>>>

American Idol's(R) Impact on Christian/Gospel Music and Vice Versa

The impact of the "American Idol(R)" television series on the explosion in popularity of Christian/Gospel music, and vice versa, will be explored in a new documentary special, "From Idol to Inspiration," world premiering on Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) Television Network. Gospel Music Channel's exclusive telecast of the 40th Annual Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards follows at 8:00 p.m. live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.

"From Idol to Inspiration" is a production of David Lewis Productions (www.davidlewistv.com) and directed by veteran documentarian David Lewis, whose other work has been for news outlets such as CNN, ABC News, Fox News and CNBC, and programs such as 60 Minutes, Frontline and 20/20. Lewis is producing this special report under the banner of Gospel Music Channel's news program, Gospel Music Channel Insider, representing the network's first full-length special report.

"American Idol(R)" is exposing the world to Gospel/Christian performers like never before. From the very beginning of "American Idol(R)," singers from gospel/Christian music backgrounds have flourished on the show, as have performers who proudly profess their faith. Winners Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Jordin Sparks and finalists Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, George Huff, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle and Mandisa are all examples of this trend. Many have gone on to sign with Gospel/Christian divisions of major record labels and are seen regularly on GMC, and will also be seen in The Dove Awards telecast following "From Idol to Inspiration."

"American Idol(R)" finalists telling their story in "From Idol to Inspiration" include Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle and Mandisa, as well as journalists who cover the program, Brian Mansfield of USA Today and Gil Kaufman of MTV News. There have been many Christians on the series and this season's "American Idol(R)" features three worship leaders in the finalists group. "From Idol to Inspiration" will tell the story of one of those finalists, worship leader Danny Gokey, whose wife, Sophia, died a few weeks before his "American Idol" audition.

"From Idol to Inspiration" select quotes:

"I think if Jesus saw me on American Idol he would vote for me! I don't believe that I would have been there if it wasn't for the hand of God. I just think that God saw the opportunity to use people on a television show that's the biggest television show in the history of the world. I believe that He wanted to use me there." - Phil Stacey

"I said, 'Simon a lot of people want me to say a lot of things to you right now. But what I want you to know is that I forgive you. The reason I can forgive you is that Jesus Christ died so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven. I can certainly extend that same grace to you.' And then something extraordinary happened. His jaw dropped, he kept looking around to see what was going on, because that's not what he was expecting and he got up, he gave me a big hug, he apologized and my relationship with him has been amazing ever since." - Mandisa on Simon Cowell

"God has full control over everything and things happen for a reason so I lived that very much so during American Idol... just knowing, 'okay, if I'm here another week, there's got to be a reason because I am scared out of my mind!' I hope Jesus was dancing when I was singing on American Idol." - Melinda Doolittle

"From Idol to Inspiration" encores on GMC April 24, 26, 27, 30, May 2, 3; check http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com for show times. Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in 45 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224. source>>>

Is the Success of Coachella a Good Sign for the Concert Industry?

Though official final audience numbers have yet to be released, estimations of the attendance at this past weekend's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival indicate that this year's festival was a success despite the continuing collapse of the music industry and the generally dire state of the economy. Only the first day of this year's festival, with headliner Paul McCartney, managed to sell out, but the remaining days, featuring big draws such as Morrissey, M.I.A., the Cure, and Franz Ferdinand, pulled in very respectable business, likely ranking as the third biggest turnout in the decade-long history of the event. So, yes -- this is great for Coachella and all the artists involved. But what does it mean for the rest of the concert industry?

As far as canaries in coal mines go, Coachella may be a bad indicator of the health of the overall festival market in the United States, which has become rather glutted over the course of the past several years. Though many of these festivals are geared toward a particular geographic region, Coachella has the advantage not only of servicing Southern California, one of the most populous areas of the United States, but of having enough glamour to be something of a tourist destination.

In a best-case scenario, Coachella may represent a countrywide desire for fans to pay one lump sum to see as much music as possible in one weekend rather than blow money on a number of individual concerts, sort of the cultural equivalent of buying economy-size packages of household goods at Costco. (This is not exactly a good situation for the overall concert market, but it would at least be positive for the festivals.) The worst case, however, is that Coachella may have already scratched the festival itch for a great many fans willing to travel cross-country for a big concert, and the smaller, less prestigious festivals may be at the mercy of local economics. For the sake of the music economy, let's all just hope that there are a lot of people out there eager to pay big money to watch truncated midday sets by bands they only kind of like from a half-mile away, wait on interminable porta-john lines, and pay top dollar for bottles of water in the intense summer sun. source>>>

Brad Paisley and Wife Welcome a Second Son

Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, are the parents of a new son. The baby, whose name has not been announced, was born Friday morning (April 17) at a Nashville-area hospital. Paisley, 36, and his 37-year-old wife are the parents of a 2-year-old son, William Huckleberry Paisley, named for Huck Finn. Williams-Paisley most recent starred in the TV sitcom, According to Jim, and has appeared in several feature films, including Father of the Bride. Paisley is taking time off this spring to spend time with his family before launching his summer tour on June 5. soiurce>>>

Rascal Flatts Own the Charts This Week With Top Album and Song

Rascal Flatts, that titanic trio of tunefulness, creams every competitor in sight this week as its new album, Unstoppable, juggernauts to No. 1 on both Billboard's country and all-genres charts.

In its first seven days of availability, Unstoppable sold an astounding (for these parched times) 351,025 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the firm that monitors retail CD purchases.

And if that's not enough to crow about, Flatts also landed this week's No. 1 country song, "Here Comes Goodbye." Last week, it hadn't even reached the Top 5.

Jason Aldean may be ingesting some bubbly, too. His new CD, Wide Open, bows in at No. 2, with sales of 108,960 units. That total was high enough to earn him the No. 4 berth on the all-genres list.

But get this: Even though Flatts and Aldean elbowed Taylor Swift's Fearless into third place, its lowest rank since it debuted 22 weeks ago, the album still sold twice as many copies as it did the week before: 82,090 from 41,557.

Keith Urban's Defying Gravity, last week's No. 1, falls back to No. 4, while Carrie Underwood''s durable Carnival Ride is in the No. 5 slot.

Two more new albums make their first appearance: Billy Ray Cyrus' Back to Tennessee, striding in at No. 13, and Hank Williams' The Unreleased Recordings: Gospel Keepsakes, arriving at No. 51.

Chuck Wicks' Starting Now returns to the chart at No. 66.

First-time songs are Reba McEntire's "Strange" (No. 39), Trace Adkins' "Til the Last Shot's Fired" (No. 50), Darius Rucker's "Alright" (No. 56), Rascal Flatts' "Love Who You Love" (No. 59) and Hank Williams Jr.'s wonderfully titled "Red White and Pink-Slip Blues" (No. 60).

Songs No. 2 through No. 5, in that order, are Jake Owen's "Don't Think I Can't Love You" (No. 2), Aldean's "She's Country," Rodney Atkins' "It's America" and Underwood and Randy Travis' "I Told You So." source>>>

Dolly Parton Records "I Will Always Love You" Duet With Broadway Singer

Dolly Parton has recorded a duet of "I Will Always Love You" with Stephanie J. Block, a Broadway actress who will star in 9 to 5: The Musical. Block's solo debut album, This Place I Know, will be released digitally by the PS Classic label on May 12, followed on CD three weeks later. Block's album also features accompaniment from several musical theater songwriters, including Stephen Flaherty, Stephen Schwartz and Marvin Hamlisch. The opening night of 9 to 5: The Musical is scheduled for April 30 at the Marquis Theatre in New York City. source>>>

Hank Williams Jr. Connects With One of Father's Friends

When Hank Williams Jr. received a letter from a 93-year-old woman living in a nursing home in Florala, Ala., he read it very carefully. The lady wrote to tell him she'd like to talk with him. Such letters are probably not that uncommon for country music artists, but she said she knew his late father and that she might be able to tell him some things he didn't know about his dad.

After talking to the administrators at the nursing home, he asked to speak with the lady. Following their initial conversation, he was convinced that she did, in fact, know his dad. He got his plane gassed up and headed for Florala. And he was not disappointed.

The lady had so much great information about the late country music legend, Hank Jr. called the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, advising them to send someone to Florala to interview the woman who, without a doubt, was acquainted with his dad.

Hank Jr. was very impressed with the lady and everything she shared with him. And since he happened to bring his guitar to the nursing home, he tuned it up, found a stool to sit on and performed for the 80-plus patients who reside there. After an hour or so, he ended his impromptu show on an appropriate note by singing "The Last Drifting Cowboy," a song he'd written about his father.
source>>>

Citing security concerns, Boca Raton bans Fall Out Boy; concert moves to Pompano Beach

Chicago-based band Fall Out Boy, scheduled to play the Centre For The Arts at Mizner Park on Tuesday, has relocated that show to Pompano Beach Amphitheatre after Boca Raton cited "security concerns."

The band's management sent a statement this afternoon quoting the city that "there have been known disturbances associated with one of the bands, Fall Out Boy."

Bob McLynn, Fall Out Boy's manager, said in the statement that he wasn't "sure what these 'challenges' are that they are speaking of. The town said that if we tried to keep the show on we would have to pay an extraordinary amount of money in extra costs."

In an April 15 letter to the Centre for the Arts, City Manager Lief Ahnell wrote that an Aug. 30 concert by Slightly Stoopid drew more tan 8,000 non-ticketed persons, requiring the city to deploy more than 50 police officers to manage the crowd and fire-rescue to treat medical issues at a cost of more than $25,000.

He advised Center for the Arts that it would be billed $5,000 to defray costs to the city for the Fall Out Boy concert. If the costs exceeded that amount, the center would have to pay the city more.

The band's publicity spokesperson said today that to her knowledge, there had been no history of disturbances or security concerns at Fall Out Boy shows.

The show is now scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre.

All tickets will be honored and seating will be general admission, with scheduled guests All Time Low, Cobra Starship and Hey Monday still playing. source>>>

George Harrison’s Career-Spanning Greatest Hits Out June 16th

George Harrison's first-ever career-spanning greatest hits collection will be released on June 16th. The announcement of Let It Roll: The Music of George Harrison comes just hours after the Beatles guitarist posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles today, April 14th. The compilation will feature songs from throughout Harrison's career, from live takes of his biggest Beatles hits to his storied solo career. Harrison was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as a Beatle and a solo artist.

All the tracks on Let It Roll will be digitally remastered and assembled in deluxe packaging with rare and unseen photographs. The album will also be released digitally. According to the press release, Harrison's solo hits "My Sweet Lord," "Isn't It A Pity," "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" and "Got My Mind Set On You" will all be included on the set, and you can assume the collection's namesake track, All Things Must Pass' "Let It Roll," will also make the cut. Three of Harrison's most popular songs that he penned for the Beatles are also on the track list: "Something," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes The Sun" from Harrison's 1971 Concert For Bangladesh from New York's Madison Square Garden. The full track list is expected to be announced soon.

The news of the remastered Harrison solo tracks comes only a week after word broke that the Beatles' long-awaited remastered catalog will be released on September 9th, 2009, the same day the Fab Four's The Beatles: Rock Band hits stores. source>>>

Pirate Bay Founders Get Jail Sentences

A Swedish court has found four men behind the BitTorrent tracker the Pirate Bay guilty of assisting in making copyrighted material available and sentenced each of them to a year in jail. They were also ordered to pay damages of 30 million kronor ($3.54 million) to the film and music industries by Stockholm district court.

The Swedish and international music industry has welcomed today's (April 17) verdict against Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Carl Lundstrom and Peter Sunde. The Pirate Bay is the most notorious site used for searching P2P downloads of music and films, claiming 22 million users in February.

The court found the defendants guilty of making 33 specific files accessible for illegal P2P file-sharing. It ordered that damages must be paid to companies including all the majors and film studios MGM and 20th Century Fox.

"The trial of the operators of the Pirate Bay was about defending the rights of creators, confirming the illegality of the service and creating a fair environment for legal music services that respect the rights of the creative community," said IFPI chairman and CEO John Kennedy in a statement. "Today's verdict is the right outcome on all three counts. The court has also handed down a strong deterrent sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed. This is good news for everyone, in Sweden and internationally, who is making a living or a business from creative activity and who needs to know their rights will protected by law."

Helen Smith, executive chair of independent labels body IMPALA, added: "This is music to the ears of the thousands of small independents and artists who produce the majority of new releases today. It demonstrates a real understanding of the dilemma that if no one pays for music today who will make the exciting new music of tomorrow?"

"This may be the verdict of a Swedish court, but it is a great outcome for British music," said Geoff Taylor, chief executive of U.K. trade body the BPI. "Criminal sites like Pirate Bay seriously undermine investment in music and in legal online services and do nothing to reward artists or creators. We hope that this decision will encourage British music fans to steer clear of these parasitic illegal download services and support the future of British music by downloading legally."

However, in a statement on its Web site, the Pirate Bay made clear it will appeal the ruling. "It will not be the final decision," said the statement. "It will have no real effect on anything besides setting the tone for the debate."

In a Twitter posting, Sunde claimed that "nothing will happen to TPB, this is just theater for the media."

"It used to be only movies, now even verdicts are out before the official release," he added, claiming that he received a leak of the verdict last night.

Sunde took part in an online press conference at 1pm CET, so it appears the defendants' prison sentence is pending their appeal. They all denied the charges on the basis that the Pirate Bay did not actually host copyrighted content.

Carl Lundstrom's attorney Per Samuelson said he was shocked by the verdict and the severity of the sentence.

"That's outrageous, in my point of view. Of course we will appeal," he said. "This is the first word, not the last. The last word will be ours."

Swedish Web site the Local reports that public prosecutor Håkan Roswall stated that the Pirate Bay produced annual earnings of around 10 million kronor ($1.2 million) from advertising on the site. source>>>

Music Today launches Kamal Sabri's 'Sarangi Funk'

: Music Today launches its latest album - Sarangi Funk by Sarangi exponent KAMAL SABRI, son of the Sarangi legend USTAD SABRI KHAN. Through, Sarangi Funk the legend in the making Kamal Sabri takes the Sarangi fever to a whole new level and showcases his extraordinary talent by composing music which leaves the listeners enchanted.

As the title suggests, Sarangi Funk is a bold & innovative attempt to introduce and exhibit the untapped aspect of Sarangi. This album is a heady mix of Jazz, Folk, Western as well as other cross-cultural influences, where Sarangi gets funky and energised bringing out the vivacious and vibrant avatar of the instrument.

About the album - SARANGI FUNK

Gifted with unquestionable qualities of sound, tenor and innumerable variations Sarangi has exceptional adaptability to suit any genre of music. It covers the entire gamut of classical like Dhrupad, Dhammar, Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Chaiti, Tappa,Tirivat, Tarana, light classical e.g., Bhajan, Ghazal, folk songs, film songs. Of late Sarangi has even dared to venture into Jazz, contemporary and new age music and very emphatically made its mark to everybody's astonishment and liking.

Sarangi is the only instrument that is most complete, closest to human voice and the only one that is played by the cuticles(the most sensitive part of the finger nails) Also its virtuosity lies even in the fact that it is equally proficient as a solo and an accompanying instrument to vocal performers.

Sarangi Funk is a bold & innovative attempt to introduce and exhibit the untapped aspect of Sarangi. This album features some delectable compositions, composed & played by the famous Sarangi maestro Kamal Sabri, where he brews new concoctions of rhythm, beats and melody.

The myth that Sarangi is used just to emote musically sad tones, unfortunately has stuck to it. In fact this is just one of its aspects, which coincidentally has been exposed too much to the public's ear as a result of which its ability to express moods of happiness, vibrant energy, music to dance etc has unfortunately never been exploited to the full.

However it is through this album the world will discover the new age Sarangi which is not just funky but also groovy.

Tracks

1-Sarangi Technology

2-Sarangi Spania

3-Seven Again

4-Namaste India

5-Sarangi Romance

6-Jazzy Rangi

7-Sahira

8-Sarangi Technology (Electro Mix)

About the artiste - Kamal Sabri

KAMAL SABRI is the son of the sarangi legend USTAD SABRI KHAN and is carrying forward source>>>

Federal court blocks webcast of music piracy suit

A federal appeals court panel today blocked a trial judge in Boston from allowing live Internet coverage of an upcoming hearing in a closely watched lawsuit against a Boston University student accused of downloading music illegally.

In a strongly worded opinion, the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit said US District Judge Nancy Gertner had made an "unprecedented" and "palpably incorrect" interpretation of a rule adopted by trial judges in Massachusetts when she agreed to a gavel-to-gavel webcast of an upcoming hearing in the suit.

"We are reluctant to interfere with a district judge's interpretation of a rule of her court, especially one that involves courtroom management," said the opinion written by Judge Bruce M. Selya.

However, the three-member appeals court panel said the 1990 rule, the policy of the US Judicial Conference, and a resolution of the First Circuit Judicial Council all prohibit the planned webcast, which would have been the first in a federal court in Massachusetts.

The appeals court said it recognizes that technology is changing rapidly. But the judges said "this is not a case about free speech writ large" but about "the rule of law."

Gertner had ruled in January that she would allow a key hearing to be webcast in the lawsuit by the Recording Industry Association of America against Joel Tenenbaum, a 25-year-old student seeking a doctorate in physics.

Tenenbaum, who is being defended by a well-known Harvard law professor, Charles R. Nesson, and a team of law students, had wanted the hearing presented on the Internet to show the world how the recording industry treats people it is suing. The hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 30, said the appeals court.

But Daniel J. Cloherty, who represents the recording industry, contended in recent oral arguments that Gertner flouted the rule adopted by federal trial judges in Massachusetts. The rule does not mention the Internet but bans cameras and recording equipment in the trial courts, except for such special events as naturalization ceremonies, he said.

He contended that Nesson and Tenenbaum's supporters might distort the facts of the case in a webcast of the hearing. They say, for example, that Nesson last week misstated the number of songs Tenenbaum downloaded and that hundreds of songs are at issue in the case.

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the RIAA, said the association was ``pleased with the First Circuit's decision in his matter and [we] now look forward to focusing on the underlying copyright infringement claims in this case.''

Nesson said he will go forward with the hearing, which will deal with several key motions, including the record labels' attempt to dismiss Tenenbaum's counterclaims against them. But Nesson said he will try to appeal today's ruling to the US Supreme Court because the issue goes beyond the suit.

"The idea that a United States federal district court judge doesn't have the discretion to open her courtroom to the public is a tribute to the fear that the O.J. Simpson case set loose amongst the federal judiciary," he said. "It seems very short-sighted."

Most state trial courts across the country, including those in Massachusetts, allow television cameras and recording equipment. But most federal judges have forbidden the practice in trial courts, particularly in the wake of the televised spectacle of the Simpson trial in a California state court in 1995. source>>>

Flight of the Conchords get laughs, smash things at Radio City Music Hall

Flight of the Conchords took the stage of New York City's Radio City Music Hall last night dressed as robots, the better to perform "Too Many D---s on the Dance Floor." Their costumes were unwieldy, and by the end of the electro jam, Bret McKenzie had managed to knock over and destroy a toy piano. Looking fairly embarassed, he and Jemaine Clement climbed out of their robot suits while a roadie brought out a replacement. "We spared no expense on tiny pianos," Jemaine explained. The New Zealand comics spent the rest of the night cracking jokes about Bret's mishap, intermittently tossing detached keys from the broken instrument into the crowd.

That's what you'll get if you see Flight of the Conchords on the U.S. tour they kicked off a couple weeks ago. Don't expect any fancy set design or stagecraft after that opening number. Bret and Jemaine have become pay-cable stars who can easily sell out a venue like Radio City two nights in a row, but their live show still amounts to two hilariously awkward dudes doing their thing. I wouldn't have it any other way. Also: Heckle at your own risk. When one particularly insistent audience member kept shouting for "Hip-Hopopotamus vs. The Rhymenoceros," Jemaine compared her to "an angry muppet"; later, Bret sternly advised someone else that "This isn't a time for you to have a conversation with us!"

Even when the Conchords were playfully insulting them, though, the Radio City crowd was loving it, cheering at the start of nearly every song in the season-two-heavy set. Bret and Jemaine finally yielded to the yelpers during the encore, busting out "Business Time" at their request. And for the final tune of the night, they got the entire auditorium singing along to "Sellotape." My favorite song! Aww. So, were you at any of Flight of the Conchords' recent shows? Let us know how you liked them in the comments below. source>>>

Dissolution of ties between Jessica Simpson and Sony Music Nashville

The recent dissolution of ties between Jessica Simpson and Sony Music Nashville focused attention on the plight of refugees from other musical genres who head to country in search of relief. Some find it. Most don't. But -- although Nashville does not regard itself as a musical orphanage or refugee camp -- country music has traditionally been kind to those genuinely in need of career assistance.

In Simpson's case, I find the explanation from her spokesperson about the end of her Nashville ties a very curious statement. The statement said Simpson was not being dropped, per se. It was just that she had been "on loan" from Sony New York to Sony Nashville. It didn't explain why the loan had run out. It was the first time I have ever heard of such a "loan."

In any case, I feel that Nashville and country music gave Simpson a fair opportunity to make it. In the end, the fans just didn't care for her and her music. It was as simple as that. And, you simply cannot force fans to accept something or someone they don't want.

There have been many other examples of pop and rock artists and just plain celebrities trying to step into a country career or at least gain some entry into the country audience. Kid Rock clicked with the country audience and with country artists. John Mellencamp, who has genuine blue collar credentials, has enjoyed success with country audiences. Neil Young has shown a genuine love and understanding of country music. Bob Dylan made some of his best albums in Nashville with local pickers. Robert Plant's demonstrated love of country music has gained him a wide following. Jon Bon Jovi, a regular Nashville visitor and fan of Nashville songwriters, had a huge duet with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.

On the other hand, some visitors had mixed success. TV show host Jerry Springer remained a TV host after cutting a country album. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw had plenty of fun recording country music in Nashville but didn't stay long.

Country music's first million-selling record came from an opera singer in New York City. Vernon Dalhart (born Marion Try Slaughter) was from Texas and had studied voice at the Dallas Conservatory for Music. He had been working as an opera singer in New York when he also made a number of recordings known as "dialect" records. His "hillbilly" (as country was referred to at the time) dialect recording of "The Wreck of the Old 97" and "The Prisoner's Song" became the genre's first million seller in 1924.

Country's most recent success story, of course, has been that of Darius Rucker. I think there are several simple reasons why his country career has been hugely successful. First, he was not a complete stranger to country. As the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker had been writing and singing songs that were not all that dissimilar from country. He possessed a genuine country sensibility. Second, he did not hit town with the fanfare from trumpets and a bunch of limousines and entourages and press releases announcing that he "always was country." The latter faintly ridiculous claim has sunk many would-be country suitors. You know who they are.

Third, Rucker possesses genuine dignity and humility. He knows who he is and doesn't try to be anything else. He has let his music speak for him. And people can recognize that. And appreciate it.

People everywhere do have a built-in sensitivity to pushy newcomers. I must confess I discovered it in myself a few years ago at the height of the big L.A. exodus to Nashville. Newcomers were everywhere, and many of them acted as if they were doing Nashville a favor by moving here. In my case, it was a very small thing. I drove in to work at Billboard one morning and tried to pull into my reserved parking spot in the garage. You understand that parking on Music Row has always been at a premium, and reserved spots are respected by the locals. And violators are subject to tow. In my reserved spot, I spied a large, high-end, shiny new BMW. With California license plates. That did it for me. I called upstairs to our business office and told them to call for a tow truck. Justice was done.
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Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles Insists She's Not Going Solo

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles continues to ignore suggestions that she should abandon her musical partnership with Kristian Bush to pursue a solo career, she said during an interview with Minneapolis Star Tribune music writer Jon Bream. In a story published Thursday (April 16), Nettles said, "We've heard that question before, and it's obviously hurtful to Kristian. From a musical perspective and from an emotional perspective, it's a wonderful partnership for me. It's kind of like the Eurythmics. Annie Lennox went off and had a solo career. But I have no plans for that as of right now." Nettles also said Bush is her favorite person to write with. "We never know what the future will hold," she said. "If there's something that he itches to do or I itch to do, we'll be supportive of each other." Sugarland will perform in Minneapolis on Friday (April 17). source>>>

Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Julianne Hough Confirmed for Alabama Festival

Trace Adkins, Sara Evans and Julianne Hough will perform at the inaugural Sticks Country Music Festival in Auburn, Ala., this weekend (April 17-18). Festival organizers expect more than 30,000 to attend the event in Parker Hill, about 10 minutes north of Auburn University. Rodney Atkins, Jason Michael Carroll, Mark Chesnutt, Diamond Rio, Craig Morgan, Shenandoah, Ashton Shepherd, Chuck Wicks and Gretchen Wilson are also on the bill. Two-day passes are $85. source>>>

Rhonda Vincent Releasing New Album, Destination Life, on June 16

Rhonda Vincent will release a new bluegrass album, Destination Life, on June 16 on Rounder Records. For the first time, Vincent recorded the new album exclusively with her band, the Rage. She co-wrote three of the songs and co-produced the album with bandmate Hunter Berry. Vincent also sings a duet with her guitarist, Ben Helson, on "Crazy What a Lonely Heart Will Do," written by former Highway 101 vocalist Paulette Carlson. Other selections include Johnnie & Jack's "Stop the World (and Let Me Off)" and the hymn, "When I Travel My Last Mile (He Will Hold My Hand)." source>>>

Concerts for Australia bushfire victims raises $10m

The Sound Relief concerts in Melbourne and Sydney in aid of victims of Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires and the Queensland floods raised more than A$8 million ($10.1 million), smashing earlier estimates by A$3 million. Red Cross Australia chief Robert Tickner said the A$7.1 million raised for bushfire victims also pushed the Red Cross Victorian Bushfires Appeal fund past the A$310 million mark. source>>>

Green Day is coming back with a new album, a new tour, and a new single.

Green Day had a spontaneous concert last night. On April 14, Green Day performed at the Fox Oakland. It was a surprise concert for their Northern California fans.

Tickets were sold from $50 and up. The tickets started selling at 5 p.m. yesterday, and were sold out within the hour. The show had around 3,500 audience members.

Green Day performed with old hits from their Dookie album to their new album: 21st Century Breakdown, which will be coming out on May 15 this year. There were no opening acts.

Last week, they also had another surprise show which they performed at San Francisco's Independent nightclub.

Their new single: "Know Your Enemy," is going to be released on iTunes tomorrow, April 16.

Green Day is most known from their last album: American Idiot, which won the Grammy's Record of the Year for the song: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."
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American Idol' Judges Save Matt Giraud

At last. No, not the Etta James song every "American Idol" contestant thinks is their ticket to the winner's circle. At last the judges busted out their

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one-time-only save Wednesday night, making "Idol" history by giving dueling piano player Matt Giraud a second chance after he landed in the bottom three again.

Though he didn't appear to win them over with his singing Wednesday night, there's clearly something about the Justin Timber-alike from Kalamazoo that continues to speak to the four panelists, who only had two weeks left to use the save before it ran out. The bad news? That means two contestants have to go home next week.

After a hectic night in which time constraints forced the judges to give their opinions in pairs for the first time -- and the show still ran over -- the elimination night felt almost breezy.

Because this week's mentor, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, is one of the show's biggest fans, it seemed he couldn't help but put his imprint on the opening of Wednesday night's show. With a doomsday showdown vibe fueled by an ominous voiceover, "Pulp Fiction"-style titles screens, quick edits and scratched-negative reels, the intro set up the elimination show as a do-or-die faceoff.

But before any drama could unfold, things got warm and fuzzy for a while. In keeping with this week's movie theme, the top seven sang the "Flashdance" classic "Maniac," with Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta taking turns flirting with the judges as the kids shimmied through a high-energy arrangement. We also got to see tape of the cast meeting Zac Efron at the premiere of "17 Again" after Tuesday night's show and watch Iraheta get a bit tongue-tied as the boys teased her about her Efron crush.

Speaking of Iraheta, who got props Tuesday night for being the girls' only hope left in the competition thanks to her gutsy take on Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," she was the first one to pass through to the next round. Though Simon Cowell didn't love Adam Lambert's cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," the leading contender on the show quickly took a seat as well, though Anoop Desai wasn't so lucky despite good notices from the judges for Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," landing in the bottom three for the third week in a row.

To shouts of "My sister loves you!" Kris Allen waited to find out whether viewers liked his cover of "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once," which Kara DioGuardi labeled his best, but which Randy Jackson called pitchy. Simon, who didn't get a chance to discuss the song Tuesday night called it "brilliant," the opposite of what he said about Lil Rounds' cover of "The Rose," which sent the one-time leading contender back to the bottom three again.

That left Matt Giraud and Danny Gokey as the last two awaiting their fate, with Giraud having sung an unevenly received cover of Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman," and Gokey banking on his performance of Lionel Richie's "Endless Love," which Simon said he found boring and unoriginal. Gokey got the pass, which meant Giraud was facing the bottom three for the second time.

Looking the cellar dwellers over, Kara said the bottom three looked right to her. It wouldn't be a long trip for Desai, though, who got yet another reprieve.

With only two more weeks left to use the once-only season save, Simon said, "You know, there is one I think that I would consider saving, and it might be a surprise to that person." When pressed by host Ryan Seacrest if it was Rounds, who has come under repeated fire from Cowell, the judge said, "We'll see who it is." After a vote of more than 36 million, Seacrest sent Rounds back to the couches, leaving Giraud center stage to sing for his life.

Throwing a bit of rasp onto his usually smooth croon, Giraud gave the Adams song from the 1994 Johnny Depp/ Marlon Brando movie "Don Juan DeMarco" a bit of a country swing, appearing confident and energized as he faced down the judges. At one point, he stretched to hit a high note that he couldn't quite reach, grimacing a bit, but then ended on one of his signature clean falsettos, which brought the audience to their feet. Paula Abdul and Kara, who swayed along and clapped during the entire performance, stayed on their feet as the crowd broke out into a chant of "save, save, save, save!"

Simon asked Giraud how many times he'd been in the bottom three and then told him that the performance was not as good as the night before. "I don't see that you have really any chance of winning the competition," he said flatly, as Abdul, Jackson and DioGuardi protested, "Oh, come on!" and waved their fingers.

"Matt, we've made a decision," Cowell said. "Matt, it's good news." Giraud was swamped by his fellow contestants and burst into tears as Cowell looked on with a warm smile and warned the remaining seven, "I wouldn't be so quick to congratulate him. Number one, two people are going home next week now. Second piece of bad news, next week is disco week."

The show also featured the triumphant return of former "Idol" finalist, Oscar- and Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson, who sang her latest single, the slinky R&B tune, "If This Isn't Love." The pre-taped segment featured Hudson unleashing some of her signature titanic vocals, providing further proof that viewers got it wrong when they prematurely voted her off in season three, a mistake that led to the implementation of this year's save rule.

Also performing on the program was Miley Cyrus, who sang her new single, "The Climb," while wearing a glittery silver ball gown on a stage enshrouded in fog.

In addition to the sounds of disco from the competitors, next week's elimination show will feature music from last season's runner-up, David Archuleta, singing his latest single, "A Little Too Not Over You," as well as disco legends Harry Wayne "KC" Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band, Thelma Houston and Freda Payne, who will perform a medley of their boogie-fever hits, including "Get Down Tonight," "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Band of Gold."
source>>>

American Idol Tour dates will kick off July 5 in Portland,OR

We still don't know who will win season 8 of American Idol, but we do know that the top 10 contestants will be hitting arenas this summer on the annual American Idols Live! summer tour. It's your chance to see Michael Sarver, Megan Joy, Scott MacIntyre, Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds, Kris Allen, Matt Giraud, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert rock the stage in solo and wicked group numbers.

The 50-city jaunt will kick off July 5 in Portland, OR and wrap September 15 in Manchester, NH, with tickets going on sale May 9.

Tour dates according to AmericanIdol.com:

7/5 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden

7/7 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome

7/8 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place

7/10 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena

7/11 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena

7/12 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose

7/14 - West Valley City, UT - The E Center

7/16 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

7/17 - Ontario, CA - Citizens Business Bank Arena

7/18 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Arena

7/20 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena

7/23 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center

7/24 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center

7/25 - N. Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena

7/26 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum

7/28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum

7/29 - Sunrise, FL - BankAtlantic Center

7/31 - Duluth, GA - Arena at Gwinnett Center

8/1 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena

8/2 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum

8/4 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center

8/5 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena

8/7 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall

8/8 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center

8/11 - Long Island, NY - Nassau Coliseum

8/14 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum

8/15 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena

8/16 - Hartford, CT - XL Center

8/18 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden

8/19 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center

8/20 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center

8/22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena

8/23 - Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center

8/25 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center

8/26 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace at Auburn Hills

8/28 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center

8/29 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center

8/30 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

9/1 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center

9/2 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena

9/4 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center

9/5 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse

9/6 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena

9/8 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Center

9/9 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena

9/10 - Bridgeport, CT - Arena at Harbor Yard

9/12 - Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center

9/13 - Providence, RI - Dunkin' Donuts Center

9/14 - Syracuse, NY - War Memorial at Oncenter

9/15 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena source>>>

`American Idol' concert tour starts in July

The top 10 "American Idol" contestants know how they're spending their summer vacation: on a nationwide concert tour kicking off in July in Oregon.

Tickets for the 50-city tour will go on sale May 9, tour organizers said.

The tour is set to begin July 5 in Portland, Ore., then hopscotch to California, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania before ending in New Hampshire in September. Details are available at http://www.americanidol.com.

Finalists on the tour are Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre.

The Fox singing contest has pared the field down to seven contestants, with the winner to be crowned on the May 20 finale. Joy, Sarver and MacIntyre have been voted off by viewers. Giraud was spared the ax when judges used their one-time "save" and kept him on the show. source>>>

Elvis Presley's Hometown Promoting Specialty License Plates

Elvis Presley's hometown of Tupelo, Miss., is encouraging the state's residents to sign up for a new specialty license plate. The town's Elvis Presley fan club helped win approval from the Mississippi legislature last year, but 300 applications are needed before production begins. Currently only 120 Mississippi residents have applied. Proceeds from the plates, which cost $31 more than regular tags, will raise money for a youth center, with a possibility of building an aquatic complex. Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss., in 1935, and lived there until this family moved to Memphis, Tenn., when he was 13. source>>>

Alan Jackson Will Perform for Boaters at AquaPalooza

Alan Jackson will be the headline performer at the AquaPalooza Signature Event at Lake Martin, Ala., on July 25. Last year's inaugural event drew 10,000 people and 2,500 boats. The event is sponsored by Sea Ray Boats. "I'm a boating nut. If I told you how many boats I've had, you'd think I was crazy," said Jackson. "I must have 20 woodies dating from the 1920s to 1960s. When you're out on the water in a classic old boat, you know, it's as if you've gone back in time. The water sure hasn't changed. I like modern boats, too, and I've owned a lot of Sea Rays through the years." source>>>

Tim McGraw to Co-Star in New Film With Sandra Bullock

Tim McGraw will co-star with Sandra Bullock in the upcoming film, The Blind Side, based on Michael Lewis' best-selling book, The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game. The film is inspired by the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager who is befriended by a wealthy family. Oher, an offensive tackle for the University of Mississippi's football team, is considered a top pick in the upcoming NFL draft. McGraw will portray Sean Touhy, husband of Sandra Bullock's character, Leigh Anne. Shooting will begin later this month in Atlanta. source>>>

Jason Aldean Gets Another Breakthrough With "She's Country"

The first thing you usually hear in Jason Aldean's music is a big and crunchy guitar riff, and that attitude-driven approach is no coincidence.

"I've always said this: You've gotta capture somebody's attention quick," he says. "I'm as ADD as it gets. If something doesn't catch my attention right up front, even in the car listening to the radio, I'll change the channel. You've gotta grab them. Whether it's the guitar riff, whether it's the lyrics or whatever it may be, you've gotta get that attention right up front. And once you do that, you've gotta be able to deliver on the rest of the song."

His new album, Wide Open, will debut at No. 2 this week on Billboard's country albums chart. It's a particularly impressive achievement considering that the new Rascal Flatts album, released on the same day, is debuting at No. 1.

Aldean is now capitalizing on the momentum of his latest hit, "She's Country," by opening a few shows with Keith Urban, as well as releasing a live concert DVD later this year. In a recent interview with CMT.com, the Georgia native talks about baling hay, breaking through and not believing everything he reads.

CMT: There's a lot of rural imagery in the new songs, like "Fast" and "Big Green Tractor." Did you grow up knowing a lot of farmers, or did you go to school with farm kids?

Aldean: I grew up on the outskirts of Macon, Ga., and there's a lot of farmland out there. I had a cousin that had about a 300-acre farm, and I used to go out and help him bale hay and do all that kind of stuff. My uncle was a farmer, and I spent a lot of time out there with them. My mama used to work for the Farmers Home Administration when I was younger, so I grew up around that stuff. I didn't necessarily grow up on a farm myself and do it for a living, but I grew up around it a lot. I feel like I can sing about it and tell a story about it and it's believable.

"Crazy Town" is about making it in Nashville. In reality, how hard is it to get a break in this town?

I think it's hard to get a good break in town, you know what I mean? There are a ton of yahoos in this town that say, "Oh, I'm friends with such-and-such, and they know such-and-such," which may buy you a pot of coffee in this town. The people who can really help you out and get something done ... I think those breaks are really rare. At the same time, you just never know. You get out and play, and maybe that one time, this guy knows this guy, and he's the one that can help you. It's just really tough. It's not an easy business to get into. People in their 30s will come up and say, "Hey, I want to be a singer," and I'm like, "You probably should have started when you were a teenager." It's tough. It takes a long time, and it's not something that happens overnight. It's something that you have to work on and get better. Anybody who starts being a singer, they're never good when they start. I don't care who you are. It takes time to learn how to do what it is that you do.

Did you know anybody who got scammed, where they had to pay to get their music promoted?

(raises his hand) Well, me. There was a guy here in town one time. ... I came to town, and he wanted me to do a showcase for some labels. We paid for the showcase, and he supposedly got all these people out to the show and all that, and I didn't get a deal out of it. This was still when I was living in Georgia, so he came back and wanted us to pay him for getting those people to the shows and all this kind of stuff. You know, they're snakes, and everybody's looking to make a dollar. I had my lawyer write him a letter, and I never heard from the guy again. It's things like that when you have to be careful because it's hard to find somebody who really wants to help you. Most everybody wants something out of the deal. They're not doing it because they want to see you succeed. They're doing it because they want you to succeed because they want something out of the deal, and that's where you've gotta be careful.

Is it a good rule of thumb that you shouldn't have to pay anybody in advance when you're getting started?

I would say yeah. I would say that, and I would say that you should never have to sign a management contract with anybody. Verbal. If verbal ain't good enough, then find somebody else.

In the studio, what's your approach to get your sound just the way you want it?

Bringing my band in the studio really makes my stuff sound different. These guys aren't the type of guys that say, "Well, this is how you're supposed to play music. This is the rule. This is how it goes." It's trial and error. We may do something that sucks, or we may try something that blows up and it's incredible. That's part of music. You have to experiment with it.

Has anybody ever suggested to you that you're too country?

That I'm too country? Hell, no! If anything, they say I'm too rock. I get that a lot of times, especially with "Hicktown" and "She's Country." People say, "That's not really country." Well, it's my version of it.

Who tells you that?

I read stuff. I'm a computer dude, so I like to know what everybody's saying and what's going on. I hear people that come out and review our shows and read that stuff in the papers. It's like anybody -- they either love it or they hate it. And the people that hate it, I don't really care. I play for the people that like it. source>>>

Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar Plan Concert for Storm Victims

Rodney Atkins, Jason Michael Carroll, Steve Holy, Phil Vassar and Darryl Worley will perform at a benefit concert in Nashville on Thursday (April 16) to benefit Rocco Cosco, who works on Music Row in radio promotions. The Cosco family's home and all possessions were lost in a tornado in Murfreesboro, Tenn., last week. New artists Lee Brice and David Nail will also perform at the event, which will take place at the Tin Roof at 5:30 p.m. source>>>

Earth Day 2009 Green Apple Festival concerts come to a city near you

Get out and do something this Earth Day.

For those of you that are interested in getting out on Earth Day, to volunteer some time for the planet, The Green Apple Network has announced free concerts in 10 cities with famous music acts. Find one near you, or just find out how you can get involved hugging and planting trees this Earth Day.

The Green Apple Festival, in partnership with the Earth Day Network is encouraging people to take time out on Earth Day, April 22, 2009 to volunteer to do something for the planet & their community and get back out into nature. You have to sign up online to participate in the actions and then you will be able to attend the concerts, held in cities across the US April 17-19, 2009. The cities included are: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC.
Here is a look at the concert lineup:

Atlanta, GA: Galactic, Victoria George, and Friends

Austin, TX: Travis Tritt and Friends

Boston, MA: Soulive and Friends

Chicago, IL: Cracker and Friends

Denver, CO: Ian Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Friends

Los Angeles, CA: Cary Brothers and Friends

New York City, NY: Deep Banana Blackout featuring Fred Wesley and Friends

San Francisco, CA: BassNectar and Friends

Seattle, WA: The Blue Scholars and Friends

Washington, DC: (The Big Final Show on the National Mall) artists to be announced soon for the big show

The Green Apple Festival began in 2006 in New York City as a music and environment festival and has expanded to 10 cities in its fourth year. The Earth Day Network works with partners in 174 countries to get over 1 billion people out and concerned about the environment all on the same day, and year round. To get involved, or just find volunteer events in your area, check out Green Apple Festival and/or Planet Green: Green Apple Festival.
source>>>

CunninLynguists, Alliteration, and a Strange Journey

Two years ago, CunninLynguists, a group little known outside underground hip-hop circles, dropped Dirty Acres, easily one of the best hip-hop albums of 2007 and arguably one of the best albums of the past decade.

Three alliterative Ss were all you needed to describe Dirty Acres.

Subtle: Unlike many of their peers in the South, CunninLynguists don't overpower you with club beats and violent vitriol. Instead, they let the subtle music and lyrics slowly work their way into your consciousness. It may take a little longer, but, once the songs are there, they stay for good.

Savvy: Kno, the primary producer in CunninLynguists, is one of the most savvy diggers around, searching for, selecting, and mixing a range of samples that serve as the basis for some of the most infectious beats in hip-hop. His songs aren't supersaturated with layers of electronica, strings, and harmony vocals. Instead, Kno relies on timely cuts, careful tempo modification, and elegant key changes to enhance--rather than overpower--tasteful samples and thoughtful lyrics.

Smart: Even though members of CunninLynguists hail from Georgia and Kentucky, the group's main emcees, Deacon the Villain and Natti, display a laid back, humor-infused verbal flow that is more reminiscient of West Coast rappers like Dr. Dre and Ice Cube than fellow -- and more well-known -- Southerners like UGK and T.I. That being said, CunninLynguists are most definitely a product of their environment, possibly even more so than the aforementioned artists. Deacon and Natti's lyrics paint a vivid portrait of southern life and culture, from the plight of everyday folks to the party scene to interpersonal relationships. Deacon and Natti don't rely on tired cliches and recycled phrases. Instead, they break out of the institutional misogyny, materialism, and fatalism that pervades the work of their colleagues. Oh, and how 'bout that band name? Simultaneously one of the best and worst monikers in music -- that in itself reveals a dark humor, subtlety, and smarts absent in much of music today.

Now, CunninLynguists are back with the excellent first installment of a two-volume set to be released in 2009. Strange Journey Volume One is somewhere between a proper release, a mix-tape, and a B-side compilation. It features a live track, a handful of new songs and skits, and several remixes. Guests are present throughout, including Slug from Atmosphere, Killer Mike, and Mac Lethal. Strange Journey Volume One doesn't hit store shelves until late May, but it is available as a digital download this week from your favorite e-store. Check out a video from the album and download two (free!!) singles at the CunninLynguists' offical Web site.

Look for Strange Journey Volume Two some time in the fall. source>>>

Jamie Foxx Apologizes for Miley Rant

Jamie Foxx says he does not want Miley Cyrus to catch Chlamydia from a bicycle seat or make a sex tape or have a gum transplant.

Out to do damage control, Foxx apologized to Cyrus on Tuesday's Tonight Show for the profanity-laced tirade he made about the actress on his Sirius radio show, The Foxxhole, on Sunday.

"I so apologize to [Cyrus], and this is sincere," Foxx said. "I am a comedian, and you guys know that whatever I say, I don't mean any of it. And sometimes, as comedians, as we do, we go a little bit too far."

Foxx and others in the Foxxhole studio blasted the 16-year-old's physical appearance ("The one with all the gums? She's got to get a gum transplant!" Foxx quipped) and said it was time for the Disney tween queen to "make a sex tape and grow up. Get like Britney Spears and do some heroin. Do like Lindsay Lohan... and get some crack in your pipe. Catch Chlamydia from a bicycle seat."

The Oscar winner closed his Tonight Show apology by turning to the camera to address Cyrus: "Miley, I apologize, so I'll call you. I got a daughter too, so I completely understand."

Cyrus has yet to publicly comment on Foxx's rant, but the Hannah Montana star posted a message on her Twitter Monday night: "if you cant [sic] say something nice dont [sic] say anything at all." source>>>

Free Download !!! Dave Matthews Band’s “Funny The Way It Is” This Week Only!!

Dave Matthews Band are offering fans a little treat while they await the release of June 2nd's Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King: first single "Funny The Way It Is" as a free download at DMB's official Website starting today, April 14th. The new single comes as DMB embark on their spring tour that kicks off tonight at New York's Madison Square Garden (come back tomorrow for a full report). "Funny The Way," from the band's first studio album since 2005's Stand Up, will only be available for a week free before it hits digital retailers.

Rolling Stone called Big Whiskey "DMB's heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally" in our recent story about the new album, and "Funny the Way It Is" proves the point, thanks to production by Rob Cavallo, who previously helmed albums including Green Day's American Idiot and My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade. "This is a good record," Dave Matthews told RS when we visited him in the studio. "Even people who don't like Dave Matthews Band are going to like this record -- and if they don't, then they just don't like music."

GrooGrux King is a reference to late DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who passed away early in the album's recording as a result of injuries sustained in an ATV accident near the band's hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. "There is so much LeRoi on this record," Matthews said. (Check out photos of Moore and the rest of the band in our DMB gallery.) The band will make its first-ever morning-TV appearance on the Today show on June 5th. source>>>

The Flatlanders: Three talented individuals make beautiful music together

Never have the dynamics of togetherness been so worthy of exploration as with the Flatlanders, the Texas music trio of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock.

While all have carved long, fruitful and lauded solo careers, something intriguing and perhaps magical happens when they unite to become the Flatlanders. The voices of three distinct talents merge seamlessly, without losing the core of the particular muses. So with a new Flatlanders CD just released on March 31, the roaring and rootsy Hills and Valleys, it's a great time to pose that togetherness question.

"Even in the times that our careers have been divergent professionally, we have all remained really close and spent a lot of time together as friends," Gilmore says by phone from a tour stop in Connecticut. "Sometimes people get the mistaken impression that we have gone different ways. When we get together to write, there's a real interesting dynamic because we are such completely different minds."

Those unique personalities join forces to conjure a cohesive musical entity that travels through country, rock, folk, Tex-Mex and blues.

"That's just a part of what continues to make it interesting to us," Gilmore says. "There's a wealth of inspiration and new information that comes from all three of us. Because of the way we work together we aren't afraid to disagree with each other. It's real obvious to everybody that the stuff that we come up with together isn't similar to anything that we as individuals would have done."

Hills and Valleys is the third Flatlanders studio album since the trio returned to recording together with 2002's acclaimed Now Again , which was the first time Gilmore, Ely and Hancock had crafted a full CD since a botched debut disc that was haphazardly released in 1972. Those early recording sessions became widely available in 1990 when Rounder issued them with the title More a Legend Than a Band.

"Being together combines the fun of the music and the fun of hanging out with really good friends," Gilmore says. "Just as we've gotten older, we're also more stubborn, but we manage to figure out a way to work all that out with each other. The Flatlanders never was started as a commercial, big-business or professional enterprise. It happened because of our friendship and the mutual love of music. We never really have planned any aspect of what we've done together. It has been serendipity all along the way."

Traveling serendipity, if you will. Gilmore, Ely and Hancock - on their own or as the Flatlanders - have spent a lifetime playing national (and international) concerts big and small. In fact, track No. 10 on Hills and Valleys is a Hancock composition titled "Thank God for the Road." It's a love letter to "the hubcaps and the headlights," "the mud flaps and the taillights."

A Flatlanders gig is scheduled for Dallas' House of Blues on June 5.

"We are all explorers," Gilmore says. "We are people that are curious about all kinds of things. We love to travel. We love to meet different people. That song ... is one of Butch's masterpieces. It's a metaphor for life itself. That's the beauty I get from it.

"The entire thing is really like a big metaphor for the whole journey. Joe and Butch and I all have wanderlust from when we were very young. There are several aspects of the way we look at life that are strangely very similar. We all have this off-the-wall sense of humor. We like to move around." source>>>

Two IU Jacobs students to play in YouTube concert at Carnegie Hall

Indiana University Jacobs School of Music flutist Daniel Stein and violinist Dash Nesbitt will take the stage at Carnegie Hall Wednesday (April 15) evening as part of the "YouTube Symphony Orchestra." This ensemble is composed of 80 musicians from 30 countries, all of whom auditioned for their spots through the popular video-sharing Web site.
Daniel Stein

Daniel Stein

The contest was open to anyone, of any age, from anywhere in the world. Applicants were initially asked to download their own part of a short piece written by composer Tan Dun, recognized for his work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Each entrant recorded his or her own part while watching a silent video of Dun conducting. The second component involved playing a few pieces from the standard repertoire.

Nesbitt is a junior studying violin at the Jacobs School.

"The idea was to synchronize and combine all these performances together to make a complete orchestra performance over the Internet," Stein said.

A panel of musicians from professional orchestras around the world narrowed down the list of more than 3,000 applicants to 200 finalists. YouTube users then chose their favorites, and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas selected the final 80 musicians based on his judgment and votes for each finalist. The YouTube Web site at which the concert will be performed is http://www.youtube.com/symphony; information about the contest winners is currently available there.

Members of the "YouTube Symphony Orchestra" are participating in a workshop that began Sunday (April 12) and will conclude with the concert Wednesday evening (April 15). The performance will be a mix of popular pieces from the classical repertoire and recently composed and improvised works.

Tilson Thomas recently told NPR's All Things Considered of the orchestra, "It could be described as something between a summit conference, scout jamboree or musical get-together. It'll be the first time that people from so many different countries will have had a chance to discover one another online and then actually meet up and make music together."

While the audition process was difficult, Stein's Massachusetts Institute of Technology background gave him added insight and motivation.

"Not only was I interested to meet musicians from all over the world -- and, of course, perform at Carnegie Hall -- but I was also interested from a technological point of view," Stein said. "The Internet will likely continue to grow as a great tool to connect classical musicians with each other and the greater public."

Stein graduated from MIT with degrees in computer science and electrical engineering. He has played the flute since he was 8 years old and says he always knew it would be a major part of his life. While he was an undergraduate student, Stein played in the MIT symphony and studied flute privately in Boston.

During his senior year at MIT, Stein decided to pursue his dream of a career in music. After MIT, Stein studied the flute on a Fulbright Fellowship in Geneva, Switzerland, with the former principal flutist of the Boston Symphony.

He chose the IU Jacobs School of Music to continue his musical development for several reasons, one of which was his professor, Tom Robertello, whom he had previously met at a music festival.

"I found his playing and teaching to be very inspiring, so I came to IU to work with him. I was also drawn to the Jacobs School because of its great faculty, not only in music performance, but also in music history and theory," Stein said.

Stein very much enjoys challenging academic music courses and explains that the music theory seminars at Jacobs are reminiscent of math classes he took at MIT. "Perhaps the reason I like these seminars is that they are small classes where a bunch of smart people wearing glasses sit around a conference table," Stein joked.

At just 26, Stein has completed his master's degree and has begun a doctoral program in music. He is pursuing music performance as a career and has been auditioning for orchestras around the country, a process he describes as extremely difficult. Although he chose this route, Stein says he can see himself incorporating aspects of engineering into his profession.

His Jacobs training will pave the way. "My flute lessons and the faculty concerts I attend give me the inspiration I need to make progress and develop as an artist." source>>>

Largest pop music archive puts catalog online

A catalog of the world's largest archive of popular music -- which includes gems like Keith Richards' old blues records -- is going online.

The materials at the ARChive of Contemporary Music in Tribeca will be available for public inspection under the agreement announced last week with Columbia University.

The ARChive includes more than 2 million recordings, 3 million photographs, books, press kits, videos and memorabilia.

Pop music lovers won't be able to listen to the music online, but the catalog will provide authoritative data about the sound recordings in the collection.

The archive includes the world's largest collection of sound tracks and film scores. source>>>

Steve Wariner Releasing Chet Atkins Tribute Album in June

Steve Wariner will release a new album, My Tribute to Chet Atkins, on June 23. The project is a mix of new music inspired by Atkins' musical style and Wariner's renditions of songs from Atkins' catalog. It will be released on Wariner's own label, SelecTone Records. "This is simply my way of honoring and paying homage to the genius and talent of the man who, in my opinion, is the greatest and most influential guitarist on the planet," Wariner said. Atkins produced Wariner's early albums on RCA and later hired Wariner to play bass in his touring band. Wariner earned 33 Top 10 country hits from 1980 to 2000. He is only one of four musicians personally bestowed the title of "Certified Guitar Picker" by Atkins, who died in 2001. source>>>

Toby Keith Plans USO Tour, Earns Military Award

Toby Keith will embark on a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour later this month, performing 17 shows in 11 days for U.S. troops. Keith told reporters at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 5 that he would be visiting Afghanistan, not Iraq, and that his band will be supporting him on several of the shows. Because of the USO commitment, Keith said he abandoned his role in the upcoming film, Provinces of Night. In addition, Keith will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Military Officers Association of America on April 21 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes civilians who give back to military personnel. "There aren't enough words to describe just how grateful I am to our nation's troops," he said. "I've participated in several USO tours over the years, and I've seen firsthand their sacrifice. And I will not stop doing all I can to show my support and lift their spirits." source>>>

Rascal Flatts Will Perform on Dancing With the Stars, Letterman

Rascal Flatts will perform "Here Comes Goodbye" and the Beatles' "Revolution" on Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday night (April 14) on ABC. Additional TV appearances include The Late Show With David Letterman and the Fox News Channel's Hannity on Thursday (April 16). "Here Comes Goodbye" is currently No. 1 on Billboard country songs chart. Rascal Flatts recently won the Academy of Country Music's top vocal group honors for a seventh consecutive time. They released a new album, Unstoppable, on April 7. "With everything this past week has brought, we are blown away to have our 10th No. 1 single with 'Here Comes Goodbye' and are so thankful to country radio and the fans for all their support," said band member Jay DeMarcus. source>>>

Ziggy Marley remixes father's reggae for kids

Children's music is dominating Ziggy Marley's melody making these days -- both for himself and on behalf of his father, Bob Marley.

His new album, "Family Time" (May 5 on Tuff Gong Worldwide), is a collection of what he refers to as "family music." Tracks include originals as well as covers of Woody Guthrie's "This Train" and the Jamaican children's standard "Hold Em Joe," along with two spoken-word pieces by actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Other guests include Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Toots Hibbert and his mother, Rita Marley, and sister Cedella Marley. His 3-year-old daughter, Judah, who Marley calls his "muse" on the album, appears on the title track.

He'll follow "Family Time" with the June release of a set of Bob Marley song's, revised and remastered with a children's audience in mind.

"I never really thought about doing music for children before," said Marley, who's donating proceeds from "Family Time" to the Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, Jamaica. "I kind of realized why I'm being led into this world of family/children's music is because we have to speak to the children now. The children have the open-mindedness. They're going to grow up and make the world a better place, so it's them we have to have some kind of discussion with.

"So this is what this record is about, really, is the beginning of a discussion with children and families to make the future a better place for ... the world family. But it starts with our own families."

Marley hopes to continue that dialogue with the Bob Marley album, for which he took the original masters of eight classic songs and revised the instrumentation and arrangements, even using some of his father's alternate vocal tracks.

"It's a very different vibe," Marley told Billboard.com, "but still real Bob. It's not like fake Bob. ... It's Bob singing and I'm playing, like an acoustic session almost. Anything I did on this record is soulful and musical. There's no gimmicks. I'm keeping true to the spirit of my father, to the spirit of his music."

Marley, who left the sibling group the Melody Makers to go solo in 2002, will be on the road this spring and summer with American band 311 but hopes to "double up" and play special children's and family shows during the tour. He also predicts a reunion of the Melody Makers in the near future, adding that no details have yet been worked out. source>>>

George Strait's older brother,Buddy Strait, found dead in a San Antonio hotel room

His body was discovered by a cleaning crew at a La Quinta Inn, according to WOAI-TV in San Antonio. Deputies said that Buddy, whose real name was John Strait Jr., was in town on business. It is believed that he died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be held to determine the exact cause of death. Buddy helped create and organize the annual George Strait Team Roping Classic. source>>>

Nettwerk Testing Its 'Pay On The Way Out' Concerts

Terry McBride, of Nettwerk, an interesting label based in Canada, has been running a whole series of interesting experiments that show how a modern record label can still be useful. When I saw McBride speak at Midem earlier this year, he mentioned an experiment he was running, which I never really wrote about. However, Nancy Baym points out that it's starting to get some press. The idea is a free concert to attend... where you're asked to pay what you think it was worth on the way out. Nettwerk artist k-os is doing this, setting up a "Karma table" where you can also get a free copy of k-os' "fan-mixed" album. This was the other experiment Nettwerk is running: rather than letting fans remix the album, they released all the stems so that fans could mix the album itself -- and then they're releasing both the best fan-mixed versions and the professionally mixed versions.

It's an interesting experiment, and it will be worth watching (especially if McBride is willing share any of the actual results). It does seem like a risky move, because you're taking on the whole upfront cost of putting on the event -- giving away a scarcity, rather than an infinite good. However, depending on how the rest of it is structured they could end up making some decent money out of it. I'm just not sure it's really the best model, since giving away the scarcity for free gets much costlier much faster. source>>>

Danielia Cotton Performs at Appel Farm Sat., May 9

- Appel Farm's concert season continues with rock and blues singer-songwriter Danielia Cotton on Saturday, May 9 at 8:00 PM. With a powerful voice that defines Cotton's deeply felt songs, she leads audiences on an emotional journey through her compelling lyrics. Though still new to the music scene, Cotton has already garnered many accolades. She was named "Artist to Watch" in 2005 by WXPN/Philadelphia, home of the nationally syndicated World Café, who slotted the album's soulful single, "It's Only Life" into heavy rotation. She was also featured on their HDNetwork broadcast of "On Stage at World Cafe Live". XPN has designated this concert as a "Welcomes" event on their website. She has opened for a roster of acts that define great rock and blues music: legends Buddy Guy and Etta James; rock giants Bon Jovi, Gregg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Little Feat. Her latest album, Rare Child, shows her remarkable voice, heart and soul. Rare Child was ranked in the top ten albums downloaded on iTunes during its first week of release.

"She has a big voice-strong, clear and well-rounded, that commands attention for self-penned songs that burn with defiance and self-determination. Cotton....reveals all the soul beneath the strength." ~ The Philadelphia Inquirer

Tickets
Tickets are $18.00. Tickets can be purchased online at www.appelfarm.org or by calling Appel Farm at (800) 394-1211. Patrons with hearing or speech disabilities may call TRS (800) 852-7899 or dial 711. Appel Farm is accessible to patrons with disabilities. Individuals requiring assistance should contact the venue at (856) 358-2472.

About Appel Farm
Appel Farm Arts and Music Center is a non-profit regional arts center serving audiences, artists, and students. Programs include an overnight summer arts camp, concerts, family matinees, a major outdoor music festival, and classes for children and adults, outreach in New Jersey public schools and a conference center. More information about Appel Farm can be found at www.appelfarm.org or by calling (856) 358-2472.
These programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding sources include corporations, foundations and individual contributions by friends, Trustees and alumni of Appel Farm. A WXPN Welcomes Event. source>>>

Decemberists, Stephen Colbert To Meet Again

Stephen Colbert and his musical nemesis, the Decemberists, will face off again.

The Decemberists said Monday that they will perform on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on April 27.

Colbert and the band engaged in a mock feud in 2006 after Colbert accused the Decemberists of copying his idea of a fan-created "greenscreen challenge." The feud culminated in a much ballyhooed "ShredDown" in which Decemberists guitarist Chris Funk took on Colbert in a guitar solo contest.

Colbert claimed victory in one of the show's most star-studded episodes that featured Henry Kissinger, Morley Safer, Peter Frampton and former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. source>>>

Levon Helm Going "Electric" This June

After nabbing a Grammy for his rustic album "Dirt Farmer," Legendary drummer/vocalist Levon Helm will return June 30 with "Electric Dirt." The eleven song set will be released on Helms own Dirt Farmer Music, in conjunction with Vanguard. As with "Dirt Famer," Helm recorded at The Barn, his studios in Woodstock, New York and reteamed with multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell for production duties.

"Dirt Farmer" (which has sold 129,000 according to Nielson Soundscan) saw Helm emerge after a twenty-five year absence from solo work, exploring the rich, traditional roots of classic Americana and folk sounds. "Electric Dirt" promises to continue in that tradition, but will tap into more forms of the American musical canon. The original "Growing Trade" will feature horn arrangements from veteran New Orleans R&B musician Allen Toussaint. Randy Newman's "Kingfish" gives a nod to the musical heritages of ragtime era New Orleans as well.

Longtime fans of the Band know that the Grateful Dead often covered the Band's classic "The Weight" in concert, and Helm seemingly returns the gesture by opening the set with the Garcia/Hunter penned tune "Tennessee Jed" from the group's early 70's era.

Helm's band is scheduled to make a short run of shows in mid June, with stops at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado (June 13), Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma (June 16) and the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas (June 18). In addition to this, Helm will continue his "Midnight Ramble" sessions held on a weekly basis starting back up on April 18 and are slated to run through May 30. The first come, first serve style seating feature jam sessions held at The Barn and promise different special guests each week.

Here is the track list for "Electric Dirt":

"Tennessee Jed"
"Move Along Train"
"Growing Trade"
"Golden Bird"
"Stuff You Gotta Watch"
"White Dove"
"Kingfish"
"You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had"
"When I Go Away"
"Heaven's Pearls"
"I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel To Be Free" source>>>

LA Jury Convicts Phil Spector In Murder Of Actress

Two trials involving one legendary music producer. The first jury couldn't reach an unanimous decision, but the second found Phil Spector guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.

Six years after Clarkson was found dead in the foyer of Spector's mansion, the diminutive 69-year-old now finds himself in a Los Angeles jail cell after he was convicted on Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29 where he faces at least 18 years to life in prison barring a successful appeal.

Spector, wearing one of his signature suits with a long black coat, red tie and red handkerchief, had no obvious reaction. His 28-year-old wife, Rachelle, sobbed as the verdict was announced. Spector was led out of the courtroom by sheriff's deputies and remanded to jail immediately.

"He took it very stoically," defense attorney Doron Weinberg said later. "He wanted to know what is next."

The jury forewoman, who spoke later, also wept. She recounted the pressure of deciding the fate of another person.
"It just is a painful decision," she said. "For anybody in our shoes, you have no idea. It's tough to be on a jury."

The murder case was a flash from Hollywood's distant past, a reminder of the 1960s when Spector reigned as the hit maker supreme with such songs as the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and the Ronettes' classic, "Be My Baby."

The 40-year-old Clarkson, star of the 1985 cult film "Barbarian Queen," died of a gunshot fired in her mouth as she sat in Spector's mansion in February 2003. She met Spector only hours earlier at her job as a nightclub hostess. In one of many ironies of the case, she had no idea of his fame. Prosecutors argued Spector had a history of threatening women with guns when they tried to leave his presence.

The defense claimed she was despondent over her fading career and killed herself.

Spector's chauffeur, the key witness, said he heard a gunshot, then saw Spector emerge holding a gun and heard him say: "I think I killed somebody."

The first jury deadlocked 10-2, favoring conviction in 2007. This time, jurors spent about 30 hours in deliberations before finding Spector guilty. They had the option of choosing involuntary manslaughter, but did not do so. The panel also found Spector personally used a firearm in committing a crime.

"It feels fantastic, this is the type of day prosecutors live for," said Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson, who summed up Spector's motive for killing Clarkson in one word: "Rage."

Clarkson's mother and sister attended with their lawyer, who said they would not personally comment because they now face resolution of their civil damage suit against Spector.

"The family is pleased that the jury rejected distortions of Lana Clarkson's life," said attorney John Taylor.
Prosecutors, haunted by the acquittals of stars such as O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Michael Jackson, at first seemed invested in making Spector the first showbiz star to be convicted in a major criminal case. But after the first trial ended in a deadlock, public interest faded. The second six-month trial was played out in a sparsely populated courtroom with few members of the media present. source>>>

John Rich Files Defamation Suit Against Former Nashville Star Contestant

John Rich has filed a defamation lawsuit against former Nashville Star contestant Jared Ashley, according to documents filed in Davidson Country Circuit Court in Nashville. Rich claims Ashley defamed him during an interview with a Florida radio station when he falsely stated that Rich hit him in the face during an altercation at the Spot, Rich's private club in Nashville. Rich said Ashley entered the club without permission on March 13 and had to be removed by security after being asked to leave. Rich's lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Ashley was a contestant during the fourth season of Nashville Star. Rich is a former judge of the NBC talent competition source>>>

Bryan, Ingram, Womack, Zac Brown Band Join CMA Music Festival

Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram, Lee Ann Womack and the Zac Brown Band have joined the lineup for the CMA Music Festival's nightly concerts in June at Nashville's LP Field. The full schedule for the nightly shows has also been announced. Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley will perform on June 11. Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Bryan and the Zac Brown Band will play on June 12. Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson, Martina McBride, Ingram and Womack will appear on June 13, while Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich and Taylor Swift will close the festival on June 14. Tickets to the individual concerts go on sale Saturday (April 18) via Ticketmaster source>>>

First-Round Nominations Announced for 2009 CMT Music Awards

The first-round of nominations for the 2009 CMT Music Awards were announced on Monday (April 13). Sugarland earned six nominations, while Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift each earned four nominations. Fans can vote on CMT.com through May 11 to determine the final nominees, which will be announced on May 19. The 2009 CMT Music Awards will take place in Nashville on June 17.
source>>>

The Oprah Winfrey Show with Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker Natural Fit for Audience

Were country fans there? Sure. Was it absolutely mandatory that you love country music? Not at all. But by the end of the hour-long taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show in late March, chances are you were a fan of both Winfrey and her cast of country characters -- Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker and Sugarland

During her Stars of Country Music show, which airs Tuesday (April 14), Winfrey deemed country music "the real soul music." And when Oprah says it, it must be so. But before all the real soul music could be heard, there was the issue of finding a way onto the show.

Getting tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show is not something you take lightly. You cannot buy them. You cannot trade them. Really, the only two ways to make it into that coveted studio audience is to sign up on the show's Web site and be chosen for any random show. Or you can send an e-mail for a last-minute reservation -- like when the site posted the "Calling All Country Fans" alert. But so many people try for so long before they ever get a chance to be on the show. A search of the Oprah.com message board yielded this advice: "I dedicated every day the line was open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to strictly calling over and over -- not even any potty breaks!!!! I spent six consecutive hours for two days, then two consecutive hours on the third day and then I got through!!!!!"

Regardless of how people ended up at this studio on the west side of Chicago, everyone was ready and waiting at the check-in time of 7 a.m. People had come from all over Chicago, but a handful had flown in from as far away as Louisiana, Texas and even Trinidad. And as long as this group of about 400 people, mostly women, were waiting on Oprah, nobody seemed to mind the 90 minutes of standing in line.

The dress code was easy enough to follow. "Bright colors work best on camera," said the info sheet. That would explain why the audience was a sea of Kelly green, royal blue, fuchsia and bright purple. And since so many people were there just to be on Oprah, and not necessarily to see the country stars, hardly anyone was decked out in head-to-toe cowboy attire. A few cowboy hats, some nice boots, but nothing too over the top.

When Winfrey came out, so did the "Oprah, Oprah, Oprah" chanting. She worked her way through the fans, high fiving as many hands as she could. But for the country lovers, Chesney working his way up to the stage had to be the thrill of the morning. He hugged almost everyone in his path, keeping one hand on his black cowboy hat so the zealous embraces didn't knock it off. Before settling in to talk with Winfrey, Chesney picked up an acoustic guitar to perform "Down the Road," his latest No. 1 single. Then he did "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems." And almost everybody was singing along. Even Underwood, who had a prime spot in the front row.

It may not be like this every time Winfey has a slew of celebs on her show. But for this one, the front row was reserved for her and her guests to take in the music and the conversation. So while Chesney was performing, Underwood, Rucker and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush were right there watching. And when Underwood was singing, Chesney sat back down with the group to watch. And so on. During breaks, they could turn around and chat with the folks behind them. It was all very intimate, maybe even a bit surreal for the people seated right by the stars.

When Chesney and Winfrey did sit down to talk, he told her all about what he does to prepare for taking his life on the road. They even had footage of Chesney's backstage "Vibe Room" that his team creates at every tour stop. But like she always does, Winfrey brought Chesney back to who he really is and coaxed some admissions out of him. He said that he didn't want to be doing sound checks for the next 20 years. He also said, "I was just a kid who wanted a song on the radio. Who thought I'd be playing Oprah on my birthday?" Oprah's responded, "God can dream bigger dreams than you can dream for yourself."

Next up was Underwood in what can only be described as a "ballad dress." Yellow and billowy and short and elegant. Perfect for the sad, sad "Just a Dream" she sang. Her conversation with Winfrey turned to all things girl: shoes, antiques, workouts and dieting. There was even film of Underwood showing her food diary, with a comment about how she gets stickers like she's in kindergarten. The best story, though, was about grocery shopping late at night in sweats and a ponytail. Underwood told Winfrey she's had people actually come up to her and say things like "You look like Carrie Underwood, but why would Carrie Underwood be at Harris Teeter at 11 o'clock at night?"

Clearly, Rucker was honored to be on the show. He told Winfrey that when he committed to taking some time off in December, he marked every day on his calendar with "Darius off ... unless Oprah calls." And she did, and they had a chance to talk about Rucker's music -- new and old. And Rucker had a chance to shine on "It Won't Be Like This for Long."

Sugarland rounded out the set of country stars, getting up on the Oprah stage to rock the crowd with "All I Want to Do." When Nettles and Bush sat down to talk to Winfrey, the conversation turned to Barack Obama. Nettles recounted the story of what it was like meeting him, and how the first thing he'd said to her was, "Nice pipes, girl. Nice pipes." source>>>

Colorado’S Telluride Jazz Celebration Set for June 5-7 in Majestic San Juan Mountains

Bill Frisell Special Guest at 3-Day Event Also Featuring Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, Rebirth Brass Band, Lizz Wright, Jimmy Herring, Benevento/Russo Duo, Ozomatli, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe

(Telluride, CO - April 13, 2009) Since 1977 Telluride's spectacular location high in the majestic San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado has been the site of an annual cultural event produced by the Telluride Society for Jazz combining the finest of nature and art that ranks among the world's most memorable music festivals. The intimate format and abundant opportunities to enjoy spectacular alpine recreational activities complement the superb music presented at the Telluride Jazz Celebration (TJC) which is also presented by Raynier Institute & Foundation, Mountain Village Owners Association and US Bank of Telluride. Combining performances on outdoor stages during the day with theater and club shows at night, the TJC offers the best of both worlds and with its new dates in June, it has become even more festive blending beautifully with the Telluride Balloon Rally.

Featured Artists:

Bill Frisell Trio - "Guest of Honor" -
featuring Eyvind Kang & Rudy Royston Grammy winner Frisell combines the finesse of jazz, the thunder of rock, the vast openness of country, and the experimental mind-set in his playing.

After studying with Jim Hall in the early 70's, Frisell helped redefine the function of the guitar in contemporary music. Today, this Colorado native's genre-defying music can only be called classic Americana, and his humor is ever present in his art. Off stage, his modesty shines through his gentle personality to reveal the reflective soul who is never content to rest on his laurels.

Ozomatli - From L.A. to the World
In their thirteen years together as a band and winners of two Grammys, celebrated Los Angeles based Ozomatli has gone from being hometown heroes to being named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors. Their music-- a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican ragga and Indian raga will take you around the world.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
A highly energized fun funk machine led by former Lenny Kravitz sax-man Karl Denson, the Tiny Universe brings a dynamic sound that defies categorization. The band members, Denson on vocals, tenor sax, alto sax and flute, guitarist Brian Jordan, bassist Ron Johnson, keyboard player David Veith, trumpet player Chris Littlefield and drummer John Staten, have earned a reputation as kings of the unstoppable all-night show.

Jimmy Herring
Jimmy is one of the most acclaimed guitarists of his generation. Plying his skills in contexts ranging from classically song-driven rock to technically demanding jazz-fusion, Herring's playing combines a restless, jazz-inspired improvisational zeal with the immediacy and intensity of his rock'n'roll roots. Between stints with the Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, the Dead, Phil Lesh and Friends, Jimmy Herring is finally flying solo with his own amazing band.

Lizz Wright
Her first two Verve releases, "Salt" and "Dreaming Wide Awake", reached the top of Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart, establishing her as one of the jazz world's most celebrated rising stars, both an accomplished songwriter and a versatile, deeply expressive singer. The New York Times' Stephen Holden says she "stirs jazz, gospel and rhythm and blues into a reflective, flowing style that elongates songs into prayerful meditations."

Donald Harrison
CBS Sunday Morning is calling New Orleans native and alto Saxophonist Donald Harrison, one of the most important musicians of the new millennium. He is the originator of the Nouveau Swing style merges acoustic swing with modern R&B, second-line, hip-hop, and reggae rhythms. His smooth jazz recording, "The Power of Cool," went to the top of Billboard Magazine's Smooth Jazz and R&B charts and is considered a classic. Don't miss this acclaimed quintet!

Rebirth Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band is an institution. Formed in 1983, the band has long since graduated from the streets of New Orleans to theaters and festivals all over the world. With its latest release - "Rebirth For Life" - the band has delivered its best studio album in years. The invigorating music that sounds so spontaneous is the combination of a spirit and a complete immersion in the New Orleans street tradition.

Christian Scott
This trumpeter is one of the brightest jazz stars to emerge in the last few years. At 22, he has both the tone and the conviction beyond his years. A New Orleans native, Scott's Quartet represents the next generation of Crescent City horn blowers whose lineage started with the legendary King Oliver and Louis Armstrong.

Ken Walker Sextet
This renowned Denver bassist has one of the swing-ingest sextets to come out of the Rocky Mountain region. "New York and New Orleans have been the Meccas of jazz...and a...barometer for great jazz performances. However, what is completely unusual is for an entire group to reflect this kind of greatness. Kenny Walker's Sextet is such a group." Benny Golson. With Peter Summer on tenor, Al Hood on trumpet, Dave Corbus on guitar, Jeff Jenkins on piano and Paul Romaine on drums.

Benevento/Russo Duo
The Benevento/Russo Duo formed in 2002 when Russo was offered a Thursday night residency at New York City's Knitting Factory. Telluride Jazz 2003 was their first gig outside their NYC home! Since then they have toured and recorded with Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon from Phish, Beck producer Joey Waronker, David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlain and many more.

ON THE ONE
2007 San Diego Music Award Winners for Best Jazz Album, ON THE ONE walk alongside live acts such as Karl Denson Trio and the Greyboy All-Stars when it comes to export music from America's finest city. The name ON THE ONE comes from both Prince and James Brown. Both singers have been known to say, "ON THE ONE" meaning "everyone in the band drop in on the first beat...on the ONE."

Mariachi Vasquez
Music is the lifeblood that runs through the veins of la familia Vasquez. Returning to Telluride for the third time, this wonderful Mariachi ensemble represents several generations of musicians. Energetic, entertaining and colorful, Mariachi Vasquez is delightful to hear and stunning to see. Come and connect culturally!

Telluride Student All-Star Jazz Ensemble
This program is for the serious student and is directed by renowned jazz educator and performer Bob Montgomery. A national talent search is conducted for students age 13 and up via audition tapes. Students selected receive scholarships to this special week-long program culminating with a main stage performance at the festival. Audition information available on the web site.

Young Razzcals Jazz Project
The Young Razzcal's Jazz Project made its first appearance at the Jazz Celebration on the Stage in 1995. The kids were nine to twelve years old. They'll make their seventh appearance this June. The Razzcals are eleven to sixteen. They've evolved into a group of prodigy jazz players. Jazz educator and musician, Dave Adams, directs them.

(All artists and programs are subject to change)

Tickets on sale now at www.telluridejazz.org or call 970.728.7009

For Ticket, Lodging & Travel Services visit our Official Central Reservation Sponsor at: www.TELLURIDE.com

Single Day Pass - Friday only: $39
Single Day Pass for either Saturday or Sunday: $50
Three-day Park Passes: $125
Weekend All-Access Pass: $165

The All-Access Pass provides entry to Town Park Stage and participating night venues, on a first-come first-serve basis after first priority Patrons, Sponsors and Artists are seated.

Patron Pass: $625
First Priority entry to all participating Night Venues and events, special stage-side seating at Town Park, and food & beverage catering at Town Park in the Patron Pavilion. In addition, Patrons are invited to Friday's opening and Sunday's closing parties and special sponsored events throughout the weekend. source>>>

Phillip Larue Paves The Road With Solo Debut

As an artist that has already been pegged as one to watch in 2009, Phillip LaRue joyfully releases his BEC Recordings solo debut today, "Let the Road Pave Itself." On the heels of the release, Gospel Music Channel has jumped on board naming Phillip LaRue as their next "Listen Up" artist for April/May.

GMC's "Listen Up" is Gospel Music Channel's new multiplatform promotional campaign featuring new emerging Gospel/Christian recording artists who are on the verge of becoming break-out stars. Beginning next Monday, April 13th, GMC will showcase Phillip throughout the channel and online with video assets and exclusive interview footage for viewers to learn more about this budding artist.

In addition, AOL Music is hosting a "Listening Party" with the full CD in streaming this week. Click here to check it out. Also recently featuring the full album in stream was Relevant Magazine on their weekly "The Drop" online. Other street week coverage include video interview footage on HearitFirst.com and a street week podcast on NewReleaseTuesday.com.

Not being new to the industry or the Nashville music scene, Phillip has filled the role of producer (Tenth Avenue North) and songwriter (Brandon Heath, Tenth Avenue North, Krystal Meyers,) since his duo LaRue (with his sister Natalie) called it quits in 2003.

An organic set of songs for the digital age produced by Paul Moak, "Let the Road Pave Itself" was tracked live in the studio to an old fashioned two-inch tape reel, warmly capturing the sound of Phillip and his friends playing real time rock that's concerned with life's deepest matters of love and faith. Recorded in this manner, Phillip kept many of the first takes without fixing to keep the album as natural as possible.

One such example is the debut radio single and opening track, "Chasing the Daylight," a stirring mid-tempo rocker that has seen dark times but still declares I want to chase the daylight like it's the last day of my life. At radio, this single has moved into New and Active at CHR as well as Air 1 adding the song last week.

For more information on Phillip LaRue and this debut, check out his MySpace and EPK at: www.myspace.com/philliplarue or www.philliplarue.com

About Gospel Music Channel:
Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in more than 45 million homes on various cable systems around the country and on DIRECTV Channel 338. For more information, visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com source>>>

MercyMe Release Career Milestone '10' Recording

MercyMe releases their latest project "10," celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band's career hit, "I Can Only Imagine," penned by frontman Bart Millard in memory of his father. The single sold nearly 3 million units, and became a multi format smash at Top 40, AC, Country and Christian charts alike.

The new album features 12 of MercyMe's number one radio hits that span their five studio releases, from 2001's Almost There to their 2007 release All That Is Within Me. The disc also features three bonus tracks including a new recording of "I Can Only Imagine" with the famed London Session Orchestra, "10" also includes a companion DVD, featuring a diverse mix of concept videos and live performances showcasing the bands unique brand of music. In addition, fans can view an inside glimpse of the story behind "I Can Only Imagine" and get up close and personal with the band through their appearance on Gospel Music Channel's "Faith & Fame" feature.

"10" releases amid yet another successful tour for MercyMe. The Rock & Worship Roadshow, sponsored by Compassion International in partnership with Imagine A Cure, is averaging crowds of 10,000 per date, playing major markets across the U.S., including Portland, OR, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, and Baton Rouge, LA. In their hometown of Dallas, TX, the band filled American Airlines Center's 18,000 seats, while thousands of other concert-goers were not able to enter, because the venue had reached maximum capacity.

Joining headliner MercyMe on the Roadshow are Gold-selling artist and reigning GMA Male Vocalist of the Year Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, as well as burgeoning bands Tenth Avenue North and Addison Road.

"The response to the Rock and Worship Roadshow has been incredible," said Cliff Reiser, concert promoter at Rush Concerts. "Over 120,000 people have come to shows in 13 cities so far, including 18,000 in Dallas on April 3. This a great testament to MercyMe's continued ability to impact our culture in a positive way."

Watch MercyMe's frontman Bart Millard's response after their sold out show of more than13,000 people in Fresno, CA here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwI9wys_oA.

In addition, MercyMe's current single, "Finally Home" is No. 1 at Christian AC and Soft AC radio and is climbing the mainstream AC chart presently at No. 24. "Finally Home" has entered the iTunes ® top 10 Christian singles chart at No. 8 today.
For more information on MercyMe and the tour please visit www.mercyme.org or www.rockandworshiproadshow.com . source>>>

KJ-52 Sighting, He's Keeping Busy

As you know KJ-52 likes to keep it real, keep it fresh, and keep in touch with you all! So here are some things that he's been working on...just for you!

1.) Rockin' a daily bible study on his podcast - www.kj52podcast.com - would love for you to all join, share your thoughts as you walk through this together.

2.) KJ also started a blog...yes a blog! Click here to follow, comment, and know all that's going on!

3.) FREESTYLE Friday's are still goin' on folks! First 4 people to respond to KJ-52 on Twitter (@KJ52)...he will use YOUR topic and in the FREESTYLE that day! So get ready, be ready, and your subjects could be used next!

Vote For Your Favorite Remix On KJ-52's Remix The Remix Contest

Get your VOTE on....no, not for the presidential race...that's over and done with....VOTE for your favorite Remix from KJ-52's Remix The Remix contest! Click here to vote today! Voting closes April 27th!

Also, keep in mind that EVERY 1st Monday of the month KJ-52 will be posting a mixtape song on this page!! So bookmark it and make sure to VOTE and check back EVERY 1st Monday of the month!! source>>>

Dove Award Performers Announced For Live Show April 23rd

Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Mary Mary, MercyMe, Third Day, Chris Tomlin and other performers to be announced in a special Dottie Rambo tribute segment are the first performers announced for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards telecast, according to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Gospel Music Channel (GMC).

The Dove Awards (www.DoveAwards.com), Christian and gospel music's biggest night of the year will take place live on Thursday, April 23, 2009 in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House and will be broadcast live nationwide on the awards' exclusive television home, the Gospel Music Channel television network from 8 - 10 p.m. (ET).

The performers confirmed for the show are also nominees for Dove Awards:

Francesca Battistelli
Steven Curtis Chapman
Natalie Grant with special guest Group 1 Crew
Brandon Heath
Mary Mary
MercyMe
Jonathan Nelson
Remedy Drive
Chris Sligh
Tenth Avenue North
Third Day
Chris Tomlin
Dottie Rambo Tribute with surprise guests

Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. Tickets for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards are currently available at TicketMaster.com.

While the awards are the purpose of the show, music performances will definitely share center stage at the Dove Awards, showcasing some of gospel music's hottest and most diverse artists. In addition to the exclusive live broadcast, Gospel Music Channel will present back-to-back encore broadcasts that night and additional re-airings following. Gospel Music Channel's rapid growth has made it the fastest growing network in television for the past two years and GMC is now available in more than 43 million homes in all major markets on the major cable systems as well as on DIRECTV on Channel 338. The American Bible Society (www.AmericanBible.org) is the official charity for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Dove Awards will be handed out in 43 categories. For the first time, fans have become stakeholders in the Dove Awards with an opportunity to vote for the winner of two of the night's biggest awards - Artist of the Year along with New Artist of the Year. Fan voting is open at the Gospel Music Channel website (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) and at www.doveawards.com. The cumulative fan vote, which will continue through the live Dove Awards broadcast, will account for one-third of the total vote in those two categories. source>>>

Thursday, April 30, 2009

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Monday, April 13, 2009