US Music News:

Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

badrom

Michael Jackson makes history with $219 million recording deal

michael_jacksonThe estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $US200 million ($219 million) guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, it is understood.

The record-breaking contract could be worth up to $US250 million if certain conditions are met, a person familiar with the deal said.

One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November, the person said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement is expected on Tuesday.

AP

Beyonce, Michael Jackson and The Eagles top-selling musicians in the US over past decade

748771-beyonceSINGER Beyoncé is the top-selling artist of the decade, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

The organisation has released a compilation of its awards from 2000 through 2009 and the multi-Grammy winning artist and former Destiny’s Child frontwoman, was ahead of the pack with a whopping 64 certifications for albums, ringtones, and music videos.

Soaring above the rest were The Eagles, besting all other groups in total gold and platinum awards, while the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, led male solo artists.

A gold award is presented when the sales figures reach at least 500,000 albums or ringtones, while platinum status is attained once an artist reaches the 1 million mark.

Top Sellers

Group: The Eagles

Male solo artist: Michael Jackson

Female solo artist: Beyonce

Most album certifications:
Group: Nickelback

Male solo artist: George Strait

Female solo artist: Britney Spears

Most digital song certifications:

Group: Linkin Park

Male solo artist: Kanye West

Female solo artist: Taylor Swift

Most master ringtone certifications:

Male solo artist: T.I

Female solo artist: Beyonce

Highest certified releases

Highest certified album:
Group: NSYNC’s No Strings Attached and OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Male solo artist: Usher’s Confessions

Female solo artist: Shania Twain’s Up!

Highest certified digital song:

Group: Coldplay’s Viva La Vida and The Fray’s How to Save a Life

Male solo artist: Flo Rida’s Low

Female solo artist: Lady Gaga’s Just Dance and Taylor Swift’s Love Story

Highest certified master ringtone:
Group: D4L’s Laffy Taffy; Hinder’s Lips of an Angel and Shop Boyz’ Party Like a Rockstar 

Male solo artist: Lil Wayne’s Lollipop 

Female solo artist: Beyonce’s Irreplaceable

Rihanna’s bizarre booty call from metal molester on stage in Germany

601787-dtstory-rihannaRihanna … gets a strange boot call on stage from a robot.   Source: The Daily Telegraph

RIHANNA got a strange booty call from one of her fans, who turned out to be a robot who has been dubbed the “metal molester” by one international paper.

The Mirror newspaper reports Rihanna was perofrming Rude Boy at Germany’s version of the Brit Awards where her rear was roughed up by a robot last night in a bizarre stage routine.

The star was performing her single Rude Boy at the Echo Music Awards in Berlin when the metal molester made his move.

Other stars at the bash, which sees the  German Phonographic Academy honour artists from all over the world in 23 categories, included Robbie Williams, Ke$ha, Beth Ditto and Sade.

Bruce Willis stars in new Gorillaz video Stylo

845880-bruce-willisAll-action … Bruce Willis in the new Gorillaz video Stylo Source: The Daily Telegraph

THEIR songs include Kids With Guns, Clint Eastwood and Dirty Harry so it won’t require a great leap to guess the theme of the Gorillaz new video Stylo.

Action hero Bruce Willis has been drafted in to chase three “members” of the virtual band – Murdoc, 2D and Noodle, the Daily Mail reports

The video marks a return for Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s futuristic band, who last released an album, Demon Days, in 2005.

Stylo is the first single off their Plastic Beach album, which is released next week and features Mos Def and Bobby Womack.

 

The album also features collaborations with Snopp Dogg, Lou Reed, De La Soul and the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music, among others.

Murdoc said of Lou Reed that he “tried” to ban everyone from the studio while he was recording.

“He wanted to do his whole vocal thing in private; he ordered everyone out the studio. Me too!” he said.

“I just waited until he was up and running, getting his groove on, then I crawled back in under the mixing desk where he couldn’t see. I love Lou, but y’know, this is my album’.”

Billy Corgan has no Love for Courtney

NewsCore

928663-courtney-loveBILLY Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins worked with Courtney Love on songs for her new album – but now he wants nothing to do with her.

And if she releases the songs – as it appears she will – “it would be a real big problem, because I haven’t given my permission,” Corgan told Rolling Stone.

 ”I have no interest in supporting her in any way, shape or form,” he added.

“You can’t throw enough things down the abyss with a person like that.”

As for ex-flame Jessica Simpson, “if people knew her like I knew her, they would love her like I do. It’s really simple.”

Susan Boyle set to be marquee guest at Logies Melbourne

131993-susan-boyleLuke Dennehy - Herald Sun

  • Susan Boyle tipped for Logies
  • Is top of the list for organisers
  • Host not decided for awards night

SUSAN Boyle may be headed to Melbourne as the marquee guest at this year’s Logies at Crown.

Industry sources say Boyle is at the top of the list for organisers of TV Week’s big night, the Herald Sun reports.

The Scottish singer has said she has always wanted to visit Australia.

She has had enourmous success here – her album I Dreamed A Dream has been in the top three for 14 weeks.

A host for the awards has not been decided.

But there have been industry rumblings in past weeks to give the gig to one of television’s great survivors, Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

The Logies are on May 2.

Susan Boyle shot to fame last year after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, immediately becoming an internet sensation.

As of yesterday, the YouTube clip of her singing I Dreamed A Dream had almost 90 million views.

Her album has has sold about 10 million copies around the world.

She maintains a base in her village in Scotland.

Jackson estate co-executors can take 10 per cent cut

michael-jackson

TWO men named as co-executors of Michael Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain, will receive a 10 percent cut of all profits they make for the King of Pop’s estate, a Los Angeles judge has ruled.

Both Branca and McClain will receive five percent of the profits, however they won’t get any compensation from the This Is It concert rehearsal film or any payment from Jackson’s stake in the Sony/ATV catalog.

The Jackson family initially opposed Branca and McClain’s control over Michael’s estate, but lawyers for the family made no objections in court yesterday when the judge revealed the 10 percent cut.

“I think that this is very reasonable,” Katherine Jackson’s lawyer Adam Streisand said.

“There is an incentive for the executors to grow the business and that will, of course, affect their compensation.”

A lawyer for Branca and McClain said the pair will be “fairly compensated,” but will still receive less money than the “guideline amounts for administering Jackson’s estate,” which is worth an estimated $577 million.

AP

Rihanna coming to Sydney for Valentine’s Day

254278-rihannaRIHANNA will kick off an international campaign to bolster the chart fortunes of her latest record Rated R with a whirlwind chatfest in Australia this month.

The Barbados-born beauty will see little but the inside of hotel rooms after arriving in Sydney for three days of promotion from Valentine’s Day.

The statuesque singer has enjoyed huge support from her fans in the 12 months since former boyfriend Chris Brown assaulted her.

In just three months, both Rated R and its first single Russian Roulette have been certified gold in Australia, selling more than 35,000 copies.

Rihanna has also become highly sought after by her peers for collaborations and collected a Grammy with mentor Jay-Z and Kanye West for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the song Run This Town.

She also combined with Jay-Z and Bono on the new track Stranded which they performed during the Hope For Haiti fundraiser recently.

Rihanna last visited Sydney in November 2008 when she toured with Brown.

Grammys Winners

pink-grammyLook, folks, better late than never.  With Ryan sick and me in the state of moving from one place to another, we haven’t had much time to update today.  And I’m someone who cares very little about the Grammys – they award people who sell the most records, for the most part.  They bore me on top of that.  The only reason to watch is for the music.  But chat away if you’d like.  I did notice that the cute Jonas was wearing glasses.

Did Pink steal the show?

Winners after the cut. 

Song Of The Year:

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Pretty Wings,” Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell) “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyoncé Knowles, Thaddis Harrell, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Use Somebody,” Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
“You Belong With Me,” Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:

“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas
“We Weren’t Born To Follow,” Bon Jovi
“Never Say Never,” The Fray
“Sara Smile,” Daryl Hall & John Oates
“Kids,” MGMT

Best Rock Album:

Black Ice, AC/DC
Live From Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
21st Century Breakdown, Green Day
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
No Line On The Horizon, U2

Best Country Album

The Foundation, Zac Brown Band
Twang, George Strait
Fearless, Taylor Swift
Defying Gravity, Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy, Lee Ann Womack

Best Rap Solo Performance:

“Best I Ever Had,” Drake
“Beautiful,” Eminem
“D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune),” Jay-Z
“Day ‘N’ Nite,” Kid Cudi
“Casa Bey,” Mos Def

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Ego,” Beyoncé and Kanye West
“Knock You Down,” Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West
“I’m On a Boat,” The Lonely Island and T-Pain
“Dead and Gone,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:

“Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn
“Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown Band
“I Run To You,” Lady Antebellum
“Here Comes Goodbye,” Rascal Flatts
“It Happens,” Sugarland

Record Of The Year:

“Halo,” Beyoncé
“I Gotta Feeling,” the Black Eyed Peas
“Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Album Of The Year:

I Am…Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé
The E.N.D., the Black Eyed Peas
The Fame, Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
Fearless, Taylor Swift

Best New Artist:

Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

“This Time,” John Legend
“Love You,” Maxwell
“Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Seal
“All About the Love Again,” Stevie Wonder

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

“Hometown Glory,” Adele
“Halo,” Beyonce
“Hot N Cold,” Katy Perry
“Sober,” Pink
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals

“I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas
“We Weren’t Born to Follow,” Bon Jovi
“Never Say Never,” The Fray
“Sara Smile,” Hall and Oates
“Kids,” MGMT

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

“Sea of Heartbreak,” Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen
“Love Sex Magic,” Ciara and Justin Timberlake
“Lucky,” Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Willie Nelson and Norah Jones
“Breathe,” Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat

Best Pop Album

The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas
Breakthrough, Colbie Caillat
All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson
The Fray, The Fray
Funhouse, Pink

Best Dance Recording

“Boom Boom Pow,” The Black Eyed Peas
“When Love Takes Over,” David Guetta and Kelly Rowland
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“Celebration,” Madonna
“Womanizer,” Britney Spears

Best Hard Rock Performance

“War Machine,” AC/DC
“Check My Brain,” Alice in Chains
“What I’ve Done,” Linkin Park
“The Unforgiven III,” Metallica
“Burn It to the Ground,” Nickelback

Best Rock Song

“The Fixer,” Pearl Jam
“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” U2
“21 Guns,” Green Day
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“Working on a Dream,” Bruce Springsteen