George Michael Arrested For Car Crash, Denies Being Drunk

Michael, who was back behind the wheel after completing a two-year driving ban, said: "Neither of us was charged because we were both stone cold sober. - more on this story

Miley and Strait Hits

Reuters reports: The King of Country is poised to dethrone the King of Pop, as George Strait's new release, "Twang," is expected to be the top-selling album in the U.S. during the week ending Sunday (August 16).

The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart will reflect the strong debuts of a number of hotly anticipated songs that received their digital release Tuesday.

Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." could sell at least 200,000 downloads during its first week, while Jay-Z's all-star collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West on "Run This Town" may sell between 150,000 and 170,000. - more on this story

Warrant Out for Bobbie Brown's Arrest

AP reports: An arrest warrant has been issued for Bobby Brown after he failed to appear in a Massachusetts court on a contempt complaint.

Norfolk Judge Christina Harms ordered Brown arrested the next time the singer is in Massachusetts. He failed to appear at a June 29 hearing.

Register of Probate Patrick McDermott said Friday that by June, Brown had fallen $45,000 behind in child support payments. - more on this story

The Low Anthem for Blind Pilot

PR reports: It's been a banner year for Rhode Island trio The Low Anthem. After having spent the greater part of the year touring with acts such as Elvis Perkins In Dearland, Joe Pug, Ray Lamontagne, Josh Ritter, and Langhorne Slim in support of their highly praised Nonesuch debut, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, the band is gearing up for yet another stretch on the road, this time with the Portland group Blind Pilot.

This run of 21 club and theater dates begins October 15 and continues through November 12 and includes the band's West coast debut.

Additionally, The Low Anthem will return to NYC for a performance at the Bell House at the end of August and travel to Europe for a month-long tour in September. - more on this story

Another Cliched Rapper Obsessed with CA$H

PR reports: It's no secret that rap's biggest hits continue to come from the South. In fact, it's the absolute norm. The next artist burning his path north is Louisiana CA$H, a Louisiana native who's better suited for the bright lights than the bayous.

His song "Walk Wit a Dip" is spreading like wildfire, getting play from New Mexico all the way to Washington, DC. On his MySpace page the song registers nearly 700,000 plays. CA$H left the industry no choice but to take notice. Battery Records, RCA/JIVE Label Group's division aimed at promoting and developing up-and-coming talent, stepped up to ink him.

Says Neil Levine, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Battery, "Louisiana CA$H is one of the hottest artists coming out of the South. Expect cell phones and cars to be blasting his newest single "Walk Wit a Dip" which is already the hottest record in Dallas. We're very pleased to have CA$H and I$G join our Battery family". - more on this story

Sara Lov Handpicked By Sea Wolf To Open Tour

PR reports: Sara Lov has been handpicked by longtime friend and collaborator Sea Wolf to open his seven-week musical voyage across the country. The national tour sets sail September 14 in Santa Barbara, just weeks after the re-release of Lov's debut solo LP, Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming, on August 25 via Filter US Recordings.

Already a versatile performer, dating back to her stint as former lead singer of the revered dream-pop duo Devics, Lov will take a slightly new approach to her beautiful songs in this live setting: her voice and guitar will be aided by a vintage vinyl record player.

Propelled by her unmistakable, "irresistibly seductive" voice (NPR), Lov's first full-length foray as a solo artist, Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming, exudes both lyrical depth and maturity as she experiments with her newfound musical freedom. Produced by Zac Rae (Fiona Apple, Annie Lennox, My Brightest Diamond) and mixed by Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck), it has been self-described by Lov as "simple and sad with a shot of Scotch." From "Animals," a dramatic duet with Sea Wolf's Alex Brown Church, to "My Body is a Cage," her stunning piano-filled take on Arcade Fire's lament, Lov's sound is simultaneously dark and angelic. - more on this story

Mac McAnally Goes Down By The River

PR reports: Legendary musician, songwriter, producer and recording artist Mac McAnally released his latest album Down By The River on August 4th. The 11-song collection of new original material is also his 11th release as a solo artist and his debut for Show Dog Nashville.

Starting as a Muscle Shoals session musician while still essentially a child, signing as Geffen Records' first artist at the age of 16, McAnally went on to become one of the most respected guitar players in the world. He's played behind or sang harmony for artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. As a producer, he's helmed successful projects by Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat, among others.

In addition to the hits he has penned for artists, McAnally received his first No. 1 single as an artist and sixth as a writer on his collaboration with Kenny Chesney, "Down The Road." The song penned by McAnally and recorded by Chesney, who invited the acclaimed music maker to sing on the track with him, also led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod for the collaboration. - more on this story

Calvin Harris Using Humans As Instruments

PR reports: Calvin Harris has performed a version of his new single 'Ready for the Weekend' on the Humanthesizer, a unique human synthesizer. The instrument employs 15 bikini clad models and a new electric body ink developed by students at the Royal College of Art, London.

The new ink, when painted on the skin, allows a current to be passed through the body without causing an electric shock. The instrument consists of 34 pads on the floor which have been painted with the conductive ink and connected to a computer via some clever custom electronics. The performers stand on the pads, and touch each other on the hands or body to complete a circuit and trigger a sound. Calvin played the main keyboard line and effects by interacting with a row of eight girls. The rhythmic portions of the track were played by seven dancers performing a carefully choreographed routine.

The project is the result of collaboration between Calvin Harris, creatives Phil Clandillon and Steve Milbourne at Sony Music, Columbia Records and a group of masters students from the RCA's Industrial Design Engineering programme. - Watch it here

Are The Sheepdogs The Best?

PR reports: Saskatoon's The Sheepdogs have been nominated for the Independent Album of the Year at this year's Western Canadian Music Awards.

The awards will take place on September 20th in Brandon, MB. Their album The Sheepdogs' Big Stand is nominated alongside great Canadian talent The Waking Eyes, Hot Panda, Shout Out Out Out Out and Library Voices.

The band will play at the University of Brandon's festival kick off Rock the Block on September 17th alongside Default and Mariana's Trench, and during the awards festival on September 20th with Winnipeg singer/songwriter Romi Mays - More information on the WCMA's here

Mario Tops One of Billboard's Many Sub Charts

Hype reports: Multi-platinum R&B heartthrob Mario and his summer smash hit "Break Up" claims the #1 spot on this week's Urban Mainstream Chart. The video for the hit single remains a top 5 favorite on BET's 106 & Park, peaking at #1 for several days last week.

With sells of over 40,000 ringtones per week, "Break Up" is #4 on this week's Ringscan chart, joining the top 5 along with Drake's "Best I Ever Had," Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor," New Boyz "You're a Jerk" and Mariah Carey's "Obsessed." The success of "Break Up" paves the way to the October 13th release of Mario's brand new album D.N.A.

Described as a collection of songs that characterize the make up of the now 22 year old Baltimore native's life, D.N.A. resonates with topics of love, relationships, and heartbreak; replete with a versatile yet distinctive Mario sound that critics and fans have grown to adore. A-List producers and writers delivering top notch production include Sean Garret & Bangladesh, Jim Jonsin, Tricky Stewart & The Dream, Babyface, Stargate, LOS Da Mystro, Rico Love, Harold Lilly & Elvis Williams, The Runners, Eric Hudson, KP and Malay. - more on this story

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